Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer Leadership requires correctly identifying problems and developing solutions. Demagogues often recognize when others are in pain, but they then exploit the pain for personal gain.  This technique helps the politician gain, and solidify, power.   Demagogues behave exactly like snake oil salesmen.  Before the Pure Food andContinue Reading

Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer Conservatives politicians make two promises. They promise that government can’t work when they are elected. They promise to run government like their personal business.  Why are we surprised when things turned out good for them and their friends but bad for us? Conservative politicians are on televisionContinue Reading

Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer When a woman walks into a doctor’s office should Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick and Ken Paxton walk in too?  Should national Republicans like Mitch McConnell, Kevin McCarthy and Ted Cruz watch a woman’s exam?  Should these politicians make medical decisions for women?  Republican politicians in Austin andContinue Reading

Conservatives have been pretty clear about one aspect of their governing philosophy.  They say that they will run government like a business.  Liberals, however, see government as public services.  The results are dramatically different.  Liberal policies shaped American politics after the Great Depression.  Franklin Delano Roosevelt provided a role modelContinue Reading

Glenn Melancon/Contributing writer Between Jan. 20, 2001 and July 14, 2008 prices at the gas pump rose from $1.47 per gallon to $4.11 per gallon.  During that extended price rise, two Texas oil men sat in the Oval Office and made decisions.  Dramatically, gas prices fell to $1.61 by DecemberContinue Reading