A friend in Indonesia recently sent me a paper by Olena Antonaccio and Charles Tittle from North Carolina State University entitled "A Cross-National Test of Bonger's Theory of Criminality and Economic Conditions."Â In 1905 the Dutch Marxist Willam Adrian Bonger had hypothesised that capitalism, by its de-moralisation (i.e., reduce the moral feelings that people had …
Applying the Ivy League Test to the Republican Stars (Such as They Are)
The Fix's Chris Cillizza evidently doesn't have a lot to do with his time, since he is trying to figure out who are the "stars" is what's left of the Republican Party. So let's look at his list from the criterion that has worked since 1988: who are the Ivy Leaguers in the group? I …
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Making the Connection Between the U.S. Auto Bailout and British Leyland
I've been making this connnection here and here since shortly after the election. Now the International Herald-Tribune joins in: A faltering auto giant whose brands are synonymous with the open road. Hundreds of thousands of unionized workers with powerful political backers. An urgent plea for the government to write a virtual blank check. This is …
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Federal Air Marshals in Cuffs Teach Us a Bible Lesson
I'm sure that some of you budding theonomists guffawed at the following, from an old post of mine: Let's take a look at this: quote: I exhort therefore that above all things prayers, supplications, petitions, and giving of thanks, be had for all men: for kings, and for all that are in preeminence, that we …
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One Step Closer to British Leyland, American Style
Evidently someone out there is reading my musings on this subject, as evidenced by this: A key House Democrat is writing legislation that would send $25 billion in emergency loans to the beleaguered auto industry in exchange for a government ownership stake in the Big Three car companies. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority …
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A Mutt Like Me, Let’s Bring Back British Leyland, and Obama’s Top/Bottom Coalition
At Barack Obama's first "presidential" press conference, he said the following: We have two criteria that have to be reconciled. One is that Malia is allergic, so it has to be hypoallergenic. There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic. On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but, …
Give Berlusconi a Break on the “Suntan” Remark: A Reminiscence from Kensington Temple
It seems that our media never stops on finding ways of griping about people: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, under fire at home for describing U.S. President-elect Barack Obama as "suntanned," said on Friday he saw no need to apologize. At a news conference, Berlusconi was brusque with an American journalist who suggested he should …
Let’s Hope al-Qaeda Organises a Union, Too
Now that Barack Obama has won, the TSA airport screeners hope their desire for a trade union that can strike is realised: Representatives of the American Federation of Government Employees and National Treasury Employees Union said that their top priority under the Obama administration will be to ensure collective bargaining rights for federal airport screeners. …
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The Party’s Over: A Post-Election Reflection
With Barack Obama's victory and the Democrats' concomitant advances in the Congress, some reflections and anticipations are in order. I will concentrate on two aspects: the Republican Party and Evangelical Christianity. Republican Party It's fair to say that the Republican Party is history as a national party in the U.S. Oh, it's true that it …
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Starbucks’ Free Election Day Coffee: It Was a Great Idea, But…
Starbucks is in trouble after their offer to furnish free coffee for voting on Election Day: Prior to Monday afternoon, Starbucks was promoting an ad that said anyone who says enters a Starbucks on Election Day and says that they voted would get a free cup of tall coffee. Election officials for the state of …
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Positive Infinity 