August Aphorisms #2

by R. R. Reno

A lesson of modernity: The brutalities of ignorance are not as extreme and destructive as the inhumanities of theory. . . . . Continue Reading »

13 Aug 2009 0

Hothead of State

by Ryan Sayre Patrico

John Gartner, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at Johns Hopkins, has published a psychological profile of White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel in Psychology Today . The diagnosis? Hypomanic . . . . . Continue Reading »

13 Aug 2009 0

Democracy in Action

by Ryan Sayre Patrico

Here’s some good news : Tucked inside a sweeping House bill to overhaul the health system is a provision that would require Medicare to pay physicians to counsel patients once every five years. During those sessions, doctors could discuss how patients can plan for such end-of-life decisions . . . . Continue Reading »

13 Aug 2009 0

Modernity is a Children’s Paradise?

by Joe Carter

Economist Bryan Caplan provides a sort of counter-argument to my previous post. Contrary to our pseudo-nostalgia for the good ol’ days, children are physically better off now than they were in the 1950s : In chapter 4 of my next book, I compare this “television reality” to actual . . . . Continue Reading »

13 Aug 2009 0

First Things Podcast: Interviews with Arkes and Brenner

by Joe Carter

In the latest editions of the First Things’ podcast, R.R. Reno interviews Hadley Arkes about his article ” Empathy & Apathy ” and Reuven Brenner about his article ” The Rule of Law and the Wealth of Nations .” . . . . Continue Reading »

13 Aug 2009 0

Aesthetic Politics

by James Poulos

The New York Times reports: guys have gone wild with their hair! Now it’s well nigh impossible to tell what a man (okay, lad) does or who he is just by assessing his do. It’s like Renaissance Italy — freaks prowling proudly everywhere, completely outside the envelope of fashion . . . . Continue Reading »

13 Aug 2009 0

Does Obama Know What He Is Talking About in Health Care?

by Wesley J. Smith

I am beginning to think that President Obama hasn’t a clue about how the health care system works. The other day, he said that a foot amputation costs $30,000-$40,000-$50,000.”  That seemed high to me, so I went to the New York State Medicaid site and looked up the surgical fee . . . . Continue Reading »

12 Aug 2009 0

Obamacare: The More POTUS Says, The Less He Seems to Know

by Wesley J. Smith

The more President Obama speaks off the cuff in the Great Health Care Debate, the less he seems to know.  Recently, President Obama contended that surgeons are paid “$30,000, $40,000, $50,000” to amputate a foot. (Hit YouTube clip, above.) But, that doesn’t seem to be true. I . . . . Continue Reading »

12 Aug 2009 0

Obamacare: Who Says Our Betters Don’t Care What We Think?

by Wesley J. Smith

This is unbelievably rude: Representative Shirley Jackson Lee talks on her cell phone during a town hall meeting on health care.  Why would we think they care less about our . . . . Continue Reading »

12 Aug 2009 0

An August Aphorism

by R. R. Reno

I’ve been trying my hand at aphorisms.  It seems like a pencil twirling, stare out the window, August thing to do.  Here’s one. A rich irony: diversity is the slogan used by progressives to avoid talking to people they disagree with. . . . . Continue Reading »

12 Aug 2009 0