Upon reading Michael Cohen’s opening statement to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, a friend of mine commented with these words: “Banality of Evil.” Being quite familiar with that expression, I recognize how apt a description it is of Donald Trump, just as much as it was of Adolf Eichmann. Eichmann was pronounced guilty of…

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Reflections on its Scope and Limits and the Priority of Justice By Michael E. Berumen Some years ago, I read something in the newspaper that Princeton economist Uwe Reinhardt said about patriotism that has stuck with me. To paraphrase, he said that it was glib and facile to think patriotism merely means love of country,…

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Kavanaugh Again! Yes, he’s now on the US Supreme Court, so most of the public has lost interest in this man after the initial furor had died away. Not I! I have been following his votes carefully. The most recent ruling on the so-called abortion clinics – actually these clinics provide general health care for…

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 Tony Blair once privately complained that Britain is a country that doesn’t like success.  Which is an odd thing to complain about, as a huge chunk of Britain would view Tony Blair as a failure, which means, by his own logic, that he should be held in great esteem by his people.  He’s not, of…

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One additional word on the Mars Rover Opportunity: I suspect we needn’t grieve too deeply for Opportunity. I suspect that, eventually, we will return to Mars, either in the form of manned missions or, and I believe this is more likely, with vastly more sophisticated machines. And, when that day comes, the little Rover will…

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From the editor’s desk: So last week we all read about the Mars Rover Opportunity and how, after 15 years of unexpected service, it had finally perished in a uniquely awful Martian sandstorm. It even had a few rather touching last words, “My battery is low and it is getting dark.” Or, roughly that. The…

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