Justin Katz

Life as Cost/Benefit Analysis

By Justin Katz | February 18, 2007 |

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…

About Those Buyouts…

By Justin Katz | February 16, 2007 |

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…

A Phantom Tradition

By Justin Katz | February 16, 2007 |

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…

A Prankster in the RI Senate?

By Justin Katz | February 14, 2007 |

I truly want to know the motivation behind proposed legislation such as this: Sen. John C. Revens Jr. (D-Dist. 31, Warwick) has introduced legislation that would extend private health insurance coverage to dependents up to the age of 25. The legislation, (2007 – S0327), targets individuals between the ages of 19 and 25 who are…

Ah, the Brits and Their Unintentional Parody

By Justin Katz | February 14, 2007 |

Somehow, two aspects of this brief story seem related, in a cultural sense. In one respect, it’s notable that it should be newsworthy when prisoners depart unannounced from an “open prison.” In another, it’s notable that three robbers and a druggie should be declared “not dangerous” (with the caveat, of course, that “the public are…

Hey Bush Haters: Just So’s You Don’t Miss It

By Justin Katz | February 14, 2007 |

Well look what’s among the news not fit to print: Even with spending control slipping a bit (up 6.4% in January 2007 compared to January 2006), the deficit is 57% lower through the first four months of FY07 than it was at the same time in FY06. I believe that merits a “Wow.” There is…

I don’t know what’s more depressing….

By Justin Katz | February 13, 2007 |

… that Anna Nicole Smith plays such a large role in these graphs, or that the 2008 election does. Anchor Rising is finally recovering from readers’ hangover from the last election. Can’t we all take some time to learn, consider, and argue matters more substantial than Playmates and political gamesmanship?

Party of Death, Indeed

By Justin Katz | February 13, 2007 |

It occurs to me that there’s a gruesome consistency to Senator Joshua Miller‘s activities thus far. His first two acts in his first year as a public servant were: To promote abortion in his place of business To push forward legislation of symbolic opposition to further military action in Iraq. In the first case, he…

Small State, Global Culture War

By Justin Katz | February 13, 2007 |

In part by the stark contrast to one of our newest state senators that it presents, Rev. Edward Wilson’s defense of his parish school’s lunch policy (which recently slipped across the national wires for its lunchtime behavior policy) is remarkable: At its frenzied peak, news coverage and commentary defaulted to cultural stereotypes of ruthless Catholic…

“And now, who has won?”

By Justin Katz | February 12, 2007 |

With the intention of making reservations, I GoodSearched my way to Trinity Brewhouse’s Web site, last night, but what I found there gave me reservations. I can only assert that I’m wary of slipping into the role of easily offended Catholic Christian, and my literary and artistic background gives me wide latitude to excuse, on…