Justin Katz

No Time to Update the Script

By Justin Katz | September 19, 2008 |

Is it me, or is the news editor of the Providence Phoenix increasingly giving the impression of a strident partisan? To be sure, no doubt previously existed as to Ian’s political leanings, but something in this election season seems to be drawing him further across the tightrope spanning the ideological gulf, toward his ticker-tape-talking-point friends.…

Economics and Taxes

By Justin Katz | September 18, 2008 |

Last night, Andrew took up the topics of economics and taxation with Matt Allen on 630AM/99.7FM WPRO. Stream by clicking here, or download it. ADDENDUM: The audio links weren’t working when I first posted this in the a.m. They’re fixed.

On the Road to Nowhere

By Justin Katz | September 18, 2008 |

The powers that be should pay some attention when Tom Sgouros and I agree on something: Counting debt service paid from within the department’s budget, we now pay almost $100 million every year in DOT interest payments. How does that make you feel about borrowing $40 million more next year? Do you think that’s a…

A Rich Lesson in Government Finances from Gregg

By Justin Katz | September 17, 2008 |

The article’s a few days old, but one comment from writer Katherine Gregg yields too rich of a lesson for Governor Carcieri not to highlight: How did we get to this point? Despite orders to cut spending, some state administrators simply couldn’t bring themselves to do it. And state lawmakers seemed content to accept the…

The Problem with Activism, Per Se

By Justin Katz | September 17, 2008 |

Although I obviously agree with his immediate point, something in this post by Damon Root strikes the ear funny, in a way that betrays the lack of long-term thinking among libertarians (emphasis added): McCain’s response? “That’s an excellent point.” I don’t know if excellent is the word I’d use. When conservatives complain about judges “legislating…

Variations on a Theme

By Justin Katz | September 16, 2008 |

George Will: The spontaneous emergence of social cooperation—the emergence of a system vastly more complex, responsive and efficient than any government could organize—is not universally acknowledged or appreciated. It discomforts a certain political sensibility, the one that exaggerates the importance of government and the competence of the political class. Jeff Jacoby: … you don’t have…

The Beginning of Actual Change

By Justin Katz | September 15, 2008 |

Just a quick reminder for any Tiverton residents (or fiscal conservatives who wish to offer moral support to their peers here): Tiverton Citizens for Change is hosting its first public meeting tonight from 7:30–9:00p.m. at the VFW Hall at 134 Shove St., Tiverton. ADDENDUM: The meeting starts at 7:30 p.m., and people are already showing…

Press to McCain: “Don’t Cross Us… or Our Messiah”

By Justin Katz | September 15, 2008 |

With suspect editing of the VP candidate’s recent interview and dueling front page hit pieces against her, yesterday, Boston Phoenix blogger Adam Reilly would say that “by declaring war on the media, McCain has given them license to cover his candidacy the way they should have from the beginning.” The move “could actually be a…

Decisions and Morality

By Justin Katz | September 14, 2008 |

No doubt, there are some who will tear their garments (to use the old biblical phrase) at the extremity of my beliefs — if only because they lack the power, for the time being, to tear my garments — but this paragraph from Mona Charen strikes me as ceding too much rhetorical ground (emphasis added):…

Katherine Gregg, Conspirator

By Justin Katz | September 13, 2008 |

It may be that it doesn’t come across as often as it should, but I’m as disappointed as anybody that Governor Carcieri seems often not to understand the image that he must present to counter the break-and-blame strategy that the Democrats have woven into the governance of Rhode Island. If actions of the General Assembly…