Crime & Culture

US: 250 Years Later – Part 62: Guns

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In 1776, firearms occupied a practical place in everyday life as tools for hunting, protection, militias, and survival in a world with little centralized infrastructure or security. Two hundred and fifty years later, guns exist within a far more layered landscape of technology, politics, culture, identity, and public debate. This letter follows America’s changing relationship with firearms and asks whether the deepest question has ever truly been about weapons themselves… or about what people believe keeps them safe.

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US: 250 Years Later – Part 41: Drugs (Illicit)

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In 1776, the idea of “illegal drugs” would have sounded strange to most Americans. Mood-altering substances existed everywhere, woven into medicine, labor, trade, and ordinary life. Two hundred and fifty years later, substances have become entangled with public health, criminal justice, addiction, policy, and profound social questions. This letter follows America’s changing relationship with illicit drugs and asks whether societies are truly battling chemicals… or the pain that drives people toward them.

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US: 250 Years Later – Part 29: Crime

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In 1776, crime was personal, local, and often brutally visible. People usually knew the thief, knew the victim, and sometimes knew the punishment before sunset. Two hundred and fifty years later, crime has expanded from frontier violence and organized syndicates into invisible digital worlds of cybercrime, surveillance, and artificial intelligence. This letter follows America’s changing relationship with crime and asks whether justice is truly about punishment, protection, or something deeper.

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Welcome Back, Mafia: We Never Learned a Damn Thing

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A letter to America about the “new mafia” recruiting college students – and the painful truth that organized crime returns whenever society repeats the mistakes of the past.

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