About Me

Jess K. Coleman writes a blog for The Huffington Post covering politics and public affairs. He spent time as a sports columnist for Seamheads.com, BleacherReport.com, and Sports-Central.org, and his writing has been published in The Tribeca Trib, CBSSports.com, and The New York Times. He also served as a co-host on the Seamheads.com Radio Hour with Steve Lenox of MLB.com, interviewing guests such as the New York Mets' Rick Peterson, and former Phillies' outfielder Doug Glanville.

Jess is 18 years old and attends high school in New York City. He is an avid member of Model United Nations, and participates in his school's book club.

Is the Death Penalty Ever Justified?

Yemen, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Libya, Syria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, China, Sudan.

No, this is not a list of countries with records of human rights abuses; nor is it a list of countries with ruthless dictators; nor is it a list of countries the United States has condemned at some point within the past few months.

Actually, it's an incomplete list. Add the U.S., and you are one step closer to completing a list of countries that kill their own people.

Every country mentioned currently allows its citizens to be sentenced to... Continue Reading...

Election 2012, Iranian Style

Last December, 57 percent of Americans said that the wealthy do not pay their fair share of taxes. Yet the Buffet Rule, which would ensure that everyone does pay their fair share, was dead on arrival in Congress.

It doesn't end there. Over the past fifty years, for example, the average tax rate on the top .01 percent of taxpayers was cut in half, while the bottom 90 percent saw no change in their rate; In that same period, incomes on the top .01 percent quintupled, while those on the middle... Continue Reading...

Get Out of My Heart, GOP

For a party that wants government "off our backs" and "out of our pockets," they sure seem to care a lot about who we love.

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina backed an amendment that voters successfully pushed through to their state constitution Tuesday night, acknowledging that only marriages between "one man and one woman" are to be recognized by the state. This comes as Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncan surprised many by publicly expressing their "comfort" with same-sex marriage.

President Obama has said he is "wrestling" with the... Continue Reading...

Why Colleges Should Be Like Cars

You're buying a car. You come across a stunning, brand-new Mercedes for $50,000. Next to it is a worn-out, used Jeep with 50,000 miles on it, for six times the price, or $300,000.

The choice is obvious, and it rests on a simple, driving principle that defines the free market: Price ought to be aligned with quality. But when it comes to higher education, that seemingly straightforward notion is thrown out the window. No one in their right mind would ever pay more for a car of lesser quality, and the... Continue Reading...

How the NRA Hijacked America

The shooting of a congresswoman, massacres at Columbine High School, Chardon High School, Virginia Tech, and Oikos University, and the tragic death of Trayvon Martin, should have sparked a national conversation about gun control. After all, without guns, every single one of those tragedies -- along with the deaths and wounds endured by 100,000 people annually due to guns -- could have been prevented.

Instead, Congress has remained completely silent on this issue. And that's mainly because one relentless organization, the National Rifle Association, has done everything in its power... Continue Reading...

World Peace's World War

In 2004, the National Basketball Association and sports altogether hit an all-time low. After Ron Artest fouled Ben Wallace in the final seconds of a blowout game in Detroit, a vicious fist fight broke out amongst the players. When an angry fan then tossed a cup at Artest, the Pacers star jumped into the stands, punching two fans -- one square in the face -- and setting off an all-out brawl.

Artest was suspended for the remainder of the season, losing an estimated $5 million in salary. He was also charged... Continue Reading...

Ronald Reagan: A Democratic Hero

Democrats are beginning to sound more and more like Ronald Reagan.

Sure, Mitt Romney and Republicans alike love to talk about their late leader and what he represented. And yes, he deplored the notion of big government and laid the foundation for what is now the Tea Party. But if President Reagan were still around, he would likely have trouble identifying with what today's Republican party represents.

In 1985, President Reagan spoke to a high school in Atlanta, telling a story of a letter received. The letter was from a man making... Continue Reading...

