Michael McGrady

October 21, 2017October 21, 2017 in World

American Foreign Policy Goes Horribly Wrong As Tehran Seizes Control Of Baghdad

Confusion is a powerful tool. Per media reports that revealed that the Iraqi federal government began operations to take control over the region of Iraqi Kurdistan, a lot of confusion still looms. Within the Beltway, people are lost and questioning whether or not the Trump Administration made the best decision to partake in a stance of neutrality in the Iraqi-Kurd dispute. However, the only thing that can be taken seriously is the fact that many in the international community—including President Donald Trump and the leadership of the United Nations—are non-committal to either side. But, something suggests otherwise. Never mind this… Keep Reading

September 22, 2017 in Politics

We Have To Stop Fighting The Russia-Trump Probe

Recently, new and damning revelations have surfaced in the Robert Mueller inquiry into the alleged Russia-Trump collusion during the 2016 election. Undeniably, many on the right and the left are in shock at the level of depth Mueller and his team prosecutors have gone to unravel the mystery. In essence, they are asking the questions of “what happened,” “who,” and “why?” With this in mind, many on the right—especially in Trump’s base—need to accept the fact that the investigation is reaching an unprecedented level after the allegations of Russian-linked tinkering in the 2016 election were revealed. Yes, it is drawn… Keep Reading

June 16, 2017June 16, 2017 in Culture/Philosophy/Religion

I’m Pro-Muslim (and Jewish, Catholic, Hindu, and Jedi) – but Pro-Western Law

Last weekend, onlookers witnessed crazy left-wing protesters attacking anti-Sharia demonstrators for voicing their opinion. Although such acts are clearly contemptible and should never be regarded as acceptable, they are backed by a reservoir of tense political and religious indoctrination that can cause a great divide. It is my belief that many of the arguments supporting and opposing the anti-Sharia Marches have been wildly mischaracterized and underreported. I believe that every person of faith should be guaranteed their right to practice any religion they deem necessary for their spiritual well-being. I strongly believe in the notion of religious freedom. I am proud to identify… Keep Reading

June 6, 2017June 5, 2017 in Culture

A Not So Awful Explanation of Why “Wonder Woman” Wasn’t So Awful – and why it was pretty good

Getting past the sexiness exuded by Gal Gadot in her role as the lead, Wonder Woman wasn’t the narrative of preachy Hollywood feminism I thought it would be. In fact, the film was so much more than just a hot Amazonian showing how wicked strong female leads can be in the male-dominated genre of superhero cinema. DC Comics has a track record of screwing up heroes. But, I believe it is safe to say that this time around, they didn’t miss the mark that far. Granted, I will contend that this wasn’t the greatest dedication to an iconic hero (at least not… Keep Reading

May 31, 2017May 31, 2017 in Culture

It’s Still #FreeSpeech

“I may not agree with you, but I will defend to the death your right to make an ass of yourself.” – Oscar Wilde Kathy Griffin – a relatively unfunny comedienne who just stooped to Amy Schumer-levels – is an American citizen, a human being, and a woman of deep-seeded opinion. Therefore, she is reserved every right to discredit herself as she deems fit. Of course, I am speaking in regards to the shock campaign and quest for sympathy laughs that she is now vying for after appearing in a photograph depicting her holding the bloodied, beheaded melon of President Donald Trump. In… Keep Reading

May 31, 2017 in Culture/Philosophy

The “I’m White, You’re Black” Mentality

Recently, I committed a lot of my time focusing and contemplating on the nature of race on the college campus. Granted, for most students, these universities and colleges are on summer break; but, these thoughts have still “haunted” me for the past few weeks. After witnessing many commencement ceremonies – especially for my fiancé who received her B.A. in Criminal Justice earlier this month – one concept that I have observed, given the wide diversity of people, is that the college campus is a Petri dish for insanity, extremism, suppression, and ignorance – for some of all sides on the… Keep Reading

May 25, 2017May 25, 2017 in Culture/Politics

Donald Trump isn’t Palpatine, he is Valorum

Let’s get some things straight. I voted for Donald Trump because I wanted the best effort to defeat Hillary Clinton (the Star Wars equivalent of Mother Talzin), so, I admit there may be some levels of hypocrisy associated with this piece. Moving on… The simplest of ways to put this is that Donald Trump is not the image of the corrupt Sheev Palpatine (a.k.a. Darth Sidious) that the Left has characterized him to be. In fact, it is my belief that Trump – when applying Star Wars canon — holds similar characteristics of Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum, Palpatine’s predecessor. Keep Reading

