jaded readership noted
There is no minimizing the deaths or the damage caused by an unusual series of storms across the Eastern Seaboard, but these storms have affected most people on a more mundane level.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Africa Must Push on Darfur (NYT)
amazement at institutional imcompetence continues on the left
for some reason the left doesn't expect it
Nearly two months have passed since the U.S.-brokered Darfur peace agreement was signed and there has still been no agreement providing for that desperately needed international force.
for some reason the left doesn't expect it
Nearly two months have passed since the U.S.-brokered Darfur peace agreement was signed and there has still been no agreement providing for that desperately needed international force.
A Victory for the Rule of Law (NYT)
law means the courts taking over the war from the President, who has the constitutional responsibility for it
the President as commander in chief can do what he wants waging war, and Congress can impeach and remove him, but that's about it, constitutionally
except when you make up the constitution as you go along
the court wants to expand its power, in short
Bush will wimp out
The Supreme Court's decision striking down the military tribunals set up to try the detainees being held in Guantánamo Bay is far more than a narrow ruling on the issue of military courts.
the President as commander in chief can do what he wants waging war, and Congress can impeach and remove him, but that's about it, constitutionally
except when you make up the constitution as you go along
the court wants to expand its power, in short
Bush will wimp out
The Supreme Court's decision striking down the military tribunals set up to try the detainees being held in Guantánamo Bay is far more than a narrow ruling on the issue of military courts.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Billing Holocaust Victims (NYT)
moral riddle suggested involving money
U.S. Magistrate Judge James Orenstein, who is reviewing Burt Neuborne's fee for representing Holocaust survivors against Swiss banks, should scrutinize it carefully.
U.S. Magistrate Judge James Orenstein, who is reviewing Burt Neuborne's fee for representing Holocaust survivors against Swiss banks, should scrutinize it carefully.
The Whir of the Political Casino (NYT)
ralph reed is apparently a republican
Ralph Reed, who a Senate report says enjoyed $5.3 million in lobbying fees plus globe-trotting treats from Jack Abramoff, should know that there is a higher standard of behavior than simply not being indicted.
Ralph Reed, who a Senate report says enjoyed $5.3 million in lobbying fees plus globe-trotting treats from Jack Abramoff, should know that there is a higher standard of behavior than simply not being indicted.
Hamas Provokes a Fight (NYT)
new tone at the NYT
nobody knows why
perhaps hamas has cancelled their subscription
The responsibility for the escalation in the Middle East rests squarely with Hamas, whose military wing tunneled into Israel on Sunday, killed two Israeli soldiers and kidnapped another.
nobody knows why
perhaps hamas has cancelled their subscription
The responsibility for the escalation in the Middle East rests squarely with Hamas, whose military wing tunneled into Israel on Sunday, killed two Israeli soldiers and kidnapped another.
A Loss for Competitive Elections (NYT)
the fairness rule for when republicans control state legislatures
Instead of standing up for a fair electoral landscape, the Supreme Court produced a ruling that did little to ensure the vibrancy of American democracy, and that itself had an unfortunate whiff of partisanship.
Instead of standing up for a fair electoral landscape, the Supreme Court produced a ruling that did little to ensure the vibrancy of American democracy, and that itself had an unfortunate whiff of partisanship.
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
The Disaster without End (NYT)
giveaways create wastrels and thieves
something the NYT doesn't consider in any government program
you avoid wastrels and thieves by avoiding giveaway programs and moving charity back to individuals, who have an incentive to want to actually help and watch where they put their resources
It turns out that thieves and wastrels feasting in the wake of Hurricane Katrina have been doing a heck of a job too - pushing the tote in government loot toward $2 billion and counting.
something the NYT doesn't consider in any government program
you avoid wastrels and thieves by avoiding giveaway programs and moving charity back to individuals, who have an incentive to want to actually help and watch where they put their resources
It turns out that thieves and wastrels feasting in the wake of Hurricane Katrina have been doing a heck of a job too - pushing the tote in government loot toward $2 billion and counting.
