Topics
City/Town Government
Political Monday with John DePetro, No. 30: Gina v. Media and Teachers v. Families
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were Gina Raimondo’s battle of words with the news media, Warwick teachers’ sick out, and state worker buy-outs.
The Ethics Commission Considers the Blogger Versus the Eponymous Son
Town Council Vice President John Edwards the Fifth appears to have obviously violated the state Code of Ethics, even if the Town Solicitor gave him the go-ahead and a mere blogger filed the complaint.
Last Impressions 35: Falsity and Truth
Falsity and truth in teacher’s unions, ObamaCare, and the Boy Scouts.
Civil Rights
Last Impressions 36: #NotYouToo!
Everybody’s being taken in by the #MeToo trick and some thoughts on freedom of speech.
“Privilege” for the Underprivileged
A Facebook video by “Woke Folks” explains privilege probably better than its authors intended or understand.
Soccer Salaries and the Outrage Contagion
The gender-war angle doesn’t provide very good perspective for economic issues; indeed, it might make sense for U.S. Soccer to increase gender pay disparities in the short term.
Congress
Leaving Out the Key Number on the GOP Health Plan
Another GOP ObamaCare reform proposal, and another wave of studies and news reports that tilt the numbers so Americans can’t see how desperately necessary reform is.
State House Report with John DePetro, No. 26: Resurrected Legislation and the Ghost of Failures Past
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were the likelihood of an evergreen veto override, whether the DCYF would haunt Gina, PawSox, DACA, and Rhode Works transparency.
State House Report with John DePetro, No. 24 and 25: Voter Fraud, Pawsox, Dreamers, and DACA
I neglected to post my August 30th appearance on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, so this week, you get twice the audio.
On August 30, the topics were Elorza’s Dreamers, Pawsox, and District 13 follow up. On September 6, the topics were official silence on Ken Block’s voter fraud report, the start of the Senate’s PawSox road show, and local response to the DACA.
Open post for full audio of both episodes.
Culture & Family
Political Elites Are Working Hard To Keep The Average Family Out Of The Process
In the Ocean State, the political elites work hard to keep the average family out of the process. It appears that the Board of Elections and the Secretary of State’s office have deliberately left the door open for individuals to register to vote and cast a vote, without ever providing personally identifying information as required by state and federal law. As I have said before, the scale of these findings potentially shake the very foundation of our state’s democracy … and must be formally and independently investigated.
Last Impressions 36: #NotYouToo!
Everybody’s being taken in by the #MeToo trick and some thoughts on freedom of speech.
“Privilege” for the Underprivileged
A Facebook video by “Woke Folks” explains privilege probably better than its authors intended or understand.
Economy
September 2017 Employment: Easy Come, Easy Go
With disappointing employment and jobs numbers for September, RI has no longer fully recovered from the recession and may see a large employment revision again in January.
Visions of Development Along the Border
Private-sector development across the border in Massachusetts contrasts poorly with the government-funded projects that Rhode Island favors.
Soccer Salaries and the Outrage Contagion
The gender-war angle doesn’t provide very good perspective for economic issues; indeed, it might make sense for U.S. Soccer to increase gender pay disparities in the short term.
Education
Political Monday with John DePetro, No. 30: Gina v. Media and Teachers v. Families
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were Gina Raimondo’s battle of words with the news media, Warwick teachers’ sick out, and state worker buy-outs.
Last Impressions 35: Falsity and Truth
Falsity and truth in teacher’s unions, ObamaCare, and the Boy Scouts.
Last Impressions 32: Comfort with Incompetence and Inequality
Can’t Rhode Island get anything right? Why won’t the education commissioner answer the only questions? Is growing income inequality a sign of satisfaction?
Energy & Environment
Preparing for the Future Without Experience of the Present
If we’re really under threat of cataclysmic climate change, why do the activists have to go back so far for examples and use on-paper predictions to suggest acceleration?
The Path To Lower Electric Prices Is Clear
Already ranking a dismal 45th on the overall Family Prosperity Index, Rhode Islanders will soon suffer from a 16-21% increase on their electricity bills, making matters even worse.
