Mitt Romney has won the 2012 presidential nomination by promising Republicans that he would end a so-called 'culture of dependency' on welfare - welfare defined as 'free stuff' and food stamps for poor folks, not tax breaks for Big Oil or tax shelters for Bain executives.

Growing up, in church we had the homily; at home it's what I call the 'momily' - the inspirational and instructive mom-isms that every family has.

Who knows what crumbling infrastructure lies beneath our sleeping children? Actually, many people do - they pay surveyors to take a look.

You can bring your children under age 18 into the voting booth with you. Many families do so as a way to teach civic responsibility.

When I was a prosecutor in San Francisco I would get advice on trying cases from public defenders and defense attorneys.

We all must educate children at the youngest ages that private parts are private, 'no' means no, and there is only one code of honor for everyone.

When it comes to voting rights, Democrats push voter protection while Republicans shout voter fraud in a crowded polling place. Democrats think anyone who can vote should vote; Republicans think everyone who should vote can vote.