You’re the governor, what do you do?

Congratulations, dear reader. Using my reality bending power to create alternative universes, I have now conjured a world in which you are reading this column in the Blaine House, and you are the governor of Maine. Everything else is the same. Same history. Same first year in office. Same COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe. The […]

How federal regulations helped spread COVID-19

In any crisis, we triage the issues we are facing, and our reactions proceed in relatively predictable ways. The COVID-19 pandemic is no different. In the short term, we respond to the most urgent problems before we do anything else. That means that virtually all of our mental energy is poured into the need to […]

Liberty in times of emergency

Here’s a fun fact you might not know. Your “freedom of association” is not guaranteed specifically by name in the First Amendment. Don’t believe me? Read it again. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or […]

A look back to the early days of coronavirus in Maine

I don’t typically write follow up columns to things I wrote, but in this case I’m going to have to make an exception. A couple weeks ago, the column I wrote in these very pages declared in rather concrete terms that I was not worried about the coronavirus. What I was more worried about than […]

The government spending spree continues

There are good times, and there are bad times. One thing in this life is certain: if you are currently living through one of those, the other will come eventually. If an economic boom is happening, there will be an eventual slowdown and recession. If you are in the middle of economic calamity, there will […]

Does Biden really have Joementum?

Hey listen, mea culpa. A few weeks ago in these very pages, I was spiking the football on Joe Biden and the enduring myth of his electoral appeal in the Democratic primary after his incredibly disappointing finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire. I had taken pundits to task for claiming Biden was strong from the […]

Should the government force you to take your medicine?

“Do you want to reject the new law that removes religious and philosophical exemptions to requiring immunization against certain communicable diseases for students to attend schools and colleges and for employees of nursery schools and health care facilities?” That’s a mouthful, but if you want me to translate for you, I’m happy to help. A […]

Bloomberg’s billions won’t decide the Democratic nomination

Michael Bloomberg has a lot of money. To fully understand just how much money he has, consider the following: Donald Trump is, by far, the wealthiest person to ever hold the office of president. His current net worth is estimated to be roughly $3.5 billion, which if you are curious, would be 35 full crates […]

The myth of Joe Biden’s electoral chances

Joe Biden has been running for president for more than 33 years, and has never won a single primary. Alright, I admit, that’s a bit harsh. But even so, it happens to be true. Biden has clearly wanted to be president for most of his adult life. In fairness, virtually every elected official in America […]