March, 2020 archive
Dialectic 0
Ed at Gin and Tacos analyzes the internal contradictions between long- and short-term goals facing both the Democratic and Republican parties. Here’s a bit of what he has to say about the latter; follow the link for the rest. It’s an interesting take.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Self-politeness is the politest kind.
He told police he was shot while on a freeway in the city, according to authorities.
Troopers spoke to the victim and began an investigation. After investigating the claim, they determined the man had shot himself by accident. Troopers also found a bullet hole in the inside and bottom of the victim’s pants pocket.
The Voter Fraud Fraud 0
Have you noticed that, when actual cases of intentional voter fraud (as opposed to someone’s attempting to vote in the wrong precinct or forgetting to register or the like) come to light, they are almost always perpetrated by Republicans?
The Medicine Show, One More Time 0
New York State has issued a cease and desist order to stop televangelist Jim Bakker from selling magic snake oil reputed to combat coronavirus.
Apparently, it’s been found to be a grift of God.
To the Victor Belong Despoils 0
Gordon Weil makes a convincing case that the current Federal Administration values cronies over competence.
The Paper Chase 0
Late last week, one of our acquaintances who lives on the other side of town told us that his local store was out of toilet paper (we have not been shopping in the interim, so I don’t know about our own nearby stores), but apparently runs on TP are not uncommon in anxious times.
At Psychology Today Blogs, Michele Baddeley reports bare shelves in the “loo paper” sections of stores in Sydney, Australia, and tries to figure out why fear of coronavirus, a respiratory disease, would a spark runs on TP, decidedly not a respiratory product (except maybe when you can’t find a hanky).
(Missplet wrod correxted.)
Epidemiology, Claim Denied Dept. 0
Farron discusses an article by a doctor arguing that “Medicare for All” is the best option for providing decent healthcare to Americans, as opposed to our current predatory for profit system.
Transcript here.
Aside:
We went to the symphony yesterday. When the conductor came on stage, instead of shaking hands with the first violinist/concert master, as is the custom, the two of them bumped elbows.
The guest soloist did the same with the first violinist and the conductor.
The Hand of the Market Fees 0
The owner of an importing business explains how Donald Trump’s puerile trade wars are endangering his business. A snippet:
Gutting Out the Vote 0
Leonard Pitts, Jr., tells one voter’s story–a voter who waited in line for six hours to vote in a primary–then looks at the larger picture of the voter fraud fraud. Here’s a bit:
More at the link.
(Broken link fixed.)
The Abandoned 0
Alternet reports on the growing incidence of deaths of working class American from suicide, alcoholism, and substance abuse and suggests that they are symptoms of a larger sense of despair from having been left behind abandoned by the economy, even as the rich get richer and richer. Here’s a bit; follow the link for the rest.
To make matters worse, Leonhardt and Thompson assert, the U.S. suffers from “by far the world’s most expensive health care system”— which “acts as a tax on workers” and “fails to keep many people healthy” either physically or mentally.
And the Farce Renews 0
Once again, we have sprung forward in docile and sheep-like service to an unproven and likely baseless notion.