Links: Millennials are lagging, Biden's new social contract and misinformation

Links: Millennials are lagging, Biden's new social contract and misinformation 

The President's commitment to free community college should be extended to trade schools, including community colleges, ESL, remedial GED education and trade schools created as part of the Catholic educational system. Catholic education has the same class biases as the society at large. That this discussion should also include race is no surprise as well, including in inner city schools where parishes are closing. 

Students of working age, including documented and undocumented migrants, should receive compensation of at least the minimum wage for full-time participation in educational programs. Remedial programs should also be funded as a tax credit against employer-paid subtraction value added taxes. Child tax credits should also be paid, again, as an offset to employer collected income or subtraction value added taxes.

Catholic educational institutions must provide onsite daycare from high school through college to both its employees and students. This transition should also include an end to the demonization of sexually active teens. No class issue is more urgent than this.

I can see no downside in doubling down on education and child welfare, except for opposition from conservatives. That should be considered a badge of honor. It is about time to enlarge the social contract - and also to be in touch with its meaning - that is the trading of taxes and adherence to law in exchange for safety and social services.

The only way to mute the Manchin effect is to actually give aforementioned conservatives a stake in tax reform. I suggest that more faith based services and an end to the requirement that all but the most wealthy file taxes would be an incentive that would please the Republican base.

Suburban women are not put off by wokeness. Indeed, dealing with it in the proper way may attract more voters than it repels. Opposing equality (especially sexual equality and wokeness) is the major tool of conservatives in mobilizing the working class against reforms that would actually help them. This would even include explaining why the pro-life movement has no hope of accomplishing its ultimate objective. The alternative to decreasing abortion is to assure that women are socially and economically empowered.

Of course, wokeness should not be taken to the extremes of animal rights. While much can be done and said about the dangers and evils of factory farming, attributing moral agency to other land animals (I am not sure about cetaceans and dolphins) is a step too far. That being said, I am all for finding options to factory farming. Cloning meat would work out (and be easier in a closed loop system than keeping cattle), provided bone, blood and fat were also cloned and spun into a decent burger - or even some kind of fillet. 

Biden's speech: Government focused on the common good is back

Biden's speech: Government focused on the common good is back 

Trump speaking to Congress with the sound down looked every inch the fascist. Biden looked like an elder statesman. His proposals have been coordinated with both Congress (especially the revenue committees) and the permanent government. 

Once and for all, this speech shows the difference between moral leadership an CEO management, which is both amoral and self-seeking. Any CEO president would have the same flaws. Trump's were blatant enough to reject. Heaven help us if we ever elect a CEO president who is not offensive. 

As to the specifics, Biden's commitment to free community college undercuts any objection to loan forgiveness on class grounds.

Confusion and canons at Villanova University law school conference

 Confusion and canons at Villanova University law school conference

The Canon Law question is whether the President or any legislator, indeed any judge, has the ability to reverse legalized abortion. The answer is no. Their personal opinion matters not. The opinion of the citizenry or the bishops also has no impact, nor can it. There is simply no way to grant the unborn in the first trimester a legal claim against his mother without savaging the entire idea of natural rights. 

Natural law theory, especially the relativism that comes from Rome, can have no voice in American law. The Establishment clause prohibits such seditious nonsense. End of story.

Aside from that, the Conference was fringe that should be ignored.The bishops who want Biden to not receive cite his disobedience, not his support of abortion per se. Obedience must be earned and they have not earned it, especially when the obedience they desire is voting Republican.

Links: Peter Steinfels' clarification; flippable Senate seats; Cupich on antisemitism

Links: Peter Steinfels' clarification; flippable Senate seats; Cupich on antisemitism 

Until comfortably asexual priests come out and uncomfortable ones come out to themselves, abuse by the latter will continue.

I hope the U.S. can catch up to Denmark. At least we are now making an effort.

Senate Democrats have only themselves to blame for bringing up ending the filibuster in 2009. The GOP ran with it on judges. A compromise at 55 or 56 would have been better. It still would be. As for the Court, Justices Thomas and Breyer will likely be replaced this term. Maybe Alito too.

