When Scrutiny Becomes Cruelty
Examining the records, qualifications, and conduct of candidates is an essential part of choosing our public officials. Sometimes that examination
Before We Repeat the Story
They confirm something we already suspect. They involve people or groups we may already distrust. They are disturbing enough that
How to Apply Civic Principles Consistently in Politics
Sometimes the hardest test of a principle comes when it stops being convenient. We see a public figure say something
How Do We Know We’re Getting Somewhere?
A trail is easier to follow when you have some idea where it is going. The same is true of
Judging Choices, Judging People
Politics makes it easy to reduce people to a single decision. They voted for this person. They supported that policy.
What We Choose to Reward
Most of us think about citizenship in terms of choices. We choose candidates, policies, and causes to support. We decide
Before You Repeat a Claim
A surprising claim appears on social media. A friend mentions something alarming that supposedly happened. A headline seems to confirm
A Different Way to Pay Attention
It is hard to live in this moment and not feel pulled in a dozen directions at once. News arrives