Category Archives: The Contrarian

Our Progressive Cosmos


As the Republican National Convention cheers the end of democracy and it’s apparent deformed ascendancy into a Confederacy of Feudal Dunces, a cry in the dark for liberalism, which will ultimately prevail.

Because we are all star stuff, born from the hearts of ancient suns. And in that cosmic heritage, we find a profound truth: the universe itself resonates with liberal ideals.

Consider the vastness of space and time. In its 13.8 billion year journey, our cosmos has never ceased to change, to grow, to become more complex.

From hydrogen atoms to rocky worlds, from simple cells to conscious beings – the arrow of cosmic evolution points towards progress. It is a story of constant transformation.

The quantum world shimmers with possibility. At the smallest scales, nature embraces uncertainty, creating a tapestry of diversity that extends to the largest structures in the universe.

Galaxies dance in gravitational embrace. Stars forge elements in their cores, then seed space with the building blocks of life. The universe thrives on interconnection.

Life on our pale blue dot tells a similar tale. DNA, that ancient molecule, experiments endlessly. Natural selection favors adaptability, not rigidity.

In the drama of evolution, cooperation often trumps competition. From the mitochondria in our cells to the intricate ecology of a coral reef, life finds strength in symbiosis.

We are a way for the cosmos to know itself. And as we gaze out at the stars, we recognize a reflection of our highest ideals – progress, diversity, interconnectedness.

To be liberal, then, is to be in harmony with the fundamental nature of reality. It is to recognize our place in the grand cosmic story.

So take heart in the madness of now. We are all connected; to each other, biologically. To the Earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe, atomically.

This is not philosophy. It is physics.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​


Should future civilizations attempt to reconstruct American democracy — which the Supreme Court struck down last week with its presidential immunity ruling, coupled with its gutting of the Chevron rule — they may want to start with a new mantra: term limits.

For president, supreme court justice, senator, dog catcher. Anything that the public can vote on.

How many is just a math question. But the only job with lifetime security should be whoever cleans men’s toilets; you’re the real heroes.

Judges, in particular, have gotta go, regardless of ideology. No branch of government requires more flexibility, and no branch has less (plus tenure). It’s a better gig than the boss who gave it to you has.

The Supreme Court has veered sharply to the right. Recent rulings show a clear pattern: presidential immunity and the Chevron rule, which grants expertise status to judges over scientists, are just the start.

Justice Clarence Thomas has become a symbol of entrenched conservative ideology, prioritizing his personal views over public consensus. His stance on issues like Roe v. Wade and unchecked executive power is a stark reminder of the dangers of lifetime appointments.

Justice Samuel Alito’s blatant display of a states’ rights flag in his chambers is a middle finger to progressive legislation. His federalist leanings are a roadblock to national solutions for modern problems.

Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s religious zealotry bleeds into her judicial decisions. Her originalist dogma is out of step with today’s societal needs, turning the clock back on women’s rights, LGBT issues and education in ways Trump never imagined she could lie about.

Though justices are hardly the only ones long in the tooth. Power must be as addictive as heroine; half of Congress us nodding off.

Term limits would smash this rigidity. The average tenure of a Supreme Court justice has ballooned from 15 years in the early 20th century to 26 years today. We need fresh perspectives, not stagnant lifers.

It’s time to dismantle the structure of our judiciary. Lifelong appointments breed arrogance and stagnation.

Remind you of anybody?