April 30, 2007Fred! IIIt bothers Americans when we’re told how unpopular we are with the rest of the world. For some of us, at least, it gets our back up — and our natural tendency is to tell the French, for example, that we’d rather not hear from them until the day when they need us to bail them out again.
Posted by AlexC at 11:57 PM
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But johngalt thinks:
Now that's the kind of oratory we've been missing for nigh on twenty years! I'm giddy at the prospect of Fred and Rudy's ongoing campaign of one-upsmanship in the "America's pissed off and America's not gonna take it lying down any more" vernacular. For my money I'll take Fred. He strikes the right balance between a muscular foreign policy and scaring the crap out of the electorate. Posted by: johngalt at May 1, 2007 3:21 PMQuote of the DayAndy McCarthy in NRO Corner:
Posted by jk at 6:18 PM
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But johngalt thinks:
Nice! Or, as my two-year-old likes to say, "Niiiiice!" Posted by: johngalt at May 1, 2007 3:12 PMFlat tax? Just Peachy.The great state of Georgia looks to supply side and the Laffer Curve to increase the state's competitiveness and revenue. Stephen Moore, writing in OpinionJournal Political Diary: Just maybe, the model for a fundamental tax overhaul nation-wide has percolated up in the State of Georgia. On Wednesday, Glenn Richardson, speaker of Georgia's House of Representatives, filed a bill that would junk the state's existing tax code and replace it with a much simpler one. Economics and Markets
Posted by jk at 1:02 PM
John?Senator McCain gets interrogative punctuation instead of the supererogatory exclamation mark. I think he earned it. McCain and his wife sat for an extended interview on FOXNews Sunday with Chris Wallace yesterday. It was all you needed to know about his candidacy, watchable in a half hour with TiVo. McCain was stalwart and eloquent on the war, reminding me that -- should he win the GOP nomination -- I will support him 100%. Yet his other positions were open to view as well. Dean Barnett at Hugh Hewitt says he "fired serial bulls-eyes at both feet" and I cannot contradict: Here's Barnett's take: McCain defended the salubrious effects of the McCain/Feingold abomination, and then added that the issue doesn’t really matter since no one really cares about free speech outside the Beltway. (I’m paraphrasing, of course.) He also strangely suggested that we close Gitmo and transfer the detainees to Leavenworth, apparently because the Kansas climate will do them good. Chris Wallace’s questioning forced him to implausibly maintain that although he was one of three Republicans who voted against the Bush tax cuts, he would resolutely defend them once in the Oval Office. Barnett goes on to draw a superb comparison between the abortion debate and torture. I suggest the whole post. I'd happily join Senator McCain, saying that "we don't torture" The moral high ground is valuable, and he is right to question its efficacy. But Barnett is right to suggest that a lot of flexibility remains in the language and its application. I would never, never, never, suggest that we put a human being through half of what the Senator was subjected to in Vietnam. But sadly the McCain-Andrew Sullivan definition of torture is now accepted. I have zero problem having a female interrogate one of these backward 7th century people. I find it amusing that they are so bothered and I like to use our open-mindedness as a weapon against them. I think the panties-on-the-head at Abu Ghraib was unprofessional, but I still find myself able to fly the flag on holidays. Loud rock music? It would work on AlexC... Cold temperatures? Waterboarding? I'd start to limit some of these to high value targets. But to expose somebody to discomfort with a very small chance of injury seems fair. Thanks to Barnett's brilliant post, I have digressed. McCain called for closing Gitmo, recognizing global warming, and he strongly defended McCain-Feingold, saying that the side effects are failures of enforcement, not legislative flaws. And he said that nobody in town hall meetings ever brings it up. "They all want health care and entitlement reform," said the Senator, suggesting that only inside the beltway wonks cared about such things. John? By all means, if we must.
But AlexC thinks:
I don't think McCain makes it to the New Year... he doesn't have the "ummph" with the base. Posted by: AlexC at May 1, 2007 1:39 AM
But jk thinks:
Bold prediction. I actually think he still gets the GOP nomination (though that's trading at 19.1 - 19.7 at Intrade). a) Republicans tend to nominate the guy when it's "his turn" (cf. Bob Dole 1996) and McCain can claim that mantle. b) I love Hizzoner, but one keeps waiting for another shoe to drop on his personal life. I wait for Imelda Marcos's whole closet. c) Romney has some trouble with the flip flop charge. I'm not sure that's fair on abortion but the "lifelong hunter" was creepy in a VP Al Gore way. d) His other opponents have not entered yet. That may be okay or even wise, but they might not enter or might not raise enough money. e) All of the above. McCain is the pro in the race, for better or worse, he's done it before. April 29, 2007Random ThoughtI really really dislike Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd. His solo stuff even more. I don't mind sixties psychedelic rock (Strawberry Alarm Clock, Lemon Pipers, Donovan, etc) but the Syd Barrett creeps me out. Everytime it shows up in iTunes' Party Shuffle or on the iPod I have to skip it.
