Run, Sarah, Run by Michael Sean Winters
My response: She's not running. The only money she has raised is for her personal fortune, not her campaign. She has not campaign structure and if she tried to build one, it is hard to believe she will get anyone worth having.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Silk Takes on Donohue Over John Jay Report
Silk Takes on Donohue Over John Jay Report by Michael Sean Winters
My comment: Donohue speaks for his tribe. His response, however, is not that much different in kind than the Jay's, which blames sexual liberation for the problem rather than seeing it as the reason people are coming forward to report a centuries old phenomenon.
My comment: Donohue speaks for his tribe. His response, however, is not that much different in kind than the Jay's, which blames sexual liberation for the problem rather than seeing it as the reason people are coming forward to report a centuries old phenomenon.
Romney Gives Obama an "F"
Romney Gives Obama an "F" by Michael Sean Winters
The secret to getting this economy moving is not giving everyone a benefit, but in helping underwater borrowers, which will allow them to sell their houses if they desire, take new jobs, or simply feel OK about spending money. If they start doing better, everyone else will feel more secure and the economy will rebound. Obama gets an F for not doing this, but I don't see Romney going down this road either.
The secret to getting this economy moving is not giving everyone a benefit, but in helping underwater borrowers, which will allow them to sell their houses if they desire, take new jobs, or simply feel OK about spending money. If they start doing better, everyone else will feel more secure and the economy will rebound. Obama gets an F for not doing this, but I don't see Romney going down this road either.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Obama, Israel & the '67 Borders
Obama, Israel & the '67 Borders by Michael Sean Winters
My reaction:
It is more about trying to pander to Jewish voters, who seem out of the reach of the GOP. I suspect that the land swaps required to keep a Jewish state Jewish without resort to minority oppression will involve much more than nibbling around the edges of the 1967 borders. Major portions of Arab northern Israel will have to be joined with the West Bank to avoid the destiny of demography, with relocations to match where Jews have settled in those areas.
Of course, a two state solution is a cop out. One motivation for a united Israel is the re-establishment of the Temple, but I can not see the God of the Old Testament allowing this as long as the Palestinians are oppressed. Indeed, if there is anything to the belief of the Ethiopean Copts that they actually have the Ark of the Covenant, I can't see the Coptic Church allowing its return while the Jewish state represses anyone, particularly Christians.
The end times meme has an interesting twist, as the part of it that most don't get is the return of the lost tribes of the north, not just the return of the Jews (who come from Levi and Judah only). There are those in the Romany community who are coming to believe that we are the exiles of the Northern kingdom, having migrated from Assyria through Persia to India. The real irony is the fact that our legends clearly state that we were Christianized by the Apostle Thomas. Indeed, our tradition is older than Rome and as such is a "purer" Christianity - although most of us have assimilated into the Roman Church - with growing numbers becoming Evangelical as well.
We are related to the Samaritans, who are few - although it is likely that many of them were converts to Christianity in the early years or prior to that took up Judaism. Some undoubtedly are Palestinian Muslims, adopting Islam to get along. This is the sad tragedy of the entire situation - that those most persecuted by the state of Israel are most likely ethnically Jewish from generations in the past.
Going back to the Romany narrative, since we are already Christian, the end times prophesy on our conversion has already occurred. What is necessary is repatriation for the prophesy to be fulfilled. Given the low esteem we are held in by much of the world, it is unlikely the cause of Romany return will be taken up any time soon - although that is clearly what is required by the prophesy.
My reaction:
It is more about trying to pander to Jewish voters, who seem out of the reach of the GOP. I suspect that the land swaps required to keep a Jewish state Jewish without resort to minority oppression will involve much more than nibbling around the edges of the 1967 borders. Major portions of Arab northern Israel will have to be joined with the West Bank to avoid the destiny of demography, with relocations to match where Jews have settled in those areas.
Of course, a two state solution is a cop out. One motivation for a united Israel is the re-establishment of the Temple, but I can not see the God of the Old Testament allowing this as long as the Palestinians are oppressed. Indeed, if there is anything to the belief of the Ethiopean Copts that they actually have the Ark of the Covenant, I can't see the Coptic Church allowing its return while the Jewish state represses anyone, particularly Christians.
The end times meme has an interesting twist, as the part of it that most don't get is the return of the lost tribes of the north, not just the return of the Jews (who come from Levi and Judah only). There are those in the Romany community who are coming to believe that we are the exiles of the Northern kingdom, having migrated from Assyria through Persia to India. The real irony is the fact that our legends clearly state that we were Christianized by the Apostle Thomas. Indeed, our tradition is older than Rome and as such is a "purer" Christianity - although most of us have assimilated into the Roman Church - with growing numbers becoming Evangelical as well.
We are related to the Samaritans, who are few - although it is likely that many of them were converts to Christianity in the early years or prior to that took up Judaism. Some undoubtedly are Palestinian Muslims, adopting Islam to get along. This is the sad tragedy of the entire situation - that those most persecuted by the state of Israel are most likely ethnically Jewish from generations in the past.
