tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78346741422594140162024-03-14T08:58:57.841-04:00Browning PointsThis blog is largely dedicated to political and social commentary. I post about topics that either interest me, piss me off intensely, or quite frankly leave me dumbfounded. Tell a friend, leave a comment, and take the ride, though it's sure to be no roller coaster (probably more akin to the teacups actually).Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-34831806646872774592021-04-22T13:11:00.005-04:002021-04-22T13:13:51.309-04:00The Constitution, DC Statehood, and Bad-Faith Arguments<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkyIBWdwH41UjIecc8Dw_P30tuSQs28GBMNZYvymaGCCt9UKhD3UCQUBL_sDhTYhPBBqBAyRUVQ62EvnsviAyVK_XQ5Pu76VSdAV02WyQgMnnNkVN1NjV232hKJCgyA0bXzaW4tIZ73y4/s599/Constitution_of_the_United_States%252C_page_1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="495" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkyIBWdwH41UjIecc8Dw_P30tuSQs28GBMNZYvymaGCCt9UKhD3UCQUBL_sDhTYhPBBqBAyRUVQ62EvnsviAyVK_XQ5Pu76VSdAV02WyQgMnnNkVN1NjV232hKJCgyA0bXzaW4tIZ73y4/s320/Constitution_of_the_United_States%252C_page_1.jpeg" /></a></div>As the House passes a DC statehood bill, a conservative argument about its constitutionality has popped up everywhere. Here's one notable example from <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">The Wall Street Journal</a>:<blockquote>The Framers provided in the Constitution’s Article I that Congress could, “by cession of particular states,” control a small area in which the federal government would operate. In 1790 part of the territories of Virginia and Maryland, two of the 13 states that ratified the Constitution, were delineated for federal control. Advocates of statehood brush aside the constitutional concerns and frame their cause as a simple question of democracy. [...] The statehood push is ultimately a power grab to change the Senate’s partisan composition—a procedural escalation that hasn’t been tried since states were admitted along partisan lines in the 19th century.</blockquote>Yes, to some extent it's a power grab for Democrats—though it's rich to see Republicans clutch their pearls on that one. Still, DC has more residents than either Vermont and Wyoming, so the argument for representation is, on its face, reasonable.<div><br />The more dubious assumption with the constitutionality argument goes something like this: "It's right there in black and white, plain as day. We just need to follow the document."<br /><br />OK. Let's look at the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Article I, Section 8</a> text on DC's status:<br /><blockquote>To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States...</blockquote>You might assume obvious unconstitutionality with DC's status, though not its becoming a state, but with its size. DC is 68.34 square miles, so we're already disobeying the constitutional 10 square mile requirement. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, not exactly. "Ten miles square" refers to a square parcel of land, 10 miles on each side, or 100 square miles. That usage has since fallen out of favor, so the plain-English reading of 1788 isn't the same as 2021.<br /><br />Also, this short exert is all the Constitution says on the matter. Therefore, legal scholars commonly look toward contemporary writings to fill in gaps. Here's how James Madison defends the clause in <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Federalist 43</a>:<br /><blockquote>And as it is to be appropriated to this use with the consent of the State ceding it; as the State will no doubt provide in the compact for the rights and the consent of the citizens inhabiting it; as the inhabitants will find sufficient inducements of interest to become willing parties to the cession; as they will have had their voice in the election of the government which is to exercise authority over them; as a municipal legislature for local purposes, derived from their own suffrages, will of course be allowed them; and as the authority of the legislature of the State, and of the inhabitants of the ceded part of it, to concur in the cession, will be derived from the whole people of the State in their adoption of the Constitution, every imaginable objection seems to be obviated.</blockquote>So easy to read. One could hardly argue with President Trump's <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Advisory 1776 Commission</a> suggestion that "Civics and government classes should rely almost exclusively on primary sources." What ninth-grader couldn't follow this?<br /><br />Kidding aside, I'm having trouble deciphering this with my Ph.D. in mass communication. Still, nearest I can figure, Madison assumed that residents of the ceded District would go along with the plan for various reasons, especially because they'd have some say regarding the government overseeing them. While that's been true at some municipal levels, Congress (with no voting members from DC) must still approve the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">District's budget</a>—though in fairness, they rarely meddle.<br /><br />My point in all this? The idea that there exists an infallible, plain-English reading of the Constitution is ridiculous. What phrases meant then vs. now and consideration of sources external do the Constitutional document, combined with ambiguous language and changing social contracts requires interpretive readings.<br /><br />Lastly, even when constitutional provisions are generally clear, we have a long tradition of ignoring them when it suits us or just makes sense. Consider the term lengths of Senators from newly admitted states, described in <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">Article I, Section 3</a>:<br /><blockquote>The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each state, chosen by the legislature thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.<br /><br />Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one third may be chosen every second year.</blockquote>So, when a state enters the Union, its allocated two senators who each serve six-year terms, after which re-elections are staggered such that one-third of the Senate remains up for re-election every two years. <br /><br />In 1791, Vermont was the first state admitted following the original 13, and we just <a href="https://www.blogger.com/#">blatantly ignored this provision</a>. Senators' initial terms were for periods fewer than six years to immediately coincide with the staggered election cycle. <br /><br />The process has been the same for every state admitted since, and likely would be for DC should it too become a state. Somehow though, I doubt I'll see a column in the WSJ arguing that DC's new, likely Democratic senators should receive the full, extended terms as the Constitution requires.<br /><br />But maybe that's the deeper problem. We frame constitutional debates as struggles between "constitutional originality" and "living document" approaches. Apart from that being a false dichotomy, most Americans don't reference the Constitution as a governing document or statement of principles so much as they use it as a cudgel when convenient to their own ends.<br /><div data-block="true" data-editor="31qi6" data-offset-key="b3roi-0-0" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></div></div>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-54343182842260783142021-02-05T09:50:00.000-05:002021-02-05T09:50:14.895-05:00The Morality of Unity<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfMXBAEz6VY9ywJsNzpWWbmKwHrp9hnfr0w6M_U2arGuBmpUCZm6qud4qaH8NxNXGGgF63ho7sfzK0n6KonRc6fYXUieabc3d-XEfglCzCULt87Fx5mTlJ4f6OI47TsJIxUifQ_P6cj5G/s2048/Benjamin_Franklin_-_Join_or_Die.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="2048" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfMXBAEz6VY9ywJsNzpWWbmKwHrp9hnfr0w6M_U2arGuBmpUCZm6qud4qaH8NxNXGGgF63ho7sfzK0n6KonRc6fYXUieabc3d-XEfglCzCULt87Fx5mTlJ4f6OI47TsJIxUifQ_P6cj5G/w320-h231/Benjamin_Franklin_-_Join_or_Die.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cartoon by Benjamin Franklin <br /><i>Pennsylvania Gazette, </i>May 9, 1754</td></tr></tbody></table>The recent calls for unity among Republicans have exasperated liberals. Admittedly, it’s an odd gambit borne from the very same people who perpetuated divisiveness by participating in President Trump’s doomed attempt to block the counting of electoral votes.</p><p>However, looking past the irony—or blatant hypocrisy, depending on your perspective— reveals deeper moral and political failures taking place.</p><p>Many Republicans are attempting to cast unity as moral principle in and of itself. To be clear, it’s not, but the average American might be forgiven for assuming it is. After all, we are the <i>United</i> States of America, and we pride ourselves on our collective capacity to accomplish great things as a nation—or, as <a href="https://www.vox.com/2020/11/7/21554224/joe-biden-victory-statement" target="_blank">President Biden</a> would put it, “there’s nothing we can’t do if we do it together.”</p><p>But these are statements about the efficacy of unity, not its ethicality. The Huns were no more or less united behind Atilla than the apostles were behind Christ. Both were relatively effective in achieving their goals, though we universally judge the latter as the moral exemplar.</p><p>The ethical value of unity lies in how a people are unified, the ends they achieve and the means by which they achieve them. So what are Republicans asking us to unify for and how are they going about it?</p><p>Here’s their pitch:</p><p></p><blockquote><i>The Capitol riots were tragic and disturbing. The violence and lawlessness perpetrated do not reflect who we aspire to be. We have to find a way to peaceably move forward together.</i></blockquote><p></p><p>I think most Americans would agree with that sentiment. Problematically, however, Republicans hope to achieve this unity in place of accountability, rather than in addition to it. To look productively toward the future requires honest reflection upon the past. Were Republicans to engage in such reflection, they could undertake good faith gestures to pursue the unification they claim to value, which would require at least acknowledging if not apologizing for the active role many took in sowing discord—particularly in perpetuating specious claims (or outright lies) about 2020 election fraud. They might even go a step further by at least conceding the legitimacy of the second Trump impeachment process now under way, even if they chose to vote for acquittal.</p><p>Instead, as these Republicans frame it, unity can only be achieved on their terms: The past is in the past. Best to forget about it—or better yet, pretend it didn’t happen—and move on.</p><p>Moreover, there’s a not-so-subtle blackmail at play. If Democrats don’t comply, Republicans will be forced to assume Democrats don’t value unity, and therefore they’ll have no choice but to adopt an obstructionist platform moving forward.</p><p>But of course that’s the point: To create a rationale for a position they’ve already decided to take for political expediency, but without moral justification. Republicans’ continued willingness to alter the rules of engagement and their ability to do so without consequence or reprimand inevitably results in democratic decay. If the only immutable rule is a Hobbesian one, that all one has is whatsoever one can obtain by any means necessary, then days like Jan. 6 won’t live in infamy. They’ll be just another Wednesday.</p>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-55108527435810544682021-01-14T11:06:00.002-05:002021-01-14T11:06:43.615-05:00What is Abortion Worth?<p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYfrJ8_rLqbLksBeW67TWhZ5Xcdpwtd7i6gCDT_KkP9KEDwoRhdl2q-UNk6FD725DmjlQjHyBVxa0IPKLp3LJolAzkzUWhSjlzVDbTThIJmSypph4rSgAVRK-sDMJvMj8UzlAa6FfYCF7/s750/Pro-life-march.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYfrJ8_rLqbLksBeW67TWhZ5Xcdpwtd7i6gCDT_KkP9KEDwoRhdl2q-UNk6FD725DmjlQjHyBVxa0IPKLp3LJolAzkzUWhSjlzVDbTThIJmSypph4rSgAVRK-sDMJvMj8UzlAa6FfYCF7/w320-h213/Pro-life-march.png" title="Pro-life demonstration in Washington, January 2018" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pro-life demonstration in Washington, January 2018<br />Original Image from FamilyMan88 via <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pro-life-march.png" target="_blank">WikiCommons</a> </td></tr></tbody></table>No political issue is more poisonous than abortion, and not because of the deep divide that exists between the pro-choice and pro-life camps, but because of how that divide infects every other issue of import.</p><p>There’s an argument among conservatives that the U.S. is a center-right country. That may be an accurate description of our elected legislatures—and increasingly of the judiciary they appoint—but less so of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/11/28/democratic-party-has-moved-left-so-has-us-this-explains-how-why/" target="_blank">the electorate itself</a>. Through a series of constitutional quirks that inhibit equal ideological representation, the U.S. has become a center-left country ruled by right-leaning officials. </p><p>For some issues, abortion among them, the electorate is far more liberal than the legislature and the judiciary, particularly once Amy Coney Barrett was elevated to the Supreme Court.</p><p>According to public opinion polling by <a href="https://www.pewforum.org/fact-sheet/public-opinion-on-abortion/" target="_blank">Pew</a>, 61% of American believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared to 38% who believe the practice should be illegal. As one might expect, the majority of Democrats (82%) lean toward legalized abortion, while most Republicans (62%) disagree. </p><p>Looking at the issue through the lens of religion, the biggest push for reversing Roe v. Wade comes from White evangelicals and Catholics: 77% and 44%, respectively, believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases.</p><p>I think it’s worth acknowledging here that I cannot in good conscience begrudge someone of their pro-life belief, though I may disagree with it. My views align with Caitlin Flanagan, who in a <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/12/the-things-we-cant-face/600769/" target="_blank">December 2019 article</a> for The Atlantic spoke directly to the dishonestly of the abortion debate: “The truth is that the best argument on each side is a damn good one, and until you acknowledge that fact, you aren’t speaking or even thinking honestly about the issue.”</p><p>More troubling than the divide is that we’ve stopped debating. The above numbers on abortion support/opposition are from 2019. What’s stunning is how similar the 2019 data are to 1995, in which 60% were pro-choice and 38% pro-life.</p><p>Over a quarter century the needle hasn’t moved. In that time, the pro-life contingency—conservative Christians in particular—have largely given up on arguing for the virtue of their values and instead shifted to a strategy of foisting them upon others. The aim is no longer to convince, but to coerce.</p><p>The timeline tracks with the larger Republican trend of abandoning any meaningful legislative agenda. In the mid-1990s, Speaker Newt Gingrich embraced the political power of obstructionism. During his tenure as majority leader, Mitch McConnell perfected it.</p><p>Abortion has been key in allowing Republicans to maintain power while legislatively accomplishing very little. In effect, the Republican Party has made conservative Christians their useful idiots by playing to staunch pro-lifers’ voting patterns.</p><p><a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2020/08/13/important-issues-in-the-2020-election/" target="_blank">Pew</a> polls voters on issues most important to them. In the run-up to the 2020 election, the economy and health care topped the list, with 79% and 68% of Americans describing these as top concerns. Abortion came in at No. 12, with just 40% of registered voters viewing the issue as “very important.”</p><p>However, abortion has outsized weight in the voting booth. According to <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/313316/one-four-americans-consider-abortion-key-voting-issue.aspx" target="_blank">Gallup</a>, 30% of pro-life voters will only support a candidate who shares their views on abortion. So, for a sizable minority of the electorate, abortion isn’t <i>an</i> issue: It’s the <i>only</i> issue. </p><p>So long as Republican cater to single-issue, pro-life voters through legal challenges and judicial appointments, a substantial portion of their base is locked in. Republicans can then carry on enacting an agenda divorced from the concerns of not only the majority of the electorate, but likely from the majority of pro-lifers as well.</p><p>Consider again those top issues for American voters. The cornerstone of every Republican economic plan since Reagan has been tax cuts. Recently, it’s become their only economic plan. And <a href="https://news.wttw.com/2020/02/25/arguing-zombies-paul-krugman-economic-ideas-won-t-die" target="_blank">it doesn’t work</a>.</p><p>Health care has been met with similar vitriol. Republicans are obsessed with repealing Obama’s signature achievement, the increasingly popular Affordable Care Act, without offering a replacement plan.</p><p>Under Trump, the Republican foreign policy playbook has essentially been reverse-Obama as well. Kill the TPP. Withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord. Cancel the Iran Nuclear Deal. Ignore or downplay foreign election interference. </p><p>On key issues like climate change, immigration reform, gun safety and racial justice, the Republicans have offered few if any substantial plans. And in the midst of a pandemic crisis, they steered stimulus talks toward gridlock by refusing for months to take up the HEROES Act for debate and revision.</p><p>It's worth noting here that the abortion rate has been <a href="https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/1/18/14296532/abortion-rate-lowest-ever-because-birth-control" target="_blank">in steady decline since 1980</a>, with increased access to contraception playing a major factor. The great irony is that <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/insurance-coverage-contraceptives" target="_blank">blue states have led the way</a> in expanding contraception, and by proxy reducing abortion numbers, only to see Republicans rewarded for the effort. </p><p>Of the single-issue, pro-life voters, I would ask, “What is abortion worth to you?” Based on their voting behavior, there’s only one honest answer: “Everything.”</p><p>Seems a mighty steep price. </p>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-24365237449348871702020-03-18T11:56:00.002-04:002020-03-18T11:56:18.915-04:00Coronavirus and the Generational Blame GameOut of coercion, fear, genuine concern<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>or more likely a combination of the three<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>many Americans have hunkered down to combat the coronavirus outbreak. We talk endlessly about social distancing, but resonating within those conversations is the oft-unspoken social contract. Generally, the social contract stipulates we should cooperate with one another, sometimes sacrificing personal freedoms or benefits for the well-being and safety of the collective.<br />
<br />
Or so the theory goes at least.<br />
<br />
I say this because there's concern that many Americans aren't taking the threat seriously. A recent <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/03/17/816501871/poll-as-coronavirus-spreads-fewer-americans-see-pandemic-as-a-real-threat" target="_blank">NPR/PBS/Marist poll</a> found that only 56% of us view the coronavirus as a "real threat," which astonishingly represents a 10-point drop from where that number was a month ago.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, there's a palpable sense of frustration among government officials and media reporters regarding this cavalier attitude. Last night on CNN, <a href="https://www.mediaite.com/tv/jake-tapper-outraged-by-scenes-of-joggers-rollerbladers-hand-holding-couples-defying-shelter-in-place-edict-who-the-hell-are-you/" target="_blank">Jake Tapper</a> appeared visibly outraged, and understandably so. This monologue in particular caught my ear:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And look, I mean, my dad is turning 80 this month, you know. People out there who are millennials or younger and thinking, "Well, if you're 80 years old, you know<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>it only affects people who are in there 70s and 80s." Which isn't true, although obviously the people in their 60s, 70s, and 80s are most vulnerable to it. But what are you saying? That my 80-year-old dad, therefore, is fair game? I mean, the <i>selfishness</i> of people who are not taking this seriously is just maddening. And I get some people just don't understand it, but what bothers me is the people who just think, "Well I'm young. I'm not gonna die from it." First of all, not necessarily true. Second of all, you could get really, really sick, and you could be injured for the rest of your life with, like, scarred lungs. And third of all, <i>who the hell are you</i> to be walking around, just giving this to old people, and you're just flippantly dismissing it?</blockquote>
On the whole, I agree. But I do object to the notion that he and others I've seen across various media outlets laying this albatross across the necks of younger generations as if this isn't a widespread problem.<br />
<br />
That NPR/PBS/Marist poll illustrates this point plainly when you dive into the <a href="http://maristpoll.marist.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NPR_PBS-NewsHour_Marist-Poll_USA-NOS-and-Tables_2003151338.pdf#page=3" target="_blank">question-by-question data</a>. The key question NPR highlights in its article is this: "Do you think the coronavirus is a real threat or blown out of proportion?" Again, 56% list say yes, it is a real threat, while 38% feel it's blown out of proportion. Moreover, the generational breakdown follows the blame-the-young narrative: 57% of baby boomers view coronavirus as a real threat, while only 51% of millennials/Gen Z do.<br />
<br />
Similarly, the poll asks how concerned people are about the spread of the virus in their communities. Overall, 70% express concern. Among boomers that number is 74%, but among millennials/Gen Z it's only 63%, which is one hell of a drop off.<br />
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What's interesting to me, however, are the questions that ask about mitigation behaviors. So for instance, "Have you, yourself, or someone in your household experienced any of the following because of the coronavirus:"<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><tbody>
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</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.95pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">All adults<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 83.6pt;" valign="top" width="111"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Baby Boomers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Millennials/ Gen Z<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Decided to eat at home more often?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.95pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">46%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 83.6pt;" valign="top" width="111"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">44%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">49%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Stocked up on food or supplies?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.95pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">42%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 83.6pt;" valign="top" width="111"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">38%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">47%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Changed travel plans?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.95pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">30%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 83.6pt;" valign="top" width="111"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">29%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">35%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 212.6pt;" valign="top" width="283"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cancelled plans to avoid crowds?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.95pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">48%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 83.6pt;" valign="top" width="111"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">48%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">54%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 212.6pt;" valign="top" width="283"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Changed your work routine?*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 71.95pt;" valign="top" width="96"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">33%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 83.6pt;" valign="top" width="111"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">25%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td><td style="padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 99.35pt;" valign="top" width="132"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">40%</span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*This question excluded retirees. It also separated age groups as under or over 45.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
At first I thought these difference might be explained by other factors. For instance, millennials do <a href="https://www.trycake.com/blog/generational-eating-habits/" target="_blank">dine out</a> more frequently than boomers, but boomers on average visit restaurants at least weekly<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—</span>and they almost always dine in. Perhaps boomers travel less frequently? Not really. According to <a href="https://www.aarp.org/research/topics/life/info-2018/2019-travel-trends.html" target="_blank">AARP</a>, boomers average 4-5 trips annually while millennials are on par with about 5 trips a year.<br />
