And why Democrat votes count much less than Republican votes today. Yes, it’s true: In many important swing states like North Carolina, Michigan, and Wisconsin, 2 Republicans can out-vote 3 Democrats in elections for the US House of Representatives, because Republican votes are worth more. Why is a Republican vote weighted at almost 1.5 the … Continue reading Why the 2018 midterm elections will define Congress for a decade
The Criminalization of Poverty
We arrest and imprison the poor and people of color at alarming rates in the US. It has gotten to the point where poverty itself has essentially become a crime. I’m not just talking about criminals; I’m also talking about people who spend months or years in jail accused of minor offenses and petty crimes, … Continue reading The Criminalization of Poverty
How the Gun Debate Could Backfire for Dems
Millennials are driving the gun debate, and people of all generations, of all political parties, are listening. Several current polls show that support for stricter gun laws have risen sharply among both Republicans and Independents, with some polls showing Republicans now at the 50% mark. March on, Millennials! However, the only way this will work … Continue reading How the Gun Debate Could Backfire for Dems
Clear Gun Laws, Not Clear Backpacks
This post was inspired in part by Khal Spencer’s blog posts about the gun debate and in great part to yesterday’s March For Our Lives. First, let me start off by saying that I’m a gun owner. There was even a time, several decades ago, when I joined the NRA. I thought it was dedicated … Continue reading Clear Gun Laws, Not Clear Backpacks
Facebook, Privacy, and the Constitution
I have to admit I’ve never been a big fan of Facebook, primarily for issues of privacy. I’ve largely avoided it altogether since 2016, and I consider it useful for only a few things: as a place to digitally grieve with old friends (my sister passed away recently, and Facebook is one of the places … Continue reading Facebook, Privacy, and the Constitution
Understanding America First
The America First movement is not new; it dates back to isolationist policy from before WWII. The America First Committee (AFC) had almost a million members at its peak. Most Americans didn’t want to get dragged into European wars, much as many Americans today don’t want to get dragged into foreign wars. It had a … Continue reading Understanding America First
Polling is not Leadership
On January 14 I attended an Indivisible event in Durham NC, where several speakers representing the FlipNC coalition presented strategies for breaking the supermajority in North Carolina. Their primary goal is to reduce the number of Republican seats below 60%, which would enable the Governor’s veto power and restore checks and balances. (My experience at … Continue reading Polling is not Leadership
Beware the Ides of March
March 15 seems like an auspicious day for a Julius to launch a civics-focused blog. (I don’t want to call this a political blog, because I like the civility in civics.) I confess I’ve wanted to do this for a while now. But when I began the vetting process in 2014 as a Presidential nominee … Continue reading Beware the Ides of March