But johngalt thinks:
You don't even like 'Bike?' Who can forget his good mouse Gerald? I hummed that song for months! Or 'Careful with that Ax, Eugene?' 'See Emily Play?' 'Saucerful of Secrets' is some really weird cr.., err, "stuff" though. Ultimately, the guy was a poster child for the dangers of LSD. Posted by: johngalt at April 30, 2007 3:20 PM
But AlexC thinks:
I have to admit i have never tried LSD. But if it's anything like Syd Barret's crap, I'll pass. By far the worst song is "Scream They Last Scream Old Woman with a Casket".... Hell will be an iPod with only that in it's playlist. Posted by: AlexC at May 1, 2007 12:13 AMApril 28, 2007Western Media's Fifth ColumnThe observation that western media has a predominant leftist bias that leads to "news" reports critical of US and Israeli military and foreign policy is not new. Thomas Sowell wrote 'Western Media: Fourth Estate or Fifth Column' more than two years ago. Whether the one-sided reporting of the war in Vietnam was a factor in the American defeat there used to be a matter of controversy. But, in recent years, high officials of the Communist government of Vietnam have themselves admitted that they lost the war on the battlefields but won it in the U.S. media and on the streets of America, where political pressures from the anti-war movement threw away the victory for which thousands of American lives had been sacrificed. What is new is a Harvard University researcher publishes a paper that "describes the trajectory of the media from objective observer to fiery advocate, becoming in fact a weapon of modern warfare." And that researcher is none other than Marvin Kalb, a household name from his work on network news broadcasts in decades past. Like Bernard Goldberg, Kalb made his career as a member of the vaunted Fourth Estate he is now critical of. The full paper can be downloaded here, and is replete with examples of internet and satellite TV enabled military espionage by middle east "news" outlets, and similar abetting behavior by western media: Whether “sub,” “supra” or “trans” this fusion of radical, revolutionary politics and ultramodern communications technology, as witnessed in the Lebanon War of 2006, has come to define the very nature of asymmetrical warfare. A key consequence of this new warfare is that the role of the journalist in many parts of the world has been dramatically transformed—from a quest for objectivity and fairness to an acceptance of advocacy as a tool of the craft. If once the journalist aspired to honest and detached reporting, now it has become increasingly acceptable for the journalist to be an activist player and a fiery advocate. 24/7 cable news has placed a premium on provocative chatter, not on substantive discourse. Many journalists in the Middle East, born into a culture of submissiveness to centralized authority, have always seen themselves as players and advocates, but this has not been the norm in Europe or the United States, and this change is both noteworthy and disturbing. {Emphasis mine.] The motto of the Scripps-Howard newspapers, still displayed prominently on the masthead of papers they publish (including Denver's 'Rocky Mountain News') reads: Give light and the people will find their own way. Consider in which direction the light now being given is intended to lead people. Hat tip: Cox & Forkum with an appropriately selected cartoon from the South Lebanon war of 2006.
But Terri thinks:
I think that's true, but I'm ok with it as long as we know it. And I think most people do know that the news isn't objective. Once it's determined that journalists are not objective, then you can start to arrest them for being an enemy combatant if that ends up being the case. And you can do it without listening to the argument that they're just trying to be "fair". Posted by: Terri at April 28, 2007 2:37 PM
But johngalt thinks:
I think you're right that most people who are paying attention know that the news isn't objective, but what about the other half (or more) who don't pay attention? And if there were no market for objective news, Fox News wouldn't continue to use the motto "fair and balanced." Bloggers have proven an effective counterweight to MSM misinformation. But when the dominant mass distributors of news information can be counted on to deliver consistently slanted reports consciously designed to support a particular dogma, how is that any different from state control of the media? Posted by: johngalt at April 29, 2007 12:24 PM
But jk thinks:
Do I misread? The answer is coercive power and your comparison seems uncharacteristically relativist from jg. The leftist media oligopoly is subject to corrective market pressure from FOXNews, blogs, and talk radio. The public school monopoly has nothing to fear.
But johngalt thinks:
Coercive power is AN answer, but not the one I'd choose. Instead I'm cautioning against thoughtful individuals being "ok with" ideological filters on news broadcasts which, by definition, are advertised as thorough and objective. What is relativistic in the comparison between state control of media (which censors what threatens state control and embellishes what flatters it) and a dogmatic information oligopoly, which does exactly the same thing? The LMO is subject to democratic market pressure. When the market is polarized and evenly divided ideologically then the market pressure you rely on evaporates. Particularly when individuals who disagree with the dominant paradigm are "ok with it." Posted by: johngalt at April 30, 2007 2:53 PM
But johngalt thinks:
I left a better comment on this subject over at Terri's blog: "Fair enough - the news is a free-market business. However, I am particularly sensitive to the redefinition of the concept ‘reality’ that is driven by the philosophy of Pragmatism. Abdicating the principle that news must be objective and opinion must be on the editorial page is the civil equivalent of allowing a wartime enemy to capture your capital because defending civilian property “isn’t the army’s job.” The progress and security of a free society is based upon individual choice of the best ideas amongst all available. When the available ideas are restricted by ideological censorship then freedom is in jeopardy. Edward R. Murrow is turning over in his grave." Posted by: johngalt at April 30, 2007 3:23 PMApril 27, 2007Poor Paul KrugmanWHEN THE news came last week that the stock market had reached a record high, we thought we heard the strangest sound in the background: quiet sobbing. It took a while before its source came to us: Of course ! That had to be the New York Times ’ man in the economy and all-around pundit, Paul Krugman, crying in his beer. Though given today’s economy, he’s probably drinking the best single-malt Scotch on the market. But nothing seems to depress him like good news. He’s been predicting an economic collapse for so long that it cheers just to think of him as the stock market sets new records and the unemployment rate keeps dropping below low, and good economic news keeps piling up. Meanwhile, the sage of W. 43 rd St. keeps warning that The End Is Near. Think Woody Allen doing Shakespearean tragedy. The whole piece is clever. Hat-tip: Don Luskin
Posted by jk at 5:45 PM
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But johngalt thinks:
Forbes magazine publisher Rich Karlgaard this morning predicted "Dow 18,000 within 3 years." His justification was threefold: While seemingly unreachable today, 18,000 is only 39% growth from today's valuation; There is a "global liquidity glut" and the money won't go into real estate or bonds; Global growth since every company on the Dow 30 has it's primary growth overseas. Posted by: johngalt at April 28, 2007 11:34 AMAttila!Sorry, swept up in the fray. Attila at Pillage Idiot has been nominated for "Best Humor Blog" in the Jewish & Israeli Blog awards. Be a mensch, and vote "Pillage Idiot." Now jk thinks he's Imus...