<br />
My takeaway is that in comparison to millennials/Gen Z, baby boomers tend to view coronavirus as a greater threat, but despite their increased level of concern, they appear less willing than younger generations to make changes in their routines that would mitigate its spread. While it's certainly true that many young people are ignoring the warning signs, the ones paying attention are taking action. I'm not sure we can say the same for boomers.<br />
<br />Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-3779147986897835102019-01-25T16:40:00.001-05:002019-01-25T16:40:02.529-05:00When is a Wall not a Wall?Never has something so concrete as a wall <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">been so abstract. The Wall isn't about a wall. It's a racist dog whistle cranked to 11, </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">intended to stoke fear where there should be calm, inject simplicity where there should be nuance, and elevate political expediency over policy expertise, all to fulfill a campaign promise (except for the Mexico paying part) that should never have been made.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
Clearly, I'm not a fan of the Wall, but my view has more to do with the action and rhetoric surrounding its construction than the <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">feasibility</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"> of the project itself. To be sure, it's a bad idea, for a number of reasons you've likely heard already:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>1.)</b> <b>It won't meaningfully address illegal immigration</b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>.</b> The number of illegal border crossings at the Southern border has <a href="https://www.npr.org/2018/06/22/622246815/unauthorized-immigration-in-three-graphs" target="_blank">steadily declined</a> over the past 20 years. Moreover, the majority of new illegal residents (~65%) are from <a href="https://www.factcheck.org/2018/06/illegal-immigration-statistics/" target="_blank">visa overstays</a>, meaning they legally entered the U.S. and just didn't leave.</span><br /><br />
<b>2.) It won't diminish crime.</b> Immigrants, both legal and illegal, are less apt to commit crimes than native born citizens. This fact is so widely established that the conservative <a href="https://www.cato.org/publications/immigration-reform-bulletin/criminal-immigrants-their-numbers-demographics-countries?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhKviBRCNARIsAAGZ7CdCZuIN9I1t3J5AsdvC1VVdlXV5ryRA5L-XNNfX9aV606HcNOy4oFwaAkGSEALw_wcB" target="_blank">CATO Institute</a> agrees: "All immigrants are less likely to be incarcerated than natives relative to their share of the population." It's also worth noting that overall <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/01/03/5-facts-about-crime-in-the-u-s/" target="_blank">U.S. crime rates</a> more have markedly decreased over the past 25 years, so we're safer now than we have been in decades.<br />
<br />
<b>3.) It won't solve any drug problem.</b> The vast majority (<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/16/fact-check-mike-pence-donald-trump-drugs-crossing-southern-border-wall/2591279002/" target="_blank">80% or more</a>) of illegal drugs entering he U.S. are smuggled through legal ports of entry, not hauled across the desert by kids "who weigh 130 pounds [with] calves the size of cantaloupes" as <a href="https://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/08/12/steve-king-still-stands-by-cantaloupe-comments/" target="_blank">Rep. Steve King</a> would have you believe.<br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>4.) It won't combat terrorism.</b> Terrorists do not illegally enter the U.S. Again, according to the <a href="https://www.cato.org/blog/45000-special-interest-aliens-caught-2007-no-us-terrorist-attacks-illegal-border-crossers" target="_blank">CATO Institute</a>, since 1975, there have been zero deaths or injuries from terrorist attacks at the hands of illegal entrants. In that 40+ year span, only seven illegal immigrants were arrested and convicted of plotting terrorist actions, and all seven entered either by sea or across the Canadian border.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>5.) It won't be cheap.</b> Mexico clearly isn't paying, and $5.7 billion won't cover it. In truth, it's hard to estimate the cost of the Wall because the size/length/material that Trump pitches changes so often. The Department of Homeland Security estimates a three-year construction project totaling <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-immigration-wall-exclusive-idUSKBN15O2ZN" target="_blank">$21.6 billion</a>. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The cost of maintaining and patrolling such a large structure would add to the price tag.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">6.) It won't be easy.</b><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"> The federal government doesn't own much of the land across the border. Trump would need to invoke eminent domain to attain the land, which of course taxpayers would have to pay for. Additionally, those who own that land <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/trumps-border-wall-would-need-private-property-but-texas-landowners-plan-to-dig-in-for-lengthy-legal-fight/2019/01/10/d7e4cba8-1443-11e9-803c-4ef28312c8b9_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.65fbf6969f5e" target="_blank">aren't keen on giving it up</a>, so we could expect several lengthy and costly court battles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>7.) It won't effect our sovereignty.</b> While there are numerous examples of nation-states constructing border walls throughout history (North/South Korea, East/West Germany, China, Jericho, etc.), they clearly aren't required to establish sovereignty. Were that the case, we'd need the Wall 2.0 on the Northern border as well. Moreover, because a nation wishing to erect a wall must do so on its own land, we'd effectively be <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/border-wall/story/eminent-domain-trump-border-wall-rio-grande/638916001/" target="_blank">ceding land to Mexico</a> by building the Wall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>8.) It won't be environmentally sound.</b> This one's rarely reported, but a wall creates several <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trumps-wall-could-cause-serious-environmental-damage/" target="_blank">ecological problems</a>, from increased green house gas emissions to blocked migratory pathways for wildlife.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>9.) It won't be popular.</b> Recent polling from <a href="http://www.people-press.org/2019/01/16/most-border-wall-opponents-supporters-say-shutdown-concessions-are-unacceptable/?utm_source=link_newsv9&utm_campaign=item_246086&utm_medium=copy" target="_blank">Pew</a> shows more Americans oppose building the Wall (58%) than support it (40%). Moreover, the representatives from all <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trumps-border-wall-every-congressperson-along-southern-border-opposes-border-wall-funding-2019-1-8/" target="_blank">nine Congressional districts</a> along the Southern border oppose the Wall as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So the Wall is a stupid idea. And that's not a simply a liberals-hate-Trump position. Most of the supporting data I presented comes from government agencies who deal directly with border crossings and track the criminal activities (or lack there of) of these individuals once they arrive. Even conservative think tanks have essentially called the president a liar, consistently refuting his false pretenses for building the Wall.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Because most Americans aren't buying this particular con job, several in the administration have turned to a form of whataboutism, citing Democratic support for the <a href="https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2017/apr/23/mick-mulvaney/fact-check-did-top-democrats-vote-border-wall-2006/" target="_blank">Secure Fence Act of 2006</a>, conveniently ignoring that it was seen by many Democrats as an acceptable compromise against other proposals that would have, among other things, made illegal immigration a felony offense rather than a misdemeanor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">Such comparisons also propagate the political lunacy of demanding that no one ever change his or her mind about anything, ever, no matter what. When I was 7, I believed in Santa Claus. I didn't double down on that belief at 20, waiting for a fat, bearded stranger to slide down the chimney on Dec. 24. I acquired new information and altered my view accordingly. For some reason, that's unforgivable in politics.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">And sure, many would say the Democrats position change isn't one of heart but of political calculation. There's certainly some pandering going on regarding the Hispanic vote, but at least that position is factually defensible. Is the Republican position somehow more noble because its consistent with the party's recent past, even though its based on falsehoods?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So President Trump, and the Republican Party by extension, continues to make inaccurate claims, which often</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> demonize an entire swath of people, all to spend money on an infrastructure project that won't solve any of our nation's problems, in part because many of those problems don't exist.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">And for the serious questions that remain about immigration</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;">its value to our nation, our capacity to absorb incoming residents, who those individuals should be, how we can treat them humanely, and whether we should offer a path to citizenship</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">—have been completely eclipsed. Now the whole "debate" boils down to Wall vs. Open Borders, a position most people don't want vs. one that no one is advocating.</span><br />
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<!--StartFragment--><!--EndFragment--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">To compound the issue, Trump chose to paperclip funding the federal government to his demands for the Wall. Shutdowns are never good, in part because they're costly, both to the <a href="https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2019/jan/18/how-much-does-government-shutdown-cost/" target="_blank">taxpayer</a> and the federal <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/finance/426985-federal-workers-miss-2nd-paychecks-as-shutdown-continues" target="_blank">worker</a>, though the political damage Trump and his party faced was likely the deciding factor on <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/25/us/politics/trump-shutdown-deal.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage" target="_blank">today's ceasefire</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">The bigger picture problem with shutdowns, however, is that it ups the political and fiscal ante by putting unrelated items on the table. Whatever our disagreements, we should at least be able to keep the lights on, if for no other reason than its hard to continue good faith negotiations in the dark.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">For now, the question looms as to what Trump will do next. When Trump refused to avoid the shutdown in the first place, snubbing the then Republican controlled legislature, he essentially made his position Wall or bust. The Democrats, riding the wave of their midterm victory, aren't going to hand Trump a political win without getting something significant in return, especially considering how unpopular Trump and his Wall currently are. </span><a href="https://youtu.be/jWVG35mPng4" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">Stephen Colbert</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> arguably said it best: "Clearly, Trump has painted himself into a corner, which isn't easy when your office is oval."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">So it looks like Trump's only exit is to break a serious norm and declare a national emergency, where one obviously doesn't exist, so he can build the Wall and save face. Such a move would almost certainly be challenged in court, and to make the situation even stranger, the best outcome for everyone would be for the courts to rule against the Wall, that way the Democrats can claim a victory and Trump can cry foul and continue calling for a wall he doesn't really give a damn about to appease a political base he's equally vested in. </span><br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
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</style>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-239954726187500702017-10-15T13:45:00.002-04:002017-10-15T13:45:17.873-04:00Notes from a Louisville fan and alum: What UNC should learn about shame.Last week, the NCAA cleared UNC of any potential violations surrounding what many have called the most egregious case of <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/13/sports/unc-north-carolina-ncaa.html?_r=0" target="_blank">academic fraud</a> in the history of college athletics. When the news broke, the most irate fanbase wasn't that of instate rivals Duke or NC State, but the beleaguered fans at the University of Louisville, and rightfully so.<br />
<br />
I'm a Louisville guy through and through. I grew up going to men's basketball games, mostly during the lean years of the 1990s, when Rick Pitino was hanging banners in Rupp Arena for the University of Kentucky. I attended U of L in the mid-2000s, and with Pitino now coaching Louisville, the program reached its first Final Four in almost two decades. I was a grad student in Georgia when Louisville finally won the title in Atlanta's Georgia Dome, ending nearly three decades of disappointment. It was the happiest moment of my sporting life.<br />
<br />
Then came the scandals. Assistant Coach Andre McGee had hired strippers/prostitutes to "entertain" current players and recruits in the athletic dorms. It was tawdry, embarrassing, and immoral, and as an alumnus and lifelong fan of the program, I felt a sense of personal shame.<br />
<br />
Still, I tried to defend it to some degree. It's a natural response. And was happy to see that the university admitted to wrong-doing and took steps to punish itself -- including a postseason ban -- not just because I hoped it would reduce the inevitable NCAA punishment, but because it was the right thing to do.<br />
<br />
The NCAA apparently disagreed, and over the summer hit Louisville with <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/15/sports/ncaabasketball/louisville-probation-rick-pitino-suspended-ncaa.html" target="_blank">severe punishments</a> that stunned not only the university, but much of the sports world as well. Louisville is set to be the first basketball program in NCAA history to be stripped of its championship banner.<br />
<br />
And it only got worse. In the fall, Louisville was implicated in a larger <a href="https://www.si.com/college-basketball/2017/09/27/louisville-fbi-investigation-rick-pitino-brian-bowen" target="_blank">FBI investigation</a>, and the evidence clearly shows that, under the direction of Louisville coaches, Adidas paid players to attend the university. This is a clear violation of NCAA rules, and the university acted quickly to dismiss Pitino and prepared to fire Athletic Director Tom Jurich. Again, Louisville acted preemptively to appease the NCAA.<br />
<br />
As a fan, I'm often asked about my feelings on the issue. My response has essentially been that we're guilty and should be punished accordingly. Ideally, NCAA rules regarding the recruitment and treatment of current and prospective players are meant to ensure an equal playing field among universities, and to protect student from exploitation (at least more than what the NCAA currently sanctions). We broke those rules. We have it coming.<br />
<br />
After the UNC rulings, my attitudes have changed. If the NCAA comes for Louisville's 2013 banner, they can pry it from my cold, dead hands. Alternatively, I'm willing to trade it for three of UNC's (2005, 2009, 2017).<br />
<br />
As a Louisville fan and alum, my outrage over the UNC case comes from a perception that the NCAA distributes justice unequally and applies its rules arbitrarily. Given the nature of the two schools' violations, that's a reasoned response.<br />
<br />
An unreasoned response is that of UNC students, fans, and alums. From what I can tell, the <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article178794761.html" target="_blank">mood</a> is one of relief and joy. On the one hand, I understand they feel good to have dodged a bullet. But they don't seem to realize they dodged that bullet by jumping in front of a cannonball.<br />
<br />
Where is the sense of shame for the manner in which they skated charges? UNC admitted to offering fake courses to student for nearly two decades, but because these courses were available to all students and not just athletes, they weren't guilty of violating NCAA rules on the special treatment for athletes. While that may be technically true, consider what the defense really means: UNC is innocent of NCAA violations because they committed widespread academic fraud rather than narrower, case-by-case fraud.<br />
<br />
Astounding.<br />
<br />
Were I a student or alum of UNC, I would be furious. The university was willing to trade on its academic reputation to preserve its athletic prowess.<br />
<br />
And look. I get it. College sports matter. They're exciting. They're a rallying point for those associated with the school, and a lightning rod for fostering school spirit and attracting donations.<br />
<br />
But universities don't exist to provide sports entertainment. They exists to advance knowledge through research and education, much nobler though less discussed goals. To sacrifice that is nothing less than shameful, especially for UNC, which <a href="https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public?_mode=table" target="_blank">U.S. News</a> ranks the fifth best public university in the country.<br />
<br />
For all the embarrassment Louisville's indiscretions have brought to its alums, they never cheapened the value of our degrees or our education. I went to the 87th best public university, and even I can see that. Maybe its time we re-evaluate those rankings, or even UNC's accreditation status, because a school so willing to brazenly defraud its students should be punished, even if its basketball team seemingly can't be or never will.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-72533379485280751182017-10-09T12:37:00.000-04:002017-10-09T13:16:47.730-04:00Learned helplessness and a lone shooter<a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/learned-helplessness" target="_blank">Learned helplessness</a> pervades much of the current American political landscape, but we often fail to see it or mistake it for something else. Nowhere is this effect and the confusion surrounding it more visible than in discussion of gun control.<br />
<br />
We're a week out from a <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-las-vegas-shooting-live-updates-death-toll-rises-to-59-investigators-1506983486-htmlstory.html" target="_blank">Las Vegas shooting</a> that killed nearly 60 people and wounded over 500 more. My initial response wasn't shock. It was a sort of muted horror stemming from the knowledge that gun violence on a mass scale appears to be a loose thread in the American fabric we can't seem to cut free.<br />
<br />
It's become such a regular occurrence that the national response is routine:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The <a href="http://time.com/4965168/read-donald-trump-las-vegas-shooting-transcript/" target="_blank">president</a> and media express outrage and send "thoughts and prayers."</li>
<li>Many prominent figures claim now is the time for debate and <a href="https://www.avclub.com/late-night-hosts-call-bullshit-on-the-gop-and-nra-and-d-1819093226" target="_blank">action</a> on gun violence.</li>
<li>Defenders of gun rights express <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/353484-white-house-now-not-time-to-debate-gun-control" target="_blank">"now is not the time"</a> to discuss such issues.</li>
<li>Congress asks for a <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/democrat-says-he-will-boycott-moment-of-silence-for-las-vegas-shooting/" target="_blank">moment of silence</a> and we fly flags at half mast.</li>
<li>We fight familiar fights on our Facebook feeds, retreating to ideological corners.</li>
<li>Legislation (often w<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/04/us/politics/bump-stock-fire-legal-republicans-congress.html?_r=0" target="_blank">eak or meaningless</a>) is put before Congress, and it doesn't pass.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Over time, we become desensitized to these events because of the regularity and the routine, and many <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/patrice-bendig/a-generation-desensitized_b_8055450.html" target="_blank">writers</a> have been saying as much for years.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I think it runs deeper. I think we've barreled into learned helplessness territory. To be desensitized to certain events simply means that we no longer react with strong emotionality because we've seen it before. Rampant gun violence certainly creates desensitization, and that can inhibit our willingness to act, but not to the degree of learned helplessness.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Learned helplessness comes about in much the same way as desensitization, but its much more insidious. For example, let's say you have a rat in a cage. You then administer a small electrical shock to a portion of the cage floor. Naturally, the rat will move to escape the shock. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But what happens if you electrify the <i>entire</i> cage floor? At first, the same thing. The rat will attempt to escape the shock. Over time, however, he will eventually learn that there is no escape, and he'll stop trying.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Does the shock still hurt? Yes. He hasn't been desensitized fully. But he's learned that he is helpless in his situation and thus no longer fights it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think that's how most Americans are starting feel about gun violence, and the data backs this up. According to <a href="http://www.people-press.org/2016/08/26/opinions-on-gun-policy-and-the-2016-campaign/" target="_blank">Pew Research</a>, the majority of Americans -- often a significant majority -- support a variety of gun safety measures:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>50% want to ban high-ammunition clips</li>
<li>52% want to ban assault-style weapons</li>
<li>68% favor creating a federal database to track gun sales</li>
<li>71% favor banning individuals on the no-fly list from buying guns</li>
<li>76% back limits on gun ownership among the mentally ill</li>
<li>81% back universal background checks</li>
</ul>
<div>
And before any Second Amendment purists absolutely lose their shit, yes, there are issues with each of these solutions. For example, how do we define mental illness? And what about people erroneously placed on the no-fly list? Then there's the fact that, in many instances, enacting all of these measures won't eliminate the problem. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I admit these weakness, but I would argue those are piss poor excuses for not at least trying to mitigate this problem. Surely there can be some reasonable middle ground here.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But my larger point here is that the majority of Americans want to see some action taken on this issue, but for a <a href="https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2017/10/05/why_the_majority_doesnt_rule_on_guns_135181.html" target="_blank">variety of reasons</a>, Congress refuses to do anything of substance. And this refusal is incredibly dangerous for our democracy. If you're in the majority here, it's hard to look at this situation and not feel helpless. I mean, damn. We're a democracy. Shouldn't majority opinion have more sway? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And that feeling of helplessness, perhaps more than any other single factor, leads us to check out more and more from the political debates that substantially affect our lives.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It also leads us to make rash political decisions in a desperate attempt to retake some control. It's hard to look at the election of Donald Trump without seeing learned helplessness at play. The narrative of forgotten Americans wandering the political wilderness searching for a voice -- any voice -- is how you end up with seemingly reasonable individuals even entertaining a candidate so thoroughly and obviously unqualified and unfit.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are a number of issues about which Americans are in relative agreement: limiting gun violence, modernizing infrastructure, providing universal (or at least expanded) access to affordable health care, and not starting a nuclear war, to name a few. But the longer elected officials delay in tackling these issues, the more helpless the electorate feels; the more disconnected the citizenry sees itself from its representatives; the more unstable our democracy becomes; and the more dangerous and unpredictable our political, social, and economic futures appear to be.</div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-88563889788601441762017-07-17T14:45:00.001-04:002017-07-17T14:45:31.462-04:00Responding to Sen. Johnson on Health Care<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sen.
Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) recently penned an op-ed for The Times, “</span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/opinion/senate-health-care-bill.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=0"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Where the Senate Health Care
Bill Fails</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.” Mr.
Johnson’s moral outrage seems fundamentally misdirected, and his understanding
of the free market and how it functions, particularly in regards to health
care, is wholly flawed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Rather
than focusing on the 20 million people who will lose insurance over the next 10
years or the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">upward</i> redistribution of
wealth through unnecessary tax cuts, he laments the government’s failure in
obstructing the forces of the free market and the projected deficit increases
that will result from the Senate bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A truly moral and compassionate society,” Mr.
Johnson says, “does not impoverish future generations to bestow benefits in the
here and now.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First, the
Reagan-esque tax cuts for the wealthy, which lie at the </span><a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/6/22/15854762/senate-health-bill-medicaid-cuts"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">core</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> of the Senate health care bill,
impoverishes future generations to bestow benefits in the here and now <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">to those who don’t need them</i>. Second,
the tendency of Mr. Johnson and many of his Republican colleagues to frame the
moral component of health care in economic and political costs rather than the
costs of human suffering and death is truly stunning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What’s
more stunning is that we Americans have largely accepted the premise that
health care markets function like other commodity markets. As a result, we no
longer appear to question that in the case of problems like rising premiums and
deductibles, to use Mr. Johnson’s words, “a simple solution is obvious. </span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Loosen up regulations and mandates, so that
Americans can choose to purchase insurance that suits their needs and that they
can afford.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Health
care is not simple, but we’ve been fooled into believing it is because of our
national, zealous belief in the power of the free market and a false notion
that health operates under normal market rules. I’d like to demonstrate this
point by looking at the crux of Mr. Johnson’s argument:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Layer upon layer of laws, rules and regulations
have made our health care-financing system a complex mess, separating patients
from direct payment for health care. As a result, patients neither know nor
care what things cost. We have virtually eliminated the power of
consumer-driven, free-market discipline from one-sixth of our economy.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It’s
worth noting here that no market is truly free. In his book “Saving
Capitalism,” Robert Reich clearly explains how all markets are governed by
rules, and those rules are not inherent, but rather set by those in positions
of power, often governmental forces. So, while Mr. Johnson asserts that laws,
rules and regulations alter the rules of the market, the very same could be
said for any <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">repeal</i> of laws, rules or
regulations. Each are simply means to alter how the “free” market is governed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Still,
any functioning “free” market operates under certain assumptions, namely the
transparency of costs, the ability to make choices based on those costs and the
ability to freely enter and exit the market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr.
Johnson is absolutely correct that patients are largely ignorant of health care
costs. In 2013, Steven Brill wrote an exceptional piece for </span><a href="http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,2136864-2,00.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Time</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> on the inconsistent prices for
services set by hospital chargemasters and the lack of transparency regarding
the process for setting those prices and the eventual costs billed to patients
and insurers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I’d
wager to guess that almost nobody reading this piece could name the cost of a
physical, even though many of us get one every year. Even worse, the cost of a
physical from Dr. A might be half that of Dr. B even though their offices are
only three miles apart. The arbitrary and often secretive nature of service
pricing makes it cumbersome if not impossible to comparison shop. Right away,
we’ve violated our first market assumption, transparency of costs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Moreover,
this lack of transparency essentially violates the second assumption that we
can choose services and providers based upon those costs. But let’s assume by
some miracle we all knew the cost of every service and insurance plan
available. Even under these fanciful circumstances, choice remains largely an
illusion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Let’s
look at insurance plans first. According to the </span><a href="http://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-population/?currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kaiser Family Foundation</span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, 49 percent of Americans
receive insurance through their employers. Typically those plans are far better
than those on the individual market. However, your choices are rather limited.
An employer might offer three different plans, all of which are packaged with
predetermined premiums, deductibles, copays and levels of coverage. Not a lot
of choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And
your ability to choose services might be more limited based on the type of plan
you select. Let’s say you have an HMO, which typically mandates you select a
primary care physician to address your basic needs and refer you to specialists.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So you
select Dr. A, who charges less for physicals than Dr. B. But what happens when
you need another service from Dr. A, like an x-ray for a sprained ankle. Sure,
Dr. B doesn’t charge as much for that service, but you’re locked in to Dr. A,
so you have to pay the higher costs, even if by some miracle you could research
those costs an endured the pain of a possibly broken ankle long enough to
investigate them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And
this brings us to the final assumption of most markets, namely that we have the
ability to freely enter and exit based on cost and choice. Mr. Johnson feeds us
an atypical example – all but parroting his colleague Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.),
an ophthalmologist: “</span><span style="background: white; color: #333333; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Look no
further than how laser eye surgery went from exotic to affordable during the
years it was not covered by most insurance.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While Mr. Johnson’s statement regarding
the decreased cost of laser eye surgery is technically true, it’s incredibly
misleading. Market rules actually do apply to this sector of health care,
unlike most others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I happen to wear to glasses, and I am a
prime candidate for corrective laser surgery. Eye surgeons are relatively
transparent about the price for this procedure, and I can easily evaluate my
options and thus make an informed decision based on price and expertise.
Moreover, I can choose to enter and exit this market at will because,
regardless of how much I may <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">want</i> the
surgery, I don’t <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">need</i> it. My glasses
work fine. It’s this very fact that I don’t need the surgery now that affords
me the time to comparison shop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, let’s look at other sectors of
the health care market, namely emergency care. Let’s say I’m at home and I have
a heart attack. I’m in the health care market now, and you can bet I didn’t
choose to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I call an ambulance to take me to the hospital.
Many rural and small town Americans are serviced by a single hospital, so if
these folks have heart attacks, that’s where they go and they pay the prices
set by the hospital at a rate negotiated by their insurance. Again, little
choice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">But I’m fortunate. My town has three
hospitals. Let’s say against all odds I actually know the cost of heart surgery
at each of them, and in the throws of cardiac arrest, I manage to instruct the
EMT to drive me to the cheapest one. Even in this most unlikely of scenarios,
that’s still not going to happen, as most EMTs are required to take patients to
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">nearest</i> hospital, for obvious
reasons: I’m more likely to live if I’m treated sooner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is a perfect example of why free
market policies don’t align with the reality of health care in this country.
Costs are secretive; even if we learn those costs, we’re limited in our ability
make choices based upon those costs; and we can’t choose to enter and exit the
health care market.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Admittedly, some of those issues could
and should be addressed. Health care providers should be regulated to keep the
cost of services down and relatively equal within certain medical sectors and
geographic areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, any insurance system that
remotely resembles our current one will necessarily limit choice, as the only
way to control costs is to collectively bargain, meaning most of us have to
sign on to limited numbers of group plans. Regardless, the unpredictable nature
of illness will always prohibit free entry and exit of the health care market
place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Mr. Johnson’s longing for free market
solutions to health care may appeal to our ideological sensibilities, but in a
practical sense they will never work because health care does not operate like most
markets. Addressing America’s health care problems will require inventive
solutions based in reality, not rhetoric, the latter of which appears to be all
Mr. Johnson can provide.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-71437577697620013932017-06-13T13:06:00.003-04:002017-06-13T13:38:51.387-04:00Owning Our Leaders in the Time of Trump<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">The current, Republican-led, U.S.
federal government is an unmitigated, bipartisan shitshow. And by bipartisan, I
don't mean both sides of the aisle are to blame. I mean that from an objective
viewpoint -- or at least as objective as one can muster -- we're staring at a
dumpster fire here, one that's going to burn for at least two years, and
possibly eight.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The
most obvious offender is President Donald Trump. My personal list of complaints
against Trump is longer than...well, it's long. But my focus here isn't on his
effort to undercut liberal policies: his failing<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/12/politics/9th-circuit-travel-ban/index.html" target="_blank">travel ban</a>, his undermining of
progress on<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/06/01/530748899/watch-live-trump-announces-decision-on-paris-climate-agreement" target="_blank">climate change</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(which<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>is</i> a partisan issue for
some reason), his push for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/once-humbled-by-the-financial-crisis-bankers-are-suddenly-feeling-emboldened/2017/03/24/30318a86-0fd1-11e7-ab07-07d9f521f6b5_story.html?utm_term=.759678a49e42" target="_blank">financial deregulation</a>, or his
proposed<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/05/23/us/politics/trump-budget-details.html" target="_blank">budget cuts</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>to vital programs in the social safety
net. Idiotic as I believe these ideas are, I recognize that to some degree
they're simply an extreme version of normal arguments between Republicans and
Democrats over ideological priorities.</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-size: 13.5pt;">But much of Trump's failings have
nothing to do with partisan issues. First, let's look at Russia. We know that
the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/oct/19/hillary-clinton/hillary-clinton-blames-russia-putin-wikileaks-rele/" target="_blank">Russians</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>attempted to influence our 2016
presidential election -- and in favor of Trump. They even attempted to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/05/us/politics/reality-winner-contractor-leaking-russia-nsa.html" target="_blank">tamper with voting machines</a>. We know<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/07/us/politics/trump-russia-flynn-kushner.html" target="_blank">Trump officials have connections to Russia</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>in various capacities. It's unclear if
Trump or his aides colluded with Russia in any way, but there are concerns
about conflicts of interest and blackmail, and Trump's reluctance to release
his<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-trump-release-tax-returns-20170417-story.html" target="_blank">tax returns</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(a custom dating back to the 1970s) only
raises suspicions.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Those
suspicions were magnified over Trump's decision to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://time.com/4776737/president-donald-trump-james-comey-fired-russia-investigation/" target="_blank">fire FBI Director James Comey</a>, a
decision Trump admits was influenced by Comey's continued Russian probe.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The day after Comey's firing</i>,
Trump held an oval office meeting w</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">ith <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, where he admitted
that<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/05/trump-told-russians-that-nut-job-comeys-firing-relieved-pressure/527451/" target="_blank">Comey's departure relieved a great deal of
pressure</a>; then he went on to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://nypost.com/2017/06/12/inside-what-trump-reportedly-leaked-to-the-russians/" target="_blank">leak information</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>gathered by Israeli intelligence to
the Russians at that same meeting, just for good measure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Last week, we learned from<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/08/us/politics/james-comey-testimony-hearing.html" target="_blank">Comey's testimony</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>that he felt pressured into a
patronage relationship with Trump, prompting Comey to record his encounters
with the president and to subsequently leak those memos in the hopes of forcing
the appointment of a special prosecutor. Yesterday, we found out Trump is
considering<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/us/politics/robert-mueller-trump.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0" target="_blank">dismissing</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>that same special prosecutor.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Trump's failures extend far beyond the Russia
mess. Trump has yet to fill<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/446201/donald-trump-administration-hundreds-key-government-positions-still-unfilled" target="_blank">553 key, Senate-confirmable positions</a>;
what's more, he hasn't even put forth a nominee for 89 percent of those
openings.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">This shortfall in staff might partially explain
the hollowness of his economic policy. Writing for the the Atlantic, Derek
Thompson summarized Trump's economic policy well:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2017/06/donald-trump-economic-policies/529554/" target="_blank">"There is no policy."</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Virtually everything Trump has done on
this front has been all sizzle, no steak. Last week's
infrastructure signing ceremony was simply Trump sending a memo to
Congress requesting they act. His proposed tax plan is less than a page long
and scant on detail. His budget only balances if the GDP growth doubles the
forecast -- and if you double-count that growth, as his budget folks did,
resulting in a $2 trillion math error.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Additionally, in his brief tenure, Trump has
show complete disregard for ethics. Hiring Ivanka Trump and Jared Kusher
ignores</span> </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/ivanka-trump-white-house-west-wing-donald-trump-ethics-legal-2017-3" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">antinepotism</a><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">norms, and potentially laws. He's also
requested an unprecedented number of</span><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span></span><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/329004-trump-wh-officials-work-their-way-around-ethics-violations" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;" target="_blank">ethics
waivers</a><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">allowing former
lobbyists to oversee the very industry sectors for which they lobbied (so much
for draining the swamp).<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Recently,
Maryland and D.C. have<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/dc-and-maryland-to-sue-president-trump-alleging-breach-of-constitutional-oath/2017/06/11/0059e1f0-4f19-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html?utm_term=.f530be88d427" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;" target="_blank">filed a
lawsuit</a><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">against Trump
alleging that he has used his position rather egregiously for his own financial
gain.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">The Republican Congress, which is meant to check
the president's power, has tripped over itself in rather pathetic attempts to
defend Trump.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.reuters.com/video/2017/06/08/ryans-defense-for-trump-hes-new-at-this?videoId=371842307" target="_blank">Speaker Paul Ryan's excuse</a>: "The
president's new at this." Really?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Still, <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-senator-lindsey-graham-on-face-the-nation-june-11-2017/" target="_blank">Sen. Lindsey Graham's backhand-compliment
defense</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is perhaps the most
succinct summation of the Trump White House: "</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">He doesn't believe he did anything wrong with the Russians, and I tend
to believe him. He can't collude with his own government. Why do you think he's
colluding with the Russians?"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In attempting to stand by Trump, the Republican Party
leadership has in actuality undermined him. When Trump's best defense is
that he's either to inexperienced or dimwitted to be guilty, it raises the
question of whether he's to inexperienced or dimwitted to be president.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">But he is president. And he will continue to be. And it's
because voters are often stupid and always tribal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">This morning, I
read an op-ed in<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/opinion/senate-hides-trumpcare-health-care-bill.html?ref=opinion" target="_blank">The New York Times</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>about the Senate's handling of the
Trumpcare bill. Essentially, it looks like Mitch McConnell and the Republican
leadership will attempt to ram something through by early July. The leadership
is constructing the bill in secret, with no scheduled hearings or attempts to
compromise with Democrats -- a particularly infuriating move seeing as that was
their main complaint against Obamacare. (And a false one at that. Obamacare was
debated in open sessions for a year, with several Republican
amendments added, effectively killing the public option, among other
proposals.)</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Here</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">’</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">s how the article concludes:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="background-color: clear;">Republican leaders
seem to think they will gain a tactical legislative advantage if they can
negotiate a deal behind the scenes and then suddenly spring it on the full
Senate. Those gains will quickly evaporate when voters learn what they have
done.</i></span></span></blockquote>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The NYT editorial
board seems to believe voters will revolt against policies that negatively
affect them and support politicians who act to their practical benefit. In my
estimation, this is a rather naive view, and the </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2010/results/house.html" style="background-color: clear;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">2010
midterms</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> bear this out. </span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in
March 2010. Though<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/03/27/521441490/fact-check-trump-says-obamacare-is-exploding-its-not" target="_blank">imperfect</a>, it was a vast improvement
over the existing system: more Americans are insured, premiums have stabilized,
and job growth hasn't suffered. In part, that may account for steady increases
in support for the ACA since it's passage (<a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/23/support-for-2010-health-care-law-reaches-new-high/" target="_blank">54 percent</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>of Americans approve of the ACA, while
only<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/this-health-care-bill-may-haunt-the-gop/" target="_blank">32 percent</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>approve of the proposed replacement).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;">What did the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2010/results/house.html" target="_blank">Democrats</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>get for those efforts? They lost six
governorships, six Senate seats, and 63 seats in the House.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;">The lesson? Perception is more powerful than the reality and
tribalism is more powerful than common sense. Obamacare wasn't a government
takeover of health care, nor was there ever any attempt to institute death
panels to kill your grandmother. But that's the false narrative that confused
and misinformed voters relied on to oust the Democrats from power.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;">The ideological spin of the narrative of events was more
crucial than the practical results of the events themselves -- and it will be
again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Obamacare was and is a private sector reform passed through
bipartisan<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/14/opinion/the-original-lie-about-obamacare.html" style="background-color: clear;" target="_blank"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">negotiation</span></a></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">. In many ways it's more Republican than Democratic. But Republicans
couldn't support it because Obama did it. American politics now operate on
one rule above all others:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>Better
to deal a defeat to the American public than allow a victory for the other team. <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;">And the fragmented media environment that offers each of us
our ideal augmented reality makes it possible to reframe each blow to the
average American as somehow the other guy's fault. In reality, it's our own.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;">At the outset of this post, I feel I laid out a fair account
of the facts in the case against Trump's general competency and the case for
his possibly illegal behavior. But Trump is and will likely remain insulated
from any meaningful consequences up to and including impeachment. To<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/12/15615066/impeachment-trump-process-history" target="_blank">impeach</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>a president, a majority vote in the
House is required. Then the president is tried in the Senate, and removed only
if a two-thirds majority elects to do so. Currently, to remove Trump would
require 22 House and 19 Senate Republicans to vote in favor, assuming Democrats
and Independents all do. Not going to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;">Why?
