How to properly oversee the executive branch has been something of an … obsession … here since the beginning of the blog. And I think the calls for the Democrats to form an unofficial “shadow cabinet” can contribute to that.…
This Is America: We Don’t Do Kings
There really aren’t a lot of things you can get 5 million people to agree on in the United States these days. Not even what to watch on TV. 5 million would be a pretty good viewership for a popular…
No More Kings: Not Here, Not Ever
I pointed this out back in February: This is America; we don’t do royalty. It’s really very basic civics. You literally cannot get more un-American than caring about the King or Queen of England. But trying to be a King…
You Should Read This: Will Trump Force America to Break Up?
Bill McKibben at Mother Jones dipped his toe in the water yesterday with a piece titled “Will Trump Force America to Break Up?“. It’s pretty good. The closing paragraph does a decent job of summing up the current situation: Maybe…
Oh, Gavin: You Are Really Not Meeting This Moment
Governor Newsom, you need to step up your game here. ‘Cause this is only going to get worse. Let’s set aside the issue of jackbooted federal thugs roaming the streets with masks and assault rifles. Firstly, because the whole country…
A Reminder: Policing Is A Civilian Job
Apparently, a large portion of the United States thinks that it’s OK for police to be military these days. And, as of this weekend, that it’s OK for military to be police. They’re wrong. It’s important to maintain this distinction,…
You Should Read This: Feudalism Is Our Future
The Atlantic has a very good piece by Cullen Murphy up titled “Feudalism Is Our Future” (archive link). The title overstates things a bit. It’s not that they’re saying that the future as described is inevitable. The article is arguing…
Not Illegal Here: On Extradition And Investigative Support
The U.S. has always been kind of a patchwork of legal systems, and of course the countries of the world are an even more diverse collection. And that’s fine; good, even. Since we have a wide variety of people, and…
Algorithmic Taxes: An Automated Tax System
If you’re a flat-tax advocate, then you may want to stop reading this one now; it won’t be good for your blood pressure to continue. ‘Cause progressive-rate systems are fairer. OK, now that they’re gone: progressive-rate income taxes are more…
Fragile Empires: Falling Slowly At First, Then All At Once
Everything happens faster in the modern world than it used to. This is natural. It’s basically a side-effect of more advanced technology. Communications are faster; transport of people and goods is faster. Change, even, in infrastructure and society is faster.…