Talking With Iraqi Insurgents (NYT)
a matter of taste
a better angle is that you have to forget in order to start anew
same thing ought to apply to the civil rights movement (see below on King, as King said)
Any reconciliation broad enough to matter in Iraq will require embracing unsavory people and forgiving unsavory deeds.
a better angle is that you have to forget in order to start anew
same thing ought to apply to the civil rights movement (see below on King, as King said)
Any reconciliation broad enough to matter in Iraq will require embracing unsavory people and forgiving unsavory deeds.
Patriotism and the Press (NYT)
the press in the constitution is not the NYT but the people
like keller, who published what should be kept secret but gets no more of a pass that anybody else would on the matter
like for instance whether it's treasonous ought to be judged by looking at keller, not the NYT
the NYT was just his vehicle for a personal decision
The free press has a central place in the Constitution because it can provide information the public needs to make things right again. Even if it runs the risk of being labeled unpatriotic in the process.
like keller, who published what should be kept secret but gets no more of a pass that anybody else would on the matter
like for instance whether it's treasonous ought to be judged by looking at keller, not the NYT
the NYT was just his vehicle for a personal decision
The free press has a central place in the Constitution because it can provide information the public needs to make things right again. Even if it runs the risk of being labeled unpatriotic in the process.
Saving the King Heritage, Round One (NYT)
if people were actually doing what King wanted that would be one thing, but the movement has gone off in exactly the opposite direction
so nobody cares about his papers and they ought to be forgotten along with other sacred bogus lefty icons
let's move on and try somebody else's name
Mayor Shirley Franklin of Atlanta did the nation an important service by pulling together a coalition of civic and business leaders to purchase thousands of documents belonging to Martin Luther King Jr.
so nobody cares about his papers and they ought to be forgotten along with other sacred bogus lefty icons
let's move on and try somebody else's name
Mayor Shirley Franklin of Atlanta did the nation an important service by pulling together a coalition of civic and business leaders to purchase thousands of documents belonging to Martin Luther King Jr.
Way to Let Go! (NYT)
those rich guys are not consuming their wealth, so it is still at work in the economy as directed by the market right now
if when they die they were to liquidate their holdings and burn the money, it would serve as well to move the wealth back to everybody.
the Fed would simply print more money and distribute it to the entire economy via reduced bond sales.
if these foundations know better how to spend such sums than the economy does, more power to them, but i doubt it.
it redirects the efforts of the economy from what the market wants to what do-gooders want.
that's certainly their right, but represents the point at which this wealth is taken from the economy and consumed.
do-gooders by and large are not very smart.
there's the rub.
A world that has become accustomed to the acquisition of enormous sums can still be a little stunned at seeing fortunes given away.
if when they die they were to liquidate their holdings and burn the money, it would serve as well to move the wealth back to everybody.
the Fed would simply print more money and distribute it to the entire economy via reduced bond sales.
if these foundations know better how to spend such sums than the economy does, more power to them, but i doubt it.
it redirects the efforts of the economy from what the market wants to what do-gooders want.
that's certainly their right, but represents the point at which this wealth is taken from the economy and consumed.
do-gooders by and large are not very smart.
there's the rub.
A world that has become accustomed to the acquisition of enormous sums can still be a little stunned at seeing fortunes given away.
Burning the Bill of Rights (NYT)
NYT gets one right, though of course the right thinks the same thing except for the dickwad right
the flag belongs to everybody, snake oil salesmen as well as boy scouts
it does not belong to veterans' groups and other ``you owe us'' organizations
the only actual flag desecration I've run into is politicians using the flag as a backdrop
but that's the offense you have to put up with for freedom
flag burning is our canary in the coal mine for free speech. it offends the right people.