Trump's approval rating. Yes, Trump's is historically low. According to<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/203198/presidential-approval-ratings-donald-trump.aspx" target="_blank">Gallup</a>, as of June 11, 2017, he sat at
a meager 37 percent. But if you look deeper, you'll notice an unprecedented
partisan gap: only 8 percent of Democrats approve of Trump, but 83 percent of
Republicans back him. So for senators in conservative states and
representatives in conservative districts who are routinely elected without
having to win over many -- if any -- Democrats, there's no incentive to move on
Trump, especially considering Democratic turnout in midterm elections is
abysmally low. That could<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/upshot/democrats-are-bad-at-midterm-turnout-that-seems-ready-to-change.html" target="_blank">change</a>, but if there's little threat
of losing one's seat, there's little to gain in checking Trump.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;">Since
Trump's election, I've heard many of my fellow liberals claim he's not their
president. Yes he is. And it's important to remember that he is. It reminds us
of the agency we have as citizens and voters in a representative republic and
the responsibility we have to uphold its values.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;">But
I'm not naive. I know it's Team R vs. Team D. I'm firmly on the latter side
here, so it's easy for me to throw stones at our president. It's not fun to
admit when your guy is wrong, but sometimes he is. Obama was wrong on many
occasions, from the strengthening of the surveillance state, to the expansion
of drone use without oversight, to his noncommittal stance on Syria, to his lie
that you could keep your plan via the ACA (though there's a lot of nuance on
last one).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;">Now
we're at a point where Team R needs to step up. Trump is a failed experiment on
what happens when a novice is drafted to the big leagues. He's not capable
enough to do the job, nor intellectually curious enough to ever become capable.
He's placing himself above the law, or at least positioning himself outside it.
His willingness to ignore every democratic norm, to violate any principle, and
to lie and con for his own personal gain are affronts to public service in its
most basic terms.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background-color: clear;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: clear; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">These
should be egregious offenses in the eyes of all Americans, not just Team D. In
fact, I know they are, but we've become too tribal to face an obvious and
objective threat. And for the folks on Team R, what do you gain for this
erosion of the American soul? A bag of empty promises and a cheap red hat, probably
made in China. So much winning.</span></span></div>
</div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-74890147673183992882017-02-28T11:00:00.002-05:002017-02-28T11:00:35.297-05:00Secretary DeVos doesn't understand what I do<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a university professor, I was profoundly disappointed in Secretary of Education <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/02/23/the-system-is-failing-too-many-kids-text-of-education-secretary-devoss-speech-at-cpac/?utm_term=.88835f84b49d" target="_blank">Betsy DeVos' remarks</a> at CPAC regarding higher education. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Speaking directly to the university students in attendance, she said:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The fight against the education establishment extends to you too. The faculty, from adjunct professors to deans, tell you what to do, what to say, and more ominously, what to think. They say that if you voted for Donald Trump, you're a threat to the university community. But the real threat is silencing the First Amendment rights of people with whom you disagree.</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Everything about this statement, from the assertions made to the manner in which those claims are presented, is utterly false.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The goal of any reputable university is not to tell students what to think. It is to teach students to think critically and to think for themselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In my admittedly young career, I have worked as an instructor, lecturer, and assistant professor at three universities in three different states. That goal has always been the standard: How do we mold the next generation of young people into thinking, critically engaged adults ready to enter civic life and prosperous careers?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We wrestle with this every day. We literally lose sleep over it. And we don't always have a ready answer to this question given the delicate environment we face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Generally speaking, college professors are a </span><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/11/the-dramatic-shift-among-college-professors-thats-hurting-students-education/?utm_term=.ad59fc935f5d" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">liberal bunch</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, oftentimes more liberal than our students. But we know that. And we also know that we exercise influence over our classrooms by virtue of our position.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With these considerations in mind, I've had numerous conversations with diligent</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and thoughtful peers and mentors about how we may temper our personal biases. We strive to avoid anything resembling indoctrination and work to maintain a free flow of ideas through honest debate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We try to engage with students regarding current events and controversies in ways that allow students to express and debate a multitude of opinions. Oftentimes that means checking our own biases at the door, playing devil's advocate, and ensuring that oftentimes heated discourse among students remains civil so all feel confident that their voices will be heard and respected.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But remarks like those from Ms. DeVos and the underlying attitudes about ivory tower elitism make an already difficult task that much more so.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Professors and lecturers have in many cases become so fearful of accusations of undue influence that they actively avoid discussions of politics or any controversial topics for that matter. Such an approach is antithetical to the very idea of what education should be, and it has dangerous consequences for our democracy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You can determine the quality of your education by answering a simple question: Was I ever made to feel uncomfortable? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I spend most of my days as a professor making students uncomfortable. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I challenge their worldviews, regardless of what they are. That makes them uncomfortable</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. I ask them to explain why they say what they say, or think what they think. That makes them uncomfortable. I don't reward students for simply having opinions, but demand they justify their stances. That makes them uncomfortable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A good educational environment allows students to test ideas in the marketplace, to learn that they are sometimes right and sometimes wrong, and to refuse to accept any statement or truism without reason or evidence. Depriving students of this opportunity creates a form of self-indoctrintation, where we all view ourselves as correct and the ultimate arbiters of truth because we never questions ourselves or others. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This insidious effect is more common than many might think, and it threatens our ability to sustain a democratic society. The inability to honestly debate ideas cripples our capacity to effectively address serious problems.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Educators, and the public writ large, must also understand that challenging an opinion is not the same as silencing one. If a student voices opposition to childhood vaccinations or support for school vouchers, I am not silencing her by asking, "Why?" </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I want to know if her opinion is informed. I want her to think about the sources that inform that opinion. I want her to ask whether those sources are credible. I want her to ask what makes for a credible source. I want her to critically evaluate her own thought processes. I want to know if she's echoing someone else's thoughts, or if she is thinking for herself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That <i>is</i> education. If Ms. DeVos has a differing opinion, I welcome her thoughts on the matter, but I'm going to ask her why she thinks as she does.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #111111;"><br /></span></span>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-13591978095497013892017-02-07T01:07:00.003-05:002019-07-26T09:30:04.651-04:00The Margin of ErrorTrump, like all politicians, preys on certain ignorances among the population to advance his political agenda. And when I say "ignorances," I don't mean that in the nuanced sense, as if to refer to racism, sexism, xenophobia, or the like. I mean it in the literal, <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ignorance" target="_blank">Webster's dictionary</a> sense: "lack of knowledge, education, or awareness."<br />
<br />
And, I suppose if I'm being super specific, it's the ignorances of our ignorances -- i.e., not knowing what we don't know -- that have been exploited most by the recent <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/27/executive-order-protecting-nation-foreign-terrorist-entry-united-states" target="_blank">travel ban</a>. If there's two things every politically engaged American claims to be, yet most certainly is not, it's a Constitutional lawyer and an expert on opinion polls. We tend to cite both sources badly, and often only when the most tertiary readings support our position.<br />
<br />
Apparently, our president is no different, at least according to his Feb. 6 <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/828574430800539648" target="_blank">tweet</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.26px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Any negative polls are fake news, just like the CNN, ABC, NBC polls in the election. Sorry, people want border security and extreme vetting.</span></span></blockquote>
First and foremost, to Mr. Trump: you're the president, and also a 70-year-old man. It's baffling that Twitter is your primary mode of communication.<br />
<br />
But to my main argument, I assume that Trump is referring to the widely circulated <a href="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2017/images/02/03/rel2a.-.trump.pdf" target="_blank">CNN/ORC poll</a> conducted last week, in which 47% of respondents approved of the ban, while 53% disapproved.<br />
<br />
The CNN/ORC poll in question appears fairly sound (some might argue the travel ban question is a bit leading, though if that's the case I would say if anything it skews in favor of the ban). In either case, the margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3%, so a 50/50 split in public opinion is actually fairly likely. Unfortunately, many news outlets fail to report this all-important margin of error, and even when they do they fail to seriously consider it.<br />
<br />
So let's talk about margin of error as it relates to opinion polling.<br />
<br />
If you want want to know <i>exactly</i> what public sentiment is on any given issue, you'd have to ask every member of the population. This process is called a census. As the population increases in size, taking a census becomes more expensive and time consuming. Imagine how long it would take to poll all of the <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/10/how-many-registered-voters-are-in-america-2016-229993" target="_blank">200 million</a> registered voters in the U.S.?<br />
<br />
That's a huge reason why pollsters sample, or question a subset of the total population that reflects its general make-up. A representative sample of about <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/methodology/u-s-survey-research/sampling/" target="_blank">1,000 people</a> can give you an immensely reliable estimation of how the total population feels.<br />
<br />
But sampling, though efficient and reliable, is not exact. That's where the margin of error comes in. It basically operates as a cushion to indicate how good a pollster's estimate is. For most professional political polls, plus or minus 3-5% is the norm. Essentially, that means it's highly likely that the true opinion of the public lies within 3-5 percentage points of what the poll reports.<br />
<br />
So, returning to our CNN/ORC poll, it doesn't actually state that 53% of American adults disapprove of the ban. It states that the pollster is highly confident that 50-56% of Americans disapprove of the ban.<br />
<br />
What I'm saying is Trump should stop whining. He may very well have the support he claims to have. And even if he didn't have that support, his grounds for complaining -- namely that the election polls were wrong -- has <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2016/11/12/it_wasnt_the_polls_that_missed_it_was_the_pundits_132333.html" target="_blank">no standing</a> in reality.<br />
<br />
It's true that Trump's electoral win constituted an upset, but just barely. There were a variety of models that predicted a Clinton win, some narrower victories than others. Perhaps the most followed prognosticator was <a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-election-forecast/" target="_blank">Nate Silver</a>, who missed on five states. But if you take a look at the <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/2016_elections_electoral_college_map.html" target="_blank">average polling numbers</a> in those states, you'll see why the margin of error is so critical:<br />
<br />
<b>Florida: </b>Trump, +0.2 (Trump won by 1.2)<br />
<b>North Carolina:</b> Trump, +1 (Trump won by 3.7)<br />
<b>Pennsylvania:</b> Clinton, +1.9 (Trump won by 0.7)<br />
<b>Michigan:</b> Clinton, +3.4 (Trump won by 0.3)<br />
<b>Wisconsin:</b> Clinton, +6.5 (Trump won by 0.7)<br />
<br />
Real Clear Politics, which aggregates these polling averages, interprets them with a 5 point margin of error. That means the only state on this list pollsters "got wrong" was Wisconsin, which fell 2.2 points outside the margin. Every other result was well within the expected range.<br />
<br />
So long as the poll is conducted with representative samples, well constructed questionnaires, and otherwise sound methodology -- common for organizations like Gallup, Reuters and Pew (among others) -- you can and should trust the results. But equally important is learning to interpret those results, both as individual questions and on the whole.<br />
<br />
It's incredibly dangerous to dismiss good information out of hand, especially if the major reason for your dismissal is that you simply don't like the results. That's largely how Trump appears to operate, not just with polls, but with everything, though that's a longer conversation best left for another day.<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.26px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-51610431372995338312017-01-31T16:09:00.002-05:002017-01-31T16:09:34.386-05:00Trump and his Media Magicians<div class="MsoNormal">
In the days since President Trump’s inauguration, news
consumers have watched members of the press all but implode over the recent
barrage of <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/conway-press-secretary-gave-alternative-facts-860142147643">“alternative
facts.”</a> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the administration’s first full day, White House Press
Secretary Sean Spicer, presumably under direction from Mr. Trump, used his
first press briefing to claim the president’s <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/01/21/us/politics/21reuters-usa-trump-media.html">inauguration
crowd</a> was the largest in history. Not long thereafter, Mr. Trump reiterated
his belief that he lost the popular vote because 3 to 5 million illegal
residents voted fraudulently, and has since indicated he plans to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/25/us/politics/ap-us-trump.html">investigate</a>
this alleged voter fraud.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From all the available evidence, these claims are <a href="http://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/">demonstrably false</a>.
