Freedom and The Weak State

Francis Fukuyama challenges the assumption that freedom and a strong central state are opposing values: … In contemporary China, many of the worst abuses of peasant rights, violations of environmental and safety laws, and cases of gross corruption are the work not of the central government in Beijing but of local party officials or of the… Continue reading Freedom and The Weak State

The Moore’s Law of solar energy

That is changing. Over the last 30 years, researchers have watched as the price of capturing solar energy has dropped exponentially. There’s now frequent talk of a “Moore’s law” in solar energy. In computing, Moore’s law dictates that the number of components that can be placed on a chip doubles every 18 months. More practically… Continue reading The Moore’s Law of solar energy

30 percent of households making 250k+ think “upper-income” people pay too little?

Gallup poll that found only 6 percent of households making over $250,000 think their taxes are too low but 30 percent of that same group thinks “upper-income” people pay too little in taxes. She blames “this disconnect on the fact that upper-income people don’t realize they’re upper income.” From Andrew Sullivan – The Daily Beast Maybe… Continue reading 30 percent of households making 250k+ think “upper-income” people pay too little?

The Party’s Over?

A listing of events on the umbrella group Trea Party Patriots’ website for Monday and Friday showed a total of 145 events — the same listing shows 638 events on tax day 2010. From The Party’s Over? Can we stop pretending the Tea Party movement is something other than the republican base with funny hats?

70% of Tea Partiers oppose Ryan plan?

How lethal is the Ryan budget plan? 80% of voters oppose Medicare Phase-Out and 70% of Tea Partiers oppose it. In fact, the poll in question doesn’t even refer to full Medicare Phase-Out. It only refers to “cuts”. From How Lethal? | Talking Points Memo Tea party sticks to its guns in opposing a government take over of… Continue reading 70% of Tea Partiers oppose Ryan plan?

Congress Readies To Mobilize In Favor Of Wasteful Medicare Spending

the very same members of congress who voted this month to privatize Medicare in 2022 and enact draconian cuts throughout the 2020s and 2030s are here in town right now defending health care providers’ right to charge the government high prices for services that don’t work. Indeed, as recently as 2009 no less a figure… Continue reading Congress Readies To Mobilize In Favor Of Wasteful Medicare Spending