Links for 12/10/19
Louis Brown forgets that before the plan by Heritage/Romney/Obama, the plan from Dole to McCain was catastrophic insurance and health savings accounts, with anything richer taxable as income. The latter is the school solution for economists - although it assumes health care is a normal good. It isn't. More about that later. As bad as that is, Texas is worse because it leaves Medicaid enhancements on the table. Beto for Governor!
Going big on abortion law just in case Roe is retired is not a good strategy, but it only ticks off advocates on the other side. The better strategy is to explain that Roe is going nowhere and forcing the pro-life movement to abandon the GOP and advocate tax supported middle-class income for all children. (and single-payer healthcare).
Gerson is more Christian Democrat than what passes for modern reactionary conservatism. That is more like a College Republican State Convention on Meth. Like Wadsworth.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Monday, December 9, 2019
In New Hampshire, engaged voters revisit the Bretton Woods legacy
In New Hampshire, engaged voters revisit the Bretton Woods legacy
The mid-century prosperity came as the world was rebuilding and tax rates were high. A higher income tax would be much better than a wealth tax to end wage theft by CEOs, so no points for Mayor Pete either. The story of NH may be Bernie and Liz cancelling each other out. If Liz dominates, it's over. Bernie and Joe both have a 2024 problem and Pete's 15 minutes are up soon. Demography may mean destiny in both the primary and the general elections.
The mid-century prosperity came as the world was rebuilding and tax rates were high. A higher income tax would be much better than a wealth tax to end wage theft by CEOs, so no points for Mayor Pete either. The story of NH may be Bernie and Liz cancelling each other out. If Liz dominates, it's over. Bernie and Joe both have a 2024 problem and Pete's 15 minutes are up soon. Demography may mean destiny in both the primary and the general elections.
The dangers of undoing the evolved strength of the papacy
The dangers of undoing the evolved strength of the papacy
The supremacy of the Papacy came in response to Garibaldi. I'll take Garibaldi. I agree that we should not trade Medievalism for reactionary capitalism, but we have more option at the diocesan and parish levels. The Imperial See does fine with autocephalic patriarchies. The Apostolic See can as well (if we need it at all).
The supremacy of the Papacy came in response to Garibaldi. I'll take Garibaldi. I agree that we should not trade Medievalism for reactionary capitalism, but we have more option at the diocesan and parish levels. The Imperial See does fine with autocephalic patriarchies. The Apostolic See can as well (if we need it at all).
Friday, December 6, 2019
It's too soon to beatify Archbishop Sheen anyway
It's too soon to beatify Archbishop Sheen anyway
Sheen was the hero of many of those who are about to join him in Heaven. Canonizing Sheen is canonizing their youth in those halcyon days when the church was respected and everyone knew their place. As for sexual abuse, we all enabled the enablers. In the end, the shame is as much ours as the bishops of the day.
Sheen was the hero of many of those who are about to join him in Heaven. Canonizing Sheen is canonizing their youth in those halcyon days when the church was respected and everyone knew their place. As for sexual abuse, we all enabled the enablers. In the end, the shame is as much ours as the bishops of the day.
Thursday, December 5, 2019
Links for 12/5/19
Links for 12/5/19
If Pence is the GOP nominee, abortion will be huge - even as June v. Gee may be the last Supreme Court case on abortion ever. If the Democratic nominee points that out rather than arguing that abortion is a women's rights issue (rights for federal review, not being prosecuted like others who order contract killings and privacy rights not to be investigated for having a D&C), which it actually is - or the right of Catholic Democrats to insist on Dignitatis Humanae in supporting not having a Catholic abortion policy (over and above an economic one to fund families adequately).
Pompeo became a person of interest once his own staff put him at the center of the investigation. Nunes and Mulvaney too. Giuliani is not the President's lawyer - he is the President's handler. Pass it on.
Europe is concerned about our economy because when we go down, they can go down harder. Their fiscal policy is by treaty rather than federated. As the Confederates of the Continental Congress how that worked out. Also, our capitalist owners are also their capitalist owners. Crypto Currency is as popular in Europe as in the U.S. When if falls, we all all go down. Whether the ECB is funding the private equity raid on rental housing bought for pennies (and heavily leveraged) post-2008 will determine how bad the next Depression is on them.
Mayor Mike shows why Mayor Pete should not run either. If he is not smart enough to know that he takes votes away from Biden, he deserves to lose (unless Joe drops out soon). Personally, the smart bet for anyone but Warren is to hope Pence becomes President and wins so that the upcoming Depression is on his watch. Warren is the only candidate with the tools and talent to get us out quickly (by raising taxes on the wealthy and giving more money to everyone else).
Pence has the most to answer for in 2020 (assuming he is not forced out - in which case having Pelosi or Biden as Presumptive President is good for GOP voting). He did not pursue the 25th Amendment, which should have been the obvious play when Comey was fired over Trump corruption and psychopathy.
The opponents of Francis remember the glory (or is it gory) days of 1950's Catholicism. Note to Cardinal Burke - Bing Crosby was acting.
If Pence is the GOP nominee, abortion will be huge - even as June v. Gee may be the last Supreme Court case on abortion ever. If the Democratic nominee points that out rather than arguing that abortion is a women's rights issue (rights for federal review, not being prosecuted like others who order contract killings and privacy rights not to be investigated for having a D&C), which it actually is - or the right of Catholic Democrats to insist on Dignitatis Humanae in supporting not having a Catholic abortion policy (over and above an economic one to fund families adequately).
Pompeo became a person of interest once his own staff put him at the center of the investigation. Nunes and Mulvaney too. Giuliani is not the President's lawyer - he is the President's handler. Pass it on.