And not false in the maybe-sort-of-kind-of way that has dominated our politics
in recent years. Flat out false. Easily observable false. Unbelievable that
anyone in a position of power would suggest them false.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s what journalists have found so utterly baffling. It’s
not what Mr. Trump and Mr. Spicer said that so confounds them, but rather why
they would say it. Writers, reporters and pundits’ heads are spinning
frantically as they attempt to wrap their minds around these lies. In general,
the narrative that has dominated the news cycle during this first week is that
Mr. Trump would only make such assertions if he were incompetent, insecure or
some combination of the two.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And therein lies the answer to the ultimate, “Why?” No, not
that the president is incompetent or insecure – though he perhaps may be. The
answer is that Mr. Trump has been able to dominate the news cycle. Or, to be
more precise, he has dictated it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Since taking office, Mr. Trump has taken a variety of
actions, many through <a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/10-executive-actions-trump-signed-far/">executive
orders</a>, that have potentially far reaching effects on numerous fronts:
access to health care, abortion rights, trade policy, climate change. These are
all crucial issues that may significantly impact the lives of American and
global citizens alike.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
To be fair, these actions by Mr. Trump have garnered some
media attention, though that attention seemingly pales in comparison to time spent
debunking and debating alternative facts – or falsehoods, in the old tongue.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But that’s the media magic of the Trump administration. Magic
is the practice of slight-of-hand. We’re only mesmerized by the magic act if we
focus so much attention on the magician’s left hand that we overlook what he
does with his right. That’s essentially been the playbook for Mr. Trump’s first
week. In the left hand are outlandish lies concerning voter fraud and crowd
size, so ridiculous in nature that both the public and the press have paid too
little attention to the orders Mr. Trump has signed with his right.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whether Mr. Trump’s administration is putting on this magic
show purposefully or by accident is hard to say. After all, much of the press
response to these false claims has been understandably negative. However, if
the primary and general election contests are any indication, this stunning
behavior will be rationalized (The tax returns can’t be released because of an
audit) replaced by something as, if not more, shocking (He grabs women
where?!), and ultimately forgotten, buried amidst the seemingly endless array
of past blunders.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m not arguing that media outlets should ignore these
falsehoods. In fact, I think most journalists have done right by the public to
hold the administration accountable. But there must be some perspective, some
proportionality of response. Do we really need five days of around-the-clock
coverage of the administration’s inauguration crowd claims when even cursory
comparisons of photographs, Nielsen ratings data and DC Metro records can
quickly and clearly demonstrate to any reasonable person that these statements
are false?<br />
<br />
Perhaps the limited resources of our press might be better
spent in helping the public understand how sometimes complex bills and obscure
executive orders might affect their lives and the lives of their fellow
citizens. Adding context to Mr. Trump’s actions of public import is more
greatly needed than adding conversation to Mr. Trump’s actions of self-delusion.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-9653915013999315892017-01-22T13:33:00.002-05:002017-01-22T13:33:26.774-05:00Trump's Inaugural Address: Adding Heat to a Failed Cold War LogicHope. That was the message Barack Obama rode into office eight years ago. Now, as Donal Trump transitions into office, hope is again the operative word. This time, however, the shades of optimism have been stripped away. In 2017, our national hope focuses less on what we might achieve than what calamity we might avoid.<br />
<br />
Clearly I don't speak for everyone. Some will certainly greet Trump with enthusiasm, but it's certainly worth noting that group represent a <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/201977/trump-pre-inauguration-favorables-remain-historically-low.aspx" target="_blank">minority</a>. And even among Trump voters there likely exists some uneasiness about what he may or may not do as president. We know astonishingly little about his ideological grounding, and virtually nothing about policy specifics.<br />
<br />
If you listened closely, you could almost hear the sphincters of 200 million Americans clinch simultaneously as Trump took his oath of office. For students of history, that puckering became tighter as Trump launched into his i<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/politics/trump-inaugural-address/index.html" target="_blank">naugural address</a>, <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">charting a course backward to revisit our national missteps, most notably those of the Cold War era.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">No sooner did he finish shaking Obama's hand did he go about delegitimizing his tenure in office, and those of all the presidents who preceded him:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626;">What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. January 20, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again."</span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #262626;">When exactly did we </span><i style="color: #262626;">stop</i><span style="color: #262626;"> being the rulers of this nation? As I recall, every president in our history was freely elected to one degree or another, up to and including Trump. Sure, there might be concerns about the influences of gerrymandering or a debate to be had on the necessity of the electoral college, but presidents have generally won fairly based on the rules of the time regarding who could vote. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #262626;">This democratic rule is one of the reasons Sen. Mitch McConnell's blocking of Supreme Court nominee </span><a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/03/16/470664561/mcconnell-blocking-supreme-court-nomination-about-a-principle-not-a-person" style="color: #262626;" target="_blank">Merrick Garland</a><span style="color: #262626;"> was so puzzling. The people should have a voice in the nomination, McConnell said. But they did. They voted for Obama.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #262626;">This process of not only undermining but flatly denying the legitimate authority of elections not your own sets a dangerous precedent. Simply because polls are unfavorable doesn't make them </span><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/01/17/donald-trump-polls-rigged-approval/96660980/" style="color: #262626;" target="_blank">rigged</a><span style="color: #262626;">. Simply because the press treats one critically doesn't makes the coverage inaccurate. Simply because a leader shares a different view doesn't make him illegitimate. It's as irresponsible for <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/john-lewis-trump-won-t-be-legitimate-president-n706676" target="_blank">Democrats</a> to behave this way toward Trump as it is for Trump to behave this way toward Obama.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #262626;">Frightening as this demagoguery may be, Trump at least made that accusation in more abstract terms. His specifics regarding America's place in the world and our right to assert that authority absolutely set the stage for reckless and dangerous action in the near future, not just for America, but for the entire globe.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #262626;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #262626;">He followed the authoritarian (if not autocratic) playbook to perfection:</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Assert the rightful dominance of your nation relative to others.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Claim absolute -- if not divine -- right to exercise that dominance.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Define that dominance largely in military terms.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Select an enemy toward which to direct that military might.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">Overstate the existential threat of that enemy, and in so doing create a baseline of fear from which to rule and expand your authority.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #262626;">These elements were present in Trump's inaugural at varying moment, but I'd like to present some specific exerts emblematic of this patter:</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #262626;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="color: #262626;"></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>1. Assert the rightful dominance of your nation relative to others.</b></span><div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other."</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength."</span></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>2. Claim absolute -- if not divine -- right to exercise that dominance.</b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>3. Define that dominance largely in military terms</b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #262626;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world -- but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626;"><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God."</span></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>4. Select an enemy toward which to direct that military might.</b></span></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626;">One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind. </span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world."</span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">"<span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626;">We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones -- and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth."</span></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<span style="color: #262626; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"><b>5. Overstate the existential threat of that enemy, and in so doing create a baseline of fear from which to rule and expand your authority.</b></span></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626;">"</span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626;">For many decades, we've enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; we've defended other nation's borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America's infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay</span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #262626; font-family: "cnn" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , "utkal" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">."</span></blockquote>
We may gather some understanding of Trump's ideology from his speech: He's defined America as a hellscape and himself as the only one capable of rescuing us. For now, we possess military and economic dominance that, despite waning over the past decade, can still be exercised to unilaterally advance our national interests while ignoring the interests of other nations. We will advance our interests by standing up to nations that hurt us economically, largely through stealing our jobs and crippling us through poor trade treaties, and defeating the existential threat of terrorism -- specifically Islamic terrorism.<br />
<br />
There are a variety of problems with this worldview, not the least of which being the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/20/opinion/what-president-trump-doesnt-get-about-america.html?_r=0" target="_blank">falsity</a> of its underlying assumptions. From an economic perspective, the American recovery from the Great Recession could certainly have been stronger, but unemployment sits below 5 percent and, at least <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/06/17/482328208/u-s-economic-recovery-looks-good-compared-with-sluggish-europe-asia" target="_blank">relative to other nations</a>, we've outperformed. It's also worth noting that our military is the best, most well-equipped of any in history. That's unsurprising considering we spend more on our military than the next seven greatest arms-spending nations <i>combined</i>.<br />
<br />
Then there's the inherent danger of overstating the power and influence of our nation's enemies. I'm not going to argue that terrorism isn't a threat. It absolutely is, and not just the radial Islamic variety. But it's not an <i>existential</i> one unless we treat it as such, nor is it one we can defeat with traditional military might.<br />
<br />
The current face of terror, ISIS, has been steadily <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-territory-has-isis-lost-2016-10" target="_blank">losing ground</a> for the last two years. The manner in which the world deals with the crisis in Syria, both within the nation and regarding its refugees, will play a major role in how much this brand of terrorism proliferates. Regardless, the defeat of ISIS in Syria will not mark the defeat of terrorism, just as the weakening of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban didn't. Ideologies don't surrender on aircraft carriers. To some degree or another, the war on terror will continue in perpetuity. We will never win in the traditional sense. We can curb and contain the influence of radicalism through intelligent and cooperative efforts, but that's about it.<br />
<br />
Unless terrorist groups gain access to nuclear or biological weapons, their threat is minimal at best. However, it may become an existential threat if we allow fear to grip us and fundamentally alter our way of life, turning American against American, or overcommitting our resources to unneeded militaristic responses -- the very resources that could be allocated to rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure Trump claims to care so deeply about. I worry that we'll make the same mistakes with Islamic terror that we made with the USSR. Yes, the USSR was a threat, but we responded disproportionately, developing an unnecessarily large missile gap. The effects of that response continue to shape our foreign policy today. We only remember that we won the Cold War, not that we could have potentially avoided it, deescalated it sooner, or fought it more efficiently.<br />
<br />
But perhaps the most disturbing aspect of Trump's ideology is the extent to which he puts "America first." I'm all about domestic growth and investments, but we must strike a balance between nationalism and globalism. We can't simply role back 70 years of globalization just because we feel like it.<br />
<br />
Trump likes to complain about China and Mexico stealing our jobs, but they didn't steal anything. U.S. business leaders moved factories freely to save money on labor, resources, and distribution. If recapturing those jobs requires a race to the bottom, forcing workers to accept lower wages with poor benefits, I don't see that as a victory. Perhaps the better approach would involve leveraging our international influence to improve working conditions globally, making outsourcing less profitable while simultaneously raising the working class' quality of life worldwide.<br />
<br />
Moreover, outsourcing isn't the only reason why many blue collar factory jobs have vanished. Increased efficiency through changing production practices and automation has played a massive role. Instituting tariffs and launching trade wars will do nothing to slow these factors.<br />
<br />
And a trade war, which I assume would be Trump's economic "America first" response, would be equally shortsighted. For better of for worse, the American economy is inextricably entangled with those of several other nations, <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/12/chinas-great-leap-backward/505817/" target="_blank">China</a> especially. Economic harm to one invariably causes economic harm to the other, and China is more apt to deal with that downturn than the U.S. for a variety of reasons, in particular it's ability to adjust economic policies quickly due to its dictatorial ruling style. Talking tough on China makes for a great soundbite, but what happens when acting tough on China causes skyrocketing prices on consumer goods?<br />
<br />
All of these factors taken together point to the inability of Trump and his supporters to grasp the nuances of global affairs. America cannot unilaterally dictate terms to advance its own interests. We don't have, nor have we ever had, that power. Our interests are intertwined with those of other nations, so oftentimes putting America first necessarily means putting China, Japan, Mexico, or the EU first as well -- or at the very least taking their national interests into consideration to preserve the larger global peace and prosperity.<br />
<br />
The free-for-all, every-man-for-himself approach that may have served Trump well as a businessman will doom him as a president. Defeating your enemies in corporate America means putting them out of business. Defeating your enemies as the leader of American government means crushing them economically -- which we can't do without the support of other nations -- or wiping nations off the face of the earth -- which we can't do without a level of brinksmanship that seriously endangers the survival of not just our nation, but our species. </div>
</div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-58802413868574115332016-11-11T13:36:00.001-05:002016-11-11T14:39:33.281-05:00United We Stand, Divided We Fall<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjqxq1sySUCsSK0bE2bLH-x4wB9LSokhQbEzkxOoBN75hBLGTyl7TxhvhQmXbBQwsVd9S9aIBIE9lRWTre1XMVavD69g-cKvk1T886AXQ60zYhzA8ah3TE6tcf_RdkoHMfKS9LZHuFziG/s1600/1280px-Flag_of_Kentucky.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjqxq1sySUCsSK0bE2bLH-x4wB9LSokhQbEzkxOoBN75hBLGTyl7TxhvhQmXbBQwsVd9S9aIBIE9lRWTre1XMVavD69g-cKvk1T886AXQ60zYhzA8ah3TE6tcf_RdkoHMfKS9LZHuFziG/s320/1280px-Flag_of_Kentucky.svg.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Kentucky.svg" target="_blank">Kentucky's State Flag</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_(U.S._state)" target="_blank">four states</a> in our union that aren't technically states; they are commonwealths. My home state of Kentucky is one. From legal and constitutional standpoints, there's essentially no difference.<br />
<br />
But I like the older term. To call yourself a commonwealth serves as a constant reminder of why we joined together politically in the first place. The role of government, at all levels, is to ensure the public welfare, the good of the community, the "common wealth" of the republic.<br />
<br />
The Kentucky state flag reminds reminds us of our commitments to one another, not just by reminding its residents of their commonwealth status, but by reinforcing it through the sate motto, "United We Stand, Divided We Fall." Certainly an inspiring notion, that we can do more together than we can do alone. And even for someone like me who is a true believer in enlightened self-interest, I have come to recognize that my self-interests are often best served though collaboration and compromise.<br />
<br />
These symbols of my home state -- or home commonwealth, I should say -- have resonated with me in the wake of this contentious presidential election. As of this writing, Michigan and New Hampshire are yet to be called, but it looks as though Donald Trump will win 306 electoral college votes to Hillary Clinton's 232. And for the second time in the past five election cycles, a Democrat will lose the presidential race despite winning the popular vote.<br />
<br />
Those circumstances alone make the necessary legitimizing of a presidential election difficult, but the process of unification that typically follows elections will be that much harder given the pugnacious personality of President-Elect Trump. Still, some measure of coming together to serve the common good is necessary if we are to make any progress as a nation.<br />
<br />
During his campaign, Trump insulted an <a href="http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2016/10/24/13387170/trump-insults-twitter" target="_blank">astounding number</a> of people, including Latinos, Blacks, Muslims, immigrants, the disabled, and women. All of these groups <a href="http://www.cnn.com/election/results/exit-polls" target="_blank">responded to this vitriol</a> in the voting booth, leaning heavily toward Clinton -- except for white women, whom Trump astonishingly won by 10 points.<br />
<br />
Now many of these minority groups have genuine fears following Trump's victory. They are unsure if he will follow through with his rhetoric. Will they be deported? Will they be harassed by police? Will they maintain control over their bodies and their independence? You can't expect groups who feel stripped of basic human dignity to align behind a president who has scorned them so viciously.<br />
<br />
For those not directly targeted by some of Trump's ugly remarks, there's still good reason to have serious concerns about a his presidency. Trump has been incredibly vague on many issues. We have some <a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/11/10/501597652/fact-check-donald-trumps-first-100-days-action-plan" target="_blank">inkling</a> about what he may do, but beyond a hard-line immigration stance and the promise to undo several "terrible" deals -- most involving trade, some involving treaties, and one regarding the ACA -- it's genuinely hard to say what his actual policies are.<br />
<br />
Despite these worries, I think Hillary Clinton was absolutely correct in her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khK9fIgoNjQ" target="_blank">concession speech</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought, but I still believe in America and I always will. And if you do, then we must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.</blockquote>
Trump won. He will be the next president. We have to move forward together. But in order to do that, it's going to require some concessions from Clinton voters and some self-reflection for those on team Trump.<br />
<br />
For liberals, we can't continue to imply either implicitly or explicitly that all Trump supporters are bigots. There exist vast swaths of working class people in rural areas and in the Rust Belt in particular who have struggled economically for decades with no substantial relief. A lot of Trump voters weren't particularly fond of him, but they were desperate to the point of trying something -- anything -- different.<br />
<br />
For conservatives, you have to admit that Trump either is a racist, a sexist, and a xenophobe, of that he had no problem saying racist, sexist, and xenophobic things to win votes. Yes, not all Trump voters are bigots, but there is <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000004533191/unfiltered-voices-from-donald-trumps-crowds.html" target="_blank">no question</a> that some of them are. And for those who overlooked those flaws in your candidate and voted for him anyway, you have to understand that he's a package deal. You don't get to sweep that under the rug. That bigotry comes with him, and his election marks at least a tacit approval of this dehumanizing behavior by a majority of U.S. citizens.<br />
<br />
Put simply, that shit ain't cool.<br />
<br />
We have to put a lid on this hurtful, hateful, and wholly unnecessary rhetoric. Stopping the bigoted speech and behavior must start at <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/opinion/denounce-the-hate-mr-trump.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share" target="_blank">the top</a>, but all of us -- Trump voters especially -- have a responsibility reign this ugliness in. This plea isn't one of political correctness, it's one of basic human decency. To me, and to many Americans, this marks a nonnegotiable starting point, and frankly, it's not exactly a huge ask.<br />
<br />
Assuming Trump steps in this direction, I'm willing to reluctantly and begrudgingly give him a shot -- which, by the way, is more than most Republicans did for Obama. Still, you can damn well bet that I'll be watching closely, as we all should. I seriously doubt that a Trump administration will lead to the apocalyptic hellscape so many liberals now fear -- at least not immediately, since inaction on climate change won't swallow Florida and our coastal cities into the sea for a few decades. But if this campaign has taught us anything, it's that it's hard to say what Trump will do next.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-57382515763032270842016-02-02T12:58:00.001-05:002016-02-02T12:58:33.929-05:00Rubio wins IowaTed Cruz is my worst case scenario. I disagree with him on virtually every <a href="https://www.tedcruz.org/issues/" target="_blank">issue</a>: his unwillingness to support any gun safety laws, his conflation of codifying Christianity with religious freedom, his opposition to gay marriage, his dogged attack on the Affordable Care Act, his proposed 10 percent flat tax (which would drive up the <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2015/11/11/gop-simple-flat-tax-proposals-simply-do-not-add-up.html" target="_blank">debt</a>), his support of returning to the gold standard, his fight against <a href="http://theoatmeal.com/blog/net_neutrality" target="_blank">net neutrality</a>...you get the point. <i>Every issue</i>.<br />
<br />
But I'm a liberal Democrat, so it's not unusual for me to be opposed to a Republican candidate's platform. What I find particularly distasteful about Cruz is the man himself, specifically his demeanor and his motives. He artfully packages his ideas ("Restore the Constitution) with total disregard for the truth value of his statements and his platform. According to <a href="http://www.politifact.com/personalities/ted-cruz/" target="_blank">Politifact</a>, 67 percent of his claims are mostly false or outright lies.<br />
<br />
While sad, that record is not particularly shocking. Kentucky Sen. Henry Clay once famously stated, "I would rather be right than president." Cruz would rather be president than right.<br />
<br />
His arrogance and egotism is excessive even for a presidential candidate. These are among the many reasons he's so <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/01/why-dc-hates-ted-cruz/426915/" target="_blank">hated by the Republican establishment in D.C.</a> He's masterfully ridden an anitestablishment wave to brand his record -- which <a href="http://www.politifact.com/punditfact/statements/2015/mar/29/dana-bash/how-many-bills-has-ted-cruz-passed-senate/" target="_blank">lacks legislative accomplishment</a> and is characterized largely by contrarian temper tantrums and government shutdowns -- as something worthy of praise.<br />
<br />
I would literally vote for any living human being rather than Cruz. Many Republicans feel the same way. Unfortunately, the most likely alternative is Donald Trump, who is equally hated, particularly among the <a href="http://www.nationalreview.com/article/430137/donald-trump-conservative-movement-menace" target="_blank">intellectual branch</a> of the party -- and I'm being generous with the word "intellectual" since this branch includes Glenn Beck and a host of other William F. Buckley wannabes.<br />
<br />
On the Republican side, the media portrayal leading up to Iowa was almost entirely framed as Trump vs. Cruz. I can't say I blame these reporters. Who could resist such a narrative? The question was never who was better, simply who was less worse: Which devil do you want to dance with? The story had legs.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, the Iowa caucus goers had legs too, and they used them, stepping to the tune of a <a href="http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2016/02/02/caucus-turnout-robust-record-setting-and-surprising/79626128/" target="_blank">record-setting turnout</a>. In the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/elections/2016/primaries/iowa?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=span-abc-region&region=span-abc-region&WT.nav=span-abc-region" target="_blank">final count</a>, Cruz won the day. This morning, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/02/us/ted-cruz-wins-republican-caucus.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=span-abc-region&region=span-abc-region&WT.nav=span-abc-region&_r=0" target="_blank">major media outlets</a> trumpeted Cruz as the victor in his epic showdown with Trump. My initial reaction was, "Well, shit." Then my memory of recent history kicked in.<br />
