Columnists

On the one hand we know we can't relax -- the forces of crazy are still trying to disrupt U.S. democracy -- but on the other hand it's exhilarating to have a President who is not a constant irritation, who (every day) isn't a danger to push the nuclear button and blow us all up. Joe Biden has done well so far, but he has a very difficult job. Six months from now, what should we reasonably expect him to have accomplished?

1.Get on top of the Pandemic. At this writing, more than 27 million Americans have contracted Covid-19 and 460 thousand have died. The infection rate has declined to 130,000 per day. About 8 percent of the U.S. population has been vaccinated -- with a current vaccination rate above 1.25 million per day.

Biden has a clear target: "...fully vaccinate 300 Americans by the end of the summer..." (The U.S. population is roughly 330 million.) If we achieve this target, by the end of the summer -- Labor Day -- most Americans, who want to be vaccinated, will be vaccinated. It's unclear if we will have reached the threshold for "herd immunity." -more-

I am revisiting this subject and this opinion, as I addressed the topic a few years ago. It is hard to write pieces that are not time-sensitive without repeating a subject some of the time, since I've been writing this column for more than ten years.

The "Work Ethic" that many people espouse, as a way to believe they are an acceptable person, is often punishment of self and others. Life has a lot more to it than work. And if we can't enjoy life, what is the point in doing work? -more-

President Joseph Biden Jr’s.administration faces a host of difficult problems, but in foreign policy its thornist will be its relations with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). How it handles issues of trade, security and human rights will either allow both countries to hammer out a working relationship or pull the US into an expensive--and unwinnable--cold war that will shelve existential threats like climate change and nuclear war. -more-

On February 4, the Democrat-led House voted 230 to 199 — 11 Republicans voted with the Democrats — to strip Marjorie Taylor Greene from her two committees — the Budget Committee, and the Education and Labor Committee — citing the “conduct she has exhibited," including her history of trafficking in racism, anti-Semitism and baseless conspiracy theories, along with her support for online comments encouraging violence against Democratic officials prior to taking office. -more-

Padilla's Bill Would Make the West Coast Oil-Free! -more-