Written

A water drop and ripples

A little math on illegal immigrants should be the headline.

By Justin Katz | November 27, 2023 |

Place these two paragraphs from a recent Amy Russo article in the Providence Journal next to each other, and the real headline emerges: From July into September, Jallow said about 50 migrants arrived in the state by plane from the southern border. Yet they come from a wide array of countries, including Afghanistan, Senegal and the Congo,…

A water drop and ripples

Rhode Island was one of just seven states in which residents’ income shrank in 2022.

By Justin Katz | November 27, 2023 |

Really, can’t we do better? Why do we put up with this? The answer to my questions may be that the people who won’t put up with it leave and take their income with them. Then the state redoubles to draw in people who’ll need government services, because that’s what their incentives are.

An colonial elite looks in a broken mirror while leaving the scene of an assault

With Thanksgiving for our national inheritance, let’s turn away from the turmoil progressive division will create.

By Justin Katz | November 22, 2023 |

As we all prepare (if only nominally) to recall the gratitude we ought to feel for the establishment of the beacon of freedom into which we were born, with a specific nod to a moment of shared humanity on Thanksgiving, take a moment to play with a fancy interactive infographic Bloomberg published in September. The…

A young figure looks up the stairs in a shadowy building

The other day in RI, I saw the voters who weren’t there.

By Justin Katz | November 21, 2023 |

Mainstream ignorance of Rhode Island’s political opposition is a warning sign of an unhealthy and surreal political environment.

A water drop and ripples

I wouldn’t claim to have a direct solution for Rhode Island’s early intervention programs.

By Justin Katz | November 20, 2023 |

But I have to wonder: as these groups come forward demanding more money, is anybody — whether journalists or state agencies — investigating the services that are being provided, the mandates imposed on the providers, or the nuts and bolts of the organizations providing them? Such stories typically evince no trace of skepticism about the…

A water drop and ripples

A passing thought on Washington Trust’s recent troubles in Rhode Island.

By Justin Katz | November 20, 2023 |

Conversations related to the Washington Trust settlement with the government, requiring the bank to address alleged racial discrimination on its part, indicate two views or standards for handling blame in society. One side is convinced that somebody is to blame for the circumstances of life and that the job of society (particularly government) is to…

A water drop and ripples

For anybody who’s found it strange that the news media isn’t making it easy to find the new January 6 videos.

By Justin Katz | November 18, 2023 |

Here they are.

“Clean Cars/Clean Trucks” Only Risks “Cleaning” Rhode Island of Dealerships and Tax Revenue

By Monique Chartier | November 14, 2023 |

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports (Page 11) that as of the fourth quarter of 2022, Rhode Island has fifty dealerships that sell new cars.  Note that this figure does not include dealerships selling new trucks, new buses, new motor homes, new motorcycles, et etera. Governor Dan McKee’s proposed 2024 budget, Page 158 of…

A water drop and ripples

Hamas journalists raise (and answer) a classic question of journalistic ethics.

By Justin Katz | November 9, 2023 |

The other day, I wondered whether younger folks have any sense of how long-standing is the problem of the huge gray area between journalists within the Palestinian territories (and elsewhere in the Middle East) and the terrorist organizations they’re covering.  Whether or not they’re more like terrorist propagandists is a gray area the terrorists have…

Mail ballot envelope

The lessons of recent elections for RI Republicans remain clear.

By Justin Katz | November 8, 2023 |

Surprising absolutely nobody, Democrat Gabe Amo won the available Congressional seat in Rhode Island yesterday. For those who really get into local politics, the thrill of the bet in such races is predicting whether the Republican will come in closer to 30% or closer to 35%.  Gerry Leonard hit the 35%, so congratulations to him.…