DeSantis lets parents use school voucher money for Disney and luxury items, where else can this lead? — The connection between child labor laws and compulsory education Students across the United States must attend school or receive an education in an equivalent place. This was not always the case. In fact, for some states, the right to a free and mandatory education is only about a century old. There are a number of reasons for this. One…

My mom has it and now lives with me. This is all tragedy and comedy all the time. — Earlier this month, my mother, Ann, moved from Florida to New York because she decided she didn’t feel safe living by herself. This has been a challenging thing for everyone and I thought I would blog about this because I am not the only one dealing with this. A bit about Ann: Ann was…

Generations of Rohingya suffer because of our inaction — Today marks six years of genocide against the Rohingya There are children in Rohingya refugee camps who know nothing but life in a refugee camp. They don’t get to go to school. They don’t get a real place to call home. They don’t get to be children. This will have lasting effects on them and everyone in their lives…

The night offered up a few surprises, Haley’s performance was not one of them — Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley was great last night. Yesterday, I wrote that she would be the breakout star of the first GOP presidential debate and she came through. Whether she was sparring with Vivek Ramaswamy on foreign relations and national security or with former Vice President Mike Pence…

Anyone who actually thought he would show up has never paid attention to PR or politics — Some known knowns Former President Donald John Trump was never going to attend the FOX News debate tonight. In fact, all of this feels very formulaic. Trump has no reason to show up because he is so far ahead in the polls that he has nothing to gain. …

Ron DeSantis has become the gift that keeps on giving — Yes, I am late to the party here but I have been helping my mother move from Florida to New York so things have been hectic. I am in Florida right now and cannot wait to leave. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) looks great on paper. He is young. He…

Trump’s not an establishment conservative? I call bullshit — For the last seven years, I have heard conservatives beat the incessant drumbeat that Donald J. Trump is not a typical or establishment conservative. Don’t look now but he has become the perfect vehicle for Heritage Foundation policies they have pushed since Ronald Reagan. Founded in 1973, Heritage is considered…

Your denial of the con is not proof you haven’t been conned — This morning I was scheduled for an iron infusion to deal with severe anemia. I have the worst veins of any non-IV drug user and it can be nearly impossible to get one in me. Therefore, this morning I was nervous. I am nervous now. My health insurance arranged for…

Rights are not like pie, when we give rights to LGBTQ people, none get taken from straight folks When I was growing up on Long Island, I don’t remember anyone saying anything about gay people, much less the rest of the LBTQ+IA alphabet. It never occurred to me that I…