Opinion

How to wage war on low pay

The American economy is suffering from forty years of flat wages, the result of a profound, and profoundly unequal, productivity-pay gap. From the end of the Second World War to the mid-1970s, productivity and hourly compensation tracked very closely, with both growing by over 90 percent; since then, on the other hand, productivity has risen 77 percent while real hourly pay has grown only about 12 percent. This is nothing less than a chronic crisis, a stalling of the American dream.

Fighting the Fall illness

Four score and seven degrees

Washington's wacky watershed week

During the Trump era, the President’s early morning tweets routinely sculpt a fast-paced, short-term and tension-filled political terrain each week. This week seems to have topped them all since the inauguration. It began with Trump’s rebuttal of why world leaders laughed at him at the United Nations. The week sped along with the President’s phone call to the Deputy Attorney General, who was to personally meet him on Thursday at the White House with expectations of the President firing him. However, Thursday’s senate confirmation hearing rose high above the weekly landscape when Dr. Christine Blasey Ford testified against Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh, alleging that Kavanaugh assaulted her when she was 15 years old.

In which a non-Scene writer listens to some Scene Selections

Response to "Pro-life is pro-woman"

Observer Editorial: On our food inspections

A call to refuse contempt

Stopped in my own tracks

Dreaming of reality

Thrift, thriving and liberal education

Big game this weekend

Late night company

Pro-life is pro-woman

Noelle Johnson

The Supreme Court: A bench of sexual abusers

unApologetically

To Maria and Maddie

I write to praise two students, both of whom excelled in my Literature University Seminar in their first year. In singling out Maria Burgess, now a junior, and sophomore Maddie Penn, I am also reaching out to all those who serve the idea(l) of God, Country, Notre Dame in ways that go beyond the academic. While I am not in a position to address the God part, I will speak of Maria and Maddie in terms of Country and Notre Dame. I arrive on campus early in the morning. Often, Maria and her Army ROTC sisters and brothers, are already well into drills that have them doing push-ups, sit-ups, crunches, etc. on the very wet ground. This never fails to strike me as uncomfortable at the very best. That the discomfort seems purposefully part of the program, and that the students show no reluctance, amplifies the admiration I have for them. We will be well-served by these future soldiers.  As if book-ending my day, at least during the “season,” I am treated to rehearsal of the marching band as I hack my way around the Warren Golf Course in the evening. Although I can neither see her nor pick out her French horn, I silently “cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame” and for Maddie, the band, all the ensembles and soloists who enhance life here at Notre Dame. They imbue the place with the beating heart that is music. At the risk of redundancy, I want to thank not only Maria and Maddie, but all those who, through their investment of time, energy, talent and resolve, bring added value to the University and, in the long haul, to the country.

Where are the Wheaties?

Women in leadership: inspiring positive change

The #Resistance and their irresponsible rhetoric