Posted by jk at 2:40 PM
We Don't Need No Thought Control...I've been sitting on this post all week. Professors Gary Becker and Richard Posner have created one of the most intelligent and thoughtful (non-chocolate-bunny) blogs out there. The Economics and the Law Prof take a serious look at a single issue, generally finding some of the internecine disagreement of which I am so fond. It's on the blogroll and I recommend keeping up -- they have a new topic every week or so. Last Sunday, Becker posted on "The Benefits of Education," wondering why even more people do not sign up for the obvious benefits and strong return on investment that higher education provides. It is well documented that the average earnings premium from a college education in the United States increased from about 40 percent in the late 1970's to about 80 percent at present. Not everyone does well financially from going to college, or badly by not going-Bill Gates is an obvious but extreme example of a college dropout- but the average person who does go has far better prospects for earnings, employment, and occupation than the average person who stops schooling after finishing high school. The economic benefits from completing high school also went up relative to those to high school dropouts, although they did not increase as much as the benefits from college. A similar picture holds for Great Britain and many other countries, although the changes elsewhere have been smaller than in the United States. Posner's Comment hit a theme pretty close to home, namely that "Correlation is not causation." Suppose what are increasing are not the returns to education but the returns to intelligence, and suppose that people with high IQs both enjoy education more than other people do and are more likely to be admitted to college or a graduate or professional school because teachers prefer teaching (and learning from!) them and because good students are more likely (because they are more intelligent, not because they are good students) to be affluent, and therefore generous, alumni. I have always posited this question as: What if you traded the group of current college graduates with those without a degree (Posner says it much better, having all that education to fall back on). I do not mean to run down the benefits of education nor encourage people to drop out. I am a dropout that has lived the life of a graduate. Most of the jobs I have had since I put the old guitar down would have typically been filled by a college graduate. I realize that there is a sour grapes element to my question, but I have often thought, like Posner, that the successes were achieved by what I call "college people" more so than college graduates. Full disclosure: a degree would have helped me both personally and financially, and I expect I will finish up an online Economics degree someday here (You can take a course from Art Laffer at YorktownUniveristy,com) April 26, 2007Hillary!"In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort, and sanctuary to terrorists, including Al Qaeda members, though there is apparently no evidence of his involvement in the terrible events of September 11, 2001. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons. Should he succeed in that endeavor, he could alter the political and security landscape of the Middle East, which as we know all too well affects American security."
But TrekMedic251 thinks:
Yeah,..but when she said that, what accent was she imitating? Posted by: TrekMedic251 at April 26, 2007 9:05 PM
But jk thinks:
I hope she did it in her David Niven voice, man I love that one. Posted by: jk at April 27, 2007 2:36 PMSam!Brownback Touts Potential of Corn to Iowa Republicans DES MOINES Republican presidential hopeful Sam Brownback carries a small piece of carpet that he thinks could be the future of American agriculture. The carpet fibers are derived from corn, part of what Brownback sees as the untapped potential to expand the uses of the corn kernel.
Posted by jk at 6:46 PM
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But johngalt thinks:
"Corn is for chips, not carpets. (Or motor fuels.)" -johngalt Posted by: johngalt at April 28, 2007 11:39 AMMitt!Every 08 candidate gets a title with their name and an exclamation point. "What Jimmy Carter fails to understand is what so many fail to understand: Whether it is Hamas or Hezbollah or al Qaeda, there is an overarching goal among the violent jihadists that transcends borders and boundaries. That goal is to replace all modern Islamic states with a caliphate, to destroy Israel, to cause the collapse of the West and the United States, and to conquer the world."
But jk thinks:
Yeah, I saw that quote and admit it is very good. The deal-breaker for me for the Governor is his mandatory health insurance plan for Massachusetts. Looks like a classic W deal where you give up something to get something and get completely rolled. If we want HillaryCare, we can vote for the real deal – I was looking for something else.
