Guest Opinion

 Before the election of Donald Trump I warned voters of the perils of narcissism among political leaders. I concluded with the following sentence: “Sadly, gullible individuals are especially vulnerable to the extraordinary claims and charm of a charismatic narcissist. Be careful out there.” The events surrounding the Charlottesville tragedy suggest the need for follow-up warnings […]

 One reason I consider myself fortunate to have led a life in politics is that, over time, I’ve had a chance to work with nine presidents. From Lyndon Johnson through Barack Obama, I’ve talked policy, politics and, sometimes, the trivial details of daily life with them. I met JFK twice for brief conversations. I don’t […]

Why do voters support politicians whose clear policy goals indicate that they are likely to support measures that will adversely impact the very people who voted for them? For example, the various iterations of the widely unpopular Republican American HealthCare Act  (AHCA) were based on a GOP policy document released June 22, 2016.  http://abetterway.speaker.gov/_assets/pdf/ABetterWay-HealthCare-PolicyPaper.pdf You […]

This triangle of the world is where the two world powers brush up against each other in a perilous friction caused by an upstart nuclear power. Kim Jong Un, the North Korean leader, threatens to hit us with nuclear fire. Perhaps after decades of failed U.S. policy it is time to try something new.  From […]

Thousands of Americans could die waiting for the Food and Drug Administration to approve new, lifesaving treatments if Congress fails to reauthorize a 25-year-old law this summer. The legislation, the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, charges pharmaceutical companies in order to fund the FDA. Without this legislation (renewed every five years), the FDA wouldn’t have […]

 Earlier this month I attended the 2017 People’s Summit in Chicago along with several thousand other progressive activists. The event was sponsored by a “who’s who” of left-leaning Democratic Party organizations connected with Bernie Sanders, who was the keynote at the event. Here’s my take on what went down. There were really two conversations going […]

For some, the recent unveiling of President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) pledging to expand apprenticeships nationwide – programs that allow workers to “earn and learn” on the job – was a welcome action in keeping with his campaign promise to get millions of Americans back to work. Unfortunately, the EO itself and this administration’s actions […]

I am in agreement with President Donald Trump on at least one thing. He is quoted as telling Republican senators that the House’s American Health Care Act (AHCA) was “mean” and whatever Senate Republicans come up with needed to be “more generous, more kind.” A recent Quinnipiac poll that shows only 17 percent of Americans […]

 Times may change, but some things stay the same. Fortunately for music lovers across Illinois, the municipal band is a constant, a cherished part of the summer landscape in communities statewide for decades. Across Illinois and the nation, musicians in communities large and small keep the tunes playing for a devoted following, spending their precious […]

President Trump and Republican congressional leaders justifiably want to curb the alarming growth in government health care spending. Their proposed solution? Cut $880 billion in federal funds from Medicaid over the next 10 years. Their plan wouldn’t necessarily reduce government spending. At best, it would just shift the burden from federal taxpayers to state taxpayers. […]