commentary

Medicaid is the Key to Obamacare’s Fate

Medicaid is the Key to Obamacare’s Fate

Health insurance captivates us like few other issues because it affects us personally and distinctively. In more recent times it has come to reflect our political disposition regarding individual and collective responsibility. While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) repeal and replacement presently hangs on a legislative precipice, the philosophical dimensions of this debate concerning the role of the individual and the state should merit greater attention. Instead, the ACA’s destiny now appears to rest on the resolution of Medicaid and the division between federal and state governments.

Communism – 100 Years After the Revolution

Communism – 100 Years After the Revolution

Recent May Day protests around the globe received significant media attention as these marches prominently featured economic issues linked to an overall theme of social equality and justice. Coincidentally, but perhaps prophetically, this year also marks the hundredth anniversary of the communist revolution in Russia. Communists pledged to rid the world of injustice by uniting workers in a stateless society, devoid of cruel rulers, greedy capitalists and religion, which they concluded, all resulted in the exploitation of the masses. How the notion of communism came about, why it imploded, where we are now, and what the future portends is worth examining if we are to prevent its re occurrence.

Secularism, Science, and Attaining a Just Society

Secularism, Science, and Attaining a Just Society

During my youth I heard many adult conversations lamenting the culture of my generation, as expressed in our music, art, language, work ethic, dress, and just plain civility. I always told myself that I would never be that person, criticizing contemporary youth and by extension modern times against some idolized version of my generation’s own past. After all, condemnation of existing society is ubiquitous throughout history, and perhaps more importantly, could reflect poorly upon older generations, which if not creating, at least acquiesce to current cultural mores. Moreover, it always seemed older adults shouldered some responsibility for raising these ostensibly narcissistic and discourteous youth.

Top 10 Global News of 2016

Top 10 Global News of 2016

One of the significant areas of our work at G.L.O.B.A.L. Justice is to inform the broader public about key global news, on a variety of topics and from a range of regions and sources. Each year holds tremendous stories about global challenges and ways that peoples and countries have overcome those challenges. 2016 was a year of particularly important global news stories, making it difficult to select just 10 to highlight. But here are my selections for the “Top 10 Global News of 2016:”

The Passing of Fidel Castro: A Revolutionary Dictator

The Passing of Fidel Castro: A Revolutionary Dictator

On November 25, 2016, the death of former Cuban President Fidel Castro marked the close of an enduring era of dictatorship and brutality. As Western sensibilities about socialism have changed since the Cold War and as current generations have a limited reference to history, some are viewing his life and legacy in “revolutionary” rather than dictatorial terms. But history reveals what current sentiment may not – revolution is not always a good thing…and it certainly wasn’t for Cuba under Castro.