Author
Commentary: Civil society is critical to democracy at home and abroad
American diplomats talk frequently about the critical role of “civil society.” Specifically, the importance of civil society in maintaining and promoting a robust and vibrant democracy. And yet, I rarely hear about “civil society” here at home. We refer to “nonprofits,” but more as an informative description of an individual organization than as a reference […]
Commentary: The case for expanding the Supreme Court
If you want to protect voting rights in this country, there is now a solid case for why you should support adding seats to the U.S. Supreme Court. And it’s clear why there is little chance of protecting voting rights in the long run without court reform. In the final week of its most recent […]
Commentary: New Hampshire, it’s time to unite and legalize cannabis
This column was updated on Monday, June 19, at 10:15 a.m. to clarify that Gov. Sununu has never vetoed cannabis legalization because no legislation on the recreational use of marijuana has reached his desk. In this now hyper-partisan world that we call New Hampshire, is there one thing still capable of defying party lines? If […]
Commentary: Why we must investigate the events of Jan. 6
The threat to our democracy from Jan. 6 is enduring. The unprecedented insurrection on our nation’s Capitol may only exist now on the plethora of video footage that is still being used to identify and prosecute participants. The threat posed by that now infamous day, however, remains, and its lethality depends on how we respond not […]
Commentary: The state of privacy
When I moved to New Hampshire, one of the first things I was told about the state was that it cared about privacy. New Hampshire was even a national leader on privacy. That was just a few years ago. My how things change. New Hampshire is in the grips of an identity crisis, exemplified by […]
Commentary: New Hampshire’s Orwellian pursuit
I want you to imagine something for a minute. It’s 2023 and Democrats have control of the New Hampshire Legislature. Given the roller coaster economics of the last 15 years, coupled with soaring wealth inequality, the Legislature decides that the state simply cannot condone capitalism anymore. The free market is dangerous. It’s unpredictable. It can […]
Commentary: What kind of state do you want to be, New Hampshire?
One of two things is happening right now in New Hampshire: Either our state’s values are fundamentally shifting, or the state’s true values are finally showing through and we’ve all been duped for the past several years. A few examples. For the past four years, our state has made consistent and bipartisan progress on LGBTQ […]
Commentary: State must look beyond money in search for solutions
New Hampshire’s legislative sessions are typically dominated by a few themes and bills that consume headlines. Then there are a couple themes that return year in and year out like a bad habit. Recent weeks have reminded me of one of these more pernicious themes, and that’s New Hampshire’s preference for spending money on failed […]
Commentary: The filibuster needs to be reformed
The will of the voters is being thwarted. Elections are losing their meaning. And democracy is being mocked before our very eyes. Not by mythical voter fraud or conspiracy, but by Senate Rule 22 – known more colloquially by its stage name, “the filibuster.” Rule 22 is as mundane on paper as it is mighty […]
Commentary: It’s time revoke law enforcement’s status as a ‘super constituent’
The most powerful player in electoral politics is the constituent, or so we are led to believe by every elected official ever. Ask a state senator or a state representative and they’ll tell you that the people they want to hear from most are their constituents. They do not specify a particular type of constituent. […]
Commentary: Let’s normalize court reform
Government is not a stagnant entity. Over time, our government has evolved to meet history’s challenges. Today, there is a movement to make the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico states and to end the Senate filibuster. Books and a plethora of articles are being written about reforming the presidency in light of lessons learned […]