The Democratic majority has more to do with the GOP self-destructing by electing Trumpists.

The Federalist is fish wrap. Also, Cupich is smart enough to close the Churches when he did not have to. His actions toward the Holocaust bespeak a Cardinal in union with the Pope. Thank you to the NCR art department for not using a picture of him with the Blessed Sacrament.

While charity is lovely, the teacher should have started a 501(c)(3). The real lesson of the story is that those of us on Social Security need a cost of living increase now, not at the end of the year. This is the government's job, not kind individuals.

What Biden got right in his approach to climate change

What Biden got right in his approach to climate change 

While White House staff members, probably working with House and Senate majority staff, helped vet options for Biden's decisions and communicate his priorities to the EPA and Department of Energy, most of the plan likely came from the permanent government. It is a nice change from the last four years. If the Republicans don't quit arguing against reality, it won't last much longer. No one will give them big money - not even big energy. The regulated are not anti-regulation - since regulation levels the playing field so that doing the right thing does not hurt market share.

Parishes cannot obstruct sex abuse investigations

Parishes cannot obstruct sex abuse investigations 

I hope that the allegations against Father Pfleger are false. This is certainly not a case where something is buried. Cardinal George would have jumped on them long ago, or at least I suspect he would. Any investigation should have started with the diocesan archive.

Abuse is endemic to the culture of the priesthood - not any gay culture but asexuals in the clergy who, rather than being comfortable with their calling, feel a sense of grievance for loss of a lifestyle that was never their destiny in the first place. Others simply act out, either from being abused themselves or from not being comfortable in their own skins or with their own urges.

As for the parish, it should be in charge of its priests, not the bishop. Further, administration should be in the hands of the permanent deaconate, preferably one that is not required to promise celibacy should they become widowed or divorced. Any allegations would go to the Deacon for investigation (and the pastor if allegations go the other way. 

A clergy that is outed to itself will be less dangerous to minors. While abuse will always be with us, we should not invite it by equating asexuality with holiness. It is simply another letter on the LGBTQIA. Q can also mean questioning. More priests should do that.

Links: the Catholic left, Amy Coney Barrett and the importance of distinctions

Links: the Catholic left, Amy Coney Barrett and the importance of distinctions 

The religious left is not just about the Democratic Party (which is now more firmly reliant on the AME Church than the Church of Rome). It is about bringing change TO the Church. It is the only way to ready the Church for something to the left of the Democrats. It must be part of the vanguard of social reform - from cooperation to service for those who are sick or troubled. It can no longer be seated in Rome. It must be one with the people of God. This is the only way to gather the lost sheep.

The Union Movement has the same issues. It needs to serve the workers and encourage cooperation, not conflict. It can be an agent of change, both in society and in the enterprise itself. It is the only way to gather the lost workers.

The wealth tax has all the liquidity issues of property taxes and all of the reporting issues of the capital gains tax. It would serve to legitimate wealth and do nothing to move ownership from the plutocrats to the workers. The most efficient way to collect such a tax is for the owned firms to pay it for the owners. While it is possible that workers could be spared the brunt of actually paying the tax, it is not likely.

Justice Barrett will do the responsible thing on recusal. Indeed, there are many cases where this will be necessary, including the upcoming case on the Ohio Downs Syndrome Law, which was affirmed by the Sixth District. The Justice pushed for en blanc consideration of the Indiana law. The law is an attempt to take another run at Roe, seeking state power as much as protecting Down's children. It cannot succeed without upending all of civil rights law. I predict a Per Curiam ruling reversing the Circuit.

Most Nones did not walk away from the Church. Their parents did. Many had good reasons, which is why the Catholic Left is essential. Even atheists have something to add to the discussion. Let the Spirit of Prophesy blow where She will.

Since Alexander the Great, African civilization in Egypt has been dominated by Hellenism, including under Rome. Without Latin and Greek, much of what is left since Alexandria burned will be lost forever.