Category Archives: Commentary

University of Intifada

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Jim

When I graduated from Northwestern University in 1964, most of my fellow students were supporting Barry Goldwater for President. Now my old school is capitulating to anti-Israel activists. The university agreed to consider divesting from Israel and subsidize more Palestinian … Continue reading →

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Why we need more immigration

Posted on May 19, 2023 by Jim

Okay, the border is a mess. Even the news media are beginning to admit it. But we still need more immigrants because Americans aren’t making enough babies and are not growing the talent we need to sustain the country.  The … Continue reading →

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Student loans: Now we’re all in debt

Posted on September 5, 2022 by Jim

The debate over President Biden’s student loan forgiveness is just what we needed: yet another divisive issue. It’s the largest unilateral spending decision by a U.S. president. I’m waiting for the pundits to praise it as a triumph of democracy. … Continue reading →

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Russian tanks and Elvis

Posted on March 22, 2022 by Jim

Instead of listening to music in the morning, I’ve been turning on the TV to see the latest news from Ukraine. The war is compelling: horrifying and inspiring at the same time. Everyone hopes and prays for the triumph of … Continue reading →

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Don’t know much about history

Posted on November 12, 2021 by Jim

I’ve been scratching my head over the controvery about teaching critical race theory in schools. Whatever the hell critical race theory is, it’s clear that politicians want to either mandate it or ban it. I see this as an opportunity … Continue reading →

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The American dream in four walls

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Jim

I’ve always been interested in houses: fixed up a couple of old ones and built a new one last year. Home ownership has been a major factor in middle-class wealth accumulation and upward mobility in the United States and certainly … Continue reading →

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Flashback

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Jim

One of my dark-humor quips in recent years has been: I hope our government learned the lessons of Vietnam. And built an embassy in Afghanistan with enough room for multiple helicopters. That stopped being funny when I saw the TV … Continue reading →

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Lou Grant is dead

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Jim

The death of Ed Asner last week at age 91 prompted TV stations to resurrect clips of the actor’s most memorable role: Lou Grant, the crusty news editor on the Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1977 and the Lou Grant show from … Continue reading →

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Risk in a time of pandemic

Posted on June 29, 2021 by Jim

Life is all about taking risks when you get right down to it: your first steps as a toddler, your first day of school and so on to starting a family, launching a business or contemplating cancer treatment. Calculating risk … Continue reading →

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Watching history repeat

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Jim

I enjoy history, but the disadvantage of being a history buff is getting flashbacks to centuries past whenever I read the news. History repeats itself, often at the hands of people who failed to learn its lessons. Some current issues … Continue reading →

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