As the climate conference in Copenhagen opens today, the democratization of expertise reaches new heights of danger. Scientifically illiterate people, shown a glimpse of how real science works, understanding nothing about it, pull random quotes that are supposed to be scary. They shouldn't be, and they aren't to me. I am not a climate scientist, …
Category Archive: Politics
Jun 17 2009
Obama threads the needle on Iran
In a very Count-of-Monte-Cristo-esque way, the Obama administration has reacted extremely shrewdly to the very possible upheaval of the Iranian government. This is particularly apparent now that the "Supreme Leader" has come out with the desperate attack that the US is meddling in Iranian affairs. Obama, and likely Clinton, smelled this a mile away, and …
May 21 2009
And those dogshit Propositions go down
I think George Will puts too fine point on it, but what few state voters could be bothered to go out on Tuesday delivered Schwarzenegger's and the state Congress' terrible terrible Propositions a decisive death. I would characterize them as "let's cook the books, buy off the teachers to help us, and raise income taxes." …
Feb 10 2009
Can we get past "the New Deal failed" please?
Read this: The "FDR Failed" Myth Anyone still think a stimulus is a bad idea?
Feb 05 2009
An open letter to Mary Bono Mack
Ms. Mack, The House Republicans' unanimous vote against the greatly needed stimulus bill proposed by the president is troubling. While your party is employing obstructionist tactics for the purpose of political posturing, we are hemorrhaging jobs. The state is unable to support the students at my institution (UC Riverside), and my wife's staff is all …