Senate Republicans are trying to torch a hole in the First Amendment' s free speech guarantee by passing an amendment to the Constitution that would allow federal and state authorities to punish flag-burning.
the flag belongs to everybody, snake oil salesmen as well as boy scouts
it does not belong to veterans' groups and other ``you owe us'' organizations
the only actual flag desecration I've run into is politicians using the flag as a backdrop
but that's the offense you have to put up with for freedom
flag burning is our canary in the coal mine for free speech. it offends the right people.
Senate Republicans are trying to torch a hole in the First Amendment' s free speech guarantee by passing an amendment to the Constitution that would allow federal and state authorities to punish flag-burning.
Campaign Finance Reform Survives (NYT)
editorial for the uncurious
The Supreme Court struck down Vermont's reform-oriented campaign finance system yesterday. But more important was what it did not do.
The Supreme Court struck down Vermont's reform-oriented campaign finance system yesterday. But more important was what it did not do.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Escalating Prescription Drug Prices (NYT)
disturbing?! it was predicted!
when the buyer doesn't pay, the price rises
it works like, eg., medical care has once medical insurance became widespread
the scam is that it creates and diverts a large flow of money, from which a tiny cut is taken by regulators, making them rich, and that's the point of it all.
they are what is called a louse, a person who steals your $500 TV and sells it for $10
you'd have paid him $20 not to steal it
Two recent surveys of drug prices by consumer advocacy groups show a disturbing pattern of increases as the new Medicare drug benefit was getting under way.
when the buyer doesn't pay, the price rises
it works like, eg., medical care has once medical insurance became widespread
the scam is that it creates and diverts a large flow of money, from which a tiny cut is taken by regulators, making them rich, and that's the point of it all.
they are what is called a louse, a person who steals your $500 TV and sells it for $10
you'd have paid him $20 not to steal it
Two recent surveys of drug prices by consumer advocacy groups show a disturbing pattern of increases as the new Medicare drug benefit was getting under way.
Responsible Use of Eminent Domain (NYT)
eminent domain land grab for new NYT headquarters repressed
Congress should avoid passing sweeping legislation that prevents governments from promoting development projects that significantly advance the public interest.
Congress should avoid passing sweeping legislation that prevents governments from promoting development projects that significantly advance the public interest.
A Waste of Energy (NYT)
windmill constructed
As its nickel-and-dime agenda suggests, the House of Representatives' "Energy Week," which may not last even five days, is a joke.
As its nickel-and-dime agenda suggests, the House of Representatives' "Energy Week," which may not last even five days, is a joke.
Really Bad Ideas on Korea (NYT)
ineffective ideas are the gold standard
then you get to criticize the solution
moral posture is preserved
North Korea hasn't yet tested its new long-range missile, but some bizarre ideas have already started flying around Washington about the best way for America to respond.
then you get to criticize the solution
moral posture is preserved
North Korea hasn't yet tested its new long-range missile, but some bizarre ideas have already started flying around Washington about the best way for America to respond.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
The Speaker's Hard Lesson in Reform (NYT)
shocked, shocked that anybody would influence lawmakers who grow in the system of big government control of everything
Dennis Hastert, the speaker of the House who promised credible lobbyist reform, is the latest lawmaker in the limelight for the rampant pork-barrel practice of earmarking.
Dennis Hastert, the speaker of the House who promised credible lobbyist reform, is the latest lawmaker in the limelight for the rampant pork-barrel practice of earmarking.
Making Your Own Luck (NYT)
it's an effort to, you know, pay their executives
if the NYT wants to be on the board of directors, they should offer themselves and see if the market likes the idea
A series of investigations have shown that many companies may have been rigging the timing of option grants to jack up their value, to the benefit of executives and the detriment of shareholders.
if the NYT wants to be on the board of directors, they should offer themselves and see if the market likes the idea
A series of investigations have shown that many companies may have been rigging the timing of option grants to jack up their value, to the benefit of executives and the detriment of shareholders.
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