If you sometimes enjoy my blog, you may enjoy the Institute for Faith, Work and Economics blog. They discuss the issues in their organization's name, trying to bridge the gap we've artificially created between the realm of work and the church.
It's a brand new organization as well, full of committed, intelligent people.
Check it out.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The Corvette That Couldn't
This post is dedicated to the Renos.
Recently I tweeted: Watching the Romney campaign is like watching someone drive a Corvette in only 1st gear. (Assuming there's an engine under the hood).
Romney is a candidate who looks and acts expensive but just is not moving as quickly as you would expect him to. He hasn't yet won all the states expected of him. He's still reeling from Santorum's three state win a couple weeks ago. However, tonight's debate in AZ was bad news for Santorum and may spell the end of his fad, thus continuing the pattern of this primary: each candidate in the spotlight then falling away. We will see what the sentiments are like in a couple of days and we will see what happens in the AZ and MI primaries to each.
Back to the analogy, he and his campaign have spent colossal amounts of money but just can't catch fire yet. They aren't taking advantage of many of his qualities/capabilities. While it's still early on, for the supposed front-runner he has not been doing much running at the front. Many pundits have said as much.
He needs to get better at explaining sound economics; he needs to demonstrate that he can be a real human being; his hair needs to be messy occasionally; he needs to aggressively fight against those who lambast him for being too rich; he needs to point to his record of turning around the 2002 winter Olympics; he needs to emphasize his management skills. Etc. There's a record there that is not being utilized. Maybe he's saving up for the big general election push. But why?
Another aspect that is hardly talked about: having a mormon in the White House would be historical. It's never happened before, it's a religion formed in America, it's a belief group persecuted vehemently at one point in recent American history, yet they overcame those odds and have been quite successful. I think there's something to that.
He did well in the debates tonight with concise, pointed answers. This was a good night for him. Maybe, after all, he is learning and the Romney will start zooming. I think the elements are all there. We will see.
Recently I tweeted: Watching the Romney campaign is like watching someone drive a Corvette in only 1st gear. (Assuming there's an engine under the hood).
Romney is a candidate who looks and acts expensive but just is not moving as quickly as you would expect him to. He hasn't yet won all the states expected of him. He's still reeling from Santorum's three state win a couple weeks ago. However, tonight's debate in AZ was bad news for Santorum and may spell the end of his fad, thus continuing the pattern of this primary: each candidate in the spotlight then falling away. We will see what the sentiments are like in a couple of days and we will see what happens in the AZ and MI primaries to each.
Back to the analogy, he and his campaign have spent colossal amounts of money but just can't catch fire yet. They aren't taking advantage of many of his qualities/capabilities. While it's still early on, for the supposed front-runner he has not been doing much running at the front. Many pundits have said as much.
He needs to get better at explaining sound economics; he needs to demonstrate that he can be a real human being; his hair needs to be messy occasionally; he needs to aggressively fight against those who lambast him for being too rich; he needs to point to his record of turning around the 2002 winter Olympics; he needs to emphasize his management skills. Etc. There's a record there that is not being utilized. Maybe he's saving up for the big general election push. But why?
Another aspect that is hardly talked about: having a mormon in the White House would be historical. It's never happened before, it's a religion formed in America, it's a belief group persecuted vehemently at one point in recent American history, yet they overcame those odds and have been quite successful. I think there's something to that.
He did well in the debates tonight with concise, pointed answers. This was a good night for him. Maybe, after all, he is learning and the Romney will start zooming. I think the elements are all there. We will see.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Being a Christian Democrat
Relevant Magazine continues their series, which I have enjoyed.
I anxiously await the Being a Christian Socialist article. It will probably regard being a Christian Independent though. Can't get too sticky.
I anxiously await the Being a Christian Socialist article. It will probably regard being a Christian Independent though. Can't get too sticky.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Joe Morello
In watching the Grammys, I noticed during their memorial section that drummer Joe Morello passed away this year. He was the drummer for the Dave Brubeck Quartet during the famed years. His drumming helped bring the swing to odd time signatures on their famous record, Time Out. Check him and the others out in this 1966 performance of Take Five.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Being a Christian [blank]
A couple articles from Relevant Magazine.
