Nelson's Rum
Reconstruction 3.0
Pessimism does, indeed, seem warranted. But as Sullivan’s comment in the New York Times makes clear, too much pessimism brings with it the danger of undermining the cause of reform. Too many want to ascribe the deaths of Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and countless others to immutable forces outside the control of government policy, not likely to change anytime soon.
Political Flaws in the Affordable Care Act
Then, videos of Jonathan Gruber, an MIT economics professor and an advisor during the ACA’s drafting, became a major fixture because of Gruber’s repeated references to “the stupidity of the American voter.” Finally, on Friday, House Speaker John Boehner sued President Obama in federal court over ACA-related grievances.
The Next Reform
“I shall never forget the faces of the boys and the girls in that little Welhausen Mexican School,” he said. “And I remember even yet the pain of realizing and knowing then that college was closed to practically every one of those children because they were too poor.
Where Did All The Ideas Go?
Yes, it has been one of those elections. Dark money. Negative ads. Fans. And, above all, a paucity of ideas.
Ignore Congress. Close Gitmo.
President Obama might finally be growing a backbone on the issue. The Wall Street Journal reported that he may ignore the Congressional prohibition on prisoner transfer, a decision he should have made years ago. His administration has long maintained that Congress’s law is “an … encroachment on the authority of the executive branch.” Put more bluntly, the prohibition is obdurately stupid. As Obama’s anger translator Luther from the comedy duo Key and Peele might say, “Don’t even get me started on these motherfuckers right here.”
