Isn't US health care one of the more inefficient models around? It makes sense to switch to a less expensive model. On the other hand bailing out wall street and the banks with little to show to main street while burdening future generations with an amazing debt seems beyond the pale.
And why should Cal. pay for everyone else? What if they just got dollar for dollar value of what they put in rather than pitching in to cover other states? Perhaps they could actually start to fund the programs that are important to them.
Not only wasn't the surgery critical, they amputated the wrong limb. Far from kicking any cans down the road they've squandered the last bit of credit making the problem oh so much worse. I hope I have a safe view of the aftermath.
"I don’t think using popular concepts of diversity as a lens is disingenuous at all, I think it has a lot to do with what we (as a country) most strongly associate with diversity and why we associate."
As a Cascadian separatist that has recently emigrated to BC, I can't tell you how little this means to me. I'm much more concerned with First Nations, residential schools and treaty rights. Sorry, you have to take into account diversity.
I favor diversity that is harmonious and sustainable. I'm not really in favor of any more population growth in my region and am more interested that new inhabitants be secular than what color they are. I'd also rather maintain our suburban farm lands than build cheap housing on flood plains.
I'm not advocating any other place adopt what the NW has done. We are own distinct region and are trying to solve our own regional problems. Atlanta may want to look at what we do either as a positive or negative example but that's not really my concern.
1) Perhaps there is a different concept of diversification in the NW. Microsoft is opening a campus in Vancouver because of the difficulty of US immigration laws. Vancouver is crazily diverse.
Making a claim of "popular" concepts of diversity seem disingenuous. It doesn't matter how many different colors there are in the rainbow. I want it to be about mine.
2) I agree that measures shouldn't discourage any group. However, I find it strange that diversity should include protective measures for non-diverse neighborhoods. Perhaps we should conclude that the NW has historically had a low percentage of blacks or Hispanics and hence the racial profile should be maintained to promote diversity. This seems upside down but where your neighborhood concerns seem to lead.
Should we ask why Atlanta is so unusually non-Asian? If we're looking for racial diversity vs. social-cultural, why should we be concerned with maintaining "black neighborhoods"? Doesn't that itself suggest a lack of diversity?
Can a city be racially diverse and yet have relatively few blacks? Do Chinese, First Nations, Sikhs, Koreans count? How do they figure in historically black neighborhoods? Should we be as concerned about cultural diversity as we are racial. Should we promote a meritocracy where it doesn't matter what color one is, or should we make sure we have enough bible thumping rednecks to meet the national or theoretically optimal level?
I voted for Barr. Not because I like him, or his past, but as a protest vote, a vote that would suggest that there was at least one more voter that wasn't buying what the two parties were selling. I'm glad that Obama won over McCain. However, my misgivings about Obama have been proven more correct than I wish. I'm relieved that I don't have to have the guilt that those Republicans that voted for W. or those Progressives that voted for Obama must certainly feel.
So, favoring religious sensibilities over free speech is Marxist and something you're against? I'm surprised Bob. You're a civil libertarian after all? I had you pegged for a Mussolini leaning theocrat. My bad.
It seems weird that we're talking about putting humpty dumpty back together. We need at least two viable parties (preferably more) for our system to work. There are places (like the NW) where that just isn't the case. Washington is pretty much a one party State. What we need are regional manifestations of what conservatism can mean. One of the problems is that there isn't enough difference between State parties and the National. For a party that at least ostensibly favors federalism (meaning division of powers) investing in regional autonomous units that seek to formulate new coalitions would seem the obvious answer. Motoko's WECs may very well be necessary in Iowa but she's right; they will be the death of the party in many other parts of the country. As the new wave of atheism seeps into the culture and more of the older generations die off, this will be even more true.
I read an interesting piece in (I think) the Globe and Mail yesterday bemoaning the absence of a Progressive Conservative option in Canada. I'd be interested in one of the Canadian writers here providing a brief history of the Reform/Alliance battle with the PCs, whether Peter McKay's unholy union is reversible and what lessons can be drawn for American politics.
I'm all in favor. I tend to side more with traditional State's Rights because it's easier to argue a historic claim while maintaining large enough groupings to not fall to anarchy. But, who knows, I've read some compelling arguments for urban secession. I do know that it's not in my best interest to hold my local governance hostage to a one size fits none compromise with other regions of the country.
On “on the GDP…”
Isn't US health care one of the more inefficient models around? It makes sense to switch to a less expensive model. On the other hand bailing out wall street and the banks with little to show to main street while burdening future generations with an amazing debt seems beyond the pale.
"
And why should Cal. pay for everyone else? What if they just got dollar for dollar value of what they put in rather than pitching in to cover other states? Perhaps they could actually start to fund the programs that are important to them.
"
Not only wasn't the surgery critical, they amputated the wrong limb. Far from kicking any cans down the road they've squandered the last bit of credit making the problem oh so much worse. I hope I have a safe view of the aftermath.
On “Stuff
White PeopleAmericans Do”Should all people that come from a tradition of slavery bear the burden.... no matter how far back.
