Category Archives: Fun

Gerrymandering: The Root of All Evil [NOT]

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Bruce

This deep analysis of gerrymandering, from a joint study by “FiveThirtyEight” and the “Cook Political Report” is from Dan Balz’s The Sunday Take political analysis column in the Washington Post. Gerrymandering is the root of all political evil. Or is it?  … Continue reading →

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When “Alternate Truth” Starts to Drive US Government Policy — e.g., today. . .

Posted on January 21, 2018 by Bruce

[There’s a point at which I stop being bemused by the blunders and lies — which cannot be distinguished from each other, because the perpetrators themselves DO NOT KNOW the difference — of the New Regime. This report from the … Continue reading →

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Why You Pay Lots for Emergency Care: “Duh, It’s a Monopoly, Dude.”

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Bruce

[This article is from the exemplary on-line magazine Vox, by Sarah Kliff, who is a super interpreter of public policy in the health arena. Follow her regularly, including especially her daily VoxCare column. ] Emergency rooms are monopolies. Patients pay … Continue reading →

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US Fisheries Regulation: States’ Rights, except When the Emperor Says NO

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Bruce

Really important example of how to kneecap regulatory processes. Result will certainly be over-exploitation of fisheries resources for the seventh largest fishery on the East Coast (summer flounder) . Needless to say, this is being led by national, Trump administration, … Continue reading →

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The Tormenting of Tillerson

Posted on November 13, 2017 by Bruce

from the October 7th edition of The Economist, page 32: Crawling back to you Mr Tillerson deserves only slight sympathy. He has shown little interest in representing American ideals, such as the promotion of human rights, while carrying out a … Continue reading →

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Unhealthy Politics in Congress

Posted on October 27, 2017 by Bruce

from The Upshot at the NY Times. The Unhealthy Politics of Pork: How It Increases Your Medical Costs The term pork barrel spending has been around for well over 100 years. It means using government funds on local projects that … Continue reading →

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Fresno Resurgent: Progress in Surprising Places

Posted on October 18, 2017 by Bruce

from the Non-Profit Quarterly Fresno Drives toward a Strong and Sustainable Community-Based Economy By STEVE DUBB October 17, 2017; Next City Fresno, California’s fifth-most-populous city, defies many stereotypes we may have of the Golden State. Be honest: When you think … Continue reading →

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Another Study Showing Economic Disadvantage Inflicted by Racism

Posted on October 8, 2017 by Bruce

from the Business Section of the Sunday New York Times, 8 October 2017 Pinpointing Racial Discrimination by Government Officials Economic View By JUSTIN WOLFERS OCT. 6, 2017 Credit:  Dani Pendergast A team of economists has uncovered persuasive evidence that local … Continue reading →

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The New Gilded Age

Posted on October 5, 2017 by Bruce

from the on-line Washington Post: The 202 The Daily 202: Why a Republican strategist thinks we’re in a new Gilded Age By James Hohmann October 4   President Trump tossed paper towel rolls to people affected by Hurricane Maria as … Continue reading →

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Semi-Free Speech; or maybe Hemi-Semi Free …

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Bruce

from Margaret Sullivan’s Style column, 24 Sept. 2017 Perspective The civil rights and Vietnam protests changed America. Today, they might be illegal.   In this scene from the PBS documentary “The Vietnam War,” college students protest in Boston on Oct. … Continue reading →

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