But AlexC thinks:
With the exception of Hagel, every Republican "gets" the war. Now it's a test of not liking them because of the other issues. ;) Windfall Profits Taxes, Again.It will save us money at the pump. No, really. Ask Bob Casey. In response to the new round of oil profits, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., introduced legislation Thursday that he hopes will curtail rising gas prices. Casey's bill would impose a windfall profits tax and close certain tax loopholes for big oil companies and use the money for research into biofuels and other related projects. Follow the logic here. 1) Oil companies make excessive profits. Be careful not to laugh too hard. In the real world, step three would be. The "real" step three never crossed Bob Casey's mind? Governor Ed Rendell had the guts to lie to us and say he'll prevent the oil companies from passing on the tax... perhaps Casey thinks we won't notice? Oil and Energy
Posted by AlexC at 5:41 PM
Rudy!I promise to give Senator Thompson a fair hear hearing should he enter the race, but I remain pretty happy with Hizzoner: The question is going to be, "How long does it take, and how many losses do we have along the way?" And I truly believe if we go back on defense for a period of time, we can ultimately have more losses and it's going to go on much longer. The power of our ideas is so great we'll eventually prevail. The real question is, "How do we get there?" Do we get there in a way in which it is as expeditious as possible and with as little loss of life as possible, or do we get there in some circuitous fashion. I pulled that from a longer piece about Giuliani in Best of the Web. He is correct to assert that Democrats do not demonstrate an understanding of the enemy. And right about the consequences. I was opining on a comment at another Colorado blog I frequent that we really need a Churchill at this time to energize a war weary nation. Much as I love President Bush, this is not his strong suit. I will be giving extra points for inspiring and clear rhetoric in the 2008 race. This has put Giuliani in the front for me, and kept Senator McCain alive. Still the Bunny BlogPeople come to ThreeSources looking for informed commentary on important issues, application of basic economic principles to politics, and a bit of internecine "clarification" of principles from our divergent viewpoints. Nah, just kiddin'. Chocolate Bunnies keep us afloat. Here are the top 20 search strings for (a very busy) April (Getting that Easter peak...)
Sigh. Here it is.
But johngalt thinks:
Un-foxtrot-believable. Posted by: johngalt at April 28, 2007 11:43 AMDownsides of Cutting TaxesMore taxes collected. Weird, I know. The department says the [federal] government took in nearly 49 (b) billion dollars yesterday. It represents in large part the amount individuals paid to cover taxes owed on their 2006 returns. Naturally more money in the federal coffers doesn't guarantee smarter spending, but hey, it's less out of my pocket.
But jk thinks:
It amazes that some of the economically-literate Democrats like Rep. Barney Frank or some of the think-tank guys have not figured out the best way to get more money for their progressive vision is to embrace some supply-side principals. Posted by: jk at April 26, 2007 12:58 PM
But dagny thinks:
"I do not think that word means what you think it means." Noone can be described as, "economically-literate," who does not believe in the power of free markets. Posted by: dagny at April 27, 2007 9:40 AM
But jk thinks:
I hear you. But you watch Rep. Frank on "Kudlow & Company" and realize that he does understand the benefits of the free market, and that he is very intelligent. He is so beholden to Democratic self-interests that he has to toe the line (See Kim Strassel's column on his gift to the tort bar in the subprime hearings), but under there he knows. Fred!I'm digging that NRO posts Fred Thompson commentaries on their site. America is a free country and we do not tell people what they can believe or say. We should realize, however, that there are people in America who are also telling their children that the Holocaust is a lie and that those who say otherwise are their enemies. We cannot prevent them from doing so, but we also cannot let them promote their agenda by claiming they are victimized by historical facts. April 25, 2007Truth and ToleranceFrom "Typhoon Officially 'Over the Moon'" at the Society of British Aerospace Companies' Website: Building one of the most advanced jet fighters in the world is a challenge for any aerospace company – but the one thing you might think you don't have to worry about when you start such a job is the pull of the moon. Wow... HT: Hannes Hacker Dow 13,000Better news still: the S&P 500 is less than five away from 1500 and will likely be surpassing its all time high (1527.46). Adjusted for inflation, both are still well off their real highs. Larry says "Greatest Story Never Told."
Posted by jk at 5:56 PM
White LiesAndrew Klavan The thing I like best about being a conservative is that I don’t have to lie. I don’t have to pretend that men and women are the same. I don’t have to declare that failed or oppressive cultures are as good as mine. I don’t have to say that everyone’s special or that the rich cause poverty or that all religions are a path to God. I don’t have to claim that a bad writer like Alice Walker is a good one or that a good writer like Toni Morrison is a great one. I don’t have to pretend that Islam means peace. There are far too many conservatives and libertarians who take this candor to an extreme. Being smug in your correctness far too many times comes across as condescending. Especially to fellow travellers... how are you going to convince anyone you're right, if you're a jerk-off about it? Philosophy
Posted by AlexC at 3:16 PM
Credit SnobsTed Frank of the American Enterprise Institute has a guest editorial in the WSJ today in which he makes some great points about the desire to over regulate sub-prime lending, Bangladeshi banker Muhammad Yunus won a Nobel Peace Prize for bringing credit to people too poor to qualify for traditional bank loans. The availability of nontraditional credit has helped millions of Third Worlders out of poverty. An even better point is how these "men and women of the people" are ready to shut them out of the capital market. This is not good enough for some activists, the ones that George Mason University Professor Alex Tabarrok calls "credit snobs" because they take the position that the hoi polloi cannot be trusted with the risks and benefits of credit. (This snobbery is hardly limited to mortgages: Witness the December SEC regulations further limiting who may invest in hedge funds, thus depriving the middle class of financial opportunities available to the rich.) In the eyes of a credit snob, if a homeowner defaulted, it must be because of "predatory lending." And where there are paternalistic uprisings against faceless banks to be had, a lawsuit is sure to follow. Removing poor people's access to capital is cruel. I suggest that this would be a good, explainable political issue for the GOP: prosecute any actual fraud aggressively, but show the advantages to reduced regulation.
