Salena Zito offers a forecast: Today we are in the midst of a cultural U-turn away from a Hamiltonian meritocratic-elitist, centralized-power society to a more Jeffersonian Main Street focus, with state and local governments as the primary powerbrokers. I don’t believe that local government is less elitist; it’s just that the quality of municipal managers…
Politics
Liberty, Politics
God and gods
by JOHN ADAMS •
I’ve mentioned something of Nietzsche recently, but it’s another German philosopher I’ve in mind today. (Of Nietzsche, see Nietzsche and the Dark Hope Against a Better Local Politics.) Centuries before Nietzsche, a German theologian observed that everyone has a god, if not a faith in God: So, too, whoever trusts and boasts that he possesses…
Charity, City, Politics
Public Choice Theory and Its Opposite
by JOHN ADAMS •
Over at the Library of Economics and Liberty, there’s a section on public choice theory. Here’s a definition from that website: As James Buchanan artfully defined it, public choice is “politics without romance.” The wishful thinking it displaced presumes that participants in the political sphere aspire to promote the common good. In the conventional “public…
Free Markets, Laws/Regulations, Politics
Postville judge calls proceedings “travesty” in new documentary
by JOHN ADAMS •
The massive meat packing plant raid in Postville, Iowa – and the prosecutions of immigrant workers arrested there – have been drawing heat since agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement swarmed Agriprocessors Inc. in May 2008. Via Grass Roots: Postville judge calls proceedings “travesty” in new documentary.
City, Politics
Nietzsche and the Dark Hope Against a Better Local Politics
by JOHN ADAMS •
It’s been a while since I last read anything of Nietzsche, but his work — even when profoundly wrong — is memorable. There’s a passage from Advantage and Disadvantage of History for Life, that is, itself, about memory. It’s useful for understanding a certain, irresponsible view about how Whitewater’s politics should work. Imagine the lack…
Government Spending, Politics
E.J. McMahon: State Bankruptcy Is a Bad Idea – WSJ.com
by JOHN ADAMS •
The biggest state budget gaps will never be closed until politicians use the tools they already have to challenge the overweening power of public employee unions. Meanwhile, Washington can help by lifting some of the burdens it imposes on the states. Converting Medicaid into a block grant, for example, would remove one big excuse governors…
Government Spending, Libertarians, Politics
Libertarian State of the Union Roundup
by JOHN ADAMS •
Politics
State Senator Says Public Employees Should Work on MLK Day
by JOHN ADAMS •
A national holiday for 25 years; first designated a national day of service in 1996. When asked if he had any plans to honor King on Monday, Grothman answered that he’s “got kind-of a busy schedule.” WI Senate Senator Glenn Grothman (R- Selma West Bend) Via Politics blog: State Senator says public employees should work…
Police, Politics
Arizona Republic: Pima County Sheriff Should Remember Duty
by JOHN ADAMS •
Indeed. On Saturday afternoon, with his friend Gabby Giffords in surgery fighting for her life, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik railed against the tense partisan politics – “the anger, the hatred, the bigotry” – that prompted the mass murders outside Tucson, in his view. And, jarring as such claims may be, we understood. Or tried…
City, Politics
Whitewater’s Overdose of Incumbency
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here, in tiny Whitewater, there’s an upcoming Common Council election in which five of the seven seats are up for a vote (seats representing four districts and one citywide seat). Unlike other communities, most of those seats won’t be contested. Only one of the districts will have a definite challenger; another may have one, or…
Politics, Taxes/Taxation
Republican Paul Ryan defends tax deal from conservative critics – JSOnline
by JOHN ADAMS •
“A lot of people are making these political arguments, which are, ‘What is the proper political chess move against Obama?’ And that is not the way we should be thinking right now when it comes to jobs and economy,” Ryan said in an interview Tuesday. Via Republican Paul Ryan defends tax deal from conservative critics…
Government Spending, Politics
Wisconsin State Journal: Democrats are stunned as state Senate fails to pass union contracts
by JOHN ADAMS •
Chaos — MADISON — Stunned Democrats stripped Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker of his leadership position after he abruptly turned on them and voted against new contracts for state workers…. The deals looked all but dead after Decker’s about-face late Wednesday night. Senate Democrats planned to reconvene at 10 a.m. Thursday, but they can’t approve…
Government Spending, Libertarians, Politics
Libertarian Monday Message: Stop Republican Spending!
by JOHN ADAMS •
Here’s a part of yesterday’s Libertarian party message. Right on schedule, Republicans are back to defending policy and politics as usual – December 13, 2010 Dear Friend of Liberty, I’m sure you’ve seen the media reports of how President Obama and the Republicans are making deals for big increases in government spending (while keeping tax…
Politics
Washington Post: Ron Paul to chair monetary policy subcommittee overseeing Fed
by JOHN ADAMS •
Good news, indeed — Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul is poised to chair the House Domestic Monetary Policy Subcommittee, putting the gavel of the panel overseeing the Federal Reserve into the hands of one of the central bank’s most outspoken critics. Via 44 – Ron Paul to chair monetary policy subcommittee overseeing Fed.