New National Legislation Takes Important Lessons From California's Paid...
Sometimes, family must come first. When a parent or child falls ill requiring round-the-clock care, when an expectant mother is put on bed-rest months before delivery, or, when a child comes into the...
View Article5 Reasons You Should Care About the New Mexico Supreme Court's Gay Marriage...
Yesterday's unanimous ruling by the New Mexico Supreme Court holding that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry is already playing out in predictable ways. LGBTQ advocacy groups...
View ArticleA Christmas Prayer: O God of All Children
As millions of Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas and their belief that God entered human history as a poor tiny baby, let us remember all the poor babies and children who...
View ArticleLet's Talk About Drugs
During the holiday season, cocaine and politics go together as well as gravy on a Thanksgiving turkey. We all know about Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's pitiless, yes-sir-e-I-did-what-about-it crack cocaine...
View ArticleWhy America Has a Prescription Drug Epidemic: To Regulate Or Educate? No...
The Global Drug Survey grew out of my interest in the use of drugs within the rave scene in the 1980s and 90s. Since that time GDS has evolved into the biggest annual survey of drug use in the world....
View ArticleThe Great American Gun Violence Lottery
Remember, back in junior high school, when you read that classic of American literature, "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson? In the story, a small town ritualistically draws straws each summer to see who...
View ArticleA Letter to the Editors
This post is a letter to the editors of the Huffington Post from Abraham H. Foxman on behalf of the Anti-Defamation League. To the Editor: We were deeply disturbed by the Huffington Post's front-page...
View ArticleTossing Around the Charge of Anti-Semitism
In the debate over whether the U.S. Congress should defy the Obama administration by imposing new sanctions on Iran while negotiations on its nuclear program are underway, it didn't take long for the...
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Torture Doesn't Work. Law Does Work. Why Keep That Secret?!
Most Americans do not know that their government engaged in practices that the civilized world considers war crimes. This lack of awareness is due, in part, to the fact that a comprehensive report of...
View ArticleStop Screaming 'First Amendment'
It's happened again. Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty is the latest in a long line of celebrities to be suspended for controversial comments. In an interview with GQ magazine, Robertson detailed his...
View ArticleJerry Brown's Thankful Holiday Season
If Jerry Brown had a happy Thanksgiving following forecasts of big California budget surpluses for the rest of the decade, and he did, he may be having an even more thankful holiday season this time...
View ArticleA Few Final Thoughts on the Budget Deal
It's not over -- they still have to appropriate their new top-line spending numbers down to all the agencies -- but it looks like the budget deal that quite handily cleared both chambers will soon be...
View ArticleIs Obama Channeling Mandela?
On December 19, 2013, President Obama shortened the prison sentences of eight federal prisoners. Hooray! I have been urging him to do this for thousands of federal prisoners since he was elected....
View ArticleWhy I Think Arguing About Gay Marriage as a Slippery Slope to Polygamy Is a...
I recently received a challenge of sorts on my Facebook wall from a longtime friend, who wanted me to talk about the “Sister Wives” court ruling in Utah, concerning polygamy. Turns out, though, that...
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My 2013 'McLaughlin Awards' [Part 1]
Welcome everyone to our year-end awards columns! Every year, we pre-empt our normal "Friday Talking Points" columns for two weeks, in order to take a look back at the year that was. As always, we will...
View ArticleThe True Meaning of Christmas
Many religious believers get upset during the winter season. Bill O'Reilly leads the outrage by claiming that there is a "war on Christmas," and he is not alone. Many other Christians insist that...
View ArticleThe Duck Dynasty Controversy and Loving Our Neighbors
The recent statements by Phil Robertson, star of the A&E show, Duck Dynasty, expressing his views on same sex marriage and race relations have ignited a firestorm in the media. Several people,...
View ArticleWhat a Year for Harm Reduction!
Harm reduction is a movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs. Harm reduction is also a set of practical strategies and ideas aimed at...
View ArticleThe Top 10 Freedom to Marry Moments in 2013
What a year for the freedom to marry! In 2013 we racked up wins at an unparalleled pace, reflecting and accelerating the momentum we have worked so hard to build over so long. From groundbreaking...
View ArticleThe President Was Right: It's More Than Just a Website
"The Affordable Care Act is not just a website. It's much more." In spite of the troubled launch of healthcare.gov, President Obama's statement provided a timely reminder of everything else that the...
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