Benjamin Franklin famously quipped about the only two certainties in life: death and taxes. Tax policy, a reflection of social values and priorities, is inherently contentious in a state as large and diverse as California, much less the United States overall. Although most taxpayers agree on the necessity of collective contributions to services like schools, roads, … Continue reading »
digital communications
Does technology really cut us off from other people?
Smarthphones and social media are changing our daily lives and our society. It’s now normal to see two people at a dinner table fiddling with their phones—and why not? They probably first met each other through their phones, on a dating site like OKCupid. But are digital devices and social media disconnecting us from the … Continue reading »
American ties (III)
It may be hard to believe, but a generation ago you could be in touch with another person only by speaking face-to-face, by letter, or by a telephone hard-wired to a fixed line – no conversations while walking down the street, no texting, no IM-ing, tweeting, etc. These days it seems hard keep out of … Continue reading »
Digital sharing is today’s global town crier
Providing access to information has long been the hallmark of scholarship. Digital sharing is today’s equivalent of a global town crier. Being within earshot of the source of news in an 18th century town square is one thing, but being able to access information as soon as it is posted is the key to accelerating … Continue reading »