On “Carte de resident permanent”
"via spouse sponsorship"
Canadians, everyone should have one. Just got hitched to mine yesterday.
"
How long did it take you from aplication to getting your card?
"
Congrats. I'm in that process meself.
On “Douthat calls for open religious warfare; thousands perish in ensuing Crusade”
The enemy of my enemy is not my friend.
On “The New White City”
"I don’t think using popular concepts of diversity as a lens is disingenuous at all, I think it has a lot to do with what we (as a country) most strongly associate with diversity and why we associate."
As a Cascadian separatist that has recently emigrated to BC, I can't tell you how little this means to me. I'm much more concerned with First Nations, residential schools and treaty rights. Sorry, you have to take into account diversity.
I favor diversity that is harmonious and sustainable. I'm not really in favor of any more population growth in my region and am more interested that new inhabitants be secular than what color they are. I'd also rather maintain our suburban farm lands than build cheap housing on flood plains.
I'm not advocating any other place adopt what the NW has done. We are own distinct region and are trying to solve our own regional problems. Atlanta may want to look at what we do either as a positive or negative example but that's not really my concern.
"
1) Perhaps there is a different concept of diversification in the NW. Microsoft is opening a campus in Vancouver because of the difficulty of US immigration laws. Vancouver is crazily diverse.
Making a claim of "popular" concepts of diversity seem disingenuous. It doesn't matter how many different colors there are in the rainbow. I want it to be about mine.
2) I agree that measures shouldn't discourage any group. However, I find it strange that diversity should include protective measures for non-diverse neighborhoods. Perhaps we should conclude that the NW has historically had a low percentage of blacks or Hispanics and hence the racial profile should be maintained to promote diversity. This seems upside down but where your neighborhood concerns seem to lead.
"
Should we ask why Atlanta is so unusually non-Asian? If we're looking for racial diversity vs. social-cultural, why should we be concerned with maintaining "black neighborhoods"? Doesn't that itself suggest a lack of diversity?
"
Can a city be racially diverse and yet have relatively few blacks? Do Chinese, First Nations, Sikhs, Koreans count? How do they figure in historically black neighborhoods? Should we be as concerned about cultural diversity as we are racial. Should we promote a meritocracy where it doesn't matter what color one is, or should we make sure we have enough bible thumping rednecks to meet the national or theoretically optimal level?
On “The Obama Administration and the Bill of Rights”
I voted for Barr. Not because I like him, or his past, but as a protest vote, a vote that would suggest that there was at least one more voter that wasn't buying what the two parties were selling. I'm glad that Obama won over McCain. However, my misgivings about Obama have been proven more correct than I wish. I'm relieved that I don't have to have the guilt that those Republicans that voted for W. or those Progressives that voted for Obama must certainly feel.
"
I'll take the Louisiana purchase, throw in Seward's folly (for the Statehood vote) and raise you Hawaii and the sagebrush western federal lands.
"
You have a mistress?? I'm even more shocked.
"
So, favoring religious sensibilities over free speech is Marxist and something you're against? I'm surprised Bob. You're a civil libertarian after all? I had you pegged for a Mussolini leaning theocrat. My bad.
On “Another response to Conor”
It seems weird that we're talking about putting humpty dumpty back together. We need at least two viable parties (preferably more) for our system to work. There are places (like the NW) where that just isn't the case. Washington is pretty much a one party State. What we need are regional manifestations of what conservatism can mean. One of the problems is that there isn't enough difference between State parties and the National. For a party that at least ostensibly favors federalism (meaning division of powers) investing in regional autonomous units that seek to formulate new coalitions would seem the obvious answer. Motoko's WECs may very well be necessary in Iowa but she's right; they will be the death of the party in many other parts of the country. As the new wave of atheism seeps into the culture and more of the older generations die off, this will be even more true.
On “One Step Closer*”
Bluedog?
On “Reform Conservatism, Not Conservatives”
I read an interesting piece in (I think) the Globe and Mail yesterday bemoaning the absence of a Progressive Conservative option in Canada. I'd be interested in one of the Canadian writers here providing a brief history of the Reform/Alliance battle with the PCs, whether Peter McKay's unholy union is reversible and what lessons can be drawn for American politics.
On “A- still does not imply Anti-”
"May I suggest the freethinkers?"
They don't sound like the type that would accept Dionysians or Pastafarians.
"
What if you just like to watch Pharisees squirm? Ramen. Can I be more than an atheist?
On “You can go your own way”
I'm all in favor. I tend to side more with traditional State's Rights because it's easier to argue a historic claim while maintaining large enough groupings to not fall to anarchy. But, who knows, I've read some compelling arguments for urban secession. I do know that it's not in my best interest to hold my local governance hostage to a one size fits none compromise with other regions of the country.
On “Christopher Hitchens and moral glibness”
"The percieved balance that exists in American politics is between the hawkish and the slightly less hawkish"
American? How do Harper and Iggy differ?
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and a pat on the back from God. Should more than compensate.
"
We could throw in Job's first family for good measure.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.