Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D, Author at Baltimore Post-Examiner

Richard E. Vatz https://wp.towson.edu/vatz/ is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of political rhetoric at Towson University and author of The Only Authentic of Persuasion: the Agenda-Spin Model (Bookwrights House, 2024) and over 200 other works, essays, lectures, and op-eds. He is the benefactor of the Richard E. Vatz Best Debater Award at Towson. The Van Bokkelen Auditorium at Towson University has been named after him.

Commentary

Political Anger at Trump, Good/Persuasive Writing and The New York Times Columnist Whose Words Fail Him

April 22, 2025 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

For over fifty years, I have taught persuasive writing and speaking under the title in my advanced course, Persuasion. I have won a host of teaching awards, lectured widely, and made innumerable media appearances. There is one irrefutable rule: do not let your anger interfere with your writing.
Today, there may be no topic on which this is more applicable than writing about our active president, Donald J. Trump.

Commentary

Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz Proved Correct: ADHD as Mythological Brain Disease

April 17, 2025 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

He didn’t live to see it, but perhaps institutional psychiatry is on the verge of admitting that Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not biologically based.

Blogs

The Salvation of Genuine Political Debate, Missing in Action in Political America

April 3, 2025 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

We need debates, substantive debates, not monologues including personal attacks, after principals ignore their opponents’ arguments.

Commentary

Self-Cancel Culture and Ruth Marcus

March 13, 2025March 13, 2025 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washinton Post, wrote recently and famously, “We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets…We’ll cover other topics too of course, but viewpoints opposing those pillars will be left to be published by others.”

Commentary

Eliminating mandatory psychiatric coverage: toughening up America and saving millions of people billions of dollars

February 24, 2025February 25, 2025 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

If Elon Musk and President Donald Trump are serious and fearless – and one thinks that they manifestly are — about the dual goals of saving the American people money and increasing their independence and control of their lives, they should start by terminating the mandatory health insurance that Americans pay for mental health.

Commentary

The Singularly Ignored and Banned Discussion of the Number One Cause of Violence, Educational Deficits, Bullying and Poverty: Single Parent Families

December 13, 2024December 13, 2024 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

In the relationship between single parenting and the high rate of crime, the cause of having only one parent is due to several obvious articulable connections. A single parent cannot usually control a single male, let alone multiple males, their study habits, friendship choices, living in poverty, and group identification. Gangs are always willing to substitute for absent parents.

Commentary

For Election Outcomes, Listen to Those in Political Rhetoric

November 6, 2024November 6, 2024 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

As I have stated repeatedly and written, Donald Trump is a repellent personality, but Americans will support a candidate – I did — when the alternative and her party are so bereft of good judgment.

Commentary

Fie on Newspaper Endorsements

November 4, 2024 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

There has been little short of a metaphorical nuclear explosion pursuant to The Washington Post’s owner’s, Jeff Bezos’, decision not to have his newspaper endorse a presidential candidate in 2024 or going forward

Commentary

First Periodic Local and National Ravem (sic) Awards

October 17, 2024 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

In my very long career of over a half-century, I have commented for a wide range of media regarding matters

Commentary

For Whom a Marylander Should Vote: Harris is politically repellent, and Trump is personally offensive; Tim Walz is not ready for Primetime, and J.D. Vance is Great on a Mic (Apologies to Irving Berlin)

October 9, 2024October 9, 2024 Richard E. Vatz, Ph.D

It is presumptuous for anyone to tell others how to vote, but herein I am just suggesting that the readers follow their values, just as I have in the last several days in changing my opinion.

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