Going back to the Romany narrative, since we are already Christian, the end times prophesy on our conversion has already occurred. What is necessary is repatriation for the prophesy to be fulfilled. Given the low esteem we are held in by much of the world, it is unlikely the cause of Romany return will be taken up any time soon - although that is clearly what is required by the prophesy.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Bishops at center of abuse scandal, and potential reform
Bishops at center of abuse scandal, and potential reform
The report has it wrong. This has always been a problem in the Church. The sexual revolution simply opened up discussion of sex so that victims who would have suffered in silence began coming forward. This, more than anything else, is what stopped the ongoing patterns of abuse.
The report has it wrong. This has always been a problem in the Church. The sexual revolution simply opened up discussion of sex so that victims who would have suffered in silence began coming forward. This, more than anything else, is what stopped the ongoing patterns of abuse.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Assessing the GOP Field
Assessing the GOP Field by Michael Sean Winters
My response: Gerson is not the only one trying to sell T-Paw to Christian Conservatives. Mitch Daniels is the only other possible choice (the very same Daniels who presided over the economic debacle that was the Bush II presidency). The establishment and the cultural conservatives hate Romney, so the GOP does not have many options. Of course, if the deal to extend the debt limit leads to a much feared palace coup in the House, there won't be a GOP to run in.
My response: Gerson is not the only one trying to sell T-Paw to Christian Conservatives. Mitch Daniels is the only other possible choice (the very same Daniels who presided over the economic debacle that was the Bush II presidency). The establishment and the cultural conservatives hate Romney, so the GOP does not have many options. Of course, if the deal to extend the debt limit leads to a much feared palace coup in the House, there won't be a GOP to run in.
Medicaid Cuts & Subsidiarity
Medicaid Cuts & Subsidiarity by Michael Sean Winters
Medicaid is actually three programs. With the passage of the ACA, it will be the chief health insurance provider for the working poor. It is the payer of last resort for Seniors in nursing homes. Finally, it cares for the chronically poor who don't work - either due to medical reasons or illiterarcy - which makes it a target for those whose Christianity includes the Protestant work ethic (and those Catholics who have bought into that, through Rand).
The Senior portion should simply be fedralized - which Reagan offerred to do in New Federalism in 1982 (in an echo of Nixon's proposal). Ryan is probably too young to remember the Gipper's proposal. More's the pity.
Health care for the working poor should probably be provided through employers rather than Medicaid. The way to force this is not a mandate but a tax deduction (which would also be how to get employers to cover retirees - including the chronically ill). Taxes on employers could be consolidated from personal income taxes on all but the wealthiest, the Hospital Insurance payroll tax and the corporate income tax into a Value Added Tax (to cover discretionary spending) and a Net Business Receipts Tax. The NBRT would be like a VAT, but would not be on the receipt because businesses would have the option of taking deductions for family support, education and health care costs for employees and retirees. The tax should be set high enough that even marginal employers would have an interest to offer care rather than have employees use a "public option."
Such a plan would meet the needs of subsidiarity. It could not be entirely voluntary, however. If voluntary charity could meet social needs, coffers would be full for this purpose since tax rates for the wealthy are at historic lows. (A parallel is the current evidence aganist supply side economics - which, if true, would have led to historically low unemployment as employers are flush with cash).
Libertopia could exist, however it takes a high nominal tax rate on business to get us there.
Medicaid is actually three programs. With the passage of the ACA, it will be the chief health insurance provider for the working poor. It is the payer of last resort for Seniors in nursing homes. Finally, it cares for the chronically poor who don't work - either due to medical reasons or illiterarcy - which makes it a target for those whose Christianity includes the Protestant work ethic (and those Catholics who have bought into that, through Rand).
The Senior portion should simply be fedralized - which Reagan offerred to do in New Federalism in 1982 (in an echo of Nixon's proposal). Ryan is probably too young to remember the Gipper's proposal. More's the pity.
Health care for the working poor should probably be provided through employers rather than Medicaid. The way to force this is not a mandate but a tax deduction (which would also be how to get employers to cover retirees - including the chronically ill). Taxes on employers could be consolidated from personal income taxes on all but the wealthiest, the Hospital Insurance payroll tax and the corporate income tax into a Value Added Tax (to cover discretionary spending) and a Net Business Receipts Tax. The NBRT would be like a VAT, but would not be on the receipt because businesses would have the option of taking deductions for family support, education and health care costs for employees and retirees. The tax should be set high enough that even marginal employers would have an interest to offer care rather than have employees use a "public option."
Such a plan would meet the needs of subsidiarity. It could not be entirely voluntary, however. If voluntary charity could meet social needs, coffers would be full for this purpose since tax rates for the wealthy are at historic lows. (A parallel is the current evidence aganist supply side economics - which, if true, would have led to historically low unemployment as employers are flush with cash).
Libertopia could exist, however it takes a high nominal tax rate on business to get us there.
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