Authoritarian governments almost always operate in a style that resembles organized crime outfits. Despite their ostentatious populism, such regimes exist to enrich thuggish rulers and enable corruption in high places. The Trump administration is a perfect example. But in order to maintain an aura of legitimacy, especially in a country with democratic norms and traditions, […]

To get onstage at the last Democratic debate, a candidate had to have received contributions from at least 225,000 donors. That disqualified Mike Bloomberg. He has only one donor: himself. That rule sounded nice and democratic with a small “d,” but actually, it is a highly flawed way to measure a candidate’s ability to win […]

Well before completing his first term, President Donald Trump firmly established himself as the worst president in American history, which should surprise nobody. What we have seen this week suggests that many of the senators now hearing his impeachment trial will join him in historic infamy. From the very beginning of Trump’s impeachment, a majority […]

“It is quite astonishing to see with what deadpan and neutral a tone our press and television report the open corruption – and the flagrantly anti-democratic character – of the Iowa caucuses.” I quote the late Christopher Hitchens because I couldn’t put it better. In a primary, eligible voters can show up anytime while polls […]

It needs pointing out that Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All plan bears little resemblance to Medicare. The Vermont senator undoubtedly exploits the word “Medicare” to obscure the radicalness of his single-payer proposal. Medicare, after all, is very popular. Those who admire single-payer systems – which do have their virtues – should own up to it […]