But AlexC thinks:
So a company gets involved in sub-prime lending, (potentially to their investment detriment) to people who could use the money, and THEY are the bad guy? Posted by: AlexC at April 25, 2007 3:19 PM
But jk thinks:
They have to protect the public from Preditory Lending! I'd like to write a "Saturday Night Live" skit on preditory lending: don't go downtown at night alone, somebody will lend you money... Posted by: jk at April 25, 2007 6:46 PMApril 24, 2007SexyThis is one sexy toy: USB. Hungry? Want some quail stuffed with jalepeno? Check out this sexy toy: Automatic.
But jk thinks:
When fully automatic USBBB remote weapons are outlawed.... Posted by: jk at April 25, 2007 12:51 PMNoah, Prepare the ArkIn the semi-arid high desert of Colorado, any accumulation of rainfall exceeding one inch in a single day is big news. Atlantis Farm is in danger of floating away today. (See "Precipitation" in the Daily Statistics table.)
But jk thinks:
Better load the cats and horses up -- it is still pouring over here. I am still reeling from jg's using a biblical reference. Is it, perhaps, raining fire? Posted by: jk at April 24, 2007 5:49 PM
But johngalt thinks:
When in Rome... Posted by: johngalt at April 25, 2007 1:43 AMU.S. Out of Ethiopia!NO MORE BLOOD FOR OIL! Ethiopia Attack 'Leaves 74 Dead.' "It is a cold blood killing, a massacre. It is a terrorist act," Berekat Simon, an adviser to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, told AFP news agency. Filthy capitalist imperialists! Leave those natural resources alone!! The workers were employed by the Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau, part of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, China's Xinhua news agency reported. Oh. Never mind. Current Events
Posted by JohnGalt at 3:30 PM
Old jk VideoMy brother in law shot this to help me promote my "jk sings songs from even numbered decades" solo act. I forget the year, but I'm sure it's at least ten years old. More? I Fall to Pieces, Paper Moon.
But sugarchuck thinks:
Great tunes. Great performance. Extra cool guitar. Uffdabilly Kudos.
But Terri thinks:
Very cool! Thanks for sharing! Posted by: Terri at April 25, 2007 11:37 AMTHE WAR IS LOST!!!Katie Couric's epic struggle to provide peace and stability to the CBS Evening News is floundering. And Dean Barnett shares one high level official who has dared to tell the public that it's over: "The broadcast is an abject failure, by any measure," says Rich Hanley, director of graduate programs at the School of Communications at Quinnipiac University. “They gambled that viewers wanted a softer, less-dramatic presentation of the news, and they lost. It's not fair to blame Couric for everything, but she's certainly the centerpiece and deserves a fair share." Must one more haircut be sacrificed to this futile effort? Media and Blogging
Posted by jk at 12:09 PM
Defender of the ConstitutionSenate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stood bravely against media and elite opinion when he opposed McCain-Feingold. He then took it to the Supreme Court in McConnell v. FEC. He lost there but has not given up. He is filing an amicus curiae brief in Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life. And an amicus curiae editorial of sorts in the Wall Street Journal (paid link, sorry!) Five years ago, as my colleagues got ready to pass BCRA, I warned them that three things would result: that rather than reduce the influence of money on politics, they'd drive it further underground; that advocacy groups would be blocked from speaking even on issues unrelated to elections; and that a deadline on issue ads would only lead to campaigns starting earlier, with a greater premium on early fund raising. All three predictions have come true, from the influence of 527s on the last presidential campaign, to the case before the Supreme Court, to primary campaigns 23 months ahead of the next presidential election. McConnell also bucked his party by opposing a flag-burning amendment. Today I salute this stalwart defender of free speech. For The ChildrenI'm not a big Rush Limbaugh fan, but I will give the guy props. I think he was one of -- if not the -- first to recognize the leftist ploy to expand government "for the children." Voters don't want more welfare, but they'll support additional programs "for the children." repeat ad nauseum for any government command and control structure. As if there were a children's economy independent of their guardians. The WSJ Ed Page finds Senator Clinton bragging about this strategy to her devoted following. Democrats seek to enlarge the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The editorial (free link) describes SCHIP as "Bill Clinton's health-care consolation prize after the implosion of HillaryCare. It expires in September without reauthorization, and Democrats are using the opening to turn it into another giant middle-class health-care entitlement. Call it HillaryCare on the installment plan." Same song different verse. It is enacted to cover those too poor for adequate coverage without qualifying for Medicare, but is expanded to the middle class and is now threatening to become de facto Universal Care. In other words, what began as a hard-cap grant to cover the working poor is evolving into an open-ended entitlement to cover whatever promises states make. And all under the political cover of helping "children." Instead of debating government-run health care on its merits, Democrats are building it step by step on the sly. Or as Mrs. Clinton put it in Nevada, "Make no mistake. This will be a series of steps." Those cruel bastards at the WSJ Ed Page don't seem to like children. Health Care
Posted by jk at 10:52 AM
