Category Archives: Politics

Vegas Odds

Posted on January 17, 2023 by admin

After Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley announced his plans to run for governor last week, I asked myself only one question: why would he run as a Democrat instead of an Independent? Presley has proven to be an effective public … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 12 Comments

It’s Hell Getting Old

Posted on January 11, 2023 by admin

This academic year marks the end of my 19th year at MSMS. I almost certainly have more years behind me than ahead of me. I am not ready to retire, though I have occasionally thought about it. Speaking with similarly … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Politics | 11 Comments

Five Days to Go

Posted on November 3, 2022 by admin

One of the oldest political adages is that politics is personal. Those who run for an office–any office, from historian of the Philosophy Club to President of the United States–understand that adage more fully than others. Candidates might begin days … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 13 Comments

One Sentence Conundrums

Posted on September 7, 2022 by admin

Respond to a couple of these. Consider applying them to contemporary events. Can a person make a conscious decision to deal with problems by relegating them to the subconscious? When leaders say equitable, do they really mean redistribution of wealth? … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Ethics, Politics | 10 Comments

Too Tired to Think

Posted on May 5, 2022 by admin

You probably already know that autocracies are on the rise. Whether you’re looking at Putin’s rise to power in Russia, Erdogan’s control in Turkey, or the return of the Marcos family to the political world of the Philippines, leaders who … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Politics | 21 Comments

Victimless Crimes?

Posted on April 18, 2022 by admin

An acquaintance of mine buried his son today. No official cause of death has been released to verified media, but if social media is accurate, then this young man died because he took oxycontin that had been laced with fentanyl. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Politics | 21 Comments

A Different Kind of Diversity

Posted on April 8, 2022 by admin

Ketanji Brown Jackson’s ascent to the Supreme Court will mark the first time an African-American woman gets named to the highest court in the land. Whether you support her ideologies or not, it would be difficult not to admire her … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics | 21 Comments

Education’s Ends and Means

Posted on February 17, 2022 by admin

The cornerstone of this year’s legislative session, as far as Speaker of the House Phillip Gunn is concerned, involves repealing the income tax in Mississippi. He estimates that doing so would put about $1100 back into the budgets of typical … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics | 7 Comments

Guilty Pleasures

Posted on February 9, 2022 by admin

In the “Mansion” section of last Friday’s Wall Street Journal, the cover story described 400 feet of waterfront property in Miami listed for a modest $150 million. The two houses on the property total about 25,000 square feet. Their architectural … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 17 Comments

Intergenerational Confab

Posted on February 2, 2022 by admin

A couple of days ago, I found myself trying to explain trigger warnings to a slightly older person–straight, white, male, 60s, non-academic. You may not be surprised that he was skeptical of the need for them. “Sticks and stones,” he … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Politics, Pop Culture | 15 Comments