In personal relationships, in school, at the workplace – in life – who you are makes a difference. – Michael Josephson, founder, Character Counts! program While I have been critical of President Trump on a variety of issues, I appreciate him taking the time to talk about an issue that’s important to us all. His Proclamation, as excerpted: “Personal responsibility,...

In 1976, the Senate named an office building for Michigan Senator Philip Hart. Above the entrance to that building are words written by his colleagues who praised Hart for being… “A man of incorruptible integrity and personal courage strengthened by inner grace and outer gentleness. …He advanced the cause of human justice, promoted the welfare of the common man and...

Apologies to readers. Due to the many conspiracy theories and scandals reported on an hourly basis it’s hard to keep up! Let’s begin with the “latest.” While Oregon continues to suffer under unprecedented wildfires that are consuming neighborhoods at a record pace, another firestorm is moving at light speed. Some Oregon Facebook members are posting messages like this: “Has anyone...

Sitting before the Senate Watergate hearings on June 25, 1973, former counsel to Richard Nixon, John Dean, described a meeting with the president. “I began by telling the president that there was a cancer growing on the presidency and that if the cancer was not removed the president himself would be killed by it.” In our current context, the president...

Back on it, September 8, 2020! While I’m on vacation, I thought I would go to the vault for commentaries from times past. It’s Ethics, Stupid began in 2008, so I’ll start there. The Janitor – March 2008: Watching George Clooney in Michael Clayton, I quickly picked-up on the ethical aspects common in several of his films. January 20,  » Read...

John Lewis has been memorized as the conscience of the Congress. Who will pick up that mantle, now? Who will stand for principle over political expediency? The answer is easy but the work will be hard. WE the people are the conscience of America. We always have been. No matter the crisis, we have always summoned the faith to act....

During the times that try our souls, inspiring wisdom is needed more than ever. Perhaps it’s time to remind ourselves of those who, by their words, encourage us to live out of our better angels. “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. “To sensible men, every day...

The headline hits you between the eyes: “Tom Cotton: Send in the Troops” On Wednesday, the New York Times published a controversial editorial by Arkansas Republican Senator Tom Cotton. Cotton is a full-throated supporter of President Trump and he used the opinion section of The Times to clear his throat in support of the actions President Trump suggested to quell...

He is an angry, arrogant, bigoted, unprincipled narcissist who was elected to the U.S. presidency by the slimmest of margins. He is the most illiterate, contradictory, and inarticulate individual who has ever held the highest office in the land. According to the watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), he has more than 3,000 conflicts of interest....

William Pelham Barr. Remember that name. History certainly will. There are three standards of justice. There’s “white justice,” where white people can benefit in the legal system because they are not part of a minority. Black or minority justice, is exemplified by a recent shooting where Gregory and Travis McMichael — who shot Ahmaud Arbery as he was jogging down...