Republicans & Conservatives:

What 'Merican Model?

Disbelievers of reality like to point out that the reason the United States has not had a terrorist attack by Muslim immigrants, like in Europe, is because of "the assimilationist model that saves America."

Durbin Can't Believe that Price Gouging BS

I am not easily upset but I did rant at "Meet the Press" watching Senator Durbin spin and obfuscate. He wants lower prices without increasing supply, worries about CO2, but opposes nuclear power. He praises Brazil's Rapid Progress with enthanol (although he seems unaware that it took 30 years.) but responds like a vampire to a cross to reducing high tariffs on Brazilian ethanol to quickly lower pump prices.

Eric's easy immigration solution

All this noise about illegal immigration is just plain silly. One side says they have a right to be US citizens, the other side says that they have a right to limit illegal immigration. I have an easy and long term solution which takes into account both sides of the argument...

Nothing Gringo Day

I heard that some people in Mexico are planning to boycott American goods. This will coincide with May 1 when immigrants are not supposed to show up for work. How do you say stupid in Spanish? And what is the telephone number for immigration?

Cut (some) Taxes

Governments legitimately tax to provide services the people cannot reasonably provide for themselves. But taxes are destructive. The authorities coerce citizens to give up resources they otherwise would use themselves. So taxes are like fire: necessary & useful, but destructive & dangerous. Be careful with them.

You Can't Fix Stupid

Most people are familiar with the Pareto Principle; the 80/20 rule that says that 80% of the results are produced by 20% of the people or 80% of the crimes is committed by 20% of the people etc. We need not get hung up on the precise numbers, but clearly the basic idea most trouble/benefits come from a minority of the cases is valid. All men are created equal, but they don't behave that way.

Showing Liberalism a Way Out of its Blind Alley

Liberalism has been stuck in a blind alley for a generation. Pelosi, Boxer, or Dean cannot lead them out of the wasteland. They dissipate their energy hating Bush. While hatred can energize a base, it is no substitute for new ideas. But we appreciate light, even coming from the left. I mentioned last week the Hamilton Project. Now we have the Euston Manifesto.

April 21 Sources - Politicizing Science

The most interesting of today's sources is "When Scientists Politicize Science" making the point that scientists provide options to policymakers, but they are not themselves decision makers. It is a common fault of experts in one field to think that gives them expertise in everything else. The best leader may have little understanding of science. But then the best scientist may have a childish grasp of policy making.

Oil Wars & Energy Independence

The recent speeches from the 'President' of Iran have caused even more uncertainty and unrest in the Middle East, and in the Oil Markets.
The 'Oil Wars' that have been ongoing for decades should have convinced us LONG AGO that we need Energy Independence.
For such a fast moving society, we sure are slow to move on this issue.

White House Press Secretary

Okay. Scott McClellan is out.
Who should replace him?

On the blindness of moral crusades

The debate is over, we are told. All the evidence is in: Our machines, our industry, our capitalist system is making the world hotter and if we do not repent the effect will be irreversible.

But how do we know this is true? What's the evidence? 'Why, our models predict it. Do you doubt the models, unbeliever?'

A Decent Democratic Scheme

If all Dems were as smart as Robert Rubin, people wouldn't have so many doubts about them. He is partisan but he has ideas and as godfather of the Hamilton Project, he is putting them out. Of course the other guy with really good ideas is Newt Gingrich. Too bad we cannot have both. The beauty of American pluralism is maybe we can. Both claim tto support small efficient government.

Immigration Laws: Enforcement Futility and Compromise Impossibility

Immigration law reform competes with the reality of demographic changes.

No commies here

What's truly amazing is the statement, oft heard, that 'pure' communism (or socialism) has never existed in the real world. This is usually put forth by an advocate of what 'true' communism is supposed to be. You know, peace and love, sunshine and lollipops.

But they're right. In the real world, 'pure' communism doesn't exist. It doesn't exist because attempting to achieve pure communism entails harsh repression, mass death, and genocide-- and apparently no one has killed enough people yet to achieve pure communism.

April 15 Sources - Replace the Welfare State

Here are some interesting sources for this week. My favorite is Americans See Weight Problems Everywhere Except in the Mirror. But the most significant is A Plan to Replace the Welfare State, which explains why the welfare state as we know it cannot survive and give some options for what we can do about it.

