In Gareth Cook’s article the psychologist Jonathan Haidt, following Romans 1, suggests that there are five inborn ‘instinctive’ virtues that humans recognize, though they do not always live up to, of course. These are: i. fairness, ii. not harming others, iii. […]
Month: July 2011
Unintended Consequences of Arizona’s Clean Elections Act
Conservatives oppose campaign finance reform of any kind, even when, as in Arizona, the Tea Party has been benefiting from it! Related: “Arizona conservatives scramble after campaign finance law’s defeat” by Nicholas Riccardi at LATimes.com
Raise Revenues by Reducing Taxes?
Now, Ramesh Ponnuru, long time of National Review, sees it. And Pawlenty is still convinced we are above the tip of the Laffer Curve, and that there are more revenues to be got by reducing taxes. This is debatable. Related: […]
This President Triangulates the Debt
Obama has been willing, in his desperation, to reform Social Security. Like Clinton and Welfare Reform. Maybe the Republicans forced him to it, but you could say the same of Clinton. And maybe only Obama could have taken on Social […]
Bakersfield Freeway
I think they ought to move Route 58 to Stockdale Highway and not Rosedale. Stockdale comes in where 58 meets 99, and it goes straight to the I-5. Rosedale, the current numbered route, takes a pronounced jog. Related: “Future Freeway […]
And Republicans Were All So Pious About ‘Local Control’ . . .
And Republicans were all so pious about ‘local control.’ They don’t want local government to raise taxes or fees, but it seems to be OK with them – except for the ever-reliable Chris Norby – for local government to declare […]
Cigarette maker spends big to fight per-pack tax
If we are going to add to the expense of cigarettes, I can suggest better things to do with the extra dollar per pack than put it in the government coffers. 1. Have the manufacturers (or sellers) put a Ziploc […]
Who is tossing whom over a cliff?
This column by Chris Laureys of New Jersey is one of the best I’ve ever seen on the distortions of our current welfare state. Related: “Who is tossing whom over a cliff?” by Chris Laureys at USAToday.com
Identification Cards Required to Leave the State
Some rather interesting requirements imposed for flying. It declares, “If you plan to fly out of the state, federal regulations mandate that all adult passengers (ages 18+) must provide a valid state or federal photo ID that includes the passenger’s […]
If a picture beats a thousand words…
If a picture beats a thousand words, how come so many art commenters can get two thousand words out of every picture?