opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
Why Helping Your Neighbor Now Requires a Government Permit
Let’s play a game of “What if?” What if a modern-day equivalent of Mother Teresa—a globally recognized Nobel laureate whose entire life is a testament to selfless charity—arrived in one of our gleaming American cities today? Not for a fundraiser or a speech, but to actually get her hands dirty caring for our most vulnerable.
By The Colson Lens5 months ago in The Swamp
The Enigma of Putin’s “Second Body”
Have you ever heard the theory that powerful leaders use doubles to protect themselves? It’s one of those ideas that sounds straight out of a spy novel, but when it comes to Vladimir Putin, Russia’s long-time leader, the rumor has circulated for years with surprising persistence. Known popularly as the claim that Putin has a “second body” or political double, this idea mixes conspiracy, state secrecy, and the mysterious aura that has surrounded him for decades. But is there any truth to it, or is it simply another myth that keeps the intrigue around him alive?
By John Smith5 months ago in The Swamp
It's just slow enough to blink and miss it
We aren’t descending into authoritarianism. We are already there. This is something odd that occurs. The news or social media tend to make claims that we are in danger of an authoritarian government or a constitutional crisis. We never want to admit that we have already hit that point. Maybe it’s delusion. Maybe it’s hope. Or maybe it’s happening slowly enough for us to not really notice it.
By Hayden Searcy5 months ago in The Swamp
Amazon now sells used Hertz rental cars
Amazon has once again expanded its vast marketplace in a way that surprises industry analysts and excites consumers. The company that began as an online bookseller and grew into a retail and logistics empire is now selling used Hertz rental cars directly on its platform. This move demonstrates how Amazon continues to blur the lines between traditional commerce and digital convenience while further cementing its influence across multiple industries.
By GLOBAL NEWS5 months ago in The Swamp
Why Jelly Roll and Brandon Lake Are the Unlikely Prophets of the #FuckCensorship Revival
Let's Get One Thing Straight I’ve been called a lot of things in the past two years — irreverent, opinionated, a little unhinged, and my personal favorite, “too loud for Jesus.”
By Sunshine Firecracker5 months ago in The Swamp
Why Your Future Isn't the Government's Problem
Let’s be honest: we’ve all been there. A problem arises—a job loss, a medical bill, an economic downturn—and our first, almost instinctual thought is, “What is the government going to do about it?” This isn’t an accident. It’s a reflex carefully cultivated over a lifetime, a lesson pounded into our heads from the fifth grade onward. As Charles Colson brilliantly exposed, we are a nation raised on a steady diet of the political illusion—the seductive but dangerous lie that the state is our provider, our savior, and the key to a “rich and full” life.
By The Colson Lens5 months ago in The Swamp
Rates of West Nile Virus Increasing Throughout Philadelphia Region
West Nile Virus cases are rising throughout the Philadelphia region. As the number of cases of West Nile Virus (WNV) continues to rise throughout the summer, health officials in the Philadelphia area are raising the alarm. The mosquito-borne illness, which has been present in Pennsylvania since the beginning of the 2000s, is experiencing a significant resurgence, with an increase in the number of human cases and positive mosquito pools. In Philadelphia, Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester Counties, the presence of the virus-carrying mosquitoes has been confirmed to be higher than usual. According to data from environmental surveillance, the primary disease-carrying Culex species of mosquito have found ideal breeding conditions thanks to warmer temperatures, recent heavy rainfall, and persistent humidity. Officials say that although the rise isn't yet considered an outbreak, the pattern is troubling enough to warrant increased mosquito control efforts. In particular in areas where mosquito samples have tested positive, crews are spraying insecticides in targeted neighborhoods. Local governments are urging residents to take preventative measures seriously and keeping a daily eye on traps. The bite of an infected mosquito is how West Nile Virus gets into people. One in five people who contract the virus will experience fever, headaches, body aches, nausea, and fatigue. The majority of people who contract the virus will not experience any symptoms. The virus can cause neurological problems like meningitis or encephalitis in severe cases, especially in older people or those with weaker immune systems. These conditions, which can be fatal, necessitate immediate medical attention. The Philadelphia region has not seen such widespread positive mosquito pools since 2018, when dozens of human cases and several fatalities were reported across Pennsylvania. This year's increase has sparked concern because of this. Climate change may be contributing to the rise, experts warn. Mosquito populations are able to survive in greater numbers thanks to warmer winters, and wet springs and summers increase the amount of standing water in which the insects can breed. Dr. Philadelphia's Health Commissioner, Cheryl Bettigole, emphasized that vigilance is essential despite the low overall risk to any individual. Bettigole offered this explanation: "We are seeing higher mosquito activity carrying West Nile Virus than we typically expect at this point in the season." “We want residents to protect themselves by using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants during peak mosquito hours, and eliminating standing water around their homes.”
By GLOBAL NEWS5 months ago in The Swamp
Freedom in Tension: Between Anarchic Ideal and Fascistic Reality
The American anarchist and political economist Benjamin Tucker once called himself an adherent of “unterrified Jeffersonianism.” That phrase, half tongue-in-cheek and half serious, captures the contradiction at the heart of freedom: it is at once an ideal of perfection and a struggle against imperfection.
By Wade Wainio5 months ago in The Swamp
The Hidden Economic Force No Politician Wants to Talk About
Let’s cut through the noise. The pundits on the cable news scream until they’re red in the face. One side chants, “It’s the economy, stupid!” The other side retorts, “No, it’s about values!” They frame it as a binary choice, a zero-sum game where we must choose between putting food on the table and having a moral compass. We’re told that “kitchen-table issues” are the real ones, and that discussions about ethics, virtue, and character are a distracting smokescreen for the elite.
By The Colson Lens5 months ago in The Swamp
Powerball Jackpot Rockets Past $600 Million Ahead of Monday Night Drawing
Before the Monday night drawing, the Powerball jackpot surges past $600 million. Before Monday night's drawing, the Powerball jackpot has increased to an eye-popping $655 million, making it the largest prize of the year thus far and one of the largest in recent history. Since the last grand prize win on May 31st, when a lucky ticket holder in California won the top prize, the jackpot has grown steadily. Since then, no player has been successful in matching all six numbers, and the jackpot has rolled over thirty times in a row. This long streak without a winner has fueled anticipation and ticket sales nationwide, as millions of hopefuls line up for their shot at fortune.
By GLOBAL NEWS5 months ago in The Swamp
