Liberty Without Strings
"Freedom has more often been lost in small steps by progressive incrementalism, than it has been by catastrophic upheavals such as violence or war." — James Madison (1751-1836) Last week, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which covers Louisiana,...
A History of Potlucks in the South
"What's your potluck dish?" Here in the South, it's a question one might ask of a potential employee, church committee member or even a spouse. It's nearly as important as the question "which college football team do you root for?" Calm down; I said "nearly." Any-hoo,...
Does Steve Bannon Have a Mirror?
There may be nobody — perhaps not even Donald Trump himself — who embodies the degeneracy of what used to be called conservatism like Stephen K. Bannon. That the "War Room" host still exerts influence over the American and international right as a media personality,...
News From Around the South, 2/9 to 2/16
SOUTH CAROLINA: Massive Confederate flag flown over I-85 in Spartanburg down after court ruling SPARTANBURG — Roughly four years after the Sons of Confederate Veterans raised it over Interstate 85 in Spartanburg County, a massive Confederate flag is no longer flying...
The Democrats’ Opportunity — If They Can Seize It
President Donald Trump's approval rating is sinking and gasping for air. His average net approval stands at -13.7, which is lower than Joe Biden's was at this point in his term. This matters beyond cosmic justice: The president's approval rating is the best predictor...
The Country at a Crossroads
There are no innocent bystanders in Donald Trump's America. Seeing what we've seen lately — blood spilled in snow, and a vile post depicting a former president and first lady as apes in a jungle — MAGA world has moral choices to make. This is a moment of truth for...
News From Around the South, 2/2 to 2/9
SOUTH CAROLINA: ‘A kick in the pants’: SC bill banning minimum grades in schools advances in House COLUMBIA — A bill that would prohibit school districts from giving students a minimum grade rather than the grade they earned advanced Tuesday in the House. A unanimous...
Traveling the Blues Highway—‘the root of all American music’
Samuel Reuben Kendrick, my great-grandfather, was born a slave in Alabama. In 1888 he founded a farming community called New Africa on 160 acres he bought from the railroad near Duncan, Mississippi. Among the tribulations he faced—floods, boll weevil infestations,...
Does the U.S. Still Have a Constitution?
Legal scholars have many lenses through which to examine the Constitution. Lawyers need to master about 150 Supreme Court decisions in order to have a sufficient understanding of the government. But most of what lawyers have studied is theory — how the Constitution is...
America’s Only Native Caffeinated Plant—and You May Love It More Than Coffee or Tea
Key Takeaways Yaupon is the only known caffeinated plant native to North America. Yaupon tea contains theobromine and theophylline, providing energy without the crash and jitters. Yaupon can be re-steeped multiple times because it lacks tannins. The adage "everything...
Obiter Dicta
“Freedom has more often been lost in small steps by progressive incrementalism, than it has been by catastrophic upheavals such Read More
Recent Posts
SOUTH CAROLINA: Massive Confederate flag flown over I-85 in Spartanburg down after court ruling SPARTANBURG — Roughly four years after the Sons of Confederate Veterans raised it over Interstate 85 Read More