WITHOUT GUITARS

I realize that social evolution is a process.

And in many ways I'm proud of the progress that America has made. We are in the second term of the first multiracial presidency, the acceptance of gay unions continues apace, and I remain hopeful that the influence of organized religions will continue to abate.

But none of this will matter without a cure for the country's sad and crippling addiction to violence.

A modest proposal might suggest that reversing the respective annual spending on "defense" ($928B) and education ($141B) would be a constructive initial step...