Columnists

Even though we're 5000 miles away from London, the results of the December 12th British election sent a chill through left-coast voters. The ascension of Boris Johnson was painfully reminiscent of the 2016 election of Donald Trump; further evidence that we have entered the buffoon era of geo-politics. There are two political lessons to learn from the British tragedy.

Two Unpopular Candidates: The British General Election was an awkward "popularity" contest between Boris Johnson, leader of the Conservative Party, and Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Labour -- the British press characterized it as the "ugly baby contest." -more-

On December 18, 2019, President Donald J. Trump was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives. This is only the third time in history that a president has been impeached and the first time for a first-term president. Both Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson were impeached but the Senate failed to remove them from office. Richard Nixon resigned before a House impeachment vote. -more-

When I lived in a halfway house at a wizened age of nineteen, I was immersed in the mental health treatment system as it existed then. I learned about a pattern of young adult chronic psychiatric patients, a pattern of repeat hospitalizations. Going to the hospital involuntarily, getting stabilized on medication, being released, then going off medication--to have the cycle repeat--was called the "Revolving Door" by mental health professionals. -more-