Don’t Ask, Don’t Care by Michael Winship Although I grew up in a small town, I live in the West Village of Manhattan, New York City, just three blocks from Christopher Street and the Stonewall Inn, where in 1969 a police raid led to angry demonstrations that marked the start of the gay rights movement. Yet in most ways my neighborhood is just like yours. We all … [Read more...] about Don’t Ask Don’t Care (Guest Voice)
It’s Only Unethical When It’s Called ‘News’ (Guest Voice)
It’s Only Unethical When It’s Called ‘News’ by Tina Dupuy Imagine an entire 24-hour cable news network devoted to political causes. Many of their employees are future and former candidates for president, giving them a national platform to reach potential voters. Entire “movements” of political discourse are not only showcased – they’re even started on this news channel. … [Read more...] about It’s Only Unethical When It’s Called ‘News’ (Guest Voice)
2009 Transportation Act Prohibits WBI Use As Primary Screening Tool
A bipartisan amendment to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Authorization Act of 2009 "prohibits the TSA from using Whole Body Imaging (WBI) machines for primary screening." Today TSA calls this equipment Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT). The amendment was co-sponsored by Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) and passed the House on a … [Read more...] about 2009 Transportation Act Prohibits WBI Use As Primary Screening Tool
Sarah Palin Under More Scrutiny from GOPers
Now that it seems highly likely that Sarah Palin will run for the 2012 Republican nomination the former Alaska Governor has made a kind of shift: what some see as her free ride from many Republicans will increasingly be over. Some are now looking at her more critically. … [Read more...] about Sarah Palin Under More Scrutiny from GOPers
Freedom With Feeling
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Department of Unintended Consequences
Opponents of health care reform are very attached to the concept of unintended consequences -- they talk about it all the time. But opponents of health care reform also tend to be supporters of raising the legal retirement age from 65 to 67, or even 70 -- and here unintended consequences are never mentioned. But of course that doesn't mean there wouldn't be any: … [Read more...] about Department of Unintended Consequences
Brazil’s Rousseff and America’s Obama: An ‘Irresistible Pair’ (El Pais, Spain)
Are Brazil's President-elect Dilma Rousseff and U.S. President Barack Obama capable and ambitious enough to create an alliance that would define the Western Hemisphere in the decades to come? According to columnist Moises Naim of Spain's El Pais, if President Obama can grab the chance that his predecessor George W. Bush passed up - the potential opportunities would be … [Read more...] about Brazil’s Rousseff and America’s Obama: An ‘Irresistible Pair’ (El Pais, Spain)
Standing Up for NPR
Really, Eric Cantor? One of the messages voters sent in the midterm elections was that NPR should be defunded? Other than the fact that federal funding of NPR is relatively minuscule (barely a drop in the budgetary bucket), this is clearly a partisan move. Republicans don't like NPR, which is for the most part a news organization that aims at objectivity and mature discourse … [Read more...] about Standing Up for NPR
The Party of Nyet
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“Sects, Love, and Rock & Roll” — A Critic’s Memoir of Music and the Church
One of my colleagues from the college newspaper, who introduced me to several bands I still listen to, has a hilarious new memoir exploring his musical and spiritual coming of age in the '90s and early aughts. Joel Heng Hartse, who's reviewed music in Paste, Beliefnet and Christianity Today among others, gave a reading Thursday night for Sects, Love, and Rock & Roll at the … [Read more...] about “Sects, Love, and Rock & Roll” — A Critic’s Memoir of Music and the Church
Palin Delusions of Adequacy
In her alternate universe, the kickoff of Sarah Palin's presidential campaign makes perfect sense: After backstage triumphs in the midterms, the candidate emerges to take the spotlight to the acclaim of an adoring America. We are in a "Sunset Boulevard" remake here, with a 21st century Norma Desmond taking bows for killing GOP chances to control the Senate and, after years … [Read more...] about Palin Delusions of Adequacy
GOP – The Musical (Guest Voice)
GOP – The Musical by Hart Williams The country is ruled by people who are good at making money without being good at making things. So, when the Number Two richest man in America sends a mash note to our putative rulers, we must sit up and take notice, if only to calculate when our masters will pour some more kibbles and bits into our bowls. The bell is … [Read more...] about GOP – The Musical (Guest Voice)
Off to a Good Start (Guest Voice)
Off to a Good Start by Michael Reagan If Sen. Mitch McConnell’s pledge to get behind the movement to ban the cynical practice of earmark spending is any indication that Republicans heard the message voters sent them in the recent Congressional elections, the GOP is off to a good start. It’s about time. Over the years members of Congress have acquired a lot of bad habits … [Read more...] about Off to a Good Start (Guest Voice)
The Best Reason Yet to Hate the Lottery
I've always hated the lottery. Then today I learned from this Freakonomics Radio podcast of a lottery idea I like: Prize-Linked Savings (PLS). In a nutshell, PLS is a kind of savings account that pools some of the interest from all depositors and pays out a big lottery prize every month or so. It combines the thrill of the lottery with the safety of a savings account. It’s … [Read more...] about The Best Reason Yet to Hate the Lottery
TSA Grandparents
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The Long Emergency
Tainter makes this observation; substantial increased costs occurred late, shortly before collapse and were incurred by a population already weakened by a pattern of declining marginal returns. It was not a challenge that caused the collapse but a system that had been unproductively complex was unable to respond. Tainter says that the only solution for over complexity is … [Read more...] about The Long Emergency
Googling and Tweeting Curious George
I thought I’d write about all the random stuff I’ve been thinking lately. I don’t think Curious George was curious. I think George was a very intellectually limited monkey. By labeling him curious, the man with the yellow hat was being irresponsible. I guess Dumb George isn’t the best title for a children’s book, but it would have been a more accurate title. … [Read more...] about Googling and Tweeting Curious George
Publication Announcement
I'm pleased to announce the publication of my Comment: David Schraub, The Price of Victory: Political Triumphs and Judicial Protection in the Gay Rights Movement, 77 U. Chi. L. Rev. 1437 (2010). Enjoy! … [Read more...] about Publication Announcement
“Yes We Can”? (Guest Voice)
“Yes We Can”? by Peter Gabel It’s now been two weeks since the midterm elections, and I’m noticing that many folks I know are depressed—not consciously about the elections, which have receded somewhat from view, but about various things in their lives. One is exhausted from all the pressures in her life, raising children, caring for parents, working too hard or … [Read more...] about “Yes We Can”? (Guest Voice)
A Bank Robber’s Great Economic Insight
In recent days we've been presented with two bipartisan plans to address America's horrific annual deficits. The spending cuts suggested in both these plans are similar. They envision extremely painful reductions in Social Security payments, much higher co-pays for Medicare recipients, and a sharp decrease in military spending. The tax-related ideas in these plans, however, … [Read more...] about A Bank Robber’s Great Economic Insight