The first half of 2017 hasn’t been the best six months, leading many to worry about the direction of the world. From the political earthquakes of Brexit and Trump, to the usual assortment of conflicts, killings, terror attacks, and climate change news, you could be excused for thinking civilization is about to unravel. As warranted as this pessimism may appear to be, it’s important to take a step back and remember that the mass media pushes and sensationalizes negative stories to keep you tuning in. John Bradberry Charlotte NC doesn’t buy into most of it, as he is an optimist…

In my teens (and a lot of my twenties) I’ve lived from paycheck to paycheck, spending my money on going out and having fun. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. However, just about every perception I had about myself and how I existed began to shift when I fell pregnant with Amelia.  Suddenly I was going to be the reference point for how to exist is the world properly. Amelia walked early, began talking early and started asking questions I wasn’t ready for way sooner than I expected. One of the popular recurring questions revolves around why exactly we…

Over the last generation, workers in developed nations have had their living standards eroded significantly. As industries began to move offshore in search of cheaper labor, they left their former employees to grapple with a stark choice: accept slave wages or go deep into debt to get an education that wouldn’t necessarily guarantee they would get a job after years of school. Whichever option they chose, the end result was the same: higher crime, increased rates of addiction, and a pervading sense of hopelessness. In recent years, this slow-motion crisis has finally had consequences for the elite in our society,…