<br />
The Republican Party has been in disarray after the failures of George W. Bush's presidency. The Republicans haven't fully come to terms with it. They've distanced themselves from Bush to some extent, and the former president's absence at the last two Republican conventions has been noticeable. But exactly how to frame the narrative of the Iraq war and the Great Recession still remain major obstacles.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_caucuses" target="_blank">Iowa's voting record</a> has reflected this identity crisis. John McCain, the eventual nominee in 2008, placed fourth in the Iowa Caucus, carrying only 14 percent of the vote. In 2012, Rick Santorum slightly edged the eventual nominee, Mitt Romney. In short, a Cruz victory in Iowa may mean little, especially considering his unpopularity in <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/nh/new_hampshire_republican_presidential_primary-3350.html" target="_blank">New Hampshire</a> and <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/sc/south_carolina_republican_presidential_primary-4151.html" target="_blank">South Carolina</a>.<br />
<br />
But chaos in the Republican Party isn't he only major political development over the last decade. The increased flow of money into politics, thanks in part to the <i>Citizens United v. FEC</i> ruling, will likely extend the primary season -- yet another reason to dislike the ruling. The growing influence of campaign donations is so vast that The New York Times has actively begun covering <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/election-2016-campaign-money-race.html" target="_blank">"the Money Race."</a><br />
<br />
This race matters, and even more so now. While victory in Iowa may not mean much, abject defeat certainly does. Among Republicans, Jeb Bush has raised the most -- nearly twice as much as the next highest fundraiser, Cruz. Unfortunately for Bush, his campaign is faltering fast; he captured just 2.8 percent of the Iowa vote.<br />
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Marco Rubio, expected to finish somewhere in the teens, managed a strong third place showing, tying Trump in the number of delegates secured. Perhaps most important, he appears to have solidified his stance as the most plausible establishment candidate, increasing the likelihood that rank-and-file Republicans will back him moving forward. Donors eager to support a more mainstream conservative are likely to view him as the last great hope for this election cycle, meaning we'll probably see an influx of campaign contributions flow toward Rubio as donors abandon less plausible candidates.<br />
<br />
While Cruz technically won the Iowa caucus, Rubio's strong finish is more consequential. If recent history holds, he'll make gains in states with fewer evangelical and social conservatives but more fiscally minded and, for lack of a better word, sane Republicans. With 100 percent of the vote tallied, I'm declaring Rubio the true victor in Iowa.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-62509566944415128362015-12-07T17:44:00.003-05:002015-12-07T17:44:51.705-05:00Obama speaks, but will the Middle East listen?Last night, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-pol-obama-oval-office-isis-speech-transcript-story.html" target="_blank">President Obama addressed the nation</a> from the Oval Office, speaking on a number of issues related to national security in the wake of recent terrorist attacks. Specifically, he defended his strategy for fighting ISIS, lobbied Congress to pass some critical but relatively minor restrictions on who may purchase firearms, and urged Americans not to be bated into discrimination or lured into a state of perpetual war.<br />
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The New York Times editorial board <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/opinion/president-obamas-tough-calming-talk-on-terrorism.html?ref=opinion" target="_blank">praised Obama</a> for projecting strength and advocating for calm. While I have been critical of Obama's handling of ISIS, I must say I remain impressed with his resolve to act with the patience needed to attain a truly workable solution. Predictably, the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/07/us/politics/president-obama-terrorism-threat-speech-oval-office.html?ref=us&_r=0" target="_blank">Republican response</a> was a slightly more polite version of, "Obama...man, what a pussy."<br />
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But for all their rhetoric, the Republican presidential candidates have no short-term military solution that is in any way discernible from what Obama is already doing. Front-runner Donald Trump recently articulated his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWejiXvd-P8" target="_blank">exceedingly complex plan</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
ISIS is making a tremendous amount of money because they have certain oil camps, certain areas of oil that they took away. [...] They have some in Syria, some in Iraq. I would bomb the shit out of 'em.</blockquote>
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Such elegance. But more or less, this is <a href="http://www.vocativ.com/news/256653/bombing-isis-syria/" target="_blank">what Obama is doing</a> and what he has been doing since September 2014. So far as I know, <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/18/politics/lindsey-graham-iraq-not-a-mistake-election-2016/" target="_blank">Lindsey Graham</a> is the only presidential candidate explicitly calling for a sizable force ground troops in Syria and Iraq. The other Republicans' position is that Obama is weak and that they would project strength by...well, by continuing his policies.</div>
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Perhaps the most ironic response was that of <a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/defend-and-distract-paul-ryan-blasts-obamas-speech/article/2577749" target="_blank">House Speaker Paul Ryan</a>:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Our primary responsibility is to keep the American people safe from the real and evolving threat of radical Islamic terrorism. That will require the president to produce a comprehensive strategy to confront and defeat ISIS. The enemy is adapting, and we must too. That's why what we heard tonight was so disappointing: no new plan, just a half-hearted attempt to defend and distract from a failing policy.</blockquote>
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Ryan may be correct that the Obama policy is failing -- which I'll address in a moment. But somewhere in the midst of his required outrage at Obama, he must have forgotten that he is arguably the most powerful member of legislative branch, which is also capable of establishing a definitive policy agenda. Congress is also the only branch of government with the <a href="http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html" target="_blank">Constitutional authority</a> to declare war, though again, to my knowledge, no such vote has been called. So again, I ask, what is the alternative strategy to the Obama plan?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Interestingly, the Senate did call a terrorism related vote on Dec. 3. Before them were <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/12/03/senate-democrats-to-force-gun-control-votes-in-the-wake-of-the-san-bernardino-shooting/" target="_blank">two gun control measures</a>, one requiring more stringent background checks on individuals purchasing firearms at gun shows and another preventing suspects on the FBI terror watch list from purchasing guns at all. Both were voted down, with presidential hopefuls Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, and Lindsey Graham all voting against the bill.</div>
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This is truly mind-boggling. First, the fact that Congress would vote against more stringent background checks runs counter to <a href="http://www.people-press.org/2015/08/13/continued-bipartisan-support-for-expanded-background-checks-on-gun-sales/" target="_blank">widespread, bipartisan public opinion</a>: 85% of Americans -- including 79% of Republicans -- are in favor of such laws. Pew Research Center, who conducted this polling, didn't ask about public opinion concerning potential terrorists' gun rights, I assume because the very question is laughable. I can only imagine the level of cognitive dissonance required to allow a person to say, on the one hand, he believes national security is the most important responsibility of the presidency, while on the other hand casting a vote that continues to allow terror suspects to legally acquire firearms. </div>
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Still, the Republicans are correct on one point: Obama's strategy will not work to defeat ISIS. But the GOP error here is twofold. The first is they believe defeating ISIS is the intent of the airstrikes. The second is blaming the strategy, when in truth, the problem is a lack of will and political feasibility.</div>
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I firmly believe Obama -- and any American politician for that matter -- wants to see ISIS defeated and terrorism stamped out. I don't believe that's the aim of our efforts in Syria. We're attempting to buy time by containing a threat, not eliminating it. By that lesser measure of success, the airstrike strategy is completely viable.</div>
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<div>
The reason for this lower bar is simple: Americans lack the will to win this war on our traditional military terms. The debacle in Afghanistan and the quagmire that was/is Iraq is fresh on the public's mind. Nobody wants to go down that road again, which is why no politician with a snowball's chance in hell of becoming president is calling for ground troops. John McCain lost the 2008 election to Obama for a variety of reasons, one of which was his commitment to the Second Iraq War. The electorate was wary of his assertion that a <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-mccains-100-years-in-iraq/" target="_blank">100 year occupation</a> of Iraq might be necessary for a total military victory. But he was probably right then, and he's probably right now.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The problem is that nobody wants to commit 100 years to a ground war. Simultaneously, there seems to be a recognition that dropping bombs is not enough. Obama is unquestionably right that "many Americans are asking whether we are confronted by a cancer that has no immediate cure."</div>
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We are.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
But there is an eventual cure, and Obama, who favors the long game, nailed it during his speech:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
If we’re to succeed in defeating terrorism we must enlist Muslim communities as some of our strongest allies, rather than push them away through suspicion and hate. That does not mean denying the fact that an extremist ideology has spread within some Muslim communities. This is a real problem that Muslims must confront, without excuse.</blockquote>
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There is a war at our doorstep. We can no longer prevent it. But we can control how the conflict will be framed. We must adhere to our values and temper caution with compassion, particularly in our treatment of refugees from the Syrian conflict. We must embrace the peaceful Muslim as our neighbor, for only then can we rightly condemn the Islamic terrorist as our enemy. And in so doing, we put pressure on other countries in the region -- predominantly Muslim countries -- to take military action against ISIS. </div>
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<div>
A war between Muslim states would not carry the the immense and overt religious connotations that a war between the U.S. and ISIS would. A war of the latter kind has no immediate end, if any end at all. As Americans, we need to exercise the wisdom to see this conflict for what it is: a war that we cannot win, at least not alone. </div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-68266467631612739922015-11-30T16:44:00.000-05:002015-12-03T15:45:53.830-05:00Something for nothing leaves nothingAbout a week ago, Vox contributor Dylan Matthews pointed out that <a href="http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2015/11/23/9784766/donald-trump-abc-stephanopoulos" target="_blank">the media has no idea how to deal with Donal Trump's constant lying</a>. I have mixed feelings about Matthews' assertion, partly because he forgot that "media" is a plural noun.<br />
<br />
While I agree that many journalists like <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/week-transcript-donald-trump-ben-carson/story?id=35336008" target="_blank">George Stephanopoulos</a> seem stymied, there are some media personalities that have a better grip on Americans' current infatuation with political outsiders -- which is a nice way to call someone unqualified. I'm partial to the <a href="http://www.cbs.com/shows/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/video/5AE3B7D5-BC3D-C160-4D4C-3C45BBFC4F9A/the-all-seeing-nostradonald/" target="_blank">Stephen Colbert</a> approach: making fun of them. Humor, after all, is based in the absurd, and there are few things in this world more absurd than whatever Donald Trump says at pretty much any given moment.<br />
<br />
Of course comedic figures like Colbert have a key advantage in that there's no real concern about appearing partisan. Were a journalist to truly take many of these candidates to task, he or she might be labeled as liberal and therefore biased. The moderators of the <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/29/452814120/5-headlines-the-consensus-is-that-cnbc-was-gop-debates-biggest-loser" target="_blank">CNBC GOP debate</a> learned that lesson the hard way. Still, I fail to see how asking about a candidate's proposed tax policies constitutes a <a href="http://www.cc.com/video-clips/uktvon/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah-republicans-call-for-babyproofed-debates" target="_blank">"gotcha" question</a>, or how CNN's Democratic debate was the love fest Republicans claimed.<br />
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But perceptions persist in the face of facts, and in many cases, <a href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/11/how_facts_backfire/" target="_blank">exposure to facts actually strengthens the effects of misinformation.</a> Cognitive dissonance lies at the heart of such effects. Once individuals identify with a particular position, they find it difficult to process information that contradicts that position. Rather than changing their stances -- which is psychologically difficult -- they simply double down on their stupid.<br />
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And this brings me back to the Matthews' Vox article, and in particular the third paragraph:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
But Trump also has a tendency to use his appearances on TV news to spout flagrant lies about a variety of topics. His statements aren't false the way that, say, Marco Rubio's claim that he can <a href="http://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2015/11/3/9664662/marco-rubio-tax-chart">cut taxes by $12 trillion</a> and <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/11/5/9676176/marco-rubio-tax-plan-poor">still balance the budget</a> is false. False claims of that variety are a long and distinguished tradition in American electoral politics, and it's an established policy on programs like This Week to not challenge them too aggressively.</blockquote>
Double take. Say that again? Media -- journalistic media -- have an "established policy" not to question falsehoods, and that is somehow okay?<br />
<br />
Most of what Trump says is obviously bullshit, meaning we as the public require less help from media in seeing it as such. But many other candidates operate using covert bullshit, and we need more help sniffing it out, not less.<br />
<br />
From what I can tell, elections are based in fantasy, appealing contradictions, and careful maneuvering. It's more or less a constant peddling of nonsense. You can't pay for universal healthcare and universal college education simply by raising taxes on the top 1%. You can't cut taxes and increase military spending and claim to be fiscally responsible. You can't be for states' rights and against state laws legalizing recreational marijuana use. You can't be for smaller government and against gay marriage. You can't be for free speech and against flag burning. And so on, and so on...<br />
<br />
But in a democracy, the behavior of our potential leaders may say more about us than it does about them. Politicians lie to us for one simple reason: we don't want the truth. We say we do, but we don't.<br />
<br />
In his so-called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kakFDUeoJKM" target="_blank">malaise speech</a>, Jimmy Carter warned us very clearly about focusing too clearly on materialistic goals:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In a nation that was proud of hard work, strong families, close-knit communities, and our faith in God, too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns. But we've discovered that owning things and consuming things does not satisfy our longing for meaning. We've learned that piling up material goods cannot fill the emptiness of lives which have no confidence or purpose.</blockquote>
But rather than working to restore a sense of community and deeper purpose, we ousted Carter and elected Ronald Reagan, mostly because he told us we could have everything without paying for it. Moreover, the two men who tried to address <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/jan/20/barack-obama/barack-obama-claims-deficit-has-decreased-two-thir/" target="_blank">Reagan's disastrous fiscal legacy</a> -- his 1984 challenger, Walter Mondale, and his 1988 successor, George H.W. Bush -- were marginalized and ultimately defeated for telling the truth: more tax money was needed to pay for the Reagan spending spree.<br />
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And despite my derision of conservatives, liberals don't fare much better. I was pleased to see a New York Times report this morning stating that t<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/01/world/americas/us-climate-change-republicans-democrats.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share&_r=0" target="_blank">wo-thirds of Americans want the U.S. to join a climate change pact</a>. Well, that is so long as we don't actually have to do anything:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Thinking about policies to reduce carbon emissions, Americans generally favor regulating business activity more than taxing consumers. The poll found broad support for capping power plant emissions. Half of all Americans said they thought the government should take steps to restrict drilling, logging and mining on public lands, compared with 45 percent who opposed such restrictions. Support for limiting mineral extraction on public lands rose to 58 percent among Democrats. But just one in five Americans favored increasing taxes on electricity as a way to fight global warming; six in 10 were strongly opposed, including 49 percent of Democrats. And support was not much higher for increasing gasoline taxes, at 36 percent over all.</blockquote>
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There's no incentive to supply the truth when lies are in high demand. Accepting a fantasy is easy. It requires nothing from us. Living in reality is hard. It means making tough decisions, accepting tradeoffs, and dealing with opportunity costs. Americans have been running full speed from hard truths toward an impending dead end. Someday soon we're going to hit the brakes or hit the wall, and in large part, our willingness to accept ideological falsehoods may be the determining factor.</div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-72477426047106867392015-11-19T17:43:00.000-05:002015-11-19T17:43:50.443-05:00Why Mitch McConnell Hates Coal Miners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgjnJmBscllTLyh2ztCIDlPbhONGxJ6MSdhd72eFHrcVSUIjwLJ7sijIXyrrLREnnpjl5Ufs3YLQ7124CaAANML-si-OaLZ3v9DeD2065aXAZY_Lq1CGyOjtiBZcRwqcfpbEh_sk-wjkq/s1600/A_mule_pulls_a_load_of_coal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgjnJmBscllTLyh2ztCIDlPbhONGxJ6MSdhd72eFHrcVSUIjwLJ7sijIXyrrLREnnpjl5Ufs3YLQ7124CaAANML-si-OaLZ3v9DeD2065aXAZY_Lq1CGyOjtiBZcRwqcfpbEh_sk-wjkq/s320/A_mule_pulls_a_load_of_coal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Earlier this week, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/us/politics/senate-blocks-obamas-climate-change-rules.html?_r=0" target="_blank">the Senate voted to block</a> two key initiatives from the EPA intended to reduce emission from coal-fired power plants and halt global warming. Using a familiar tactic, Republicans leading the fight justified their votes by pitting progress on climate change <i>against</i> progress on job growth. In reality, we <a href="http://fortune.com/2015/01/16/solar-jobs-report-2014/">don't need to choose</a> between the two, and even if we did, we shouldn't care that much about protecting coal mining jobs.<br />
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Mitch McConnell, senior senator from Kentucky (and senior mutant neocon turtle), led the attack on the EPA and President Obama:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
These regulations make it clearer than ever that the president and his administration have gone too far, and that Congress should act to stop this regulatory assault. [...] Here's what is lost in this administration's crusade for ideological purity: the livelihoods of our coal miners and their families. Folks who haven't done anything to deserve a 'war' being declared upon them.</blockquote>
As a native Kentuckian myself, I admit there's an instinctual response to defend coal miners. We're a coal state after all, right?<br />
<br />
Well, yes and no. Kentucky is the <a href="http://energy.ky.gov/Coal%20Facts%20Library/Kentucky%20Coal%20Facts%20-%2014th%20Edition%20(2014).pdf" target="_blank">third largest coal producing state</a>, behind Wyoming and West Virginia. However, there are only about 12,000 coal miners employed in Kentucky, which accounts for less that 1% of total jobs statewide. Moreover, coal mine production amounts to just over <a href="http://cber.uky.edu/Downloads/CBER_2014_AnnualReport.pdf" target="_blank">1%</a> of the state's total GDP.<br />
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So it turns out, coal isn't as big a part of the Kentucky economy as you might think. In fact, there aren't that many coal miners in the U.S. as a whole. The Kentucky Department for Energy Development and Independence estimates that there are <a href="http://energy.ky.gov/Coal%20Facts%20Library/Kentucky%20Coal%20Facts%20-%2014th%20Edition%20(2014).pdf" target="_blank">78,300</a> coal mining jobs in America. Fortune puts that number a bit higher at just over <a href="http://fortune.com/2015/01/16/solar-jobs-report-2014/" target="_blank">93,000</a>. That means coal mining employs <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf">.006%</a> of the current workforce -- at best.<br />
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But when you think about it, those numbers aren't all that surprising. <a href="http://fortune.com/2015/01/16/solar-jobs-report-2014/">Alternative energies</a> are growing as technologies become more affordable. Plus, coal mining is a shitty job. The life of a coal miner is nasty, brutish, and <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/nas/rdrp/appendices/chapter4/a4-55.pdf">short</a> -- largely thanks to diseases like cancer and black lung, in combination with <a href="http://www.npr.org/2014/11/12/363058646/coal-mines-keep-operating-despite-injuries-violations-and-millions-in-fines">poor safety conditions</a> in mines. And coal mining doesn't pay particularly well either. Again, looking just at Kentucky, the Appalachian counties in which coal mining is most prevalent are <a href="http://cber.uky.edu/Downloads/CBER_2014_AnnualReport.pdf">consistently among the poorest</a> counties in the U.S.<br />
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Finally, it's worth noting that progress always comes at a price. Remember the pianist who played Vaudeville tunes to accompany silent films. Of course you don't. Since you've been alive, theaters have only shown "talkies." Huzzah! Hell, the expansion of electrical services that coal-fired power plants contributed to also perpetuated the decline of kerosine lamp manufacturing. It was worth the trade each time, and the same is true now.<br />
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It's disingenuous to accuse Obama of waging a war on coal miners when in truth their jobs are just collateral damage in a larger battle. I doubt there are many politicians that truly relish in eliminating jobs. But quite frankly, coal mining jobs aren't worth protecting, especially at the cost of addressing the more pressing problem of global warming. And if Mitch McConnell and the other Senate Republicans really gave a damn about coal miners, they'd try to find them better jobs, doing literally anything else.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-79059644973599540212015-11-09T22:09:00.000-05:002017-01-05T17:23:14.706-05:00The Blogger's 10 Commandments<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYvZ_P1pxfD3PPj03ibEBl6iXaik-KU3RKm2vkZsx9L8OlAUoEasrT5630FahDVn2mwrzABLhCxpxp-th_DnVyYMwNwfx_mPCi-K2EYk855B-UEOA1CMa2JjT5-p67VReBVIvFCNt5oud/s1600/10C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYvZ_P1pxfD3PPj03ibEBl6iXaik-KU3RKm2vkZsx9L8OlAUoEasrT5630FahDVn2mwrzABLhCxpxp-th_DnVyYMwNwfx_mPCi-K2EYk855B-UEOA1CMa2JjT5-p67VReBVIvFCNt5oud/s320/10C.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Moses with the Ten Commandments"<br />
by Rembrandt, 1659</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
world changes quickly. Faster when you’re in PR. Even faster if you deal with
online communication. Still, we have to keep up.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Think
about how much has changed in just the last decade. Tweeting use to be
something only birds did, “friend” is a verb now and around every turn you’ll
find a variety of specialized blogs (which is short for “web log,” though it sounds like some species of monsters that lived in your childhood closet).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Blogs
are great ways for organizations and individuals to communicate ideas to anyone
interested in listening. The problem is that a lot of blogs suck...hard.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bloggers
commit several errors, usually because they write before they think. Blogging
is like all other writing: it’s systematic, it’s rules-driven and it takes time to
master. But rather than leave you to wander for years in the digital desert
learning this stuff the hard way, I thought you could use some guidance. I give
to you, my chosen people, <i>The Blogger’s
10 Commandments</i>:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I.) Remember your audience.</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Every blog reader
asks the same thing: How does this affect ME? It’s sometimes okay to inject yourself and
your personal stories into your posts, but make sure you offer a clear take-away for your
readers. A blog caters to them, not you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">II.) Master writing headlines.</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> This is the most
important part of each post. Few people will make it past the headline unless
you give them a reason. Create reader interest with your headlines. Some helpful
headline techniques include: asking questions, using superlatives, creating intriguing analogies or employing numbers – particularly if you’re making a list like I am. How many </span><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">“Top #” lists have you seen just today?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">III.) Stay focused on your purpose.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Every blog serves
some purpose and every post should advance that purpose. Most blog hosting sites let
writers clearly state what they intend to accomplish with their blogs, so
follow the guidelines you set.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">IV.) Be conscious of length.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Posts should be
long enough to cover the topic at hand, but not so long that readers lose
interest. A good rule of thumb is to keep blogs between 200 and 500 words if you post frequently.
