2016 archive
The Lincoln that Time Forgot 0
Thom and David S. Reynolds discuss the Lincoln of the Party Once of Lincoln.
During the Great Depression, one wag remarked (and it’s still true today), “The Republican Party has gone from being the party that freed the slaves to being the party that frayed the sleeves.”
The Retirement of Sisyphus 0
Philadelphia, like many jurisdictions (not just cities), has a “pension crisis.”*
The cause of the crisis is not pensions. The cause of the crisis is the decision of governments small and large to agree to pensions, then choose not to fund them. Now that funding time is due, the solution of choice seems to be to screw the workers who have been paying their share of the pension plans all along through payroll deductions.
The Philadelphia City Controller, looking at the example set by professional fraudsters, has proposed a novel idea: buy out pensions at a cut rate so that the pensioners, now that they have reached retirement age, can keep right on working. A snippet from the story:
The payments would represent only a portion – say, 50 percent – of what a retiree could expect to receive over a lifetime. Still, a fair number of retirees might be enticed by the prospect of a cash windfall they could invest on their own, Butkovitz said.
“This would give people the opportunity to start a business,” he said. “Or do something that could potentially change their life and provide financial security long-term. And, of course, they could convert it into an annuity.”
You can take it from me, starting a new business or gambling at the Wall Street track is not a retirement dream of most persons at retirement age.
Retiring is the damned retirement dream, one which is more and more a stolen dream.
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*In Philadelphia’s case, the problem is exacerbated by the systematic screwing given Philly by the Republicans in the state legislature. For example.
GOPocalypse Now 0
Shorter Leonard Pitts, Jr.: They brought it on themselves.
“Measure for Measure” 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Eric Neuman tries to analyze the recent outbreak of SORPE (Sudden-Onset Republican Penis Envy). It defies excerpt; follow the link to read it.
In related news, Glenn Geher explores the “ewwww” factor.
Afterthought:
I reckon we now know for certain what the Republican family values.
Verbal Gymnasts 0
Watch the WSJ columnist assert that the “conservative establishment” (whatever that is) did not do what they have done.
Via C&L.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Mutual politeness strengthens relationships.
However, the release said, it was later learned that he had inadvertently shot himself through the arm and the bullet subsequently struck his girlfriend.
Gird Your Grid for the Big One 0
The tin-foil hat brigade gets all upset about mythical dangers such as EMP.
Meanwhile, the birds got this.
If One Standard Is Good, Two Must Be Better 0
Key quote:
He’s (Trump–ed.) treated as a celebrity; he’s not treated as a politician.
Playing Trump 0
Tony Norman considers Donald Trump and his no-longer-silent racist dog whistles.
It’s worth a look.
Hint: He’s more optimistic than I.
Video via Balloon Juice.
The Cost of Cowboy Cosplay 0
Balloon Juice has a pretty good rundown on the Bundy Bund’s burden on the treasury.
The costs of the upcoming judicial proceedings is not addressed.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Be polite to your mother.
Hanson’s 3-year-old son allegedly grabbed the 9 mm subcompact handgun out of the driver’s side compartment car and squeezed off a shot that hit his mother in the back of the head, according to police.
Fortunately for the mother, the shot was not fatal.