For the last several years, the media and political parties have been focused on our budget deficits and the national debt and how they will negatively affect our nation years down the road. The vast majority of this debt has been accruing because of the entitlement programs, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. However, the decision to lower taxes during the Bush … [Read more...] about Our Indebted Nation
GOP crocodile tears over jobs
WASHINGTON -- At the risk of repeating myself, the federal minimum wage is far too low and needs to be raised. Republicans who claim to be worried about lost jobs can dry their crocodile tears, because a few simple measures would get all those jobs back -- and lots more. It has been amusing to watch GOP grandees try to paint themselves as champions of the working stiff. … [Read more...] about GOP crocodile tears over jobs
Russia’s playing a long game over Ukraine (Guest Voice)
Russia’s playing a long game over Ukraine (via GlobalPost) Enlarge Self-defense activists stand guard in front of parliament during a session on Monday as EU leaders arrived in Kyiv. Ukraine has appealed for urgent international aid, saying it needs $35 billion over the next two years. (Sergei Supinsky/AFP/… … [Read more...] about Russia’s playing a long game over Ukraine (Guest Voice)
Benefits Of The Stimulus
I have already had a recent post on the success of the stimulus but as The New York Times brought the topic up again, and there has been so much misinformation spread, it is worth reviewing again what was achieved by the stimulus: The stimulus could have done more good had it been bigger and more carefully constructed. But put simply, it prevented a second recession that … [Read more...] about Benefits Of The Stimulus
UN denounces Uganda anti-homosexuality law
The United Nations has denounced the draconian anti-homosexuality law signed into force in Uganda today because it will encourage violence against lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people by formalizing discrimination against them. Navi Pillay, the UN Human Rights chief said the law “will institutionalize discrimination and is likely to encourage harassment and … [Read more...] about UN denounces Uganda anti-homosexuality law
Comedy legend and Ghostbuster Harold Ramis dies
Comedy legend and Ghostbuster Harold Ramis dies (via AFP) Ghostbuster Harold Ramis, an influential comedian who wrote and directed classic films like "Caddy Shack" and "Groundhog Day," died Monday at the age of 69. Ramis, a longtime resident of Chicago, was surrounded by his family when he died of a rare disease… … [Read more...] about Comedy legend and Ghostbuster Harold Ramis dies
Wehner Gets It
The GOP would do well to heed Peter Wehner's advice in the conservative journal Commentary on the Ted Nugent controversy. But the fact that Republicans seem to be struggling with how to handle a repulsive figure like Mr. Nugent frankly does not speak well of them. What they don’t understand is that these kinds of moments have resonance with voters. They are symbolic; but … [Read more...] about Wehner Gets It
Ukraine could trigger perilous consequences in Asia
Changes in Ukraine are the most momentous events in Europe since the former Soviet Union’s collapse, which resulted in about 14 of its territories and allies being swallowed by the European Union or NATO, the US-led military alliance. Both the EU and NATO offered lucrative entry deals to those newly independent countries to bolster growth of democracy and human rights. That … [Read more...] about Ukraine could trigger perilous consequences in Asia
Selective Reading of Bible To Support Discrimination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX3gMDJCZ-4 It can be a difficult question when deciding whether an individual business owner should be legally compelled perform acts which violate their religious beliefs. A bill passed in Arizona allows discrimination as long as it is claimed to be done based upon religion. As Jed Bartlett pointed out in the video above from The West Wing, … [Read more...] about Selective Reading of Bible To Support Discrimination
Obama’s unfulfilled challenge
WASHINGTON -- Republicans are unhappy that President Obama is invoking his executive powers to govern in the face of a do-nothing-in-2014 House of Representatives. To hear them talk, you would think our chief executive is modeling himself on the late Hugo Chavez and wants to seize dictatorial control. This, of course, is nonsense. In fact, Obama has in many ways been … [Read more...] about Obama’s unfulfilled challenge
Venezuela Calls U.S. and Canada More Repressive (Pagina 12, Argentina)
