Organ donation and the so-called perils of having an organ market
While the U.S. currently has a surplus of many common human organs ready for organ donation, countries like New Zealand face a troubling shortage, and many people die before suitable transplants can be located. Such events have prompted discussion of an “organ market” where economic incentives are used to persuade individuals to add to the organ supply. This means of persuasive organ donation has created its fair share of controversy.
Organ donation for life and profit
New Zealand economist Eric Crampton notes that the nation’s government could use several different types of economic incentives to encourage organ donation. One thing Crampton suggests [...]
Anyone mad at Ann Coulter is missing the point
Political commentator Ann Coulter recently caused a stink by calling the president a dirty word. Outrage ensued, but any time people get bent out of shape by her or people like her they are missing the point, namely that any publicity is good.
That outrageous Ann Coulter
Ann Coulter recently called President Obama “the retard” in a Twitter post, sparking outrage and an open letter from Timothy P. Shriver, which is posted on the Huffington Post, among other sites. Shriver, who has Down’s Syndrome, is a Special Olympian and not too shabby a writer.
The “r” word, as it were, is certainly an [...]
The war on germs is killing our kids
Is your world dominated by hand sanitizer? Do you fear germs so much that you’ll do anything to maintain an ultra-clean, sterile environment? That’s fine if you want to punish yourself that way, but if you’re a parent, let kids be dirty. Dirty kids who are allowed to play outside and be children suffer from fewer illnesses than their immunity-deprived, obese, video game playing counterparts. That means less money spent on healthcare, which is always a win for the consumer.
The war on germs has eradicated good sense
As a culture, Americans have become so uptight about controlling the presence of all [...]
How the televised presidential debates are a fraud
The evening of Monday, Oct. 22, was the final installment in the presidential debates leading up to Election 2012. Did you know that by believing that that’s all there is in politics this election cycle, you are buying into a gigantic serving of fraud perpetrated against you? Did you know that by supporting the idea that there are only two viable candidates for President of the United States, you are not only accepting the status quo, but implicitly supporting a backroom agreement between bullies to exclude other voices from the U.S. political landscape? If you care about being informed and [...]
Second debate proves Romney and Obama are both lying or idiots
The second presidential debate was recently held and there was a very telling moment, when the candidates sparred over gas prices. The exchange was proof positive that Romney and Obama are both dishonest and/or stupid.
Second debate proves choice is between terrible or awful
Some people really get into presidential debates and in theory, it’s a great concept. In practice, two talking heads unleash unforgivably maudlin soundbites in hopes they say what a lot of people want to hear, which might get them elected. If elected, they proceed to do anything other than what they said they would once in office.
Guantanamo, “no [...]
Charities and transparency – How not to get taken for a ride
New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman wants the act of giving to charity in his state to come with some assurances that the money is going to the intended causes. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – along with its ubiquitous pink ribbon brigade – has authorities wondering whether charitable donations are being used more to fund promotional product placement, rather than the most important work of charities. If Schneiderman has his way, new rules regarding charities and transparency will be established that will serve as a model on which the public can rely.
Charities and transparency – Worrying about Kony [...]
Paul Ryan thinks you are the dumbbell
A rather pretentious acquaintance of mine likes to re-invent himself on Facebook occasionally by posting new pictures of himself being trendy and cool. A recent such campaign consisted of a handful of black and white shots of him triumphantly wielding his guitar in poses that could have been covers for a Ronny James Dio album. Never mind that he can’t play a note on the instrument.
Paul Ryan reminds me of that.
Paul Ryan dumbbell
Last week, hours before his only debate with Joe Biden, America was “treated” to shots of Ryan curling 30 and 40 pound dumbbells with a “yeah, I know [...]
Vice-Presidential debate was great television
In HBO’s series “The Veep” — which chronicles the misadventures of the first female vice-president (Julia Louis Dreyfuss) — the VP’s office is portrayed as a needless post that is given trivial tasks to keep it busy. It is an entertaining show, but it seems to me, not all that accurate. Shirley Anne Warshaw said Dick Cheney wielded plenty of power in the Bush Administration in her book, “The Co-Presidency of Bush and Cheney.” And current Vice-President Joe Biden’s performance at Thursday night’s vice-presidential debate may well have given the election back to Obama after his limp performance at the [...]
Why law school is a bad idea right now (Pt. 3)
Let this temper your enthusiasm for law school. The numbers are that disturbing. And the student loan debt loan is only going to get worse unless the federal government gets involved. Click if you missed PART 1 or PART 2 of this article.