Europe is concerned about our economy because when we go down, they can go down harder. Their fiscal policy is by treaty rather than federated. As the Confederates of the Continental Congress how that worked out. Also, our capitalist owners are also their capitalist owners. Crypto Currency is as popular in Europe as in the U.S. When if falls, we all all go down. Whether the ECB is funding the private equity raid on rental housing bought for pennies (and heavily leveraged) post-2008 will determine how bad the next Depression is on them.
Mayor Mike shows why Mayor Pete should not run either. If he is not smart enough to know that he takes votes away from Biden, he deserves to lose (unless Joe drops out soon). Personally, the smart bet for anyone but Warren is to hope Pence becomes President and wins so that the upcoming Depression is on his watch. Warren is the only candidate with the tools and talent to get us out quickly (by raising taxes on the wealthy and giving more money to everyone else).
Pence has the most to answer for in 2020 (assuming he is not forced out - in which case having Pelosi or Biden as Presumptive President is good for GOP voting). He did not pursue the 25th Amendment, which should have been the obvious play when Comey was fired over Trump corruption and psychopathy.
The opponents of Francis remember the glory (or is it gory) days of 1950's Catholicism. Note to Cardinal Burke - Bing Crosby was acting.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Links for 12/3/19
Links for 12/3/19
Pence will try to make it right for PR if he survives. Trump will face massive disclosure to Congress on Monday when the Court affirms US v. Nixon (the case that made Nixon quit). Bolsonaro, like Trump and all fascists, tell Big Lies. It never ends well for them. Robert Barr is the bright, shiny object whose purpose is to let Trump think he is winning until McConnell lowers the boom. Ever watch The Entertainer? Cue music. As for Barr's speech, nobody cares.
Any morality that is not utilitarian is more about group loyalty than truth or love. The abortion debate, on the other had, is about legality, not morality. Few think abortion is a good thing. The question is whether it is possible (or practical) to give the unborn a legal right to the use of police power against their mothers. Anyone who says differently is selling snake oil. Kaveny's method works here too. Dignitatis Humanae applies here too. Cuomo and Biden should site it directly. It may not be what the Council Fathers intended, which is likely why it passed. It still applies.
On Harris, you are the victim of bad timing or blindness on reading the tea leaves. She is already pulling a Biden. At this point, Booker has the same intent. Ironically, Bloomberg and Patrick (who have no chance or desire to be VP) are splitting the anti-Warren vote. There are two camps - Clintonite and Sanders. The question may be settled by whom Pelosi picks as VP (or who Biden picks if Pelosi vacates the Speakership instead of serving out Trump's term. It could be Booker.
The only way the Public Option gets insurance company support is to drop pre-existing condition protections. Capitalism will then lead us to single-payer as the Public Option expands to include everyone who needs insurance. On a national scale, the Option only works if it is subsidized and replaces Medicaid for non-retirees. Retiree and Disability Medicaid should be federalized as Medicare Part E. As for costs, they are always minimized. The question is price.
Pence will try to make it right for PR if he survives. Trump will face massive disclosure to Congress on Monday when the Court affirms US v. Nixon (the case that made Nixon quit). Bolsonaro, like Trump and all fascists, tell Big Lies. It never ends well for them. Robert Barr is the bright, shiny object whose purpose is to let Trump think he is winning until McConnell lowers the boom. Ever watch The Entertainer? Cue music. As for Barr's speech, nobody cares.
Any morality that is not utilitarian is more about group loyalty than truth or love. The abortion debate, on the other had, is about legality, not morality. Few think abortion is a good thing. The question is whether it is possible (or practical) to give the unborn a legal right to the use of police power against their mothers. Anyone who says differently is selling snake oil. Kaveny's method works here too. Dignitatis Humanae applies here too. Cuomo and Biden should site it directly. It may not be what the Council Fathers intended, which is likely why it passed. It still applies.
On Harris, you are the victim of bad timing or blindness on reading the tea leaves. She is already pulling a Biden. At this point, Booker has the same intent. Ironically, Bloomberg and Patrick (who have no chance or desire to be VP) are splitting the anti-Warren vote. There are two camps - Clintonite and Sanders. The question may be settled by whom Pelosi picks as VP (or who Biden picks if Pelosi vacates the Speakership instead of serving out Trump's term. It could be Booker.
The only way the Public Option gets insurance company support is to drop pre-existing condition protections. Capitalism will then lead us to single-payer as the Public Option expands to include everyone who needs insurance. On a national scale, the Option only works if it is subsidized and replaces Medicaid for non-retirees. Retiree and Disability Medicaid should be federalized as Medicare Part E. As for costs, they are always minimized. The question is price.
Monday, December 2, 2019
Book on US religious freedom starts with the Founders but forgets seeds of secularism
Does Waldman cite the influence of Freemasonry and Quakerism on religious tolerance? What about the vocal opposition of the Popes to the concept? There is a reason the Founders and original settlers disliked the Catholic Church. Such an analysis is better explained by the cultural theory of Douglass and Wildavsky than theology.
New book on US religious liberty fails to make a crucial distinction
Lingering bigotry is also sometimes deserved. Religious power, either in society or in Catholic institutions, is hypocrisy, not liberty. Firing teachers who are gay and/or married is likely soon to be illegal and is sour grapes. The Bishops went all in on funding opposition to marriage equality, resisting Obama care and imposing limits on contraception by employees. So was being a part of censorship in the halcyon 1950s or resisting the empowerment of women (and refusing ordination). Hitting back after losing is organizational pathology, not freedom. It is also going all in with the Republicans. It is acting as master rather than servant, which Christ condemned. Bigotry in the Church is answered by resentment from within and in culture. The Bishops had it coming.
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