Posts by Michael Jay Tucker
Oil Free Politics?
When you get a moment, check out this article over on the New York York Review of Books site, A Future Without Fossil Fuels?, by Bill McKibben. In it, McKibben reviews two books, 2020 Vision: Why You Should See the Fossil Fuel Peak Coming by Kingsmill Bond, and A New World: The Geopolitics of the…
Read MoreAndrew Yang: What Do We Make Of Him?
Among the distressingly many candidates running for as nomination as the Democrat’s pick for president, one of the more remarkable is Andrew Yang. A complete political novice, though a high-tech business success, Yang is unusual among the candidates in that he bases his political program on what might be called futurism. He sees an America…
Read MoreBlarney And Babble
So the other day, which was also St. Patrick’s Day, I was cruising the web and all of a sudden I saw something very curious. It was a posting on Instagram, the image sharing service, and it showed a large St. Patrick’s Day celebration in some city or other. Maybe New York. Maybe Chicago. But…
Read MoreNew Zealand Stands Strong
It is now over week since the Christchurch mosque killings in New Zealand. While not much has changed in the larger world, where hate and fear are still the depressing norm, you do have to be amazed by the people of New Zealand. The Kiwis have come together with amazing speed, toughness, and tenderness. In…
Read MoreBut Is It Possible?
For the past two days, I’ve been writing about the Left and how it needs to, somehow, woo the Deplorables away from Trump. But is that really possible? I am now looking at some photos of Trump supporters at one of his rallies. They scream. They yell. They gesture obscenely. Their faces are twisted up…
Read MoreCrafting A Deplorable Message
Yesterday, I wrote about how Progressives might need to somehow appeal to at least some of the voters who currently support Trump. I need to add something to that. Specifically, I am now struck by the fact that the Progressive Left has done many things well, but explaining its advantages to the Deplorables who support…
Read MoreThe Guard Is In Chains
Today I saw another article decrying identity politics. I’ll confess, I run hot and cold on this. As a good 1960s hold-over, I have the tendency to privilege identity politics…whether based on race, class, gender, or what have you. Yet, I will also admit to feeling some concern about it. As a weapon it is,…
Read MoreSenate Defies Trump
In an astonishing development, the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate voted to defy Trump and overturn his declaration of a national emergency. This is the first time since 2016 that at least some Republican Senators have united with their Democratic counterparts to oppose Trump. It is important not to over-stress the importance of the vote. First, Trump…
Read MoreOne More Note On Rover
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…
Read MoreNo More (Mars) A’ Roving
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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