Wow, not even sure where to begin to rebut Scott’s latest post on farm subsidies. So, in no particular order:
1) Scott claimed that as Americans we maintain an idealistic image of rural life. This is true–but it is not a good thing. We like to hold up a dichotomy between small-town “Leave it to Beaver” [...]

Go see Hotel Rwanda. One of the best movies you’ll ever sit through. And also, as far as I can tell, one of the most accurate, which is absolutely the most horrifying thing about it. Go see it. and if you want to learn more about Rwanda, read We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow [...]

Allow me to take a break from my normal commentary to post a brief book review. I became aware of Jim Wallis a few months ago when I saw him interviewed on The Daily Show; it was one of the oddest interviews I have ever seen. There was this guy talking with John Stewart about [...]

As a preliminary note, both Hiren and Mike are travelling this week, so will only be posting intermittently, if at all. Which is kind of nice for me, because I disagree agree with them (Hiren agrees with Mike on this, evidently), and thus have a greater chance of getting the last word! Ha hah!
The tricky [...]

With a good manager, it is always her fault. Good leaders take responsibility for the people they hire, and for the work that those people do. Good leaders know that if the people they hire do a bad job, then it is either because a) the leader hired the wrong people or b) the leader [...]

“Cut taxes” they said. “And again, and again!” they said. “Go to war” they said. “Update and expand the military” they said. “Create a national testing mandate to fix public education” they said. “Create a drug benefit for the elderly that protects pharmaceuticals” they said. And so it all came to pass. And there was [...]

Get rid of them. Phase them out over the next decade or something to minimize the impact on farmers and combine it with some kinds of job retraining and/or relocation money. But they do more harm than good, so get rid of them. Why?

It would dramatically help the third world, more so than even debt [...]

When it comes to religion and politics, liberals really don’t get it. I can say this with the utmost respect because, in case you haven’t noticed, I am one. But too many liberals really don’t understand what it means to be Christian or Catholic or evangelical. And so they make one of two fatal flaws. [...]

First off, check out Jim’s fabulous suggestions about time reformation. He is truly a man of wisdom.
Second, check out this editorial in today’s New York Times by Thomas Friedman. Friedman alternates between being brilliant and being wrong, but this editorial on prisoner treatment, Republican hypocracy, and George Washington is definitely in the former category. (Yeah, [...]

Politics makes a convenient scapegoat. Your opponent uses an example or an anecdote to counter your point? Just accuse him of playing politics with someone’s life. You want to do something unpopular? Accuse your opponents of making political hay out of an important issue. You want to ensure yourself a standing ovation in any crowd [...]