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Virtuous action is rare in today’s political realm. Partisan divides are ubiquitous. These circumstances, however, are what make Rhode Island’s new legislation legalizing same-sex marriage all the more incredible. And it is because of these circu...

Senate President Paiva Weed: An American Hero

Virtuous action is rare in today’s political realm. Partisan divides are ubiquitous. These circumstances, however, are what make Rhode Island’s new legislation legalizing same-sex marriage all the more incredible. And it is because of these circu...

John Locke, portrait from Library of Congress and WikiMedia Commons This week, I wanted to go back to the 9th grade, when, as is custom in North Carolina, I took civics class.  In 9th grade civics, we talk about basic political philosophy.  One top...

Dictionary of Overused Words: Tyranny

John Locke, portrait from Library of Congress and WikiMedia Commons This week, I wanted to go back to the 9th grade, when, as is custom in North Carolina, I took civics class.  In 9th grade civics, we talk about basic political philosophy.  One top...

Photo Author’s Own Many cities with desperate downtowns are attempting to lure big business in by hook or crook.  The New York Times recently ran a multi-week series, including a cool online graphic  called “The United States of Subsidies...

Brown on Auto-PILOT?

Photo Author’s Own Many cities with desperate downtowns are attempting to lure big business in by hook or crook.  The New York Times recently ran a multi-week series, including a cool online graphic  called “The United States of Subsidies...

Welcome back from spring break, Brunonians.  After a week at home reading the North Carolina papers, I came up with an NC issue to write about this week.  Also, I wanted to use whatever audience BPR has to bring some attention outside NC to a cont...

Students for Students

Welcome back from spring break, Brunonians.  After a week at home reading the North Carolina papers, I came up with an NC issue to write about this week.  Also, I wanted to use whatever audience BPR has to bring some attention outside NC to a cont...

First, a disclosure: As part of a class I’m taking, I’m involved with Rhode Island Payday Lending Reform, the coalition whose cause I discuss below. Payday loans are a way for people who need cash, and don’t have access to traditional banking r...

Why RI Needs Payday Lending Reform

First, a disclosure: As part of a class I’m taking, I’m involved with Rhode Island Payday Lending Reform, the coalition whose cause I discuss below. Payday loans are a way for people who need cash, and don’t have access to traditional banking r...

According to Inside Higher Ed: “The Senate voted last Wednesday to bar the use of National Science Foundation funds for political science research not deemed essential to national security or economic interest.” This article notes that th...

Defunding Political Science Research Is Undemocratic

According to Inside Higher Ed: “The Senate voted last Wednesday to bar the use of National Science Foundation funds for political science research not deemed essential to national security or economic interest.” This article notes that th...

From Wikimedia Commons Lots of cities and states subsidize and promote their airports, and Rhode Island is no exception.  Policy has been built around TF Green being a job creator and major asset for the state – a nice, reasonably priced airport w...

Do Airports Hurt Downtowns?

From Wikimedia Commons Lots of cities and states subsidize and promote their airports, and Rhode Island is no exception.  Policy has been built around TF Green being a job creator and major asset for the state – a nice, reasonably priced airport w...

I’ll start with the low-down: there’s a good chance many in the political arena don’t fully understand the Three-Fifths Clause. And when Americans try to talk about the “horrors” of Three-Fifths, they may actually perpetuate serious sub-tex...

Negro President and the “Three-Fifths Fail”

I’ll start with the low-down: there’s a good chance many in the political arena don’t fully understand the Three-Fifths Clause. And when Americans try to talk about the “horrors” of Three-Fifths, they may actually perpetuate serious sub-tex...

Photo Credit: Adam E. Moreira Brown students get the privilege of riding RIPTA for free, a fairly common setup for students in college towns.  The University pays a lump sum to the public transit authority, and then a student ID card gets the studen...

Could Providence Go Fare-Free?

Photo Credit: Adam E. Moreira Brown students get the privilege of riding RIPTA for free, a fairly common setup for students in college towns.  The University pays a lump sum to the public transit authority, and then a student ID card gets the studen...

While combing through state laws as part of an research internship, I came across Massachusetts General Law Part 1, Title XII, Chapter 71, Section 31: A portion of the Bible shall be read daily in the public schools, without written note or oral comm...

Massachusetts: Not Godless Heathens?

While combing through state laws as part of an research internship, I came across Massachusetts General Law Part 1, Title XII, Chapter 71, Section 31: A portion of the Bible shall be read daily in the public schools, without written note or oral comm...