America's Increasingly Religious Nature

Many liberals are hoping that recent polls mean that the attitude of America is moving away from the right. However, a recent study conducted by Harvard social scientists shows that America's youth is becoming more religious and their political views are changing accordingly.

Realists, Not Hysterical Hypocrites

The evidence for human induced global warming is less conclusive than proponents say, but it is impressive. Some argue that we need not act until the threat is imminent, but if we wait for it to fully and perhaps suddenly emerge, all actions, all words, and all recriminations may come too late. So what do we do?

It is Not Easy Being Pessimistically Green

The U.S. environment is better again, see the charts on the Index of Environmental Indicators. These are not speculations of future results, but indications of what HAS already happened. (We will get enough speculation in the comments.) The U.S. is also recycling more paper than ever before. Recycling jumped nearly 5% to 51.5% since 2000 after languishing during the 1990s. Price is the reason. It works faster than exhortations by celebrities.

Road to Citizenship

It is understood that the majority of illegal immigrants residing in our Nation are law abiding people trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.
What about the rest?
How is our Government going to prevent the criminals from becoming new citizens?
It's bad enough that many 'bad apples' hanging out on our streets are here illegally. We don't need to make them citizens.
No Amnesty!

Bush Haters - We Taunt You a Second Time

"Good Leak", that was the headline of the lead editorial in today's "Washington Post". There is nothing illegal or particularly usual about the release, says the Post. The material and subsequent investigations show that it was Wilson who twisted the truth. Sorry guys. Liberals are thinking et tu brute, but it restores some of my faith that at least some MSM still values truth above rhetoric.

Save the earth; destroy humanity

It is the crusade of the 20th century. A holy war to reverse the 'destruction of the ecological balance caused by self-serving, ego-centric human activities'.

Is this crusade prompted by a concern for humanity, or the opposite? Let's ask Biology professor Eric Pianka of the University of Texas...

Iraq Liberation Day

April 9 is Iraqi liberation day, the day Saddam fled Baghdad. It was not the end of the conflict, but it was the end of a tyrant who sponsored terror, was responsible for millions of deaths and one who constituted a continuing threat to global security. Families of troops who served and are serving in Iraq have asked us to mark the milestone.

It's the Economy, Stupid

U.S. employers added 211,000 new jobs last month pushing the unemployment rate down to 4.7%, according to the March BLS report. The professional services sector - lawyers, accountants, engineers and architects, led the way with 52,000 new jobs. I know some people prefer bad news and we can find it.

Character Flaws

What are the characteristics of a good team? A team helps weaker members become stronger but weaker members have the responsibility to improve and do their best. Team members earn their positions. They are not given them. Better players compensate for the poorer players, but poorer players defer to the better ones. People on the team are not equal, but they all have a role. Everybody works to improve the team. Nobody has a right to do nothing.

Government Helping Us Save OUR Money

What does anybody have against private health & retirement plans? If some people take care of themselves, it is easier to provide for those who cannot or will not do so. Government has a legitimate interest in encouraging smart behavior through the tax code. If someone removes himself from the dependent population, we should praise him not punish with punitive taxes.

The McCain Trashing Begins

John McCain was the media darling. Even liberals claimed to like him. He was a maverick and they defined maverick as opposing the Republican establishment and especially opposing President Bush. Primary season is still almost two years out, but as he looks more like the next president of the United States, the long knives are coming out.

Outraged Americans

"The Economist" has a good article describing how Americans have gone off the deep end. The author makes a good point that both sides feel marginalized. Leftists compain that Republicans control every branch of government. Rightists dislike that the left dominates the movie business and the universities. Everybody is outraged.

I Like MY Incumbents

When you hear someone tell you to throw the bums out, ask which bums? I like my guys. They are competent, honest and doing a good job. We have Senators John Warner & George Allen and Congressman Tom Davis. Warner is not up for reelection in 2006. He won 82.58% of the vote last time. Only a caveman would vote against Allen or Davis.

Jobs We 'Won't Take'

This is a term being used to convince us we need illegal immigrants.
What are these jobs and why won't 'we' take them?