Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh says that regulators stray from congressional intent, and courts should no longer defer to their decisions. His opponents answer that strict adherence to the letter of the law would deprive the country of necessary expert interpretation. Neither of them means exactly what they say. Kavanaugh wants to cut back on […]
“Where you stand depends on where you sit.” Rufus Miles, a federal official, created this contribution to American political folklore. Because each party’s members in the House and Senate sit together, they usually vote together. He suggested they should be mixed together to promote compromise. Of course, his proposal was not adopted. But his point […]
The president proposed a new justice for the Supreme Court, and political war broke out. Most Republicans back him, believing he will strengthen a conservative majority. Most Democrats oppose him, because they share that belief. They worry that he would vote to reverse Roe v. Wade, the decision confirming the legality of abortion. The nomination […]
It all started in Philadelphia. In the hot summer of 1787, a small group of men did something never tried before. They drafted a plan for a new political system, a popular government to replace the British system of royal rule. The 39 state delegates planned that the people would rule their large country through […]
The country is becoming a nation of the elderly. In Maine, the future is us. The state now has the highest median age of all states. The U.S. birth rate continues to decline. By 2035, Americans over 65 will outnumber all children. A reduction in family size is typical of societies as they become more […]
Could America become socialist? That’s where some conservatives believe the country would be headed under the Democrats. Sen. Bernie Sanders has been leading a progressive movement that has gained widespread support. Conservatives, like columnist George F. Will, warn of government displacing free market corporate decision-makers in setting industrial policy. Will’s concern does not match what […]
This week we celebrated Independence Day, renewing our pride in being Americans. At the same time, the hotly debated immigration issue leads us to consider what it takes to achieve the much prized status of citizen. If you are born here, the Constitution says you’re a citizen. Some people think that’s too easy, because it […]
Maine was fleetingly in the national political spotlight this year, because it held the first statewide election using ranked choice voting (RCV), the system allowing people to vote for several candidates in rank order. After using the process in party primaries, Maine provided other states with a model to study. An accompanying referendum suggested that […]
When European countries were ruled by kings, the monarchs often called one another by the name of their country. For example, “Russia” might meet with “England,” in a session involving only the two rulers. Kings were the same as their countries because they alone were sovereigns. The people were their “subjects,” not “citizens.” That practice […]
President Trump asserts he has an “absolute right to pardon himself.” No president has ever pardoned himself, though the right of the president to issue pardons for federal crimes is found in the Constitution. The Constitution is a broad statement of principles about the federal government and the separation of powers among the three branches […]
