Columnists

When I was a teenager, my grandfather Harry used to dine with us most nights. After dinner he would deliver a homily, usually, "Beware the Russians!" Grandpa Harry warned us about the Russians because they had no ethics: they would say and do anything to win. If he was alive now, Harry would still fear the Russians, but he would also warn of Christians, because some of them are willing to say and do anything to win. Witness their support of Donald Trump. -more-

Since I know almost nothing about biochemistry and am not a doctor or pharmacist, I could not reliably tell you the specific combinations of pharmaceuticals, and/or alcohol that can cause sudden death. However, I have learned to some small extent about the scenarios in which this can happen, because I've looked at mass media news outlets with their stories about famous people who have died, and because I personally knew one or two individuals to whom this happened. Pharmaceutical errors are in some cases failures of the pharmacies, and in other cases, it is hard to pinpoint who is responsible. -more-

This past week, President Trump and House Republicans took initial steps to cut back the social safety net, arguing that such spending is counterproductive and wasteful, and that eligibility must be tightened for programs including food stamps and Medicaid. They also argue that welfare benefits are far too generous, and work requirements much too lax. -more-