Erin: I sought to validate my political opinions when I started writing this column. Now that it has come to a close, I can say this – I am definitely a Democrat, but no more of one than when my debating with Phil began. What do I mean by this? I mean that researching and arguing the liberal stance ...
People worry about campaign finance, and reasonably so. There’s something unsettling about millions of dollars being shuffled around during political campaigns, especially when the process is so opaque to the public. What really bothers me, though, is the opportunity cost – I’ve ...
Governor Jerry Brown of California issued the first major water restrictions in the state last week. It has been a long time coming. For a few years now, California has been feeling the effects of its drought. I, like many other Middkids, come from the Golden State and have been trying to cut my shower ...
I recently participated in Midd Uncensored. For those who don’t remember this event, it is basically an intense get-to-know-you activity. The most notable exercise is a “stand up, sit down” game. In it, a facilitator reads prompts and asks the audience to stand up if they identify with the statements. ...
In his last piece, Phil – to use an expression picked up over Feb Orientation – “yucked my yum.” He took us through what he painted to be President Obama’s “harmful budget,” paying special attention to the tax increases, ending of sequestration and community college plan. While I won’t ...
Have you seen the movie Boyhood? I watched it on my plane ride back to school this January — United had free movies for once, shocker! — and the film left an impression on me. For those who don’t know, it follows a boy, Mason, over a twelve-year period as he grows to be an adult. Boyhood therefore ...
There is much hypocrisy in politics, but after the midterm elections last week, one point bothers me more than ever: the glaring contradiction between Republicans’ founding mantra and their current values. In its 2012 platform, the GOP reaffirms its support for small government. It states, “This ...
This week is all about the millions of Americans who turned out to vote in the midterm election. Those citizens determined the next term’s leaders and decided whether or not propositions passed. In short, they had a say in choosing the people and policies that will shape their lives to come. Not everyone ...
In the fall, American voters will most likely turn their Congress red. This would be a mistake. Phil argued in his article last week that Americans would (and should) elect Republicans to the House and Senate because Americans want to see economic reform. He is not entirely wrong, but what he and any ...
The 2014 midterm election approaches and there is one issue around which I hope every one can rally: the environment. It feels like we have been talking about the problem for a while. You know it as “global warming,” or maybe “climate change” if you are trying to appease the old geezer who ...