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Monthly Archives: August 2015

A Connecticut grifter gets his reward

I’ve written several times about the fact that grifters have a natural home in the Republican party. There are grifter politicians, like Rick Santorum, who is always hopelessly running for president, thereby keeping his brand alive for those lucrative red meat speaking fees, and there are grifter political operatives, who siphon money away from the […]

A tax by any other name

For some reason, I’m fascinated by the concept of “rent-seeking”, which explains so much about the way our economy works, but is so little noted by our media or our politicians, even those we normally style progressives. Here’s the latest egregious example I’ve come across, courtesy of Atrios: H&R Block’s entire business model is premised […]

It’s a miracle!

Donald Trump has joined Jesus and the Virgin Mary and has appeared to the faithful in edible fashion, the Donald appearing as a tub of fat, which seems right.

Batman speaks

My wife passed this on to me from one of her Vermont Facebook friends.   

And you thought the term “Happy Republican” was an oxymoron

Umm, there are times when it appears that our “liberal media” bends over backwards to be “fair and balanced” to our red state brethren. A good example in today’s Times, in which David Leonhardt gives a boost to what we in the legal biz would call “results oriented” research by a sociology professor at the […]

Why the right wants to means test  Social Security

Several years ago I attended a discussion group led by a formerly radical professor at a Swarthmore reunion (my wife went to Swarthmore). During the discussion one inquisitor, probably also a former radical, asked the good professor whether it might not be a really good idea to means test Social Security, to which the professor […]

Debate Wrapup

First, let me say that I didn’t watch the “debate”. Now, you may think that, given that admission, I have no right to express an opinion about the goings on in Cleveland. But this is America, a place where everyone has the right to express their opinion, regardless of their state of ignorance. In fact, […]

Debate Wrapup

First, let me say that I didn’t watch the “debate”. Now, you may think that, given that admission, I have no right to express an opinion about the goings on in Cleveland. But this is America, a place where everyone has the right to express their opinion, regardless of their state of ignorance. In fact, […]

Greetings from Vermont

Blogging has been non-existent here, as I have been on vacation in the great state of Vermont, home of Ben and Jerry’s, the world’s finest cheddar cheese, Lake Champlain chocolates, lakes of crystal clear water and lakes of craft beer, and, last but not least, home of Bernie Sanders, who, if this were at all […]