Tag: politics
-
Merit and Inclusion: DEI and the New Executive Order
Last week, among a flurry of Executive Orders issued by the White House, President Trump issued one aimed at eliminating what his administration views as dangerous and potentially discriminatory diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. The order was issued in response his concerns that many American institutions, including federal agencies, corporations, and educational institutions, had…
-
The Ripple Effect of Mandated Reporting
Last week I wrote about giving the new presidential administration a chance to do what the voters asked it to do. Secure the borders. Lower the cost of eggs and insurance and housing. Level the playing field for athletes. Help bring peace to war zones and keep our troops safe. I suspect that was…
-
American Crossroads and Our Shared Responsibility
So there are big changes coming to America tomorrow. A new president will be taking office and by many accounts, either democracy will end or salvation will arrive. What are we to believe? Whom should we trust? We are often told that American democracy is on the brink. Every generation has had its moments…
-
Public Participation and Discussion in Local Government.
My job requires me to do lots of work in various municipal buildings and town halls around the state. I am pretty well-acquainted with what is happening in town governments as a result of my travels. (As an aside, I can also tell you the best places to get a sandwich or a coffee in…
-
From Reuther to Fain: Shaping the Past and Future of Workers’ Rights
As we approach Labor Day, it’s fitting to reflect on two pivotal figures in the history of labor: Walter Reuther and Shawn Fain. I first read about Reuther a couple of decades ago as I was embarking on my career in labor law. He was a visionary leader of the UAW who sought to protect…
-
America’s Asylum Paradox
Earlier this year I began digging into immigration and asylum jurisprudence as I tried to gain a better understanding of the issues surrounding the nation’s border policies, and the increase of illegal crossings of immigrants at the southern border. What I learned was that U.S. policy has been allowing immigrants who cross at a…
-
Shifting Power From Agencies to Courts
The end of June always brings decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court on the most consequential cases of the term. Closing out the most recent term, the Court took some extra time into July before issuing its final three decisions. The most closely watched of course was the Court’s decision regarding presidential immunity for…
-
Political Enmity in Our Civil Structure
I was reading a book about the life of Abraham Lincoln this week. There are great parallels between the crises that America faced in the middle of the nineteenth century and the crises our country faces today. The issue of slavery was the dividing line back in Lincoln’s time. Today immigration and institutional mistrust…
The Law Office of Eric R. Brown 