Politics and the Pulpit
The question of whether politics should have a place in the pulpit has been with us for decades. At times [...]
What Happened to Catholicism?
Catholics old enough to remember how different the Church was fifty or so years ago often wonder what happened to [...]
Catholic Bishops and Immigration
In June, 2014, speaking for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Bishop Mark Seitz testified before the House Judiciary [...]
Christians and Karma
Christians are not noted for learning from people of different faiths. In fact, many Christians seem to believe that even [...]
The Cognitive Dysfunction Epidemic
Have you ever seen an ad for Cognitive Dysfunction (CD) like the ubiquitous Erectile Dysfunction (ED) ads? It might feature [...]
“American Exceptionalism”
I am troubled by the term “American exceptionalism.” Those who know me will find this odd because I love my [...]
The Real Media Scandal
I have often mentioned an important news story to dedicated news watchers, only to have them respond, “I didn’t know [...]
Refusing to Listen Can Be Costly
When little children don’t want to hear what they are being told, they put their hands over their ears and [...]
Critical Thinking and Common Core
The designers of Common Core claim that critical thinking is an important part of the program. As someone who has [...]
Flirting with Fascism
America has undergone a dramatic cultural shift in the short space of a half-century. The 1960s celebrated freedom from the [...]
Hillary Doubles Down on Benghazi
Hillary Clinton has resurrected the Benghazi issue in a forthcoming book, a chapter of which has been leaked to the [...]
Obama’s Perplexing Behavior
Did President Obama really say, “ I will not stand for this outrage” and then proceed to sit down? Well, [...]
In Praise of Pharmaphobia
I appreciate the value of prescription medicines as much as anyone. When I was ten years old, the then-new wonder [...]
Raising Workplace Morale
I entered the newly designed express lane at the grocery store, said “Hi” to the cashier, and then realized I [...]
Elder Abuse, Government Style
There are many good reasons for recommending geriatric chairs for individuals in Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs), particularly those with Alzheimer’s [...]
What Does “Blessed” Mean?
The answer to this question may seem obvious, but it isn’t. “Blessed” has a number of meanings, depending in part [...]
The Yertles of Capitalism
Capitalism is superior to other economic systems mainly because it provides equality of opportunity. In contrast, socialism strives for an [...]
Ignorance in America
Street interviews have been a staple on TV since Steve Allen’s original Tonight Show. One reason for their success is [...]
The Democrats’ Advantage
Why do today’s Democrats do so much better than Republicans at the polls? Their supporters say because their programs are [...]
The Butterfly Effect and America’s Decline
As a child, you no doubt enjoyed tossing pebbles in a body of water and watching the ripples extend far [...]
On Denigrating America
Conservative media regularly criticize President Obama for denying American exceptionalism, for claiming the country needs to be “transformed,” and for [...]
Humor and Learning
Why do many teachers have the attitude that learning is such serious business that any hint of humor undermines it? [...]
Educators Still Don’t Get It
In a 2013 interview with the NY Times, Laszlo Bock, senior operations VP at Google, reported that the company now [...]
O’Reilly vs. Limbaugh on Obama
Although media titans Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh are both critical of President Obama’s policies, they deal very differently with [...]
An Occasion of Grace
I was driving to Mass on a recent Sunday morning. There was one car ahead of me on the residential [...]
Author Vincent Ryan Ruggiero
Since retiring from teaching, I have continued my work in promoting sound thinking in education and in the general culture. More specifically, I have kept refining my textbooks, four of which have been continuously in print for an average of 33 years. I have also continued to write books for the general public, the latest of which is Corrupted Culture: Rediscovering America’s Enduring Principles, Values, and Common Sense, and I write a weekly column for an online journal.