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Recent Posts: Transformational Citizenship
Author Archives: Bennett Minton
‘Change’ vs. our ossified process: It’s no contest
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Martin Luther King’s distillation of abolitionist Theodore Parker’s sermon is one of his most famous quotations. It resonates with us because we assume the universe is moral … Continue reading
Jim Crow makes a last stand in the Old Dominion
“Don’t boo. Vote.” – President Obama at the Democratic Convention The struggle to do just that goes on, as illustrated by three recent court decisions. In two federal cases, appeals courts struck down voter ID laws in Texas and North … Continue reading
Posted in civil rights, Uncategorized, Virginia legislature, Voting Rights Act
Tagged 14th Amendment, civil rights, disenfranchisement, Terry McAuliffe, Thomas Norment, voting rights, Voting Rights Act, William J. Howell
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On the 4th of July: What is pride in country?
My feed today has lots of posts expressing pride in being American. I don’t share it. I am grateful to live in a country that affords me comfort and relative security. But I owe almost all of my good fortune … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Donald Trump gives the GOP its comeuppance
Upon signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Bill Moyers related decades later, President Johnson said, “I think we just delivered the South to the Republican Party for a long time to come.” It’s a popular story (though its truth … Continue reading
Abraham Lincoln had it pretty good
When our 16th president was inaugurated, seven of the 11 Confederate states had already walked. South Carolina’s secession resolution, like those of other rebellious states, was unambiguous that slavery was the cause: A geographical line has been drawn across the … Continue reading
Ten reasons I quit watching football
As a hundred million viewers turn on the 50th Super Bowl, I offer 10 perspectives on turning it off. My football viewing ended after the 47th edition, when in a moment of clarity I turned to other items of interest. … Continue reading
Which path toward a more perfect union?
I’m glad I don’t vote in Iowa – for a ton of reasons, including I don’t have to make a choice today. Most quadrennials, I’m neutral in the primaries, focused on the end game. Eight years ago I was passionate … Continue reading
Posted in Congress, election campaign, Supreme Court
Tagged Citizens United, Congress, DirecTV v. Imburgia, President Obama, Shelby County v. Holder, Supreme Court, Voting Rights Act
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Model of consistency
Consider the nation when Barack Obama first swore the oath: In the depths of an economic crisis, precipitated by our collective disregard of financial stewardship, that would eliminate 8.8 million jobs and wipe out $19.2 trillion in household wealth Regaining … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Abraham Lincoln, gerrymandering, President Obama, voting rights
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The girth of the tax code – in one provision
Ever wonder about line 23 on your annual Form 1040? In 2002 Congress created a temporary $250 “above the line” tax deduction to acknowledge teachers for the money they spend on classroom materials that their employers won’t. Teachers spend several … Continue reading
Posted in Congress, Uncategorized
Tagged taxes, teachers
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Transformational Citizenship 