Several years ago, a 67-page book by Princeton University philosophy professor Harry G. Frankfurt was a New York Times bestseller. ON BULLSHIT begins with these words: “One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this…Most people are rather confident of their ability to recognize bullshit and to avoid being taken in by it.”
Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
Sizing up the GOP field: Ron Paul is the likely nominee
11
Jul
By Joe Sansone
It is time to give my honest (although opinionated) assessment of the GOP field. I have attempted to be as accurate as possible in the following critical description of the candidates and their likelihood of success. In essence, these are the pros and cons for each candidate as I see it.
The New York Times hates Ron Paul
15
Jun
The word has gone forth from the upper echelon of the New York Times; Rep. Ron Paul is to be treated with the utmost disrespect—again–in our coverage of the Republican presidential primary campaign. What else explains the disingenuous front-page article (“Candidates show G.O.P less united on goals of war,” June 15th)?
Ron Paul and the Pandering Six
14
Jun
At the GOP presidential debate in New Hampshire on June 13th, the seven candidates gently sparred on most of the issues that have taken front and center in the campaign—jobs, Medicare, taxes, government spending, and military intervention. Rep. Michele Bachmann announced she would make her formal announcement for president soon.
Education is too important for the courts to decide
11
Apr
Paul Tractenberg’s turgid screed, “Let’s get real about education in New Jersey,” criticized me for challenging the assertions he made in a recent Record op-ed defending the current school aid formula. He also claims I live in “eccentric parallel universe.”
Exclusive preview of Obama’s reelection campaign speech
01
Apr
“My fellow Americans. I will make a brief announcement today about my reelection campaign to be your president for another term. Let me be clear, I know many of you are busy, especially those of you who are still looking for work. That is why I want to confess as well. Read the rest of this entry »
Ron Paul, Gary Johnson and the 2012 GOP presidential ticket
13
Feb
Rep. Ron Paul won the CPAC 2012 presidential straw poll on Saturday for the second year in a row. Mitt Romney came in second with 23% of the vote to Dr. Paul’s 30%. So how are the mainstream media spinning this turn of events? By asserting that the CPAC poll is not “scientific” and that there were so many young people under 25 out of the nearly 3,800 attendees.
Why abolishing the welfare state is the right thing to do
07
Feb
If you think government is a competent solver of social problems, think again. The Star Ledger reported (“N.J. tax to help low-income people pay cable TV bills was instead used to plug budget hole,” Feb. 6) that a fund established in 2006 by the Corzine administration to help low income and disabled New Jerseyans pay their cable bills has never been used as it was intended. In addition, to add insult to injury, the Christie administration “raided” the $9.4 million fund to balance this year’s state budget.
Is Chris Christie a collectivist?
17
Jan
At a town hall meeting in affluent Bergen County last Thursday, where many of the state’s most plundered taxpayers live, Governor Christie did what he does best, speak bluntly and interact seamlessly—according to press reports–with the public. Read the rest of this entry »
Despite Christie’s cheerleading and rhetoric, New Jersey needs an “extreme makeover”
14
Jan
In his State of the State address, Governor Christie asserted New Jersey “is improving–getting better every day.” Let’s look at the record.
The thugs, misguided and parasites rule America
01
Jan
If you have high blood pressure, you do not want to read Steven Malanga’s Shakedown: The Continuing Conspiracy Against the American Taxpayer, unless you have taken a mega dose of your medication.
How to reduce crime with less police
10
Dec
The Star Ledger’s editorial, “Brace yourself: Police layoffs could cost lives,” decries the 167 police layoffs in Newark asserting that crime will increase, thus turning the clock back on the gains made over the past decade to reduce the crime rate in the state’s largest city.
The welfare state implosion is accelerating
11
Nov
Students have rioted in England because college and university tuition is poised to take another leap upward. Higher education tuition as late as the 1990s was zero. To help balance the national budget the Conservative government of Prime Minister Cameron is slashing welfare subsidies and increasing the cost of government services. In short, financial reality is catching up to the British government and its people.
Self-financed candidates could have used their money to provide health care for the uninsured
06
Nov
In the past decade, self-financed candidates, Michael Bloomberg, Jon Corzine, Meg Whitman, Linda McMahon and countless others spent collectively nearly one billion dollars to run for political office. Mayor Bloomberg spent $250 million to win three terms as mayor of New York City. Jon Corzine spent $131 million to win a U.S. Senate seat, the governorship of New Jersey and then failed in his reelection bid in 2009 despite out spending his rival Chris Christie by more than $12 million.
Will Tea Party candidate Anna Little lead the way on Tuesday?
30
Oct
The outcome of the Anna Little/ Frank Pallone race in the sixth congressional district will set the tone of the Tea Party’s strength around the country. If Anna Little wins the House seat, there is a high probability that Republicans could win as many as 100 seats on Tuesday. If Little loses by one or two points, Republicans should pick up at least 70 seats. This race is in so many ways a bellwether for the rest of the nation.