Who is American?
Category Archives: politics
On Trusting How We Count the Votes
There’s some discussion in the news that the Russians might be influencing the results of the U.S. presidential election by hacking the machines various jurisdictions use to register voters, as well as those that count the votes. Ha! Those of us in the trade have been warning about this for years, most notably Freedom to […]
Transitioning to a Post-Westphalia World
What prevents the signatories of the TPP or TTIP, and their ilk, from just saying no when the investor-state dispute settlement provisions don’t go the way they’d want? That is, if the state still has a monopoly on the use of force, can’t they just kill the investors? Or, to put it another way, isn’t […]
In which apathy sets in
Huh? Apparently the school budget was up for approval on Tuesday. I didn’t notice. This is the first year since I became a property owner that I’ve not paid attention to the various shenanigans that attend the school budget process in New York. I think this means that my attempt to ignore those things whose […]
The Arlington (NY) Central School District School Board of Education Seeks Perfection
They chose an impossible goal: no failure. [B]y the year 2017: a. Increase 5 year graduation rates to 100% b. Achieve 100% grade level literacy by the end of Grade 3 And how will we achieve these goals? And at what cost? Failure is certain.
Against Full-Day Kindergarten
The Common Core State Standards website asks, Q: Why do we need educational standards? A: We need standards to ensure that all students, no matter where they live, are prepared for success in postsecondary education and the workforce. Let’s assume for a moment that that is the goal of primary and secondary education. (Let’s also […]
Obesity is the Government’s Business
NPR has an excellent series of debates on various topics called Intelligence Squared (U.S). On February 10th, the question was “Is Obesity the Government’s Business?“. Listen to the debate (or read the transcript), and then come back here.
On the Arlington Central School District Budget (2012-2013)
Arlington Central School District budget planning for FY 2012-2013 has resulted in a fairly good budget. I particularly like the appendices that are included for the first time in this year’s budget book. Budget creation is a bit of a balancing act. This year our district has done well in limiting the increase in costs […]
How Stupid is the Mass Media?
Check out the headline on this article: CNN Poll: Still no front-runner in the battle for the GOP nomination. Of course not, you stupid shit. They just started campaigning. It’s a [expletive and a half] horse race. Did you see the 137th Kentucky Derby last weekend? That was a fun two minutes. Shackleford started off […]
Dear Amtrak: Learn How to Price Your Service
Apparently you neglected to read my last letter, but with the fast approach of National Train Day and the increase in oil prices making your services slightly more competitive, I thought it might be helpful to bring up the topic again. Your pricing skills suck. Are you intentionally trying to lose money and ridership? Suppose […]
On the Matter of the National Popular Vote
I’m on Mrs. Clinton’s e-mail list because I haven’t unsubscribed yet. Today, the list sent me an e-mail about bills currently in the New York legislature to change how the State allocates its Electors. The bills under consideration in New York are A-489 and S-1820. I don’t think their plea for me to contact my […]
Frak That
There’s some discussion up in Albany of permitting the use of hydraulic fracturing to remove natural gas from the Marcellus shale formation upstate. In the industry this is colloquially called “fracking” because afterward you’re pretty much fucked. The problem with fracking, as with other environmental issues, is one of negative externalities. That is, the company […]
Comments on the Arlington Central School District Budget (2010-2011)
The Board of Education of the Arlington Central School District has made the difficult decision to close an elementary school in order to reduce the district’s budget.There are obviously consequences to this decision other than the money involved. Some are logistical, such as the effect on bus routes and the dispersion of the population to […]
Dear Amtrak
You disappoint me. You don’t understand pricing. Or perhaps you simply have no experience of buying things with your own money. In any case, what are you thinking? I know that you stop in both cities, so I was hoping to take my family from Poughkeepsie to Montreal by train instead of by car. But […]
Who Do You Include on Your Christmas Card List?
Our dear leader has suggested that we include our senators on our Christmas card list. That’s an excellent idea! (But I don’t think we printed enough.) This year, when you’re writing holiday cards to your friends and loved ones, there are two more people who need to hear from you: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Senator […]
Naming the Institutions
Do you think people would be more attuned to the operation of governments if the branches were called the Rulemakers, the Deciders, and the Enforcer?
Pointless Distinctions: barriers to entry to Real Journalism
Journalists can obtain a copy of this publication via the Password-protected Web site for accredited journalists or from the OECD’s Media Relations Division (tel. + 33 1 45 24 97 00). Non-journalists can download the raw data underlying each indicator and find out how to obtain a copy of this publication here. For further information, […]
On the Nature of Power
Like electricity in the grid, use it or lose it.
What, Me Worry? I’ve Done Nothing Wrong.
One thing I’ve never quite understood is how advocates for expansive government power never quite seem able to imagine themselves as being on the unpleasant receiving end of that power. Take, for example, Michelle Malkin, who has been a vocal and enthusiastic proponent of the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act but is now, finally, concerned that her liberty […]
Freeze Tag
As previously mentioned, the school district needs to trim about $18.5 million in order to avoid a tax increase. Poughkeepsie Journal on the most recent school board meeting contained some interesting trivia. [T]he school board is asking all its 1,500 employees to agree to a salary freeze next year. … District Superintendent Frank Pepe has […]