Regunberg Meddling with a Model Beyond His Ken
Providence Representative Aaron Regunberg tramples economics to demagogue against National Grid.
Gambling
Last Impressions Podcast Episode 16: The Light of the World
Awards, earned and maybe not yet earned; Fight Club; Twin River; and it’s my birthday.
Tiverton Casino: Live by the Government, Die by the Government
Thanks to efforts to restrict the development of a piece of land in Tiverton, a government casino and hotel became its best use.
A Society in Which the Casino and the Government Must Always Win
A gambler under scrutiny for having found ways to tilt the odds in his favor is a good metaphor for taxpayers who are never permitted to win in the rigged game that politicians, labor unions, and other special interests have built.
General Assembly
Political Elites Are Working Hard To Keep The Average Family Out Of The Process
In the Ocean State, the political elites work hard to keep the average family out of the process. It appears that the Board of Elections and the Secretary of State’s office have deliberately left the door open for individuals to register to vote and cast a vote, without ever providing personally identifying information as required by state and federal law. As I have said before, the scale of these findings potentially shake the very foundation of our state’s democracy … and must be formally and independently investigated.
Last Impressions 36: #NotYouToo!
Everybody’s being taken in by the #MeToo trick and some thoughts on freedom of speech.
When Tanzi Harassed Dickinson
When people are rewarded for finding evidence of “isms” in their past, we move away from understanding and toward constant cultural warfare.
Government
Political Elites Are Working Hard To Keep The Average Family Out Of The Process
In the Ocean State, the political elites work hard to keep the average family out of the process. It appears that the Board of Elections and the Secretary of State’s office have deliberately left the door open for individuals to register to vote and cast a vote, without ever providing personally identifying information as required by state and federal law. As I have said before, the scale of these findings potentially shake the very foundation of our state’s democracy … and must be formally and independently investigated.
The Ethics Commission Considers the Blogger Versus the Eponymous Son
Town Council Vice President John Edwards the Fifth appears to have obviously violated the state Code of Ethics, even if the Town Solicitor gave him the go-ahead and a mere blogger filed the complaint.
Visions of Development Along the Border
Private-sector development across the border in Massachusetts contrasts poorly with the government-funded projects that Rhode Island favors.
Governor
Political Monday with John DePetro, No. 30: Gina v. Media and Teachers v. Families
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were Gina Raimondo’s battle of words with the news media, Warwick teachers’ sick out, and state worker buy-outs.
Last Impressions 34: Spun Up on Diversity
A governor’s 1,000-day extravaganza, spinning personal income, honest non-transparency, and Dr. Seuss’s prophecies come true.
DACA and a Back Door to Gubernatorial Favors
Governor Raimondo gets to know who helped fund her DACA-fee-payment campaign, but her office says the public cannot.
Healthcare
Last Impressions 35: Falsity and Truth
Falsity and truth in teacher’s unions, ObamaCare, and the Boy Scouts.
Toward a Consistent Philosophy on Guns and Assisted Suicide
How might the urge to keep guns out of the hands of imbalanced people relate to debate about allowing physician-assisted suicide?
Last Impressions 33: Tolerance of Wealth and Difference
Accepting luxuries for those who can afford them and freedoms for those who disagree.
History
A Fixed Mower and a Good Heist
Who’s happier: the family man who mows the lawn and reads a good book, or the thug who gains notoriety for a profitable crime that he then blows because he’s a degenerate?
Lessons for Protection When the Devil Switches Sides
Lessons to guide students away from the dangerous threads of human nature (as realized in Nazism) must account for the reality that the Devil can switch sides.
Last Impressions Podcast Episode 27: The Guardians Desert
French fries and Confederate statues.
Immigration
DACA and a Back Door to Gubernatorial Favors
Governor Raimondo gets to know who helped fund her DACA-fee-payment campaign, but her office says the public cannot.
Last Impressions 33: Tolerance of Wealth and Difference
Accepting luxuries for those who can afford them and freedoms for those who disagree.
Sam Bocetta: Louisiana Settlement Sets New Precedent for U.S. Workforce
Immigration, automation, and outsourcing are hitting the American worker, but Sam Bocetta suggests that some reforms and a sense of patriotism can improve conditions.