April 23, 2007PhysiliciousMost physics texts are written as if they were supplementary problem books for math courses. They are heavy on the problem-solving, but light (or empty) on the cause-effect relationships, inductive thinking, and reasoning which makes science. David Harriman is one physicist and teacher who has remedied that. He has a physics course for sale, which is described by the VanDamme Academy, where he teaches, as follows: David Harriman, philosopher and historian of physics, is the originator of VanDamme Academy's revolutionary science curriculum. An expert both in physics and in proper pedagogy, Mr Harriman developed and taught a two-year course on the history of physics for VanDamme Academy. His unique approach is to teach physics historically, thereby teaching it inductively. From the early Greeks to Copernicus to Newton, this course presents the essential principles of physics in logical sequence, placing each in the context of the earlier discoveries that made it possible and explaining how each was discovered by reasoning from observations. He sells the CD for $495 and the DVD for $695. He is not the first to teach physics from a historical perspective. Two others are Dr. Michael Fowler and Dr. Herbert Priestley. While Fowler and Priestley probably did not have the philosophic knowledge (e.g., of induction, deduction, and epistemology in general) of Harriman, they did have a knowledge of physics and its history. And they have some things available for less cost for those of us who cannot yet afford Harriman's work. The homepage of Dr. Michael Fowler, at UVa, has links to his lectures for PHYS 109: Galileo and Einstein (Lecturer) Fall His also has notes available for Physics 252: Modern Physics. On another page you can find: (1) a lecture on using history to teach physics; (2) a leture on heat which teaches physics from a historical (and hence inductive) perspective; (3) a lecture on electricity and magnetism which also teaches from a historical perspective; (4) a lecture on the development of Maxwell’s equations; (5) some quizzes, exercises, and another lecture. Dr. Herbert Priestley wrote a book entitled Introductory Physics. You can find it on a used-book site such as Alibris or Abe Books. Introductory Physics by Herbert Priestley (Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1958) has the best presentation of physics I’ve ever seen. (I have not heard Harriman yet.) He presents concepts in their historical and scientific context. Priestley presents alternative viewpoints that were being used to understand phenomena such as heat or electricity, discusses why each viewpoint was held and the arguments scientists had, and describes the experiments the scientists did – especially the experiments which validated one side or the other. In showing us the development of ideas in physics, Priestley is showing us the correct view of concept-formation and the formation of generalizations, Priestley is showing us that true concepts and propositions come from applying rational, objective methods to the real world. Priestley attended the University of Leeds, receiving a B.S. in 1933 and a Ph.D. in physics in 1935. He served in the Royal Air Force as an industrial research physicist, civilian education officer, and air intelligence officer. He came to the US as RAF liaison officer in 1942, but stayed on to teach physics at Ripton College after WWII. In 1952, he became chairman of the physics department at Knox College, where he stayed until he retired in 1980. His obituary is on Knox College Website. A caveat. Priestley does not give Aristotle proper credit as a scientist. People have insulted Aristotle for centuries, for things that are not Aristotle’s fault – people throughout history blindly believed what was written in Aristotle’s corpus, yes, but that is not Aristotle’s fault. Aristotle, in method, was objective, and referred to experience. If he had the evidence available to him which people did who lived 1,000 years or more after he lived, he could have arrived at the conclusions we have -- even Galileo said this. He was a solid scientist in his context, as can be seen in the work he did most: philosophy, logic and biology. Dr. James Lennox, Professor of Philosophy and the History of Science at the University of Pittsburgh, has some well-written and well-researched articles on his website regarding Aristotle as scientist and philosopher of science. An article directly relevant to some of Priestley's uninformed, unresearched accusations against Aristotle is Lennox's "Aristotle, Galileo and the Mixed Sciences," which discusses (1) Aristotle's use of mathematics as a tool in physics to explain why things happen and (2) Galileo's debt to Aristotle. Dr. Michael Fowler, Professor of Physics at the University of Virginia also recognized Aristotle’s solid contributions to science. In a lecture on Aristotle, Dr. Fowler says: To summarize: Aristotle's philosophy laid out an approach to the investigation of all natural phenomena, to determine form by detailed, systematic work, and thus arrive at final causes. His logical method of argument gave a framework for putting knowledge together, and deducing new results. He created what amounted to a fully-fledged professional scientific enterprise, on a scale comparable to a modern university science department. It must be admitted that some of his work - unfortunately, some of the physics - was not up to his usual high standards. He evidently found falling stones a lot less interesting than living creatures. Yet the sheer scale of his enterprise, unmatched in antiquity and for centuries to come, gave an authority to all his writings. And on the website of the University of Dayton’s History Department, in an article about the history of science, they say: Aristotle is the key figure in this history of ancient science and indeed one of a handful of leading thinkers and doers in the entire history of science from the dawn of man to the present. His work in virtually every scientific field--from biology to physics to chemistry to astronomy--became a cornerstone of Western Science until the Scientific Revolution. And indeed his methodology, his reliance upon close observation and interdisciplinary bent, remain with us today. Here are some excerpts from Priestley’s book. It is impossible to grasp Priestley’s masterful and rational approach in brief excerpts, so the excerpts must be lengthy. Priestley does use math in his textbook (it is algebra-based), but these excerpts will focus on his discussions of cause and effect and the development of ideas. I. Excerpt 1: Chp. 15, “Electricity and Chemistry,” pp. 201-205 15.1 Galvanism. Electricity and chemistry are closely inter-related. A chemical reaction can produce a supply of electricity for as long as the reaction continues. This, the first source of a continuous supply of electricity, an electric current, is the principle of the electric battery. Conversely, an electric current can produce a chemical reaction, usually the decomposition of a chemical compound into its simpler elements, the process of electrolysis. Both processes involve the conversion of energy from one form to another; in the first case, chemical energy becomes electrical energy; in the other, the reverse takes place.
