If immigration is a ‘social issue,’ it is one that cuts very differently from the traditional social issues of abortion, euthanasia, and gender. And an anti-immigrant stance alienates a whole different set of people than conservatism on moral issues does. […]
Conservatism
Obama’s Dilemma, High Speed Rail, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and Other Miscellaneous Observations
Joel Kotkin, director of one of our favorite sites, Newgeography.com, has exposed how Obama has alienated people on all sides, even though he will probably win the election. I notice, now that I think about it, that while the Occupy […]
A Linguistic Test: Blue Kennel’s First
I have been reading a work called From Bible Belt to Sun Belt by Darren Dochuk about how settlement from the western South [Texas and bordering states] in the 1930s and 40s reshaped California evangelicalism and culture. It inspired me to give my […]
Herman Cain and a New Party
DeWayne Wickham comments on Herman Cain’s campaign. Supposedly he does not understand that historically black people, conservative on some issues, have tended to view the federal government as their protector and to distrust state and local governments; and, knowing history, […]
How To Talk About Abortion in California: Accentuate The Positive
I think it’s OK to be pro-life in California politics. I am not planning to run for office. The notorious Oscar Wilde is rumored to have said, “The problem with socialism is that it will take up too many evenings;” […]
The Motivation of Conservatives and Liberals
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. […]
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
Beyond Red vs. Blue
Interesting. I scored New Coalition Democrat, not conventional liberal. Related: “Beyond Red vs. Blue” at PewResearchCenter
Back to the Nineties
The current election results are making us remember 1994, when also, under a Democratic President, and with health care issues in the air, the Republicans won control of the U S House of Representatives. I’m concerned with social issues, and […]
Four Deformations of the Apocalypse
David Stockman understands the difference between what they used to call fiscal conservatism and what they now call fiscal conservatism. Given the modern definition, I’m a “fiscal moderate.” Related: “Four Deformations of the Apocalypse” by David Stockman at NYTimes.com