Sol's Culture Wars

Getting money donated to you goes by many arbitrary titles. It's all a matter of perspective. On the streets, asking for change, you're likely a hungry panhandler. Collecting from the pious pews on Sunday, you're a church member.  But, on the 22nd floor, senator's luxurious office, you're a lobbyist.

Politics, so harsh in our culture, isn't functioning very well. How'd we get to this schizoid place? Two very flawed and hopelessly divisive candidates who a solid majority wouldn't choose, that's a process? Looks more like a chronic illness.  Democracies are a messy affair, that fact is well-known, and our Republic is no exception- but, this is extreme. Must be that we all share blame. The collective "we" somehow let things sink too low, as life-critical standards- trust and faith- are lost to weaken the whole.  And, that's how America stumbles into this next election: severely compromised by uncertainty, cynicism, and disappointment.

(Opinion) Highly unlikely you'll ever see this headline: Hamas and Iran are the true Slave Masters of Gaza.  The provocative fact that Senate Majority leader Chuck Shumer is himself Jewish doesn't help him. The senator could not be more wrong and off-target with his call for new Israeli elections, and the immediate auster of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The gross entitlement, insolence, and arrogance of Shumer's words are loathsome and repugnant, yes; but also they are unprecidented. Never has an American politician called for elections and new leadership of a trusted ally, the only democracy in the region, with its current duly elected leader presiding with a unified war council that includes all parties, as Israeli fights to simply exist.  Senator Shumer, with his foolish and dangerous rhetoric, has only helped Hamas and all extremists continue their jihadist quest to destroy Israel, and also the US. Shumer's concern about civilians in Gaza include...