Priestley then goes on to discuss the work of Michael Faraday in discovering the laws of electrolysis, which led to the development of practical cells, i.e., the batteries we now have in everyday life, and which we take for granted. But what we have in this excerpt is the scientific history of the development of the modern battery – which came out of experiments which changed fundamentally how we view man, as well. The observation that we had different sensations when metals touched our tongue in different places would have gone nowhere and could have been interpreted in all kinds of ways, without the knowledge that frogs’ nerves and muscles are affected by electricity. This knowledge was the first step in our modern science of neurology, in understanding how the brain works, and in developing some of the drugs we have today (which have neurological effects because of their chemistry and electrical effects). And if not for the foundational work of Michael Faraday arising from the research of Volta and Galvani, we would not know what we do today about nutrition and the operation of the cell. What does something so everyday as Gatorade have in it? Electrolytes. Thank Michael Faraday next time you drink some. Priestley is a genius in taking us from the observation that we had certain sensations when metals touched our tongues, to the modern battery. He presents a missing side of modern scientific texts: causality. Science is about discovering cause-effect relationships. Most modern texts present physics as an exercise in mathematics – the texts could be addenda to math texts, providing word problems and applications of math. They fail miserably in presenting cause-effect relationships, and showing how scientific knowledge really develops. They fail to present the important experiments that led to modern understanding of the material world, and that make physics what it is. II. Excerpt 2: Chp. 10, “The Nature of Heat,” pp. 135-139 10.6 The measurement of heat. The development of the thermometer opened the doorway to a new science – that of heat measurements – in which the pioneer was Joseph Black (1727-1799), professor of medicine and chemistry at the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. Prior to Black’s work, no clear distinction had been drawn between “quantity of heat” and “degree of hotness (temperature).” While something clearly passed from a hot body to one at a lower temperature, whether that something was heat or temperature was not known. Black was the first to conceive clearly of heat as a measurably physical quantity, distinct from, although related to, temperature as indicated by a thermometer. Again: genius. The interplay between theory, observation, reasoning and experiment is masterfully presented by Priestley. Priestley goes on to discuss the work of J.B. Mayer and James Joule in determining the relationship between mechanical energy and heat and in discovering the principle of the conservation of energy. Introductory Physics I highly recommend to anyone who wants a conceptual, rational understanding of the physical world we live in. Dancelicious 2Here is more great dancing from SYTYCD, Season 2. Allison Holker the Beautiful, Dance Goddess, did a beautiful solo to “This Woman’s Work” by Maxwell and to “Feeling Good” by Michael Buble. I'd have to say I liked some other dancers and performances on the show, too. Benji Schwimmer and his cousin Heidi did a fantastic routine to "Black Mambo" (they have been dancing together since they were at least 5!!!); Travis Wall and Heidi did a paso doble to "Plaza of Execution;" and Benji and Travis did an entertaining hip-hip routine to "Gyrate." But Allison is still first and foremost in my book. Kudlow Interviews Speaker PelosiI captured this a long time ago, but just got my ripping and uploading act together. Full disclosure #1: the Speaker was charming and intelligent; I am cherry picking the worst part of the interview (well, it was bad). Full disclosure #2: I do not have permission to show this copyrighted material. Mr. Property rights has asked permission, but not received it. There are 112 Kudlow clips on YouTube, so I am guessing it might be okay. I hope they have WiFi in prison...
Posted by jk at 7:11 PM
| What do you think? [1]
But johngalt thinks:
And how much profit is "excessive?" Let me ask it another way: How much would Democrats have to tax oil companies before they would agree that any more would be "too much?" But the big picture, for her, is this: "But I think we have to be fair. You look at the budget, you put everything on the table; what does this accomplish in terms of growing our economy?" I don't know, Ms. speaker. How much taxation on a staple of production is required to stimulate that production? I'm drawing a blank. Let's ask Mr. Lenin. Finally, how accustomed to the leftist echo chamber is she that when she hears someone say the words "windfall profits tax" she hears only "windfall profits?" Posted by: johngalt at April 24, 2007 3:29 PMQuote of The Day"I very seriously believe that capitalism is not only a better form of organizing human activity than any deliberate design, any attempt to organize it to satisfy particular preferences, to aim at what people regard as beautiful or pleasant order, but it is also the indispensable condition for just keeping that population alive which exists already in the world. I regard the preservation of what is known as the capitalist system, of the system of free markets and the private ownership of the means of production, as an essential condition of the very survival of mankind." -Friedrich Hayek Thanks to Larry Kudlow Economics and Markets
Posted by jk at 5:04 PM
An Economic Giant in HDThreeSources friend Lance of A Second Hand Conjecture reminds Friedmanites of an upcoming TV event: This coming Tuesday, April 24th, Free to Choose Media is continuing the work of its inspiration, Milton Friedman, of bringing the benefits of freedom to the people of this world, including its most remote corners. A new documentary, “The Ultimate Resource” will air on HDNet at 10PM EST. I joked when I bought my HiDef TV (I ended up with a Sylvania 42" Plasma HD) that it was a waste to get HD to watch Larry Kudlow. But I will be looking forward to this.