Infrastructure
Last Impressions 34: Spun Up on Diversity
A governor’s 1,000-day extravaganza, spinning personal income, honest non-transparency, and Dr. Seuss’s prophecies come true.
State House Report with John DePetro, No. 26: Resurrected Legislation and the Ghost of Failures Past
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were the likelihood of an evergreen veto override, whether the DCYF would haunt Gina, PawSox, DACA, and Rhode Works transparency.
Last Impressions 28: Rumbling Before the Social Volcano Blows
Mostly about the consequences of government action we never see
Legislation
State House Report with John DePetro, No. 28: 1,000s of Days (and Lawyers)
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were the lawyers of the General Assembly, the 1,000 days of Raimondo’s reign, and the policies go on.
State House Report with John DePetro, No. 27: Everything’s a Show
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were a show hearing for the PawSox, a PR kingdom for the governor, and legislation harming business and tracking us around the state.
Special Fall Session: Progressive Measures Far Out Weigh Positives
Capitulation to the harmful progressive-Democrat agenda was enough to turn what might have been a positive special fall session of the state’s General Assembly into a net negative.
Media
Last Impressions 36: #NotYouToo!
Everybody’s being taken in by the #MeToo trick and some thoughts on freedom of speech.
When Tanzi Harassed Dickinson
When people are rewarded for finding evidence of “isms” in their past, we move away from understanding and toward constant cultural warfare.
Political Monday with John DePetro, No. 30: Gina v. Media and Teachers v. Families
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were Gina Raimondo’s battle of words with the news media, Warwick teachers’ sick out, and state worker buy-outs.
Musings & Announcements
Last Impressions 30: Keeping in Touch… for Various Reasons
Sympathy for the racist; learning how (not what) to think; in favor of price gouging and dismantling unions; and saying goodbye to an old friend
A Fixed Mower and a Good Heist
Who’s happier: the family man who mows the lawn and reads a good book, or the thug who gains notoriety for a profitable crime that he then blows because he’s a degenerate?
Speaking Up for the Cranky
Spare a moment for the cranky person whom you encounter (or, ahem, read) and see if you can help him or her resolve the underlying ache.
National Security
Media Language and a Virtue-Signaling Lie
A small example of political “news” can illustrate the language by which journalists promote partisan and ideological positions.
An “Adaptive” System of Leaks Depends on Trust and Consequences
Journalists who support leaks have a point about their value as a safety valve for government abuse, but that safety valve requires that the consequences for breaking the law be real.
Never-Trump Right Gets Us to the Hub of the Matter
When it comes to Don Junior’s meeting with a Russian lawyer, it seems a lot of the key questions, the “and so”s, are being left out of the arguments.
On a Lighter Note
Harry Potter and Muggle Fly-Over Country’s Conservative Stories
The Harry Potter novels are in some regards liberal wish fulfillment, not only that magic exists, and not only that the elect can be whisked away to an exclusive world, but also that we can ignore the obvious and profess progressive beliefs.
Last Impressions Podcast Episode 19: The Tides of Liberty and Attraction
What is government for? What turns me off about libertarianism, and what turns some men on about lesbianism? And a poetic response.
Deception and War in Walking Dead
Avoiding war (or entering it justly) requires actively working to bring about and maintain peace, and a willingness to acknowledge when a state of war already exists.
Pensions
Making Up for Pension Losses
Just as appliance consumers need a practical guide for decibel levels, news consumers need a better sense of what pension return numbers actually mean.
Last Impressions Podcast Episode 13: In Whom Do We Trust?
Trust in Trump (versus the elite), trust in intelligence gathering, trust in pensions and economic development, and trust in the police
Last Impressions Podcast Episode 8: Your Meaning, Their Madness
Missing the kiss (and the point), teacher union fantasy, charity for them, and stuff for you
Open post for podcast.
Political Theory
Last Impressions 36: #NotYouToo!
Everybody’s being taken in by the #MeToo trick and some thoughts on freedom of speech.
