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‘Toy Story 5’: Imagination is important

I found the "Toy Story 5" theme of tech versus toys very intriguing, as folks like me from older generations often lament that today's kids are missing out on one of the most wonderful parts of childhood: using your God-given imagination. Screentime on tablets can lock so many kids in, and while tech toys can teach them useful skills they will need, such as problem solving, language development and trial-and-error learning, they cannot replace the joyfulness and thrill that emanate from toys coming alive through the extraordinary power of creativity. "Toy Story 5" continues ...

England can teach us about socialism in action

If you want to see modern-day socialism in action, look no further than to the other side of the pond at not-so-jolly old England. The story of Britain's decline is a warning signal to those here in the States who are thrilled by the warm embrace of socialism. Right now, the Brits are having the same debate about the merits of socialism as we are in our major cities and blue states. In England, the foppish Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the Labour Party is out. But instead of turning to the right, it appears the UK will swerve further to the collective ownership of the left. ...

TPS provides loophole for immigrants

The last two decades have been a continuous adventure in redefining the phrase "white supremacy" to include less and less pertinent things. The latest is that the Supreme Court has allegedly joined forces with Trump to "advance an authoritarian, white-supremacist agenda" – in the words of Illinois Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez – by saying he can end so-called Temporary Protected Status for immigrants. A headline in the The Nation read, "The Supreme Court Once Again Endorses Trump's Racism." The court decision is facially correct in that the law says that TPS designations or ...

Some against school choice program

Choice and competition are two of the hallmarks of the American economy. When stores compete, customers win. Turns out this is also true for schools. That's an inviolable law of economics. A corollary is that monopolies tend to put customers last. This is all happening at a time when public monopoly schools are showing flat or negative performance despite more funding than ever before. This is one reason why so many states are turning to the new model of school choice, with public funds going to scholarships and charter schools, and tax incentives for charitable donations to ...

We stand to lose in Hegstad’s war on diversity

Is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth resegregating the military? I hear that question a lot since the news broke that our nation's current secretary of defense has actively blocked or delayed the promotions of dozens of senior military officers – with women and people of color disproportionately affected. The Pentagon's recent track record on promotions is in keeping with broader efforts by the Trump administration to push back DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) policies in government, academia and the private sector. It also comes at a time when the Trump administration has made ...

When political rhetoric meets strategic reality

One of the dangers of war is that political rhetoric often collides with strategic reality. After military strikes, escalating tensions and a conflict that many believed would fundamentally alter the balance of power in the Middle East, we appear to be arriving at a familiar destination: negotiations, concessions and an Iranian regime that remains standing. That reality deserves a serious conversation. Supporters of the administration will rightly point out that Iran has suffered significant military and strategic setbacks. Key facilities have been targeted. Military assets ...