Economic development options, from all-government to government-dominated; the heartless-to-caring axis in politics; Southern New Englanders’ “independence”; solidarity between Romney and his garbage man; the media coup d’etat.
The question of President U.S. Grant’s liberality touches on the muddled thinking of modern progressives.
RIPEC’s report on reshuffling the EDC was worse than useless, providing insufficient substance and offering cover to elected officials who wish to pretend that its recommendations count as “doing something.”
Believing the political worst of priests; spinning bad SAT results; the skill of being trainable; the strange market valuation in Unionland.
A 1998 recording of then-Illinois-state-senator Barack Obama expressing belief in “redistribution” may be more noteworthy for the evidence that it provides for the motivation behind “dependency portals.”
Many faces of big government: standardized tests; interest group buy-offs; government as marketing practice; and the United States of Panem.
The narrative of the candidates; death panels and pension boards; the endgame of government debt; an enemies list.
Issuing bonds to harm the housing market; disavowing movies in Pakistan and tearing down banners in Cranston; the Constitution as ours to protect; the quick failure of QE3; and Catholic social teaching as the bridge for the conservative-libertarian divide.
Why freedom demands father-daughter dances; the U.S., less free; PolitiFact gets a Half Fair rating for its Doherty correction; and the mainstream media cashes in some of its few remaining credibility chips for the presidential incumbent.
Ted Nesi’s heralding of union organizers as “smart” captains of their political teams gives context for considering Rhode Island’s deep, deep problems.
The executive branch of the United States government seems to be distancing itself from the nation’s philosophically founding documents.
Justin writes live from a “fireside chat” with Supreme Court Justice Alito at Roger Williams University.
Madness overseas and at home, lunacy in the Fed, the disconcerting growth of government, and the performance art of public-sector negotiations.
No deep theme, today, but bad British commentary, union priorities, stimulus as wishlist, the fame of Dinesh, and a response to Dan Yorke’s Congressional District 1 analysis.
September 11, global change, evolution, economics, 17th amendment, gold standard, and a boughten electorate… all to a purpose.
Today it’s debt and gambling, from bonds to pensions to entitlements, with consideration of regionalization, ObamaCare, and campaign finance.
Conflict with Ron Paul supporters at the RNC raises debate about Northeast Republicans and intraparty debates.
The topics of hope and hopelessness pervaded this weekend’s readings, from absurd labor rules in schools, to the likely outcome of Make It Happen, to Spencer Dickinson’s insider view, and then to Sandra Fluke.
Having done little reading while participating in the RI Foundation’s Make It Happen RI conference, Justin uses his end-of-day column for reflection.
Today, Justin touches briefly (for him) on long-term vs. short-term recovery, who’s better off, RI’s long spiral (and potential for quick resurgence), and the significance of different ballot types in Cicilline-Loughlin.
Tuesday’s quick(ish) hits find a theme in partisanship and government spending.
Justin rustles up some quick hit-posts from his daily reading list.
The common wisdom that outside investment is the start of all productive activity can distort economic policy and political unity.
Step 1 in transforming Rhode Island’s economy is to stop talking in jargon and to trust people to forge their own futures.
While austerity may not be a comprehensive solution, Justin suggests that government’s economic gambles are no solution at all.
Forbes columnist Louis Woodhill praises GOP congressional candidate Michael Riley for emphasizing “pro-growth” policies during event in East Greenwich. Woodhill also compares current economic conditions with the Great Depression of the 1930s and identifies Nixon as the “worst president” of modern times.
Responding to disagreement, Justin expounds on the problem with “dependency portals.”
Compartmentalizing society, with business tasked with maximizing profit and government tasked with picking up the pieces, is another example of how big finance is distorting both the economy and the government, in Justin’s view.
Video and an off-stage anecdote from Justin’s appearance on 10 News Conference with Bob Plain, hosted by Jim Taricani.
Justin is his contrarian self on State of the State with John Carlevale.