Tag Archives: Democrats

National popular vote needs scrutiny, not partisanship

Maine’s Legislature is considering a bill to radically change the way we participate in presidential elections. The so-called “National Popular Vote” compact (NPV) would award our electoral votes to whichever candidate wins the most votes nationwide. The debate over this bill is lining up as a left versus right issue, with Democrats leaning toward support […]

Republicans have lost their way when it comes to improving America

The Democratic Party seeks to contribute to the common good in a number of ways. Democrats seek higher wages for workers, better conditions for the sick and elderly, and more rights for the marginalized. Whether or not their policies actually achieve these goals, it’s clear they are aiming toward improvements in our society. Republicans, historically, […]

Political parties have corrupted our democracy

The biggest problem in politics right now is not Donald Trump. It’s also not Nancy Pelosi. It’s the concept of base-driven elections. In a normal democratic society, the goal of politics and elections would be to convince the most people that your policies are right and that you’re the most capable leader.   And when […]

Stop feeding the partisan beast

The psychologist Abraham Maslow identified the feeling of belonging as a central human need, ranked only behind physical safety and sustenance in his eponymous “Hierarchy of Needs.” Humans need to be accepted, to feel part of a group, even from a very young age. This is, perhaps, a primal response based on the safety of […]

Gideon’s paid leave proposal is comedy gold — for Gov. Mills

The concept of a “straight man” is a bedrock comedy institution. A relatively normal, identifiable person is paired with an off-the-wall character, and the contrast between the two creates comedy gold. Laurel and Hardy, Burns and Allen, Abbott and Costello, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, the Smothers Brothers, all of these acts relied on the […]

Picking the primary winners: Republican edition

Last week, I laid out my predictions for the Democratic primary for governor. This week I’ll continue the wild speculation with my thoughts on the Republican primary. Where the Democratic primary is shaping up as a battle between the various factions within the party, the GOP primary is more of a contest between individuals seeking […]

Picking the primary winners: Democratic edition

With eight weeks to go until Maine voters select their party nominees for governor, the Republican and Democratic primaries are still wide open. No obvious frontrunners have emerged, and no public polling has been released. So, in the absence of quantifiable data, I’ll make some very subjective guesses about where these races are going. I’ll […]

Progressives don’t need more protests. They need a better argument.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators, including thousands in Maine, participated in this weekend’s Women’s March. It was a massive show of force from those outraged by the persistent cultural and institutional misogyny in our country, exemplified by our current president and his repulsive attitude toward women. Demonstrations of this magnitude are noteworthy, and often serve […]