I'll bet ACORN never thought of this (until now): These events (Indonesian elections) are also the venues where the terms and conditions of traditional vote-buying are laid out by campaigners. Election monitors in the past have noted that while accepting money to vote for a particular candidate is commonplace, vote-buying has had little impact on …
If You Don’t Like Unscientific Policies, Choose Scientific People
From the "GeoCurmudgeon" column in the March/April 2009 Issue of GeoStrata: Consider the nine wonders of the modern world; the nine men who comprise the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, led by PRC President Hu Jintao, a hydraulics engineer; Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, a geotechnical engineer; five other engineers; and two economists. …
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The Good News and the Bad News About Obama’s Reduction of the Charitable Deduction
As a follow-up to this, we have this: Here's what it means in real terms for the 5% of Americans whose household income exceeds $250,000 a year. Those families can currently save $350 in taxes for every $1,000 donated to charity; under Obama's plan, that amount would drop to $280 per $1,000 donation. "By doing …
Promoting a Compassionate Agenda vs. Making Fun of the Special Olympics
Barack Obama's comparison of his bowling game with the Special Olympics (which is unfair; there are people in the Special Olympics who can handily beat him) has gotten a lot of press. There are those, however who view this as a passing gaffe. But, as the French would remind us, "what fills the heart will …
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Chaplains Without God? Only in South Florida!
They've done it again: A chaplain at Hospice by the Sea in Boca Raton has resigned, she says, over a ban on use of the words "God" or "Lord" in public settings. Chaplains still speak freely of the Almighty in private sessions with patients or families but, the Rev. Mirta Signorelli said: "I can't do …
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The Pagan Charles Grassley: From Victory at Sea to Defeat in Manhattan
He may not think of himself in this way, but... Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley suggested that AIG executives should take a Japanese approach toward accepting responsibility for the collapse of the insurance giant by resigning or killing themselves. The Republican lawmaker's harsh comments came during an interview with Cedar Rapids, Iowa, radio station WMT on …
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Tax Collection, Late Roman Style: “There began to be fewer men who paid taxes than there were who received wages…”
This, under the Roman Emperor Gelarius: But that which gave rise to public and universal calamity, was the tax imposed at once on each province and city. Surveyors having been spread abroad, and occupied in a general and severe scrutiny, horrible scenes were exhibited, like the outrages of victorious enemies, and the wretched state of …
Rewarding Incompetence: Not Only in the Private Sector
He's right, but... Rep. Barney Frank charged Monday that a decision by financially strapped insurance giant AIG to pay millions in executive bonuses amounts to "rewarding incompetence." Echoing outrage expressed on both sides of the political aisle in the wake of revelations that American International Group will pay roughly $165 million in bonuses, Frank said …
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The Elitist Snob Needs to Spend Time in Palm Beach
He's trying to make inroads with Washington socialites: While publicly identifying with the nation's have-nots, the Obama administration has been cultivating the Beltway social elite behind the scenes. Earlier this year, the Obama administration invited top editors of three of Washington's local luxury lifestyle magazines - Capitol File, DC magazine and Washington Life - to …
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What We Owe the Chinese: A Debt to Equity Conversion?
The Chinese are worried about the status of the enormous sum the U.S. owes them: China's premier expressed concern Friday about its massive holdings of Treasuries and other U.S. debt, appealing to Washington to safeguard their value, and said Beijing is ready to expand its stimulus if the economy worsens. Premier Wen Jiabao noted that …
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Positive Infinity 