Even worse than Big Brother, Big Mother has made an industry of saving people from themselves. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in the campaign against environmental tobacco smoke, aka secondhand smoke. The science is much less scarey than the politicians.

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Some individuals stress the progress we have yet to make -- pointing out the continued examples of racism and other systems of oppression. While other individuals want to highlight the progress we have made thus far -- noting legal battles and the diversification of the middle class. The former demands the latter “wake up and stop living in denial.” While the latter is sick and tired of hearing the former complain since “it’s a new day.” Why can’t we hold both concepts as valid reflections of our current reality?

Drug courts and a march against violence in St. Louis show that people do care and are willing to get off the couch to try to make life better and safer for others. But columnist M.W. Guzy questions whether these things are enough.

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What if all every school senior had to write a surprise essay and have it posted on the internet for all the world to read -- and to judge whether the school had prepared its students to go on to college or work?

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Columnist M.W. Guzy uses the primary results to handicap the general election and doesn't see good things for the Democrats.