Canon Fodder
Read his column long enough and you’re bound to come across an article that absolutely infuriates you. But that’s what you sign up for when you start reading somebody like Matt: For all his articles that make you nod your head in agreement, every once in a while you’re brought face-to-face with one of his contrary viewpoints, and it makes you realize just how mercilessly assured his perspective is.
Between 2002 and 2007, I wrote more than 100 editorials for The Simon, an online magazine that reported on culture, the arts, politics, and more. In that time, I covered multiple presidential campaigns, took aim at organized religion, and jabbed at the insanity taking hold in Washington, DC. (Ah, simpler times…) I had a blast researching and writing each piece and consider my time working on Canon Fodder, the name of my column, to be one of the most important acts of protest I’ve ever done. Enjoy a collection of some of these subversive and often-times humorous takes on current affairs.
What do you do when you need an enemy but there isn't one around? Simple – make them up.
The D.C. Madam's phone records have been released and – surprise, surprise! – participants in the prostitution ring include conservative Beltway policymakers.
Congressman Ron Paul knows the federal government is a mess, and that's exactly why he's currently the best candidate for president.
A new theme park places fundamentalist Christianity alongside the scientific process. Just don't question the logic.
In the publish-or-perish mentality of academia, is global warming just one in a long line of political agendas disguised by scientific method?
The disappearance of bee colonies around the world could ravage agriculture – and it's all our fault.
Rosie O'Donnell doesn't get to disagree with the government because she's a fat pig. Huzzah!
Does "Support Our Troops" no longer apply when they return from combat as shells of their former selves?
The pending merger between satellite radio giants XM and Sirius makes this columnist wonder whether it's still worth buying into the hype.
What's more addictive: street drugs, or spending government cash on useless programs?
Ehren Watada is echoing what many before him have said about the foolishness of the Iraq War. Unfortunately, he's done so while in uniform - and that carries a heavy price tag.
President Bush is defending a radical proposal to dump 20,000 more troops into Iraq. But where would they come from?
Pearl Harbor stands as the ultimate reminder that a government will sacrifice its people to pursue its own interests.
Confused by all those numbers and letters? Let our crack political analyst sort it out for you.
It's been five years since anthrax fueled America's paranoia. Can we finally incarcerate the obvious suspect?
As the recent coverage of the aborted British airline attacks suggests, the War on Terror is now synonymous with daily life — and nobody seems to care.
Ever get the feeling President Bush's antics are best reserved for the brats populating MTV's reality shows?
Rick Warren is no innovator. He's just another pastor who treats Christianity like big business... and business is good.
Are you ready to let the telecommunications industry tier the Internet? Are you ready for content providers and the end user to get totally screwed?
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales thinks whistleblowing journalists should be prosecuted? Has he ever actually read the Constitution?
Leave it to the states to do the federal government's job.
Faith-shattering or unremarkable? Whatever your belief, the newly translated Gospel of Judas reminds us that Christianity may have been inspired by God, but it was edited by Man.
Public education is a mess — and its savior won't be found in the pages of the New Testament.
Instead of wasting money on pointless moral and legal debates, why not spend it on the children we already have languishing in poverty?
Bush retconning a terrorist attack in 2002 Los Angeles is nothing. I did the same thing to 1985 Hill Valley.
Books closed, pencils out everyone: it's time to find out how patriotic you really are!