Why I am a Christian Republican.
Being a Christian Libertarian.
I assume the left side explanations are forthcoming.
Why I am a Christian Republican.
Being a Christian Libertarian.
I assume the left side explanations are forthcoming.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Iran Crazy
So I was reading this article, bemoaning the rhetoric that comes from the Iranian leadership, when I read the following paragraphs:
"Any Iranian military or commercial vessel easily could get right outside the U.S. coastline and in less than 60 seconds fire a ballistic missile armed with a nuclear payload and detonate it over U.S. skies in an electromagnetic attack that would plunge America back into the 18th century.
Studies show within just one year after such an attack, two-thirds of Americans would cease to exist and the rest would live under dire conditions."
That's a little dire. Are they really that sneaky? The Soviet Union had submarines everywhere and I could see that being a likely scenario, but Iran? Also, what "studies"? Starting any kind of conventional war or greater with America would be bad news for Iran. A good portion of our Cold War contingencies are still operational, I would guess, and therefore beyond the scope of Iran's capability to cripple us beyond retaliation. In such an unlikely scenario, they would be calling the President's bluff on a nuclear scale, risking their whole country becoming a radioactive glass sea.
"Any Iranian military or commercial vessel easily could get right outside the U.S. coastline and in less than 60 seconds fire a ballistic missile armed with a nuclear payload and detonate it over U.S. skies in an electromagnetic attack that would plunge America back into the 18th century.
Studies show within just one year after such an attack, two-thirds of Americans would cease to exist and the rest would live under dire conditions."
That's a little dire. Are they really that sneaky? The Soviet Union had submarines everywhere and I could see that being a likely scenario, but Iran? Also, what "studies"? Starting any kind of conventional war or greater with America would be bad news for Iran. A good portion of our Cold War contingencies are still operational, I would guess, and therefore beyond the scope of Iran's capability to cripple us beyond retaliation. In such an unlikely scenario, they would be calling the President's bluff on a nuclear scale, risking their whole country becoming a radioactive glass sea.
Romney and the Poor
You've all probably seen the clip or read about where Romney says he's not concerned about the very poor.
Yeah, that was bad.
He offers a poor explanation here of why he said it but simultaneously does a good job at saying he made a mistake. I'm not sure how one apologizes without setting the record straight, but he did. He's walking on egg-shells already since he's monster rich and then he said that. I was very disappointed. I sense the shock waves will have broad political repercussions. As does this guy.
Conservatives, libertarians, etc, need to be far better at communicating the fact that they DO care about the very poor. Because they view poverty as a "human" problem, there is not a "class focus" on the poor and hence a lack of focused language. The policies advocated by the limited government types are advocated because they do the most good for the most people (including the very poor). Therefore, the connection between capitalism and the poor is not explicit and therefore lost to this sound byte culture. Capitalism has shown to be the best structure we know of to help the poorest among us and that message needs to be communicated in language all can understand.
Yeah, that was bad.
He offers a poor explanation here of why he said it but simultaneously does a good job at saying he made a mistake. I'm not sure how one apologizes without setting the record straight, but he did. He's walking on egg-shells already since he's monster rich and then he said that. I was very disappointed. I sense the shock waves will have broad political repercussions. As does this guy.
Conservatives, libertarians, etc, need to be far better at communicating the fact that they DO care about the very poor. Because they view poverty as a "human" problem, there is not a "class focus" on the poor and hence a lack of focused language. The policies advocated by the limited government types are advocated because they do the most good for the most people (including the very poor). Therefore, the connection between capitalism and the poor is not explicit and therefore lost to this sound byte culture. Capitalism has shown to be the best structure we know of to help the poorest among us and that message needs to be communicated in language all can understand.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
How Engaged With American Culture Are You?
A classmate of mine linked this quiz, I took it and had to share. See how in touch you are with mainstream America.
I scored a 10 out of 20. Underneath your score it will describe what it means. I got something like, "even though I grew up in the upper class I was exposed to normal America."
If you take it let me know how you do.
I scored a 10 out of 20. Underneath your score it will describe what it means. I got something like, "even though I grew up in the upper class I was exposed to normal America."
If you take it let me know how you do.
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