Category Archives: Domestic Policy
Apparently, Ron Paul promotes “crazy” conspiracy theories. What frequently goes unasked is, in comparison to what? Continue reading
An R next to a politician’s name might as well be a scarlet letter in 2006. Voters have tired of Republican President George W. Bush for his ignorance of reality in Iraq and abuses of power at home. And Americans have soured on Republican custodians of Congress for lining their pockets with lobbyists’ bribes and concealing the depredations of individual congressmen. Because of these failings of national Republicans, the incumbent Republican Senator for Rhode Island, Lincoln Chafee, must win re-election … Continue reading
Even a month ago, I was content to let the electoral system punish President George W. Bush for his incompetence in prosecuting the war in Iraq. Let him deal with more Democrats than he bargained for after the 2006 midterm elections, I thought. That would sufficiently punish him for his failures; anything more would set a dangerous precedent discouraging future presidents from launching big endeavors that might not work. Oh, what a difference a few weeks have made! Now, I … Continue reading
I’ve resisted assigning blame for the Hurricane Katrina disaster because I don’t believe kneejerk and partisan responses, especially after a tragedy, are appropriate. I question the humanity of imbeciles who, within a day of Katrina’s assault, used the devastation and death to make political points against President George W. Bush and the United States. Basic decency says we help the victims of a cataclysm and pay respects to the dead before thinking of how to blame our political opponents. Two … Continue reading
In my other screed from today, I asked whether the immense demands Americans place on their government might have slowed the response to Hurricane Katrina. Now, I must ask another question: Do we set up the American government to fail in our eyes? In the modern era, we expect the federal government to solve all our problems. Americans perceive their government officials not as maintainers of law and order, but as wizards who can ameliorate every difficulty. One of the … Continue reading
Ever since the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, American citizens have demanded more and more things from their federal government. They expect the government to, amongst other things: Regulate morality and decrease vice. Fund arts and sciences, no matter how trivial. Prevent individuals from harming themselves. Root out offensiveness in society. Make certain everyone can get a job. Ensure those who don’t have jobs don’t suffer too much. Manage the economy in futile efforts to end the cyclical occurrences of … Continue reading
In Kelo v. City of New London, the Supreme Court rules localities can force people off their property for private development. This is one of the most nonsensical, dangerous things I’ve heard in a long time. During this era of nonsense and danger, that’s saying something. According to the left-most justices of our “illustrious” Supreme Court, local governments can use the police power of government to expel citizens from their homes to make room for new Wal-Marts and mini-malls. With … Continue reading
On the basis of what the American national media has covered most intensely recently, one would think the most pressing concerns of our country were the Michael Jackson trial and a missing teenager in Aruba. A short while before that, the most important issue of the United States, from the media’s perspective, was a vegetative woman in Florida. And, back through time, the pattern continues of our major news outlets concentrating on and hyping up stories with little genuine importance. … Continue reading
