Gary Franks Columns category, Page 4

We need an age limit for federally elected officials and justices on the Supreme Court, restricting anyone from serving beyond 80. We should rid ourselves from an octogenarian-run government. The powers that be — many of whom are older folks — would not agree to this (that is obvious). Thus,...

Despite a hurricane-like wind at their backs on the issues, the Republican Party, with the exception of Florida, failed to create a red wave. The midterm elections were a splendid example of democracy working properly, however. When I heard the Democrats’ closing message that the “world was coming to an...

Asian Americans have done exceedingly well, as members of that community comprise 19% of Harvard College students, even though they make up just 7% of the overall American population. Kudos to them. They are overrepresented at the nation’s top schools, not underrepresented. Yet they have a grievance they have taken...

The historical record is clear. The vast majority of the Jewish community has bonded with Black Americans on civil rights and social justice. Jewish Americans were supporters of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the NAACP, the National Urban League and CORE during the height of the civil rights movement. They...

America seeks to be a melting pot. Ideally, we seek to evaluate people, organizations, performances, records, visions and conditions not based on skin color or party affiliation, but on merit. Otherwise, you can be prejudged. For example, if you are a Black American, there is a more than 90% chance...

I had planned to write about an election issue this week, but Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville interrupted those plans with some inappropriate, disturbing remarks at a recent Republican rally in Nevada. Tuberville said the following about Democrats: “They’re not soft on crime. They’re pro-crime. They want crime. They want...

I’ll never forget the laughter about my candidacy when I first ran for office in an area in Connecticut that is over 90% white. Political leaders joked that white voters would not vote for me because I am Black, and Black people would not vote for me because I am...

Democratic leaders have failed to do their basic job of passing a budget and spending/appropriations bills via regular order or for that matter even as a continuing resolution once again. It is quite apparent that Democrats are just too busy with other pressing matters, like producing the “Trump Reality Show.”...

Threat to our democracy? The major problem for Democrats is that they have not won the white vote in presidential elections since 1964. Today, most Americans were not alive to see it. Former President Lyndon Johnson’s landslide victory included winning the white vote (see voting percentages at end of the...

Who’s a threat to democracy? President Joe Biden is a rubber stamp for the Democrat-controlled Congress. He has never vetoed a bill presented to him by Congress. Thus, as far as policy, legislation and the direction of the country are concerned, the de facto presidents are Senate Majority Leader Chuck...

Blaming a segment of America for the acts of their failed leaders, further dividing America with angry rhetoric and scaring Americans is usually not the best way to lead a country. However, President Joe Biden accomplished this feat in a recent speech. There are threats to our democracy. Ironically, the...

President Joe Biden’s student loan debt relief plan should have been debated and voted on by Congress. Even Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi once said it could only be done via a vote of Congress. For Biden to just do it is considered noble by some, political by others,...

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, if you cannot win a majority in the U.S. Senate in 2022 with a “hurricane style” wind at your back, the problem rests with the person you see in the mirror. A recent NBC poll reported 74% of Americans feel that the nation is heading...

I trust we all would agree that addictions — whether it’s drugs, alcohol, gambling or anything else — are not healthy. So why not define former President Donald Trump as a media addiction? Yes, the mainstream media (both left and right), cable stations, social media, newspapers and radio are all...

We are Americans. We are hardworking people. We fight in defense of our values. We love our freedoms. We do not have to be told what to think — what cars to buy, what jobs to seek, what leaders to choose. We want our leaders to be the best and...

Democrats simply cannot help themselves. The high hopes I had in West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin have diminished, though my high respect for the senator remains. The pressure he felt from being one of the only dissenting voices in the room (Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema being the other) to stop...

Democrats have had a pattern of offering people false hope. Remember, the threat of sanctions would deter Russia from invading Ukraine. We know how that worked out. “Elect me president and I will get rid of covid” — a phrase President Joe Biden campaigned on. How did that turn out?...

America, we are truly in uncharted waters. In a recent Monmouth poll, only 10% of Americans feel we are headed in the right direction. President Joe Biden’s approval numbers — which were already low — are continuing to decline, also in record numbers. The question is, how does Biden turn...

The Supreme Court has had to deal with three issues that seem to bring God back into the conversation. In all three, the inclusion of religious sentiment has prevailed. And I applaud the decisions. The three decisions affect prayer, school choice and abortion. On religion, America is changing. Until 2013,...

Theater — I cannot help but mix a theatrical incident that attempted to portray a narrative meant to hurt one political party. No, not the Jan. 6 congressional hearings. I am referring to the Jussie Smollett saga. You will recall that Smollett was found guilty of orchestrating his own beating....

We offer our “thoughts and prayers” after a tragedy like the one in Uvalde, Texas. It is noble. But it seems misplaced and at times perfunctory. Why not do something that has worked in America’s past — religious observance? Let’s give thoughts and prayers before a tragedy. For decades, we...

It is truly the minds, hearts and souls of those who kill people that must be altered. Due to Supreme Court decisions rendered in 1962 and 1963 that prevented American children from doing what every member of Congress does every day — have a prayer before commencing the day or...

Our democracy is strong. But I have some questions. Can a very unpopular president with a 36% approval rating lead? Can a president with 80% of Americans telling him he is going in the wrong direction still be effective? And if he cannot be, what does this do to our...

As the world shifts its focus toward mourning the victims of senseless violence directed at racial and religious minorities, we should recognize that the Supreme Court actually has an opportunity to show the world where America really stands on racial diversity and race relations. The Supreme Court has held numerous...

The United States has sent $3.7 billion of military support to Ukraine thus far. Now we want to give ten times that amount should Congress agree to President Joe Biden’s latest proposal. Why such a huge increase? Is there a specific goal — other than “whatever (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy...