Justin Katz
As our esteemed legislators consider ways in which to dictate business practices (including a bill that would put a minimum duration on coupons), warn Rhode Island students that the flattering and charming seamen whom they meet at weddings may deceive and murder them, and ensure healthier diets, I can’t help but wonder whether we oughtn’t…
In response to my post on RI’s education problems, Klaus makes the following request and commentary: … could you please explain to me again how eliminating the teachers’ unions would improve education? I mean, I’m just a stupid socialist (according to a lot of commenters here), so could you big, bright conservatives please enlighten me?…
Every time I come across such news as this, I wonder what it’s going to take to get people incensed: … a new report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, called “Leaders and Laggards,” analyz[es] the performance of all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report found that four New England states —…
Maybe Sen. Alves is trying to save money and improve the average education that students receive by pushing wealthier children into private schools. School quality is a critical factor that parents consider when purchasing homes, so those with the means are likely to have the same emphasis on choosing better schools if it turns out…
Reacting to a comment of mine (in the conversation appended to a previous post) concerning the inevitable collision of the gay rights movement with certain fundamental freedoms, such as that of religion, Matt, of Unlikely Words, posting as MRH, writes: Two very interesting cases. I’m going to have to think about my response a bit.…
As brought to my attention by the Rhode Island Republican Assembly: In an unprecedented attack on the Rhode Island Constitution and with complete disregard to the citizens of Rhode Island, Attorney General Patrick Lynch has today, taken on the role of Lord and Master of the citizens of this state by proclaiming that “Rhode Island…
I suspect this is an argument we’ll be hearing more and more as this century unfolds: “The potential scientific gains outweigh the objections.” No doubt liberals and libertarians will join together in arguing that women have a right to sell their own eggs. But as the scientific promises move ever closer to immortality, can there…
I tacked an addendum to a post on Wednesday putting forth the following hypothetical: What would be the cost to RI taxpayers if a married family with three 19–25 year old children all had public-sector jobs and piled their health insurance onto one plan, taking buyouts for the other four? Among other arguments, commenter Jake…
An idea that I’ve seen floating around the ivory tower is that America is more of a symbol than a nation, meaning different things to different people. Thus, citizens with opposite ideologies can be equally patriotic — even nationalistic — because they cast their own goals and preferences as the True America. There’s clearly something…