Obama and Racism: Those Who Divide Us

I'll never forget the New York Times headline the morning after Barack Obama was elected: "Obama Elected President as Racial Barrier Falls." I still get chills reading that -- it was, undoubtedly, one of the most significant headlines in American history. As just a 14-year-old when Mr. Obama was elected, I certainly believed we could finally turn the page to a new, less ugly chapter in American history.

Perhaps no individual in history put the issue of race into better terms than Mr. Obama. In one famous speech, "A More Perfect... Continue Reading...

Reviewing Judicial Review

In response to my last post, many readers have voiced concerns over judicial review and what limits should exist, if any. Some have argued that it is an essential process that every law go through to ensure the Constitution is respected. Others, including myself, believe review should be used only as a last resort.

There is no doubt that it is a difficult question. Without an independent judiciary that can review legislation, power becomes to centralized and there is less accountability. However, if the power of courts becomes too broad, nine... Continue Reading...

The Supreme Court Has Forgotten History

Last Monday, President Obama tapped in to the ongoing debate surrounding his health care plan, warning the Supreme Court not to engage in "judicial activism." Then, Attorney General Eric Holder was challenged by a federal judge to submit a letter acknowledging the right of courts to strike down unconstitutional laws, which he did.

The debate about the power of federal courts has brought into question a practice known as judicial review. Few question the importance of an independent judiciary with the necessary powers to provide a check on the other... Continue Reading...

Why We've Lost the War on Terror

Sometimes we mistake murder with terrorism. Murder is to take a person's life -- plain and simple. Terrorism is something much more pernicious. It shields itself behind murder and blood, only to accomplish its ultimate goal: incredible fear and a frantic departure from strongly-held principles.

As we removed a vicious criminal from power in Iraq, and wiped out another in Pakistan, the U.S. and the global community alike were ready to claim victory in the fight against terrorism. But while they may have gotten their revenge against murder, the effects of... Continue Reading...

If I Were Trayvon Martin

Just like Trayvon Martin, I sometimes like to have a bag of candy, often Skittles, as I walk home or to a friend's house. Just like Trayvon Martin, I often put my hood on to shield my hair from the rain. But unlike Trayvon Martin, I have never been followed, stopped, or shot at by police.

Because unlike Trayvon Martin, I just happen to be white.

Sadly, that is the reality. Not me, nor any of my white friends, have ever been stopped by police, and we are no less "suspicious-looking" than... Continue Reading...

Injustice at Rutgers

Dharun Ravi, a former student at Rutgers University, was convicted on Friday for hate crimes after spying on his gay roommate, Tyler Clementi, who subsequently committed suicide. Ravi faces up to 10 years in prison, according to some experts, and could even be deported to his native India.

Without question, this case is horrifying, and brings to the forefront some extremely important questions about the severity of cyberbullying and homophobia. Unfortunately, however, this case is a profound example of how this country so blatantly misunderstands justice.

As an outsider following the... Continue Reading...

Baseball, Values, and Justice

I'll never forget when I met Doug Glanville about a year ago. He was once a star outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies, and came just two hits shy of beating the great Luis Gonzalez for the National League lead in 1999. I love baseball, and stood in awe as I spoke with one of the great athletes of our time.

Off the field, he was a hero, too. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, and served as a columnist for the New York Times and ESPN.com. Both in a Phillies uniform... Continue Reading...

Pass the DUH Act

Kudos to the House Oversight and Government Reform committee for assembling a much needed hearing on the infamous contraception issue and religious liberty. Five esteemed men delivered their well-informed positions on women's health, and Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) put freedom before politics and made sure to block any woman from testifying.

Wait, what?

Imagine that. Following the Catholic Church's declaration of war on contraception, the Republican-controlled House decided to delve deeper into the issue of women's health. Fair enough. But where were the women?

Perhaps no one captured it better than House minority... Continue Reading...