Michael Keegan writes about "The Values Election We Didn't Have -- and Must Have," but he doesn't go all the way. "A higher minimum wage," after all, isn't a value, but a policy prescription. When the right talks about "values," they're really talking, exclusively, about oppressing gays, women, and minorities. But we need to talk about values like, you know, telling the truth, keeping your promises, and helping out those who need help. Against Republicans who, as Mr. Keegan says, "cloak() their extremism," we'll win those arguments every time.
A pair of economists argue that the widening divide between rich and poor in America is holding our economy back. Messrs. Cynamon and Fazzari describe their research (and refute opposing arguments) patiently and without resorting to mumbo-jumbo. Also, n.b. that "(i)f we lose our trust in the legal system and the legitimacy of the market, then we will lose trust in cooperation." This must be why Our Glorious Elites shit the bed all the time -- to induce us to give up. That ain't happening, not in my America.
Journal of Patient Safety revises conflict-of-interest disclosure policies after finding that nine of 10 articles from one Dr. Chuck Denham contained potential conflicts of interest and that five of these went undisclosed. And this is a perfect place to have a discussion about values! Telling the truth and keeping your promises are worthwhile values of a civilized society, right? Well, apparently Dr. Denham didn't tell the truth about his connections, nor did he keep his promise to provide unbiased and transparent research.
New York Times three-named columnist hammers Sen. Elizabeth Warren's alleged "rage," as supposedly exemplified by a recent Washington Post piece of hers, without actually presenting a shred of evidence that he even read Ms. Warren's piece to begin with. No, really, it's that bad. But I guess this is how the "liberal" media will try to torpedo a Warren Presidential bid -- their talking heads will say she's "full of rage," then nudge their buddies and say, because you know how women are, amirite?
Finally, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman declares he won't run for the Republican nomination for President in 2016. Sen. Portman, you may recall, reversed his stand on gay marriage in early 2013, but said that had nothing to do with his decision not to run (and it probably didn't -- I'm sure the National Organization for Marriage doesn't make him shake in his boots), citing instead his desires to get things done with the incoming Republican Senate majority and run for re-election. In both these things, he may be feeling a bit optimistic.
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