<a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/character-limit-social-media-blog-posts#sm.0000p74i3z14und2kys9urur69ij0" target="_blank">Feature length blogs</a> are sometimes appropriate, but be careful with those.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">V.) Write like you speak.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Blogs are meant
to be conversational, so bend the rules of grammar to match your speech: end a
sentence in a preposition, start sentences with conjunctions, even split an
infinitive or two. But don’t get sloppy. And don’t, like, you know, take it too
far, like, like...ugh.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">VI.) Participate in the conversation.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Speaking of
conversation…you know those little comment thingies? They aren’t there to
facilitate random rants. They exist to facilitate conversation, both among readers and between you and your readers. Shorter posts leave room for them to
interject, and for you to respond.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">VII.) Keep a schedule.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Your readers
expect to hear from you at certain intervals. Don’t disappoint. Keep a posting
schedule. Usually twice a week is a good way to go, but depending on your
purpose you might post more or less often. Different content requires different
schedules. I find the <a href="https://velocitypartners.com/blog/how-often-do-you-need-to-publish-content-1-7-30-4-2-1/">1-7-30-4-2-1</a>
mnemonic pretty helpful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">VIII.) Think past words.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> It’s the internet!
You have endless amounts of information to rely on, so don’t use only words.
Embed photos and video. Link to relevant information. Just like any other
medium, you want to make full use of this one. But be aware of <a href="https://www.copyright.gov/title17/" target="_blank">copyright</a> limitations or you can get into serious trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">IX.) Know the power of design.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Everything about
your blog communicates something. The template, style and background are no
different. Select ones that advance your set purpose and speak to your
audience. Usually these overarching design choices are done through cascading style sheets (CSS), but
bloggers often introduce subtle design elements using HTML code. If you want to
<b>bold</b>, <i>italicize</i> or <u>underline</u> something, there’s code for that. Similar
codes are often used for photos, videos and links.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">X.) Move the audience to act.</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Give readers
something to do. Engaging them in your message is a means to an end, so provide
an end. Prompt them to share the post. Ask them to make comments. Invite them
to ask questions about products or services. Direct them to sites to buy
tickets for events. Creating enthusiasm about your topic only takes readers so
far. Show them where to go next.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This
list is not a complete guide to blogging. I’m not sure there even is such
a thing. But this list should at least get you started as you sit down to write
your first posts. After some practice, maybe you can comment here and impart
your wisdom on me. The learning never ends…not for anyone. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-78648799640042948212015-11-05T13:27:00.000-05:002015-11-05T13:27:32.846-05:00It's Democracy, Dumb Ass!On Tuesday, my home state of Kentucky elected Republican Matt Bevin as governor. To outsiders, this hardly seems surprising. Kentucky consistently votes conservative in national elections. Currently both senators and five of the state's six representatives are <a href="https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/KY" target="_blank">Republican</a>. Since the 1960s, Democratic presidential candidates have only carried the state four times, and each time the candidate was a Southerner (LBJ, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton -- twice).<br />
<br />
However, state-level elections typically tell a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/04/us/republican-wins-governors-race-in-kentucky.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0" target="_blank">different story</a>. Democrats have held the governorship for 40 of the last 44 years. Additionally, the Kentucky House of Representatives is the only state legislative body in the South currently held by Democrats. So why the change?<br />
<br />
Voter turnout has become the scapegoat. Indeed, the numbers are troubling. <a href="http://interactives.courier-journal.com/election/2015-general/#/KY" target="_blank">Results</a> show that Bevin captured 52.5%, while the Democratic challenger Jack Conway came in at 43.8%. This appears like a pretty resounding mandate, until you consider that <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/11/04/3719110/400000-people-could-lose-their-health-care-because-no-one-turned-out-to-vote-yesterday/" target="_blank">voter turnout was 30.7%</a>, which is abysmally low.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGRUTL3-sAdgFskBRnvK48uUabIiiPwI8ccaSYIpZJVQQ2Xu3iwi_QZA6pq6LqO6U6HSYC2EbsvWUaSaJ27gQNR_7qo6rfCewe6dNYcsVJR6DDkzRZvSAimbtFW-6uZd6M13GGZKro0W3/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGRUTL3-sAdgFskBRnvK48uUabIiiPwI8ccaSYIpZJVQQ2Xu3iwi_QZA6pq6LqO6U6HSYC2EbsvWUaSaJ27gQNR_7qo6rfCewe6dNYcsVJR6DDkzRZvSAimbtFW-6uZd6M13GGZKro0W3/s400/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
It's also worth noting that their are <a href="http://elect.ky.gov/sitecollectiondocuments/election%20statistics/statcnty.txt" target="_blank">more registered Democrats in Kentucky</a> than Republicans, meaning that lower turnout benefits conservatives -- as it does in much of the country. It's sad for the Republican Party that suppressed voter turnout is its best ally, but arguably even sadder for the Democratic Party that its constituents can't be bothered to vote.<br />
<br />
Low voter turnout is a national problem, and there are several proposal to correct it: make voter registration automatic rather than an opt-in process, expand early voting, move Election Day to the weekend, etc.<br />
<br />
I agree that voter registration should be automatic. A recent Census Bureau report estimates that <a href="http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p20-577.pdf" target="_blank">a little over 35% of eligible voters are not registered</a>. Still, expanded registration won't truly solve the problem as fewer than half of registered voters bother to vote in non-presidential election years.<br />
<br />
Convenience could be a factor. Expanding early voting would likely help, though I'm skeptical about moving elections to the weekend: Would Americans be more likely to take time out of an off day than a work day? Perhaps a better solution may be to develop a system voters might cast their ballots at any polling station. After all, it's not 1850. Many Americans don't live and work in the same proximity that they once did, and voting at a polling place closer to work might help boost turnout.<br />
<br />
But still, that doesn't fix the apathy. Part of the problem is that Americans are <a href="http://www.people-press.org/2014/06/26/section-10-political-participation-interest-and-knowledge/" target="_blank">uninterested and ignorant</a> of political issues and processes. Voters perceive national, and in particular presidential, elections to be most important because they involve higher offices; voter turnout supports this assumption. Presumably, they see the stakes as higher and they show up.<br />
<br />
But this is democracy, dumb ass! The stakes are always high. State and local elections are just as important -- and arguably more so -- than national elections. Meaningful change happens at these levels and voters have enhanced influence. Mathematically, your vote has more meaning because the pool of voters is smaller and the ridiculousness of an electoral college is a nonfactor. Not to mention the fact that you may actually have real access to and influence over the candidate.<br />
<br />
Indeed, local politics may be the last bastion of representative democracy left in America. The U.S. Congress now has <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/10/us/politics/more-than-half-the-members-of-congress-are-millionaires-analysis-finds.html" target="_blank">more millionaires</a> than non-millionaires. In what way are these people our peers? In state and local elections, there at least remains the hope of true citizen governance, where intelligent and civic minded people can serve without being independently rich or owned by moneyed interests.<br />
<br />
Until citizens understand the importance of civic engagement -- at all levels -- all other efforts will be half-measures at best. Wake up, America. Let 'em know you're there.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-13711882070100727422015-10-08T15:27:00.001-04:002015-12-05T10:06:21.616-05:00Considering the tradeoff: The cost of the Second AmendmentThis semester, like every other, I teach my PR writing students that one element of newsworthiness is unusualness. If something is happening for the first or last time, rarely happens, or is just plain strange, it probably has some news value. It's been about a week since the Oregon shooting, and I remember vividly my reaction to hearing the news: "Eh." The sad truth is that acts like these have become prevalent enough that they are no longer unusual, and as such we've become desensitized to them.<br>
<br>
I was prepared for the predictable news cycle to run its course: the shooting happens; the president, grief stricken, speaks to the nation; prominent figures and the media half-heartedly debate gun control measures; we delay action; and then Donald Trump says something stupid and/or racist and we forget the whole thing ever happened.<br>
<br>
I must say, however, that I felt <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/10/01/watch-president-obamas-statement-shooting-oregon" target="_blank">President Obama's remarks</a> displayed more anger than grief, and I found that refreshing, particularly when he commented that "our thoughts and prayers are not enough" (as if they ever are). This attack on our societal complacency regarding gun violence will hopefully jar us into acting, but at the very least it's made for a more interesting conversation than we've become accustomed to.<br>
<br>
Still, the predictable pro-gun arguments popped up all over social and traditional media. So let's take a look at what I consider the top five, starting with the most absurd and working our way up.<br>
<br>
<b>5.) You can ban guns, but that won't stop criminals from obtaining them.</b><br>
<b><br></b>
True. But this is more an argument against laws in general than an argument against gun control measures. Laws exist to deter undesirable behavior and provide means for punishment and isolation for those who commit heinous acts. Criminals, by definition, are those who break laws, and so long as laws exist there will always be criminals. The success of a law is best measured by the reduction -- not the elimination -- of unwanted actions committed by the population as a whole.<br>
<br>
<b>4.) I have a right to protect my family.</b><br>
<br>
You absolutely do, and the best way to protect your family is actually <i>not</i> owning a gun. Generally speaking, in households with guns, <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/possessing-a-gun-makes-you-less-safe-not-more-safe" target="_blank">deaths of family members and suicides</a> are far more common than in households where no gun is present. In truth, your guns are more likely to be used -- either purposely or accidentally -- to kill a member of your family than some masked intruder.<br>
<b><br></b>
<b>3.) Guns don't kill people. People kill people.</b><br>
<br>
It's been shown through <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/8/24/9183525/gun-violence-statistics" target="_blank">various statistics</a> that increased access to guns correlates with increases in accidental gun deaths, gun homicides, and suicides. The gist of this line of argumentation is that if we banned guns, we'd still find ways to kill one another, so what's the point? Well, the point is that we'd almost assuredly do so a slower pace. Studies on suicide best illustrate this point. First, as you might expect, those who attempt suicide using firearms are far more successful at killing themselves than those using other means. There is also <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/magazine/06suicide-t.html" target="_blank">considerable evidence</a> to suggest that once a preferred means of suicide is eliminated, many people simply choose not to attempt suicide at all.<br>
<br>
<b>2.) The problem isn't guns, it's mental illness.</b><br>
<br>
I'm somewhat skeptical of this argument, particularly since we only seem to categorize gunmen as mentally disturbed in hindsight. More than anything, I see the mental health argument as a convenient red herring. But for the sake of argument, let's assume our inability to diagnose and properly treat the mentally ill -- and thus keep firearms out of their reach -- is the true problem. Why aren't we doing anything to correct this? The U.S. has a rather appalling history concerning the treatment of the mentally ill, and we're clearly not doing enough to help these people or to stop perpetuating a horrible stigma. As mental illness relates to gun violence, the discourse here is that guns aren't the problem, the mentally ill are the problem, and...and that's it. No concrete solution is ever put forth. In the words of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGY6DqB1HX8" target="_blank">John Oliver</a>, if we're going to continue this ruse "then the very least we owe [the mentally ill] is a fucking plan." The fact that no one ever develops a viable way to address the mental-illness-gun problem suggests that this argument is largely nonsensical.<br>
<br>
<b>1.) The Second Amendment guarantees my right to own a gun.</b><br>
<br>
Let's go to the text:<br>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall no be infringed.</blockquote>
Many argue that the framers' intent was to provide for a national defense because the U.S. had no standing military at the time of Constitutional ratification. Therefore, more recent and more liberal interpretations constitute an overreach by justifying the right of all citizens to privately own firearms. While I am sympathetic to this argument, I tend to prefer interpretations of the Constitution that elicit the greatest amount of personal freedom and then work backward to restriction, if necessary.<br>
<br>
With guns, it's now necessary to work backward. And I'll even acknowledge that doing so infringes on our Constitutional right to own and bear arms. But perhaps it's time we asked ourselves what the right is ultimately worth to us.<br>
<br>
All rights come with some tradeoff. Take the rights of free speech and freedom of religion enumerated in the First Amendment. The tradeoff for my right to openly criticize my government and to practice a religion of my choosing -- which happens to be none -- means that I must also allow individuals to spout racist nonsense or express moronic and uninformed opinions. And, of course, I also have to allow Scientology to exist. Terrible as the downside of the First Amendment is, the good far outweighs the bad.<br>
<br>
And for what it's worth, there are certain instances where we have agreed to place reasonable restrictions on speech. Threatening speech is forbidden, as are libel and slander. Commercial speech is also highly regulated and false advertising is downright illegal.<br>
<br>
Our gun rights are already reasonably restricted to some degree as well. Firearms are forbidden on airplanes, in most schools, and on most government property. Upholding our gun rights simply isn't worth the potential costs in these scenarios.<br>
<br>
In truth, it's not worth it in most scenarios. As I see it, guns have two legitimate functions: self defense and hunting. And as I have explained earlier, statistics show that guns aren't all that effective when it comes to self defense. As far as hunting is concerned, a bolt action rifle and a breach loading shotgun are more than sufficient. If we banned every other firearm tomorrow, would we really be affected so negatively?<br>
<br>
Still, even if we didn't want to go that far, there are a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/04/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-a-new-way-to-tackle-gun-deaths.html?rref=collection%2Fcolumn%2Fnicholas-kristof&action=click&contentCollection=opinion&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=collection" target="_blank">host of other reasonable actions</a> we might take. More extensive background checks, tougher regulations on dealers, requirements for safe gun storage, mandatory gun safety courses, and the implementation of smart technology are just a few examples. Which would work best? Unfortunately we have no idea because, believe it or not, the <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/10/6/9465649/gun-violence-research-cdc" target="_blank">U.S. Congress has banned federal agencies from conducting most gun violence research</a>.<br>
<br>
There's no denying that guns are deeply ingrained in the American culture. Hell, I own a gun. I love to go shooting at the range. It's fun. It makes you feel powerful. And, I think for many, gun ownership serves as a symbol of control and self-reliance. But I'm no longer persuaded that the benefits of upholding the Second Amendment outweigh the costs, and if we're not willing to at least consider what a different reality concerning guns in America might look like (i.e., funding studies on potential gun control initiatives), then societally, we're probably not too sure about this tradeoff either.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-39154251570152647722015-09-13T12:24:00.001-04:002015-09-13T13:51:15.727-04:00Why it's okay to call people stupid...sometimes...sort of...It's never been particularly polite to insult people in public. But often people say dumb or questionable things. Challenging such foolishness was once the duty of a reasoned citizenry, but now practically consider such behavior rude. What went wrong?<br />
<br />
It seems to me that we've mistakenly sacrificed our ability to "call bullshit" on the altar of pluralism. And I say mistakenly because I believe we fundamentally misunderstand what it means to live in a pluralist society. <b>Opinions are not meritorious simply by virtue of the fact that you hold and express them.</b> Opinions deserve a voice in the marketplace of ideas, but the very notion of a marketplace assumes the existence of competition; therefore, all thoughts and ideas must be subject to ridicule if we ever hope to achieve any semblance of consensus on which ideas hold water.<br />
<br />
In an effort to avoid giving offense, we shy away from applying much needed ridicule. This is costing us dearly, and perhaps because I work as a professor, nowhere is it more evident to me than in the classroom.<br />
<br />
Generally, I shy away from bashing millennials (probably because I am one), but I found myself agreeing with many of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SA1bsM2rZVU" target="_blank">Caitlan Flanagan's arguments</a> about the decline of college education -- though I find her thoughts on "farm to table dining" and "idiot politically correct humanities curriculum" to be either misinformed or non sequiturs. Still, I agree that universities should offer a means through which students might "be relieved of [a] great burden of ignorance."<br />
<br />
Constructive criticism is the educator's greatest friend. I can remember very vividly my first semester of college. I was fortunate enough to take Communication 201 with William Thompson, who not only had no qualms challenging your ignorance, he rather enjoyed it -- almost sadistically, in point of fact. He saw it as his duty to expand the way in which his students viewed particular issues, and not just those related to the communication subject matter.<br />
<br />
I also had the great fortune of studying English 105 with Dr. Dennis Hall. Regularly -- by which I mean weekly -- he made it his mission to put my ignorance on display. He often read aloud to the class passages of my meager attempts at writing, opening the floor to waves of public critique. I was offended and embarrassed, but I never spoke out for a very simple reason: his criticisms were completely valid. In speaking with him privately at the close of the semester, he confessed that he actually thought my writing was a bit better than what my peers were producing, but he feared I would become complacent and fail to improve if I weren't challenged. Right again! Hall motivated me, and my writing -- such that it is -- would be much worse without his instruction.<br />
<br />
I went on to take three more electives with Thompson and two more with Hall over the next four years, and both men served on my honors thesis committee. The challenges, ridicule, and occasional outright scorn they applied were never meant as personal affronts. They encouraged me to think more broadly, to act with clearer purpose, and to become a more well-rounded, functioning individual.<br />
<br />
Now, as I transition into my position as an assistant professor, I inherit these responsibilities. Problematically, the waters are much more treacherous than they were even a decade ago -- or perhaps just as treacherous and I simply didn't recognize the struggle from the vantage of my comfortable lounge chair, rooted firmly in the sandy shore.<br />
<br />
Perhaps my critiques must be subtler. Every semester I teach writing, and I always enforce this rule: it's better to show it than to tell it. My point here is twofold. One, if you can back up your claim with evidence, people take it more seriously. Two, if you have a hard time finding evidence for your claim, perhaps it holds no merit. Admittedly, this is a rather meager challenge, but it's a start.<br />
<br />
It's rather easy for me to critique assignment, but it's immensely more difficult to critique ideas. Tenure and promotion for junior and adjunct faculty are to some degree determined by <a href="https://chroniclevitae.com/news/741-for-adjuncts-a-lot-is-riding-on-student-evaluations" target="_blank">a flawed student evaluation system</a>. The easiest ways to boost evaluation scores are to dole out mostly As and Bs -- which leads to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angelina-massoia/the-new-normal-the-proble_b_6146236.html" target="_blank">grade inflation</a>, a concern among some -- or to get students to just plain like you. Higher grades help in this regard, as do minimizing assignments and dodging confrontations. But having beliefs and ideas confronted and challenged defines education, and it's downright necessary when someone makes a stupid or unfounded claim.<br />
<br />
Generally, I've been fortunate to teach many bright students, but I have heard some express a variety of what I and the scientific majority consider stupid or ill-informed opinions. When a student remarks that evolution is "just a theory," should I point out that <a href="http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/lines_01" target="_blank">overwhelming evidence</a> for the process of evolution suggests otherwise? When a student suggests that the universe is only a few thousand years old, should I direct him or her to the eloquent remarks of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIpEzZqkd9c" target="_blank">Lawrence Krauss</a>, who explains quite clearly how cosmologists determine the age of the universe to be around 13.72 billion years? When a student argues that vaccines cause autism, should I explain the difference between causation and correlation -- and should I also point out that this fallacious notion arose from <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/05/autism.vaccines/" target="_blank">erroneous studies</a> and that even organizations like Autism Speaks agree that <a href="https://www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/new-meta-analysis-confirms-no-association-between-vaccines-and-autism" target="_blank">no scientific evidence exists</a> to support such a claim? When a student argues that global warming is a hoax, should I point out that there is virtually <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/" target="_blank">undeniable evidence</a> that the planet is indeed getting hotter, that <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/" target="_blank">human beings are contributing</a> to this warming, that we are <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/effects/" target="_blank">currently experiencing the early effects</a> of climate change, that there is <a href="http://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/" target="_blank">vast consensus</a> among climatologists on all these points, and that the inability among lay persons to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBdxDFpDp_k" target="_blank">distinguish between climate and weather</a> is a chief contributor to unwarranted skepticism? When a student claims Donald Trump would make a good president, should I abruptly kill him or her for the betterment of our species?<br />