April 17, 2017April 17, 2017 in Culture/World

The Enigma of North Korean Film

If you have read in my past columns, I have a “love-affair” with North Korea. No, I don’t want to defect like James Joseph Dresnok did in the 1950s; but, more or less, I hold a deference for the people that comprise the true makeup of the oppressed population. To our avail, analysts of North Korea long question the grip that the country has on its people. Obviously, the one thing that prevents an uprising against a despotic government is an effective international and domestic propaganda machine that demonizes the United States as imperialists, etc. Keep Reading

March 29, 2017March 29, 2017 in Philosophy/Politics

The “Skim Milk” Mentality on the First Amendment

Yeah, you’re probably scratching your head, aren’t you? Despite the ambiguity of the title of this op-ed, the comments you are about to read throughout are listed in an effort to illustrate the damaging state of the First Amendment. A few days ago, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit concluded in one of the most obscure federal lawsuits in recent years that government regulators in the State of Florida violated the first amendment rights of an all-natural dairy producer in a rural part of the state. Specifically, the dairy is known as Ocheesee Creamery and the lawsuit… Keep Reading

March 27, 2017March 27, 2017 in Politics

Why I Side With CEI’s Myron Ebell on Tillerson Claims

Myron Ebell, a libertarian policy hero and the environmental chief of the Competitive Enterprise Institute struck a chord with me when he characterized Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as being a part of the “swamp” of the beltway. And, frankly, I agree with him. Before we go on any further, I went to the national stage to advocate for the confirmation of Secretary Tillerson during his contested confirmation phase. This is also the case for many of my conservative and libertarian brothers and sisters who sought out an accountable and steadfast diplomat to negotiate on our nation’s behalf. Keep Reading

March 24, 2017 in Politics

Lions, and Tigers, and Guns, Oh My…

Gun rights are one of the most defining issues for many conservatives. It isn’t my top issue, due to my devotion to the First Amendment; but, the Second Amendment rights to many are even more sacred than their right to freely speak, practice their faith, and slam politicians. Nevertheless, the way you perceive your gun rights links back to one basic principal: human’s natural survival instinct. Keep Reading

March 21, 2017March 21, 2017 in Economics/Politics

“Audit the Ed” – The Effort to Audit Federal Student Loan Programs

Do you have federal student loans? I do and, if you are anything like me, it sucks. Regardless of being on the receiving end of a loan, the program administered by the U.S. Department of Education is clearly flawed. In fact, one can easily make an argument claiming that because of widespread borrowing, the student loan program was a direct link to the epidemic of ever-rising tuition rates in American higher education. Millions take out multi-thousand dollar loans from institutions that have to comply with federal standards to allow such things and the end cost is a steeply subsidized environment. With the… Keep Reading

March 16, 2017March 16, 2017 in Economics/Law

Animal Chiropractic: A Case Study on Government Overreach and Over-regulation

You’re probably scratching your head right about now, aren’t you? Well, let me take a few minutes to explain to you the level of importance the following case carries for the larger narrative of governmental overreach and over-regulation. No, it is not a federal agency defying the new administration. Better yet, it takes place at the state level as an evident issue that affects many across the Union. Keep Reading

March 10, 2017March 10, 2017 in Law/Politics

Why the Endangered Species Act Needs to be Reformed

A little over two weeks ago, our friends in Washington D.C. held a committee meeting to discuss the possibilities of modernizing the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The ESA is one of the several environmental laws passed in the 1970s that served as provisional attempts to protect species considered a risk of going extinct due to economic growth and the alleged lack of concern for the conservation of our environment. Keep Reading

March 3, 2017March 3, 2017 in Economics/Politics

The Rise of Modern Environmental Federalism

Too often, the realm of environmental policy has gone down unforgiving roads. In terms of regulating industry being one of those many roads, the devil in the details become exposed. At this point, a Pandora’s box of nonsensical regulation envelopes the free marketplace with unrealistic standards that limit and restrict growth for an economy. Upon the transition of power, visa vi the transition of an Obama White House to a Trump White House, the American Environmental Protection Agency had nearly unchecked power. Now, as we see the rise of individuals like Scott Pruitt and Ryan Zinke to lead the nation’s… Keep Reading

February 28, 2017 in Culture/Philosophy

Ending the Free Speech “Victim’s Mentality” on Campus

Benjamin Franklin once wrote that “Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government: When this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved, and tyranny is erected on its ruins.” Liu Xiaobo, in challenging the oppression of Chinese communism, said, “Free expression is the base of human rights, the root of human nature and the mother of truth. To kill free speech is to insult human rights, to stifle human nature and to suppress [the] truth.” Louis D. Brandeis, a U.S. Supreme Court justice appointed by Woodrow Wilson, proclaimed that “It is the… Keep Reading