Commentary
3-Minute Civics: American citizens have a duty to participate
As you plan for Memorial Day weekend, think for a bit about the 1.2 million Americans who have died in wartime for the dream that is American democracy. Think also about the millions more who went to war and came home alive, but with ongoing trauma. See www.va.gov for statistics. With those men and women […]
One-size-fits-all response to masks lacks foresight and endangers at-risk students – commentary
As the chair of the board of directors and the associate medical director of pediatrics at Amoskeag Health, we are writing today to educate the public about a harmful bill that has passed both chambers of the New Hampshire Legislature and is making its way to Gov. Chris Sununu’s desk to be either signed into […]
Editor’s Notebook: A broken rhythm
Temperatures reached the 90s in central New Hampshire over the weekend, and the cats seemed as surprised as anyone. Juno, the more serious of the two and a talented bully, spared Lobster the daily deluge of jabs and combinations that defines their relationship and instead busied herself by looking for a bearable spot for a […]
Online data could be used against people seeking abortions if Roe v. Wade falls – commentary
When the draft of a Supreme Court decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked to the press, many of us who have been studying privacy for vulnerable individuals came to a troubling realization: The marginalized and vulnerable populations whose online risks have been the subject of our attention are likely to grow exponentially. […]
A shrinking fraction of the world’s major crops goes to feed the hungry – commentary
Rising competition for many of the world’s important crops is sending increasing amounts toward uses other than directly feeding people. These competing uses include making biofuels; converting crops into processing ingredients, such as livestock meal, hydrogenated oils, and starches; and selling them on global markets to countries that can afford to pay for them. In […]
Here’s what’s behind the US infant formula shortage – commentary
A baby formula shortage has added to the woes of American parents already confronted with the pressures of raising an infant during a pandemic in a country ranked low for family-friendly policies. Media reports have highlighted the plight of mothers, fathers, and caregivers across the U.S. who have scrambled to find scarce supplies, or driven […]
Trusting societies are overall happier, and a happiness expert explains why – commentary
Human beings are social animals. This means, almost as a matter of logical necessity, that humans’ quality of life is largely decided by the quality of their societies. Trust is one key factor that helps shape societies – specifically, if individuals feel a basic level of trust in others, outside of their immediate friends and […]
Editor’s Notebook: Hugs and kisses
The war in Ukraine is still leading the daily news reports for the nation’s major news sites, and rightfully so. It’s a tragedy that grows by the minute. The fallout from the Supreme Court leak has held the second slot for much of the past week, typically followed by COVID-19 news du jour (a Washington […]
Jan. 6 and the forgotten insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment – commentary
Lawyers representing voters in Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina have filed lawsuits alleging that their elected congressional representatives are barred from running for future office based on a little-known provision of the 14th Amendment. Specifically, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment reads: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress … who, having […]
Abortion has been common since the 18th century, and debate started soon after – commentary
State-by-state battles are heating up in the wake of news that the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overrule landmark rulings – Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey – and remove constitutional protection for the right to get an abortion. Now, pro- and anti-abortion advocates are gearing up for a new phase of […]
Transgender athletes and a national history of exclusionary practices – commentary
“Stand up for women, even when they’re swimmin’. We support the women!” I’m watching a video of a small group of picketers outside the NCAA Division I women’s swimming championships in Atlanta. The words “Save Women’s Sports” are scrawled across their matching shirts, an organization, they explain to a reporter, that was founded on the […]
Maple SOS: How to save our syrup – commentary
Since before my children can remember, our family has engaged in a certain springtime ritual as authentic as New Hampshire, and older still. Sometime after Valentine’s, as the days are getting longer and the temperatures start to rise, we gather up our dented metal pails and spiles from the garage, rinse them off, and ready […]