Should the governments of the United States and Canada be lecturing Venezuela about arresting students, when crackdowns on students and demonstrators in both North American nations have resulted in significant numbers of wounded and arrested? Argentina's Pagina 12 reports that Venezuelan officials are firing back at accusations by President Obama of Venezuelan government … [Read more...] about Venezuela Calls U.S. and Canada More Repressive (Pagina 12, Argentina)
Soft Drinks: The Beginning of the End? (Guest Voice)
Soft Drinks: The Beginning of the End? Tyrades! By Danny Tyree According to the Los Angeles Times, California state Senator Bill Monning on February 13 introduced a controversial bill that could make California the first state in the nation to require prominent health warnings (about obesity, diabetes and tooth decay) on sugary drinks. Monning sees his proposal as a … [Read more...] about Soft Drinks: The Beginning of the End? (Guest Voice)
Who would Jesus hate? (Cartoon)
This copyrighted cartoon is licensed to run on The Moderate Voice. Reproduction of this cartoon without licensing is strictly prohibited. … [Read more...] about Who would Jesus hate? (Cartoon)
Subject of Oscar nominated “The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life” oldest-known Holocaust survivor dies at 100
Oldest-known Holocaust survivor dies aged 110: family (via AFP) The world's oldest known Holocaust survivor, the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary, has died in London aged 110, her family announced. Alice Herz-Sommer, originally from Prague, spent two years of World War II in Czechoslovakia's Terezin concentration… … [Read more...] about Subject of Oscar nominated “The Lady In Number 6: Music Saved My Life” oldest-known Holocaust survivor dies at 100
Sullivan on Nugent’s Rant
Andrew Sullivan comments on Ted Nugent's racist rant and the tepid GOP response on The Daily Dish. But I simply cannot get Ted Nugent’s rant about the president as a “sub-human mongrel” out of my head. And I cannot believe that a major political party in this country would not just refuse to repudiate it, but actively embrace Nugent as an ally in campaigns. This is the … [Read more...] about Sullivan on Nugent’s Rant
Behind The Sherlock Holmes Mania: The Detective’s Creator In Both Fact & Fiction
(With a slew of movies and British and American television series, Sherlock Holmes has never been bigger since he went over Reichenbach Falls to his apparent death in an 1893 story. Here are two book reviews, published in April 2008, about Holmes' creator.) Like many a lad, I drank in the Sherlock Holmes detective stories like so many bottles of soda pop without … [Read more...] about Behind The Sherlock Holmes Mania: The Detective’s Creator In Both Fact & Fiction
Report: CNN Pulls the Plug on “Piers Morgan Live” as Ratings Continue to Plunge
Piers Morgan and CNN have agreed to end his 9 p.m. show "Piers Morgan Live" as ratings continue to plunge, the New York Times reports. Um, it's safe to say, most people saw this train wreck coming a long time ago. It’s been an unhappy collision between a British television personality who refuses to assimilate — the only football he cares about is round and his lectures on … [Read more...] about Report: CNN Pulls the Plug on “Piers Morgan Live” as Ratings Continue to Plunge
Do Svidaniya, Sochi!
The Sochi Winter Olympics are over except for the closing ceremony -- although in Sochi even that is all said and done. I think they went well, despite all the security worries, the initial horror stories about hotel accommodations, and the weather sometimes not cooperating. Perhaps the New York Times says it best: Russia had so much to prove at the Winter Games. … [Read more...] about Do Svidaniya, Sochi!
Nugent in 2007 – Crocodile Tears Over ‘Bad’ Language
This BS was on TV. I kid you not. Once upon a time, July 4th, 2007, to be exact, Ted Nugent wrote an "editorial" for the Wall Street Journal that said the entire Sixties Generation was a failure, they were all on drugs, and were worthless, not like Ted Nugent, who was a good citizen, etc. And I wrote a somewhat angry, but oh-so-restrained response. This caused Joe Farah … [Read more...] about Nugent in 2007 – Crocodile Tears Over ‘Bad’ Language
The Battle For Control Of Congress 2014
While the media is increasingly talking about the 2016 presidential election, we have a major election coming up for control of Congress later this year. At present it appears that it is unlikely for the Democrats to take control of the House, and they are now fighting to retain control of the Senate. Predictions that the Republicans will hold the House and possibly take the … [Read more...] about The Battle For Control Of Congress 2014