Good Quote by Zakaria

Fareed Zakaria had a very good quote on Facebook. It really does raise questions about how different parties view the past and the present.

"In the '70s and '80s, to many Americans the Democratic Party seemed more concerned with America's shortcomings than its strengths. Many of its leaders criticized the country relentlessly for its behavior at home and abroad, for its inequities and injustices. The Democrats, Jeane Kirkpatrick said at the Republican Convention in 1984, "always blame America first."

Today it is the Republican Party that often seems angry with America. Read the best-selling books by conservatives these days, watch Fox News or attend a Tea Party rally. They are filled with rage, often combined with a powerful nostalgia for an America that has gone away."

Click here for the link.

Obama's Report Card

Nicholas Kristof has always been one of my favorite editorial writers. Not overtly political in nature, but rather a defender of rational thought and the untold story. He draws attention to issues that the mainstream media often glances over or ignores. However, this is an example of a more traditional piece that he writes. I am an Obama fan. I'll give that away, but someone who can't criticize their political figure will tend to go toward extremes saying, "he's a complete and total failure" and, "he's a GOD!!!". Neither is healthy. Kristof gives a very good bit here in his report card for Barack Obama.

Justice Vs. Humanitarianism

For those who love trying to draw lessons from history there are few men you can read than Max Boot. Boot is a neoconservative who promotes involvement by the United States in the world much more broadly than many (including me) might advocate. Despite this, he is an eminent historian and a interesting political and foreign policy commentator.

Check out his article here.

Ryan & The Truth

Great article on the reasons why Paul Ryan thought he could throw a few fibs in with his speech.


PS - Paul Ryan and the Truths would make a great name for a band.

Gold Standard Nonsense

Just read perhaps one of the best reasons that the Gold Standard doesn't work. As economies grow and the money supply is fixed you would have to see a deflation in wages. From 2000 to 2012 wages would have had to drop from 13.75 an hour to 3.45 an hour. Can you imagine any sort of worker taking a 10 dollar per hour pay cut?

Click here for the link.

Romney Fail

Paul Krugman does a good job showing the hypocrisy of the Romney/Paul ticket. I thought this would be an interesting intellectually stimulating campaign where the lines of government would be honestly redrawn to optimize government, but instead Mitt Romney has given up any attempt to stand on firm ground. Check out the Krugman piece here.

Daily Show Does the Convention Proud

My opinion was that The Daily Show hasn't done too much great work over the past week, but last night's episode really blew me away. Check it out here.