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The Moderate Voice

An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right


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Toxic Atheism

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Under threat of court order, today's "National Day of Prayer" may be the last.  The Freedom From Religion Foundation has sued to abolish the practice and won its initial court victory.  Today's celebration of the tradition takes place under the President's order to appeal that decision. The struggle shows a classic case of a social-political movement that is arguably legally … [Read more...] about Toxic Atheism

Marijuana And Taxes

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I read a fascinating article in a recent issue of Smithsonian magazine about Prohibition, about who and what made this social experiment that lasted from 1920 to 1933 possible. It turns out that this country's changing tax needs were the critical factor. Before 1913 an impressive 40 percent of all national tax revenues came from an excise tax on liquor. Whatever the joys of … [Read more...] about Marijuana And Taxes

Will We Keep Hating Government?

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WASHINGTON -- Ever heard the one about the guy who hated government until a deregulated Wall Street crashed, an oil spill devastated the Gulf of Mexico, a coal mine collapsed, and some good police work stopped a terrorist attack? Rarely has the news of the day run so counter to the spin on the news of the day. It's hard to argue that the difficulties we confront were … [Read more...] about Will We Keep Hating Government?

ETs: Who’s Afraid Of The Aliens…

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British physicist Dr Stephen Hawking warned on his new TV show that Extraterrestrials (ETs), if they ever arrive, might be looking for conquest and plunder. He believes aliens could be more interested in exploiting our natural resources than sharing their technology with us. Is Planet Earth prepared to take them on? Or, will the might of the rich/developing nations exhausted … [Read more...] about ETs: Who’s Afraid Of The Aliens…

Arizona – Jackie Robinson = “Los Suns”

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Politics and sports are frequently connected by overarching issues in society, especially when dealing with race and money. On the issue of money, I agree with J.A. Adande (ESPN's "Around the Horn") that sports and politics are connected in fiscal matters surrounding the public financing of sports stadiums. On the question of the Arizona Immigration Law, my question is: … [Read more...] about Arizona – Jackie Robinson = “Los Suns”

Other People’s Money

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Close your eyes and imagine in the year 2013 the noisy but peaceful political revolution culminates with the Tea Party, Libertarians and conservative Republicans taking total control of Congress and the Presidency. Imagine the government cutting spending in all sectors except military defense. Included in the domestic cuts is entitlement programs. Medicare is reduced by 15%, … [Read more...] about Other People’s Money

Study May Explain Why Sarah Palin’s High-Pitched Raspy Voice Is Attractive To Some

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David Letterman has his "Stupid Dog Tricks" segment. I have my "Stupid Research" peeve. The latest research pulp is women with high-pitched raspy voices prefer deep-voiced masculine males. My immediate visionary response was Sarah and Todd Palin and Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt dancing before my very eyes. "Scientists research the features that make people attractive … [Read more...] about Study May Explain Why Sarah Palin’s High-Pitched Raspy Voice Is Attractive To Some

Stop Bitching And Face The Music

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I'm disgusted over the political blame game being played over the oil spill accident of Deepwater Horizons in the Gulf of Mexico. As at least 5,000 barrels of crude daily gushes a mile below the water surface, the confluence results in everyone, including wildlife, has an advocate. It is depressing that I am accused of being an alarmist when I quote knowledgeable sources … [Read more...] about Stop Bitching And Face The Music

Lindsay Graham and Joe Lieberman Want to De-americanize Terrorism Suspects

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I think it's getting down to this question: is our constitution a ball of silly putty or is it a meaningful, enduring document with certain timeless qualities which can't be capriciously bent willy nilly? Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham are now in effect calling to De-americanize terrorism suspects: Shortly after the media broke the news that authorities had … [Read more...] about Lindsay Graham and Joe Lieberman Want to De-americanize Terrorism Suspects

Contingency and Terrorism: Luck Matters Too

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The catalog of miscues by the FBI that allowed potential Times Square car bomber Faisal Shahzad to board the Emirates Airlines flight for Dubai has prompted many critics to call the Obama Administration more "lucky" than "good" in capturing the suspect. Add to this the comical ineptness of Shahzad himself - and the underwear bomber on Christmas - and a pattern of criticism … [Read more...] about Contingency and Terrorism: Luck Matters Too

Video of SWAT Raid on Missouri Family

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Last February, libertarian Radley Balko wrote an article over at Reason drawing attention to a disturbing SWAT raid that took place in Columbia, Missouri. Radley sums up what happened: SWAT team breaks into home, fires seven rounds at family’s pit bull and corgi (?!) as a seven-year-old looks on. They found a “small amount” of marijuana, enough for a misdemeanor charge. … [Read more...] about Video of SWAT Raid on Missouri Family

The Birthers Ruined Schwarzenegger’s White House Chance (Guest Voice)

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The Birthers Ruined Schwarzenegger’s White House Chance by Tina Dupuy Imagine you have an action hero head of state: his bronzed muscles rippling as he battles balancing budgets, bureaucracy and lobbyists. He’s a retina-searing international superstar who sets the political world ablaze. His occasional character “complexities” are always forgiven by perfectly timed press … [Read more...] about The Birthers Ruined Schwarzenegger’s White House Chance (Guest Voice)

Is the Media Not Giving Credit to Muslim Immigrants When They Deserve It?

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Does the media have a blind spot when it comes to Muslim immigrants? In this day of "high concept" reporting that must fit an instantly recognizable narrative, is the news media ignoring or downplaying the fact that the man who alerted police to the fizzled Times Square bombing was a Muslim? (And to short-circuit the kinds of emails and/or comments on websites that may … [Read more...] about Is the Media Not Giving Credit to Muslim Immigrants When They Deserve It?

Fiery Liberals: A Three Strike Law For Corporations?

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Elijah Sweete asks, Does The Roberts Court Favor Corporations Over Ordinary Citizens? If his summary of the Alliance for Justice report, “Unprecedented Injustice,” didn't get you fired up, maybe this will add some fuel to his fire... For the last two weeks as Bill Moyers wound down his program, the Citizens United decision popped into the discussion. Last week the … [Read more...] about Fiery Liberals: A Three Strike Law For Corporations?

Abolish the Filibuster (Guest Voice)

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Abolish the Filibuster By Craig S. Barnes It generally happens in world history that change comes to rural areas later than it comes to cities and that, no matter where you are on the planet, rural areas are more conservative politically, which is saying the same thing, really, since conservative means to want to hold on to what was good in the past, or not to change too … [Read more...] about Abolish the Filibuster (Guest Voice)