Hello, fellow residents of our fair, micropolitan dreamtown. Here’s a pop quiz for the week, answer to appear on Friday. What possible electoral contest in Whitewater in 2009 would most resemble the local, political equivalent of the Iran-Iraq War? Guesses may be sent to adams@freewhitewater.com. Please submit entries no later than Friday, January 9th at…

Looking at electoral returns, the Libertarian Party received just over a half million votes nationwide. The LP was not on the ballot in every state (mid 40s of 50), and has rarely received this many votes nationally. Far from expectations, of course. Wait a few years, though, when big government looks less desirable, and these…

From the Onion, America’s Finest News Source, one finds election results I’ve yet seen reported elsewhere. Voting Machines Elect One Of Their Own As President For more on electronic voting systems, in a serious way, see HBO’s Hacking Democracy. (The documentary contends, I recall, that optical scanners of paper ballots such as those used in…

In the film The Good Shepherd, about the formation of the Central Intelligence Agency, there’s an exchange between an Italian American and a patrician WASP. Joseph Palmi: Let me ask you something… we Italians, we got our families, and we got the church; the Irish, they have the homeland, Jews their tradition… What about you…

Congratulations, Obama supporters. There used to be a decent honeymoon for a winning candidate and his supporters. There will be one for the President-Elect. Unfortunately, not for his supporters. The Onion‘s already teasing you. Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are

Yesterday, I posted on the serious, if unpopular argument, for Rational Voter Ignorance. Are there, even beyond opposing arguments, other options for voters and society? Yes, of course. A few quick points — these being ones that interest me for Whitewater, specifically — 1. Political Ignorance Isn’t Rational in Whitewater, as Our Election Results are…

In this contentious election season (and what elections are not?), what to make of the case for rational voter ignorance, that being informed about candidates and issues is of slight value, and may rationally, sensibly be ignored? Today, I’ll briefly set out the case that proponents of the concept make. Tomorrow, I’ll reply to it.…

There’s been a shocking, absolutely shocking, discovery from Japan: plants are able to blog.  The Reuters news agency has the story.  I have embedded a Reuters video that describes this astonishing Japanese research.   (The nation that brought the world “Hello Kitty” never disappoints.) The video does not describe the full story, though.  I have…