Archive for November, 2011

Concentrated Power: Why We Need Regulated Capitalism

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

Our founding fathers knew that concentrated power hurts society. They wrote a constitution that divided political power into three branches. This system has served us well for over two hundred years, protecting us from tyranny. The founders didn’t foresee today’s vast concentration of economic power and the destruction it could bring. We, however, can. We […]

The Rise of the DestructoCons (Part II of Reagan’s Big Lie)

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

There is a traditional German saying that warns the foolish not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. A wise person realizes the value of preservation and change. Since the French Revolutionaries first took their seats in the National Assembly, politicians have divided themselves along this axis. One party favored preservation, while the other […]

Perry Should Just Abandon Code Words

Saturday, November 19th, 2011

“It reveals to me that he grew up in a privileged way,” he said. “He never had to really work for anything.” Come on Mr. Perry. Just get it done. Call President Obama the N-word and say he is the product of that easy welfare life. Just say it. Just say that as a black […]

Getting to 50.1%

Saturday, November 19th, 2011

A friend posed the following question.  “Shaking off the horserace mentality for the moment: does anyone know how the GOP candidate policy positions poll, versus the Obama record & likely campaign platform? Put simply, are these people speaking to the 51%? Here is how it see it. These candidates are like the local activist who […]

US Needs Demand, Not Degulation

Monday, November 14th, 2011

Theory meet fact. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that very few layoffs are caused principally by tougher rules. Whenever a firm lays off workers, the bureau asks executives the biggest reason for the job cuts. In 2010, 0.3 percent of the people who lost their jobs in layoffs were let go because […]

Revisiting “Who would Jesus Torture?”

Sunday, November 13th, 2011

Once again, the extremists were on display last night. One of the most disgusting moments was when the self proclaimed “Conservative Christian” audience cheered torture. Resuming torture will, however, betray both our history and our values. I wrote the following essay on April 28, 2009. My oldest son will enter the US Army in June. […]

Conservative Culture of Denial

Thursday, November 10th, 2011

I have no idea about what Herman Cain did or didn’t do, but Conservatives pundits and politicians are making an absurd argument about the law and morals. Dahlia Lithwick documents their insistence that sexual harassment does NOT exist.  In other words, Cain can’t be guilty because sexual harassment; sexual harrassment is simply a liberal conspiracy […]

Professional conservatives are simply weird.

Friday, November 4th, 2011

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), whose ex-wife says he owes $117,437 in back child support, was honored by the Family Research Council Action on Thursday for his ‘unwavering support of the family,’ the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Unwavering support for somebody’s family I guess.  Just not his own.  Someone call Ayn Rand.  She would be proud.

I pledge to love my enemy as myself

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

If the pledge is to affirm “who you are” as a Christian, shouldn’t the pledge say, “I pledge to love my enemy as myself. I promise to wash my neighbors’ feet. I promise to feed the poor, give shelter to the homeless, heal the sick and visit the oppressed in prison”? Weird. It’s like these […]

Greeks lead Western Revolution?

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Writing about the future is much harder than writing about the past. Sometimes, however, certain patterns become familiar. Events in Greece are one such pattern. This is how revolutions start. It seems the Greeks have reached their “1932” moment. Average Greeks now know another attempt to “balance the budget” will makes things worse not better. […]