But Lance thinks:
Thanks a lot. I know the guys at Free to Choose media appreciate it. I hope you don't mind me pushing you to promote it, in any way you feel appropriate. HDNet didn't let them know the broadcast schedule until last week. So they are pretty much counting on us bloggers to spread the word. They had only a few days and no time to develop a traditional PR Campaign. Other wise I wouldn't so explicitly ask a group of people such as bloggers to make an effort. I am a big fan of these guys, I think they do Gods work. The people they are covering are even more important. Posted by: Lance at April 23, 2007 12:12 PM
But jk thinks:
Get outta town, I am looking forward to it. Were I able to turn one person on to the ideas of Friedman, my blogging career would be worthwhile. Posted by: jk at April 23, 2007 12:16 PMApril 22, 2007Earth DayToday is Earth Day. It's also Lenin's birthday. Just so you know. ... I imagine it's coincidental.
But johngalt thinks:
It's also the date, in 1915, when Germany introduced poison gas in WWI. These sound to me like three good reasons not to read the news on this date - no tellin' what other gems are in store for future April 22nds. My favorite line from the Earth Day wiki entry was this: "The idea that the date was chosen to celebrate Lenin's centenary still persists in some quarters,[13][14] although Lenin was never noted as an environmentalist." Hmmm. Wonder why so many people still see a connection then. What could it be? (I'd spell it out but really, if you can't figure it out, you probably won't read Threesources.com again anyway.) The Other Virginia College ShootingCould it be that johngalt linked to a Glenn Reynolds piece before JK did? Could be... A google news search for "appalachian school of law shooting 2002" yielded "Which is Safer? More guns or fewer?" by Reynolds published in Denver's Rocky Mountain News. It's a short piece and every paragraph is superb, but here's one I'd like to highlight: What's more, she would have been safer. That's how I feel about my student as well (one of a few I know who have gun-carry permits). She's a responsible adult; I trust her not to use her gun improperly, and if something bad happened, I'd want her to be armed because I trust her to respond appropriately, making the rest of us safer. [emphasis mine] It isn't often one reads a distinction between reality and perception - between "being" and "feeling" - in a newspaper. It's no surprise, when it happens, that it comes from the pen of a blogger. Hat Tip: My dad, who brought me Friday's Rocky Mountain News "RockyTalk Live" column with reader comments on the VT murders, including one by "KW" that mentioned the 2002 incident.
But jk thinks:
My Internet connection was down -- I woulda smoked you! Seriously, great post. Professor Reynolds is not only right, but also in a good position to make this point without seeming an ideologue or a gun nut. I watched the President of George Washington University on FOXNews Sunday. When a similar a suggestion was made, he bemusedly waved it off, bragging that even Campus Police were unarmed. I feel safer already. "Gun Culture" Defined"Gun culture" has been the theme of several recent postings, precipitated by the derogotory use of that term by media imbeciles opining on last week's Virginia Tech mass murder. I now offer an authoritative definition of the term in 800 pages: The 1996 John Ross historical novel, 'Unintended Consequences.' [Sorry, hardcover only.] Here's a concise reader comment on the work from Amazon.com: 127 of 135 people found the following review helpful: It didn't change me, but it did reinforce my opinions. Gun Rights
Posted by JohnGalt at 12:33 PM
Must Ban Semi-AutomaticsBecause nobody could shoot quickly with a revolver. Enjoy: Hat-tip: A Volkh commenter,
Posted by jk at 12:31 PM
| What do you think? [1]
But johngalt thinks:
I've seen fast revolver shooters at the local range, but this guy is phenomenal. I'm sure glad he's a member of the gun culture and not the narcissistic "I'm special just because I'm me and anyone who makes fun of me deserves to be slaughtered" culture. Posted by: johngalt at April 22, 2007 12:49 PMApril 21, 2007Maybe it is a gun cultureMiss America 1944, as told by Yahoo News/AP/LATimes: WAYNESBURG, KY. — Miss America 1944 has a talent that probably has never appeared on a beauty pageant stage: She fired a handgun to shoot out a vehicle's tires and stop an intruder. I love this country. UPDATE: Insty beat me to this one by a few hours, and links to Don Surber, who has a picture.
But AlexC thinks:
The equalizing power of firearms is awesome... Posted by: AlexC at April 21, 2007 5:53 PM
But johngalt thinks:
Correction: It really WAS a gun culture... in 1944. This was the era when many a young boy carried his .22 rifle to school with him, left it in his locker all day, and hunted rabbits on his way home. These were the men who, when faced with the international threat of a genocidal madman in central Europe, and ordered by the president to go across the ocean and defeat a mighty army, kept marching forward until the enemy surrendered. They knew how to handle a firearm, and what it was for (and not for). Today, young boys and girls are expelled from school for a week if they bring a butter knife to school. Today, it is a butter-knife culture. Any wonder why Mahmood isn't afraid? Posted by: johngalt at April 22, 2007 12:25 PM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||