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Is theft really a form of social justice?

Is robbing the Louvre a good idea? Left-wing influencer Hasan Piker and New Yorker writer Jia Tolentino did a much-discussed video interview with The New York Times on the ethics of theft, and came out four-square in favor of stealing things, including artwork from the Louvre. They consider larceny an appropriate response to the inherent corruption and injustice of the American capitalist system. The merits of this position aside, it's not clear why it justifies stealing paintings or sculptures from a museum owned and operated by the government of France. When asked about the ...

Be wary of newest set of scams

Decent people are assaulted regularly by scammers attempting to gain their personal information, their money, and usually, both. A new round of scam attempts has taken things up a notch by including the state seal of West Virginia in its attempt. Law-abiding citizens are used to being able to believe that if something comes with that kind of official imagery, they should pay attention. And because they ARE the kinds of people who want to do the right thing, they are more likely to fall for attempts by those who would prey on their sense of responsibility by using state seals, bank ...

Today’s rampant political violence is not normal

In just the past two years, there have been three serious attempts on the life of Donald Trump. In July 2024, a would-be assassin fired multiple shots at Trump during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, wounding the former and future president and killing a member of the audience. In September 2024, secret service agents identified, engaged with, and later apprehended another hopeful assassin at Trump International Golf Club in Florida. And just days ago, gunshots erupted outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, D.C., as yet another deranged individual ...

Ohio lawmakers looking to get the lead out

“Everybody wants lead lines to be replaced, especially the mayors in our cities, but it’s a lot of money,” Sarah Biehl, policy director at Ohio Mayors Alliance, told the Ohio Capital Journal last week. Her comment came as state lawmakers take a look at House Bill 307, to “Enact the Lead Line Replacement Act.” Sponsored by state Reps. Dontavius Jarrels, D-Columbus, and Monica Robb Blasdel, R-New Waterford, the measure would mandate state replacement of all lead service lines. It’s an important project. According to the Capital Journal, there are 745,000 lead service lines ...

How to think about affordability

“Affordability” is the word grabbing the headlines in public discourse these days. However, if affordability is a problem, it’s important to be clear about what exactly the problem is and what can be done. Gallup has new polling data noting that the “high cost of living continues to top Americans’ list of the most important financial problems facing their families.” Per Gallup’s new data, 31% say “high cost of living/inflation” is the most important problem,” 13% say energy costs/oil and gas prices, 13% say “cost of owning or renting a home” and 8% say ...

King Charles III, a guest in our house

The king came to town for tea, dinner and a little chat with Congress and the president. By the time you read this, Charles III’s state visit may be a little piece of history. The “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom could undergo a stress test. For one thing, Charles is probably horrified and mystified at the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ dinner but probably too polite to say so. The British disapprove of making scenes in public, with gunfire interrupting dinner parties. The king rode in on American waves of Anglophile ...