We never really know. It just happens. I lost my sister this past week. Well, I guess people would call her my sister-in-law, but really she was like both my second sister and a brother I never had. 41 years. That's a long time. We take it for granted. It seems like our most loved … Continue reading What We Never Know
war
Second Casualty of War
It's been said often that the "first casualty when war comes is truth". If so, then surely the second casualty of war is the English language. The Pentagon, White House and State Dept have long butchered plain language and favored the use of euphemisms. We long ago learned that it's not really civilians that get … Continue reading Second Casualty of War
U.S. Is Not Broke: Obama Launches Jobs at Libyans
Of course neither Obama nor the Congress nor the news media think of this past weekend's launch of hostilities with Libya in these terms. But it's what's happening. Three weeks ago we were being told by Obama, the Democrats, the Republicans, and lord knows Fox News, that the "U.S. is broke". We "must cut spending … Continue reading U.S. Is Not Broke: Obama Launches Jobs at Libyans
War Is Not the Answer
I must add my voice to Brad Delong's, Dean Baker's, and Mark Thoma's. War is NOT the answer to our economic problems. The only way war can help economically is by increasing government spending dramatically. If we could do it for a war, then we can get the same benefits without the dead bodies, the … Continue reading War Is Not the Answer
Easterly Offers Good Advice on Afghanistan
William Easterly strikes again in Won’t shut up about Afghanistan (Aid Watch). I must agree with him: So, after years of experimentation, we can now start applying these subtle, complex lessons: (1) Don’t kill, (2) Don’t steal, (3) Don’t give aid to those who do.