Law school isn’t a sure bet, and applicants bail
If you’re looking for absolute financial security, law school is no longer the safe bet it used to be. College students have taken notice of this, according to the Law School Admissions Council. The number of law school applicants has fallen by nearly a quarter over the past two years. [...]
Why law school is a bad idea right now (Pt. 2)
Law school seems like a great idea at the time. However, the most recent numbers don’t bear out that idea. Unemployment, starting salaries and student loan debt are bigger issues than ever before. CLICK HERE if you missed the beginning of this article.
Law schools have been lying to you
The Wall Street Journal’s data, based upon American Bar Association figures, has exposed discrepancies in the employment figures traditionally reported by law schools. The Journal reports that its jobs study is the first time that all jobs requiring a legal degree and passage of the bar exam have been analyzed. Law schools [...]
Why law school is a bad idea right now (Pt. 1)
This isn’t a lawyer joke, or even a setup for a barrage of lawyer jokes – unless you’re into that kind of thing. No, this is a reminder that the cost of a college education has outpaced inflation significantly, and that student loan debt is the next bubble that, upon bursting, will smite the U.S. economy in a rain of fire against a barren mountainside of lost hope. Oh, and along the way, you just might learn why law school is a bad idea – namely, because the starting salaries are nowhere near high enough to make a debt in [...]
Presidential debate was a mis-matched sporting event
What I mostly walked away with after Wednesday’s presidential debate was that the election process most resembles a sporting event during the debates.
Calling the presidential debate
Most commentators, like refs at a sporting event, are calling Wednesday’s presidential debate on gamesmanship, and not on substance. Romney, they say, was the clear victor. Never mind that the President’s opponent offered no new details and dished out plenty of tired misinformation.
James Carville, commenting on CNN, said the President was “off his game.”
“President Obama came in … to have a conversation … Mitt Romney came in with a chainsaw.”
It was a boxing match between [...]
Free contraception should be welcomed as it reduces abortions
There has been a great deal of hullabaloo lately concerning free contraception, or rather the provision of the Affordable Care Act mandating insurance companies give women “the pill” for free. The thing is that some people should be absolutely thrilled with it, as there’s evidence that it reduces the incidence of abortion.
Free contraception a victory for Pro Life lobby
In his 1994 stand-up special, comic George Carlin observed that it was ludicrous for social conservatives, especially the uber-religious, to be opposed to both homosexuals, or as we term it now gay rights or alternately LGBT rights, and abortion. As he astutely [...]
John Sununu says President snoozed. Yawn.
It’s no news that Republicans will oppose anything President Obama supports. It is equally true that they will not hesitate to heap blame on the administration for every dark turn in national and global affairs.
John Sununu and the vilification of a president
Why is this current president vilified to such an unprecedented degree? Some Republicans go out of their way to include the middle-name “Hussein” when mentioning him, simply to remind everyone that it was also Saddam’s name. They shamelessly call him a socialist and a radical and the corrupter of a once-great nation.
But no matter how it is twisted, Obama [...]
Maybe it is time to let the US Postal Service die
The United States Postal Service is going to miss an overdue annual payment to its retired workers health care fund, which it missed last year and again recently, when the previous deadline passed. One hates to think it, but it might be time to just let the U.S. Postal Service die.
US Postal Service misses another payment
For those that haven’t been following it, the United States Postal Service is in dire financial straights. The agency, which is technically an independent government entity, has to pay $5.6 billion per year into a fund for retired worker’s health care expenses. They keep missing [...]
Bain Capital helping to ruin radio is a reason not to vote Romney
There may be many reasons to vote for and likewise against Mitt Romney, some involving his former company, Bain Capital. However, chief of their sins, worse than any layoffs or avoiding taxes, is that Bain owns Clear Channel, the radio chain, the people responsible for the terrible state of radio.
Bain Capital is partly to blame for lousy programming
Normally, I wouldn’t tell anyone how to vote. Granted, I’m a unreconstructed cynic that’s convinced it’s a rigged game and that voting makes little difference. Presidential candidates tell people what they want to hear to get votes and favor “special interests” with legislation, [...]
Romney says half of Americans are victims
I am writing this seven weeks to the day before the nation goes to the polls to decide between the incumbent and the challenger for the office of President of the United States. At this, the nth hour juncture in the campaign, Mitt Romney — the challenger — has made some of his greatest verbal stumbles. In his panic at his consistently low-position in the polls, could Romney have momentarily let his guard down and revealed just a little too much of his real agenda?
Romney alienates half of Americans
Romney’s remarks earlier this week were captured clandestinely at a fundraiser held [...]
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