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Political parties on perilous ground

As Donald Trump’s Republicans look askance as he launches what looks to some like another long-term war in the Middle East, and as the anti-Trump Democrats hold up Homeland Security funding in what looks to some like prioritizing illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens, one is tempted to ask, what’s going on with America’s political parties? Something close to self-harm, you might answer. And yet it is apparent that the U.S. parties, the oldest and third-oldest in the world, are not in as much trouble as many old parties abroad. In Britain, both Conservatives and Labour are ...

Dear Annie: Loyal for a lifetime, disappointed for decades

Dear Annie: I moved 600 miles away from my hometown 40 years ago, but keeping up a relationship with my parents (who’ve since passed) and my four siblings was always important to me. Family was paramount to my mother, and she instilled that same value in me. I traveled back home countless times, eventually with my husband and two children, for each of my siblings’ and their children’s and grandchildren’s weddings, milestone birthdays, holiday celebrations, etc. When my sister moved to another state, I visited her several times. For my 40th birthday, I flew to my hometown and ...

Regional art styles spread across the world

Cloisonne gets its name from the metal “cloisons,” French for “partitions,” that are filled with enamel, creating the multicolor designs. Despite the French name, the technique has been used in many parts of the world. It was revolutionized in Japan in the 19th century, when artist ...

Tax the rich or discipline the government?

Wherever you look in American politics right now, you’ll find legislators saying the government still doesn’t tax enough — especially when it comes to the wealthy. California progressives are pursuing a wealth tax on billionaires, advertised as a method to raise $100 billion in a single stroke. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pushing for sweeping new taxes on the wealthy to fund a vast expansion of city services. And Washington state politicians are treating a preventable budget problem as a failure to sufficiently tax corporations and the rich. The same is true on the ...

How the worse political party is beating a very bad political party

If you ever thought the President Donald Trump-led Republican Party is bad, well the Democrats are worse. The Democrats lack politically astute leaders, as well as vision and discipline. They seem incapable of being on offense and are always on defense where it is difficult to score points and win. Only 37 percent of Americans approve of the GOP while a mere 30 percent approve of Democrats. In the mix would be Trump’s job approval ratings with Independents resting at just 28 percent. Geez! It begs the question: Who should be leading America? Democrats ruled in the 1990s, holding ...

When grocery lists meet rocket ships

Dear Annie: I recently introduced my 62-year-old husband to emojis, and now I fear I’ve made a huge mistake. Every text I receive — whether it’s “Pick up milk” or “Your sister called” — is followed by a winking face, a heart and, inexplicably, a rocket ship. He signs grocery lists with smiley faces. He even sent our plumber three flame emojis. I’ve gently suggested that not every situation requires digital fireworks, but he says the emojis “make every message more fun.” Must I accept a future filled with cartoon faces, or is there a tactful way to dial it down? ...