Some speculations about whether Trumps character flaws extend to his voters too. If and when the light dawns will his voters experience any remorse or will they rationalize their veneration of him somehow?
We’re a politically polarized country and, with the exception of a relatively small number of centrists, people align themselves with the political left or the political right. This article plants itself squarely on the left and presents that side of the issue. Feel free to disagree.
The More Perfect Union we’re promised in the Constitution is a work in progress. It’s been on-going for more than two centuries and we’re still not done yet. Making some progress maybe, but it’s like two steps forward, one step back. This is the argument for progressive thinking in government and society.
Matthew Franck, director of the Simon Center on Religion and the Constitution, argued when the Supreme Court was deliberating on the constitutionality of gay marriage in 2010 that advocates for gay marriage were overplaying the “hate card,” that is, regarding religious opposition to gay marriage as evidence of hate toward homosexuals. This was my response.
In 2018, the WV legislature was eager to loosen gun laws in college campuses, all but ignoring the increasing number of gun shootings in schools, the latest at that time being the Parkland school shooting in Florida. These legislators were advocating for guns over children’s safety.
This column was a reaction piece to the nastiness of political discourse, but also a defense of so-called identify politics when the current political atmosphere is so disregarding of the rights and welfare of certain groups.
Most seniors go into retirement on fixed incomes, which can raise the threat of poverty. To alleviate that threat government funded and volunteer organizations provide many elective services for seniors.
Jefferson County is aging and this article describes the forces at play in making this happen and the community response to accommodate our seniors. One volunteer organization — Shepherdstown Area Independent Living (SAIL) is highlighted.
A white mob lynched Joe Burns in 1886 before he had the chance to defend himself in court. This article speculates on what could have been brought up in his defense.
When a community aspires to raising its standard of living, it can put the housing needs of people who fall below that standard in jeopardy. They can find it hard to locate affordable housing. This is beginning to happen in several communities in Jefferson County, affecting particularly young people.
Poverty and food insecurity in Jefferson County is less than in other parts of West Virginia, but it persists. Several food services have been set up by social service organization to address the need.
Jefferson County has a problem in making housing affordable for residents who are cost burdened by the ACS definition. Housing in the county is more expensive than elsewhere in the state and low-income people are being priced out. This article considers a plan the city of Charles Town produced to address the problem.
Under the leadership of Fairness West Virginia, four cities and towns in Jefferson County have passed nondiscrimination ordinances that include LGBTQ people. This article looks at the legacy and promise of these ordinances.
Storytelling is a volunteer and a professional activity for various individuals in Jefferson County. The pros are mainly associated with the storytelling activities as part of the Shepherd University Appalachian Studies department and the Speak program. The volunteers are with groups such as the Read Aloud program.
Mike Tolbert is taking a different lens to the connection between slavery and the Civil War. He sees slavery itself as long lodged in human history and slavery in the States as predating their forced arrival here in 1619. This story reports on a presentation he gave about his theories.