Category Archives: Politics

I understand the allure that a certain kind of soft-authoritarian approach to governance offers, not the least because when the man on the white horse is genuinely devoted to producing beneficial outcomes in his (or her) territory, good changes with … Continue reading →

One curious part of online discourse almost since the beginning of the Internet has been the way that the First Amendment figures as an iconic artifact at certain recurrent moments, almost as much as the comparison-to-Nazism described by Godwin’s Law. … Continue reading →

I posted a while back on Facebook about Todd Akin’s statements on abortion and rape, but the subject is worth returning to this morning. Among the post-mortems is the proposition that extreme anti-abortion sentiments cost the Republicans two Senate seats … Continue reading →

Lest anyone think from my essays yesterday that I didn’t vote, or that I don’t think it’s important to vote for Obama, a quick note. 1) I can’t think of anything that Romney would likely improve, even in areas where … Continue reading →

Progressives, conservatives, independents, libertarians, the disgustedly disengaged: whatever your political affiliation, you need to stop waiting for a Presidential (or Congressional) election to bring you closure. The day after, everyone you hate and fear politically is right here, just waiting … Continue reading →

Whatever happens in the U.S. elections tomorrow, two fundamental things will not change. First, the national security policy of the United States is unlikely to change in any systematic or meaningful ways, meaning both the approach of the government towards … Continue reading →

My least favorite genre of online discourse, whether it’s on Facebook or email, is the hortatory appeal. Sometimes this comes before a petition or request for donation. More often, coming from the liberals and progressives who make up the majority … Continue reading →

That government regulation makes as well as hurts businesses is not news to economists and political scientists. Nor is it to politicians, whatever their declared ideology, however dumb they pretend to be in public. Is it news to the American … Continue reading →