Commentary

Little bits of catch-up commentary for the week.....

National Sales Tax

I was going to write about George Will's outrageous endorsement of a national sales tax, but Kevin Drum beat me to it. 'Nuff said.

We're Doomed

Given what a complete disaster the planet is in (here and here), it's a little disturbing that some people are arguing that the environmental movement is in political disarray.

Bad Doctors

These people have obviously abandoned any relation to humanitarianism. Pharmacists are going to refuse treatment of people they don't like? Doctors refusing to treat gays? Does this sound like a "culture of life" to you? They claim to be Christians, but it is quite clear that they have never read the new testament.

Democratic Strategy

Bill Bradley thinks that Democrats have a weak political infrastructure that is too reliant on candidates(but see Yglesias's reply here). Glen Browder thinks we have to come to grips with the South. Josh Green thinks the Dems have become too obsessed with "message" and need some new substance, while Chris Bowers talks a lot about framing. Bull Moose thinks Dems can appeal to moderates and disaffected Republicans by constructing a "reform" platform. Then there's David Sirota's New Populist argument. There's a lot of interesting work going on about reviving an expansive liberal foreign policy. And then (if I may be so bold) there's my endless yammering about the need to reach out to small towns & small businesses in addition to making democracy itself (i.e. greater direct political participation) a compelling issue.

Who says Democrats don't have any ideas? I think there are all of the makings for a workable liberal strategy floating around out there. To me it seems that the problem is less that we don't have methods as much as it is we lack execution. It's time we stopped debating which strategy we should employ - they are in fact quite complimentary, as long as we don't get too obsessed with any one in particular. So less jaw, jaw and more act, act.

Hypocrite in Chief

And then there's the whopper of the week, courtesy of the Great Leader:

"I urge all those who honor Terri Schiavo to continue to work to build a culture of life, where all Americans are welcomed and valued and protected," the president said, "especially those who live at the mercy of others."

"The essence of civilization is that the strong have a duty to protect the weak. In cases where there are serious doubts and questions, the presumption should be in the favor of life."

This is from the "man" who callously enters a war, is willing to execute children and the mentally handicapped, reviews death penalty cases after only 15 minutes, believes that rewards should go the strong, that wealth is the best indicator of virtue, that the weak are responsible for their own suffering, etc. I could go on for hours.

You're absolutely right, Mr. President. The standard of a civilization is in how it treats the least of its members. Which makes you a barbarian. One who is not just beyond the gates, but occupying the capitol.