<br />
All tough questions.<br />
<br />
Most days I feel trapped in a Catch 22, where doing my job effectively puts my job security at risk. That dilemma, perhaps as much as any other single factor, is a major reason for the declining quality of American education -- at all levels. As a scholar of ethics, I'm becoming increasingly convinced that I have a moral obligation to make students uncomfortable if it helps them learn. William Thompson, Dennis Hall, and Leon Festinger will at least be proud.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-50643598401613519682015-08-28T10:36:00.000-04:002015-08-28T10:36:28.208-04:00When Social Science Fails ItselfYesterday, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/28/science/many-social-science-findings-not-as-strong-as-claimed-study-says.html?_r=0" target="_blank">The New York Times</a> reported on a <a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/content/349/6251/aac4716" target="_blank">study</a> suggesting that less than half of research findings published in prominent psychology journals could be confirmed upon replication. The stunned, and at times stupefied, reactions from many readers show the public lacks a fundamental understanding of the scientific process.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The authors of "Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science," published in <i>Science</i>, investigated 100 manuscripts published in three leading psychology journal. Their goal was to test the veracity of the findings by replicating the original procedures; only 36 percent of findings in the original studies remained significant upon replication.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>To many, these inaccuracies represent a damning failure for social sciences. I would argue they actually embody a triumph for the process of science, but at the same time point to a glaring problem in the process of publishing scientific research.</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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The public views publication as the pinnacle of research, believing that if it makes it to print then it must be fact. Therefore, when studies fail the test of replication, public confidence in science is shaken. <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/29/public-and-scientists-views-on-science-and-society/" target="_blank">And it is shaken</a>. </div>
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But that's largely because of a misconception that a single study is enough to establish research findings as facts. In truth, science is an exercise in consensus. When we are able to establish that findings hold true over time and across varied situations, we build a reliable body of knowledge that becomes the basis for scientific understanding. However, when replication fails to yield support for a particular finding, it is dismissed and we move forward with different ideas. Or at least that's how it's supposed to work.</div>
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In truth, the problem lies not with the scientific method, but instead with the publish-or-perish environment of academia. Tenure and promotion are based largely on one's ability to publish original research, and to publish it often. Problematically, we take the notion of "original" a bit too literally. As the authors of the <i>Science</i> piece put it:</div>
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Reproducibility is not well understood because the incentives for individual scientists prioritize novelty over replication. Innovation is the engine of discovery and is vital for a productive, effective scientific enterprise. However, innovative ideas become old news fast. Journal reviewers and editors may dismiss a new test of a published idea as unoriginal. The claim that "we already know this" belies the uncertainty of scientific evidence.</blockquote>
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Put simply, replication is a necessary component science, but it's not sexy, so it's hard to publish. And since academics must publish to survive, they don't replicate studies often.</div>
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Perhaps the saddest part of this indictment is that it's our own damn fault. Most reputable social scientific journals are peer reviewed, meaning that we have the power to rectify a problem we know exists simply by changing our review policies.</div>
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So why don't we? I thought The New York Times was spot on there:</div>
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The act of double-checking another scientist's work has been divisive. Many senior researchers resent the idea that an outsider, typically a younger scientist, with less expertise, would critique work that often has taken years of study to pull off.</blockquote>
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Certainly some -- but not all -- senior researchers feel this way, and I find it shameful. The whole premise of scientific inquiry is that no person or idea is above reproach. To quote Albert Einstein, "The important thing is not to stop questioning." </div>
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Consequently, when Einstein first published papers on the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, and special relativity -- the last of which shook the very foundations of Newtonian physics -- he was only in his mid-20s, very much a junior scholar. But how much could a 26-year-old possibly know anyway?</div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-32451236234201611452015-08-06T12:38:00.000-04:002015-08-06T12:38:18.105-04:00Jon Stewart: The Walter Cronkite of a Generation<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Stewart_-_USO-Metro_Merit_Awards_2.jpg/800px-Stewart_-_USO-Metro_Merit_Awards_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Stewart_-_USO-Metro_Merit_Awards_2.jpg/800px-Stewart_-_USO-Metro_Merit_Awards_2.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stewart at the 2008 USO-Metro <br />Merit Awards</td></tr>
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Yeah, I said it. Well, more specifically Lewis Black said it:<br />
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Weirdly enough, [Jon Stewart] was, on a certain level, the Walter Cronkite of his generation. He was the trusted source. People trusted what came out of his mouth. What made Cronkite that and what makes Jon that is a certain kind of honesty that is related through the medium, and the one thing I learned from television is that it doesn't lie.</blockquote>
While Lewis Black may have stolen my headline in his <i><a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/05/lewis-black-jon-stewart-daily-show-walter-cronkite-interview" target="_blank">Entertainment Weekly</a></i> interview, and while I agree with the gist of his argument, I think there's more to the Stewart-Cronkite comparison. Specifically, I would argue temperance, sincerity, accuracy, and depth are the chief contributors to Stewart's legacy.<br />
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The guttural reaction to the Stewart-Cronkite comparison is easy to sum up: Stewart is a comedian, Cronkite is a newsman, so how can you compare the two? Stewart was more than a comedian. He was able to elevate to higher levels of credibility than his comedic counterparts due largely to his temperate nature.<br />
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Stewart speaks sternly, but without the rage of a Lewis Black. Stewart hits with biting satire, but refrains from the obtuse and deadpan tendencies of his protege, Stephen Colbert. And Stewart has always been more influential than the late night hosts of network television because he was never afraid to say something of substance or to alienate segments of his would-be audience. But, while Stewart is certainly left-leaning, he avoids playing the outraged -- and often off-putting -- liberal we see in Bill Maher.<br />
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In fact, in 2010 Maher very <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0X4kHGPUPU" target="_blank">publicly criticized Stewart</a> for taking it too easy on Republicans. I happen to agree with Maher's assessment that, if we were to dole out points for craziness among the two major parties, the Republicans would win in a landslide that would make the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_1984" target="_blank">Reagan-Mondale election</a> look like a nail-biter.<br />
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The brilliance of Stewart was that he never took the bait. While he criticizes the right with greater frequency than the left -- and at times more harshly -- Stewart lacks the smugness that Maher constantly displays. There is a real sense that Stewart is wrestling with the same political non sequiturs as his viewers, where Maher appears stubbornly entrenched in a preset ideology.<br />
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In many ways, the ongoing struggle of Stewart's personal politics fuels his quest for accuracy in reporting. Love him or hate him, you have to admire that Stewart works incredibly hard to accurately represent the facts, despite that, as a comedian, he has no professional responsibility to do so. Even more impressive to me, he freely admits factual errors that he makes, perhaps most notably in his <a href="http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Jon-Stewart-Sloppy-to-Include-San-Bernardino-Taser-Death-in-Michael-Brown-Segment-284975781.html" target="_blank">mischaracterization of Dante Parker's death</a> as the result of police shooting rather than a drug overdose.<br />
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In that same segment, Stewart described of <i><a href="http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/xn508x/a-single-factual-error" target="_blank">The Daily Show</a></i> as a "media counter-errorism" program and the difficulties of working within such confines. Predictably, Fox News dismissed Stewart's genuine effort to raise issues of police brutality and militarization for a more simplistic narrative: Jon Stewart hates police officers. Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade went so far as to imply that Stewart was at best unfeeling toward police officers who die in the line of duty. Stewart's response to Kilmeade was characteristic of the complexity and nuance he attempts to bring to reporting:<br />
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You can truly grieve for every officer who has been lost in the line of duty in this country and still be troubled by cases of police overreach. Those two ideas are not mutually exclusive. You can have great regard for law enforcement and still want them to be held to high standards.</blockquote>
More than anything, that nuance, that context, and that depth which Stewart brings to important issues make him an effectual newsman. I don't watch television news anymore. My main source for news is <i>The New York Times</i>. Largely this is because I can't remember the last time I watched a nightly network newscast or a 24-hour cable news program and walked away feeling informed.<br />
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Part of that is a function of a fragmented media environment. It's difficult for anyone to have the gravitas and impact of a Cronkite because news audiences just aren't that large anymore. Also, a key aspect of news is that it is, well, new. Being the outlet to break a story matters, and the continuous nature of the news cycle in out digital environment puts an even higher premium on being first. Sadly, the drive to be first often leads to speculation, and even worse, misinformation. Unfortunately, many traditional news outlets aren't as responsible about correcting their factual errors as <i>The Daily Show</i>.<br />
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Another factor in the decline of TV news is a lack of resources. There was a time when networks had reporters on the ground, actually <i>gathering </i>information. Now, more often than not, on-location reporters are there just to <i>say </i>they are there -- and to get a good background shot, not to provide background on the story. That's one reason the "on location" reports from <i>The Daily Show</i> correspondents are so funny: we all know they're not on location, and we all know it doesn't matter.<br />
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What's worse, I all-too-frequently see anchors reading tweets from viewers as if they were field reports. I just start throwing things at the screen. Man-on-the-street interviews were always sorry excuses for news coverage, and viewer tweets are no different. I don't care what @hawkeyewoman9834 (or Kathy, 33, from Iowa) thinks about the administration's new immigration policy, though as an unemployed dental hygienist and mother of three, I can see why CNN sought out her expert opinion.<br />
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Institutional forces aside, much of the blame lies with the men and women in the television news business. The news media is supposed to be our watchdog, which means calling bullshit on institutional powers and their leaders. Somehow that core function of the news has been relabeled as subjective opinion, or even worse, partisanship. Good journalists have been scared into a position of reporting facts with no context, leaving relatively uninformed and often unqualified viewers to interpret what they see and hear. Bad journalists have devolved into pure punditry, where ideology dictates the facts rather than being informed by them.<br />
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This wasn't always the case. In 1954, Edward R. Murrow unabashedly took on Joseph McCarthy. He pointed out the contradictions made by the senator and demonstrated that, even if the Red Scare were not an overreaction, the conduct of the House Un-American Activities Committee was itself, ironically, un-American. Was that a partisan attack on a Republican senator or simply a statement of what was and a reasoned argument that it ought not be? Currently, the Edward R. Murrow Award is among the most prestigious honors given in recognition of outstanding electronic journalism.<br />
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Following the Tet Offensive in 1968, Cronkite said the following concerning the Vietnam War:<br />
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To say that we are closer to victory is to believe, in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong in the past. To suggest we are on the edge of defeat is to yield to unreasonable pessimism. To say that we are mired in stalemate seems the only realistic, yet unsatisfactory conclusion. On the off chance that military and political analysts are right, in the next few months we must test the enemy's intentions, in case this is indeed his last big gasp before negotiation. But it is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out then will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could.</blockquote>
Cronkite traveled to Vietnam, gathered information first-hand, analyzed it, and developed a reasoned argument that America was in the midst of an unwinnable war. Was Cronkite acting as an unpatriotic communist unsupportive of U.S. troops, or a responsible journalist seeking to inform his audience as best he could? It's worth noting that Walter Cronkite hosted <i>The CBS Evening News</i> for another 13 years after that report, retiring as one of the most respected journalists and revered public figures in U.S. history.<br />
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Like Murrow and Cronkite, Stewart isn't afraid to call bullshit. He isn't afraid of controversy. He isn't afraid of reasoned editorializing. In short, he isn't afraid to inform his viewers, which sadly can't be said of many "real" television journalists. What's more, he makes you laugh, if only to keep you from crying. In the broader American zeitgeist, Stewart's legacy won't even remotely challenge that of Cronkite, but for his generation and for mine, Stewart may be remembered as the most trusted man in America.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7834674142259414016.post-8119271899416282092015-07-21T13:48:00.001-04:002015-07-21T15:55:36.738-04:00Kentucky Clerks' Stance Unrelated to Religion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Kentucky clerks in five counties (Casey, Clinton, Lawrence, Montgomery, and Rowan) are refusing to issue marriage licenses to homosexual couples. The clerks argue that to do so violates their religious liberties. The ACLU has filed suit against Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, and my hope is that the federal case reveals the most important truth in this farcical debate: <b>opposition to gay marriage has nothing to do with religion.</b><br />
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An article in Louisville's <a href="http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2015/07/20/marriage-license-suit-vs-clerk-back-court/30319757/" target="_blank">Courier-Journal</a> provides some insight into the Davis' reasoning in refusing to issue marriage licenses. In the article, Davis claims that her actions were "thought out" and that she "sought God on it." According to Mike Wynn, author of the article:<br />
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On the stand Monday, Davis described herself as an Apostolic Christian who believes marriage is defined as the union of one man and one woman under the Bible -- "God's holy word" -- and said she contemplated her policy for months beforehand.</blockquote>
Supporters of Davis have shown up in droves outside the courtroom, many sporting signs with biblical verses that reinforce their belief that marriage should be between one man and one woman. The most commonly featured passage is Genesis 2:22-24:<br />
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Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called woman because she was taken out of man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.</blockquote>
Many other passages that simply repeat Genesis 2:24 are also featured. Matthew 19:5 and Mark 10:7-8 are fan favorites, I assume because they demonstrate Jesus' support of Old Testament doctrine. Interestingly, the next verses (Matthew 19:6 and Mark 10:9) are frequently omitted. In both gospels, Jesus says the following:<br />
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Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.</blockquote>
You're probably familiar with these verses as they are often invoked at the end of wedding ceremonies. In these verses, Jesus very clearly condemns divorce. There are other biblical condemnations of divorce as well, most notably from early church leader Paul in 1 Corintians 7:10-11:<br />
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Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.</blockquote>
If we're going to follow the letter of the law as outlined by scripture, accepting that biblical marriage only constitutes the union of one man and one woman also means accepting that the Bible does not recognize divorce, endorse second marriages, and considers both sinful.<br />
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Adultery is another big no-no related to marriage. Apart from being expressly forbidden in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:14), it is condemned in other books, as is premarital sex:<br />
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Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4)</blockquote>
In fact, that judgment manifests itself in a rather harsh punishment prescribed in Leviticus 20:10-13:<br />
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The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death. The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood shall be upon them. If a man lies with a male as he lies with woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them.</blockquote>
Certainly I over-quoted here, but I do so to prove a point. The Bible treats adultery and homosexuality as equivalent sins. Has Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis attempted to deny marriage licenses to adulterers? Or to divorced heterosexuals seeking to marry another? According to The Courier-Journal and Davis' own testimony, the answer is a resounding no:<br />
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After working in the clerk's office for nearly 30 years, she said she has never denied a license on religious grounds or asked applicants about relationships she might find sinful.</blockquote>
It appears Davis has been rather derelict in her religious duties. In fact, from a biblical standpoint, as a woman she has no place instructing us on matters of religion in the first place:<br />
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Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)</blockquote>
In this particular instance, I agree with scripture. I think we'd all be better off if Davis would simply shut the hell up.<br />
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Why? Clearly Davis is not interested in preserving biblical marriage. She has a 30 year track record of failing to do so. Her objection to issuing marriage licenses boils down to a discomfort with homosexuality, and she is not alone in that feeling. Many people believe homosexuality to be unnatural and strange and its practice to be disturbing or outright disgusting.<br />
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The right to have that belief is actually something that the First Amendment does uphold. However, simply because something makes you uncomfortable is not a compelling reason to suppress it or make it illegal, and the Supreme Court was correct to extend to homosexual couples equal protection under the law.<br />
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Moreover, the religious freedom argument that Davis and the other four county clerks in Kentucky are making is nonsensical. Even if these officials' actions were motivated by religious belief -- which they are not -- there is nothing that prohibits adherence to both the laws of man and of God. Jesus was arguably the first advocate for the separation of church and state:<br />
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Then they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, we know that You say and teach rightly, and You do not show personal favoritism, but teach the way of God in truth: Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" But He perceived their craftiness, and said to them, "Why do you test Me? Show Me a denarius. Whose image and inscription does it have?" They answered and said, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's." (Luke 20:21-25)</blockquote>
Upholding this law is not an affront to religious liberty. And if these five clerks feel it is, they should resign. I see no reason why we should praise, let alone pay, an individual for refusing to do his or her job.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00913025263562071489noreply@blogger.com0