Articles on PR for People

The Right to Vote is Hard Earned

Annie Searle

October 09, 2018

When the U.S. Constitution was adopted in 1789, it was meant to be a means by which the states ascribed powers to the federal government, but its first ten amendments -- the Bill of Rights -- defined limits on the federal government to enumerate constitutional protection for individual liberties. The principle of representation was an intensely argued one when the Constitution was drafted, most particularly in how slaves would be counted (as three-fifths of a person) in a federal census every ten years. In her book, These Truths, Jill Lepore notes “The most remarkable consequence of this remarkable arrangement was to grant slave states far greater representation in Congress than free states.” (125)

Comments

Politics

A Free and Independent Press

Annie Searle

September 11, 2018

This past month – despite ongoing attacks from President Trump that range from characterizations like “the lying New York Times” to “fake news” (CNN) to “garbage” (BuzzFeed) – the American press continues to cover the White House closely. In fact, the press is increasing the breadth of its scrutiny with op-ed pieces such as those in the Washington Post and New York Times, as well as extended opinion pieces by on-air journalists like Don Lemon, Anderson Cooper, Brian Williams, and Rachel Maddow.

Comments

Books

On Amazon – Annie Searle’s Risk Reconsidered

Annie Searle

August 15, 2018

The field of operational risk management is still relatively new. Last year, I thought about creating a risk textbook and shopping it to publishers like Pearson or Wiley because I have not been able to find a single risk textbook for classroom use either at the introductory or advanced level. When I examined that route more thoroughly, I realized that it would not work for me or my readers mainly because of the time involved to publish a book and the price the publisher would set for such a volume. Then there is the more elementary issue that most of my writing has immediacy, examining current events within the broader framework of risk, governance, policy, and law.

Comments

Politics

"All Rise!"

Annie Searle

July 10, 2018

“All rise!” is what the clerk of court calls out when a judge enters a courtroom, at all levels of our legal system, from traffic court to the Supreme Court. We are asked to rise out of respect for the judge, who represents the judiciary branch of government, in which we place the even-handed enforcement of what we call the rule of law.

Comments

Politics

Reconsidering Risk

Annie Searle

June 13, 2018

It is just a year ago that the London-based magazine, The Risk Universe, shut down its operation. I had written quarterly for the magazine for five years. Looking back upon the articles, I could see that each was still relevant to any discussion of operational risk. I asked and received permission from publisher Mike Finlay to reprint the articles in a book, with head notes for each of the articles to discuss changes in risk exposure and governance, as well as the ever-changing role of regulators. I am finishing the book this summer. I am considering the addition of several of my columns from this newsletter where I have written on the breakdown of our usual governance processes and the increase in operational risk since January 21, 2017, when Donald Trump became president of the United States.

Comments

Education

Great Teacher: Mr. Larson

Annie Searle

April 03, 2018

I grew up in a very small town -- population 1100 – and benefitted in every way from the experience. I learned to read when I was four years old, thanks to a friend who was older and liked to “play school” at least once a day. My first job was working in the small public library, re-shelving books once a week as the librarian’s helper once I started primary school. I enjoyed school through those years, but it was in high school that I studied with the most influential teacher I ever had, Mr. Larson.

Comments

Politics

Our Darkest Hour is Still Ahead

Annie Searle

January 08, 2018

It is not just that the size of the government has been reduced intentionally. It is not just that many cabinet level appointees are unqualified for public service. It is not only that our government policies have been revised or in some cases re-interpreted or eliminated. Similarities to conditions in Germany that led to the rise of Hitler are hard to miss – the nationalistic, boastful tone; the harsh and unrelenting attacks on a free press as “fake news;” the key roles that members of the military play in the current administration; the endless insults and sparring with other countries; the deaf ear turned to hate speech; and the pitiful, narcissistic, and whiny tweets from the nation’s highest elected official.

Comments

World Views

America as a Killing Field

Annie Searle

October 12, 2017

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” -- Second Amendment, U.S. Constitution, ratified 1791.