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We like to believe that the law is fair, that it protects everyone equally, regardless of status or wealth. After all, it’s written into the fabric of our society—"justice for all" is a phrase we’re taught as children, a promise we expect our government to uphold. But as we grow older, we start to notice that this ideal is just that—an ideal. In practice, the law belongs to the rich. The Price of Justice It’s no secret that the criminal justice system favors those who can afford the best legal representation. For the wealthy, hiring high-powered lawyers, paying for endless...

 Since being blacklisted by Stephan Baxter, I've watched as he continues to promote only his inner circle of artists. One of these artists, John Sollom, stands out not because of his excellence, but due to the confusion his art evokes. Is John Sollom actually any good? At first glance, it's clear that Sollom is a skilled oil painter. His technical ability is evident. However, what he chooses to do with that skill is where things start to fall apart. Sollom’s works typically involve assemblages, abstract three-dimensional constructions hung on the wall, reminiscent of Robert Rauschenberg’s famous combines. Then, amidst...

Mom,Let’s cut to the chase. We both know Dad made promises. He told me, Pat, and Bev that I would be cared for, and you, at some point, echoed those words yourself. I believed it, took it to heart, but everything changed the day I struck you. I see that now. It was a moment of pain for both of us, but is that the reason everything fell apart? The truth is simple: I’m disabled, and I cannot take care of myself without support. It’s not pride; it’s survival. I need money to get by, to live day to day....

I never thought I’d be here, writing this plea for help, but the truth is, my family is trying to kill me. No, not in some dramatic, action-movie sense with guns and explosions. It’s far more insidious. They’re doing it legally, by cutting me off from every resource I need to survive—and calling it tough love. Let me tell you something about tough love: It’s nothing more than a cruel, legal method of murder. They might not see it that way, but I do. It’s a slow, painful process, one that strips away everything you need until you’re left with...

Al-Anon has been a lifeline for many who live with the chaos of addiction in their families. But as with any group, certain clichés become part of the culture, and one in particular—“If he dies, he dies”—has sparked a deep moral debate. Is it a necessary form of tough love, or is it an excuse for neglect? Can drug addiction be used as a reason to abandon your loved one to their fate, or, in extreme cases, even justify their death? At the heart of this question lies the difficult, often heartbreaking decisions families are forced to make when dealing...