“Privilege” for the Underprivileged
A Facebook video by “Woke Folks” explains privilege probably better than its authors intended or understand.
Hypocrisy Isn’t the Point with Left/Right Depravity; Naiveté Is
They thing to remember regarding abuse of power is that the Devil switches sides, and conservatives build their political prescriptions around that insight.
Politics
Political Elites Are Working Hard To Keep The Average Family Out Of The Process
In the Ocean State, the political elites work hard to keep the average family out of the process. It appears that the Board of Elections and the Secretary of State’s office have deliberately left the door open for individuals to register to vote and cast a vote, without ever providing personally identifying information as required by state and federal law. As I have said before, the scale of these findings potentially shake the very foundation of our state’s democracy … and must be formally and independently investigated.
Last Impressions 36: #NotYouToo!
Everybody’s being taken in by the #MeToo trick and some thoughts on freedom of speech.
It’s Time to Demand an Investigation of RI Voter Registration Process
In Rhode Island, it appears that the BOE and the Secretary of State’s office, over the years, have purposely left the door open for individuals to register to vote, and cast a vote, without ever providing personally identifying information as required by state and federal law. As I previously commented, the magnitude of these findings potentially shake the very foundation of our state’s democracy … and must be officially investigated.
Science
Limits on Government’s Ability to Define Your Life Only Go One Way
The commentary of legislators supporting a ban on “conversion therapy” shows that they’re pushing an ideological agenda more than they’re trying to help actual people.
Progressives and Artificial Intelligence
Future reliance on artificial intelligence would be the fulfillment of the progressive vision that experts can guide society, so why is a Providence progressive an early opponent?
Hey, Let’s Try Public Debate and Open Inquiry
With resistance to climate alarmism still high, maybe the solution is a new approach for scientists to address the subject and present it to the public.
Sports
Soccer Salaries and the Outrage Contagion
The gender-war angle doesn’t provide very good perspective for economic issues; indeed, it might make sense for U.S. Soccer to increase gender pay disparities in the short term.
State House Report with John DePetro, No. 22: Political and Cultural Battles
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were Gordon Fox, a summer Senate race, racial politics, and the possible WorSox.
Where the Stone Rolls in PawSox Deal
The rhetoric about who pays what on the proposed PawSox stadium is just that (rhetoric); at the end of the day, the state is entering into a boatload of debt without voter approval for an insider deal.
Taxation
Visions of Development Along the Border
Private-sector development across the border in Massachusetts contrasts poorly with the government-funded projects that Rhode Island favors.
Last Impressions 34: Spun Up on Diversity
A governor’s 1,000-day extravaganza, spinning personal income, honest non-transparency, and Dr. Seuss’s prophecies come true.
August 2017 Employment: Employment Bubble Deflates & a Loss of JOI
Rhode Island’s employment numbers have done their annual downturn as the state falls the 49th on the Jobs & Opportunity Index (JOI) after five years at 48th.
Unions
Political Monday with John DePetro, No. 30: Gina v. Media and Teachers v. Families
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were Gina Raimondo’s battle of words with the news media, Warwick teachers’ sick out, and state worker buy-outs.
Last Impressions 35: Falsity and Truth
Falsity and truth in teacher’s unions, ObamaCare, and the Boy Scouts.
Janus vs AFSME: One Of The Most Important Constitutional Cases Of Our Lifetime
Mark Janus is a child support specialist with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. He advocates for children’s rights when their parents are no longer together. When he was hired, he didn’t know that he was going to be forced to pay union dues until he saw the fees deducted from his first paycheck.
Welfare
Last Impressions 33: Tolerance of Wealth and Difference
Accepting luxuries for those who can afford them and freedoms for those who disagree.
State House Report with John DePetro, No. 27: Everything’s a Show
For my weekly call-in on John DePetro’s WADK 1540 AM show, last week, the topics were a show hearing for the PawSox, a PR kingdom for the governor, and legislation harming business and tracking us around the state.
Last Impressions 32: Comfort with Incompetence and Inequality
Can’t Rhode Island get anything right? Why won’t the education commissioner answer the only questions? Is growing income inequality a sign of satisfaction?
