When you value science, quantitative analysis, reasoning, and empirical testing above being "right" in one's conclusions, papers like this one arise. Dry, essentially emotionless, not strident or powerful reading, but founded in hard analysis of hard numbers that can be reproduced, manipulated with mathematics and variable re-examination. Papers ( Read more... )

Article I, Section 8 defines the specific powers and authority of the Congress, in far more depth than the general principles lain down by sections one through seven. This section is the basis of the Enumerated Powers doctrine embraced by many conservatives: they argue, had the Founders wanted Congress or the people, or any faction within the ( Read more... )

In this case, standing to defend. I hope we all remember Perry v Schwarzenegger, in which it turned out the named defendants had no interest in defending, and agreed to let others represent the side they were as happy to concede was wrong. Well, today* the California Supreme Court is expected to answer the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals' question: ( Read more... )

I have thinked a few thoughts about the Constitution. ( Let me show you them. )

ianthe99, this one's for you!

This chart explains almost everything about how easy it is to misunderstand the political situation in the US, from watching television news.

Another book to add to my must-read list. About George Kennan and Paul Nitze, who arguably between the two of them accounted for practically all the foreign-policy advice that arrived at Cabinet meetings between 1949 and 1999.

Thys is a bandwagon the which ich wolde lyke to leap upon. Ich am thinkinge that I shal add a litel sparkle to that Tales of Canterburye projecte ich have been werkinge on for several yeeres nowe. Ich am now writing the recentlye-renamed Wyf of Bathory’s Prologue ( Read more... )

The new Pew Poll talks a fair bit about public anti-intellectualism in not so many words, but reveals something of a chicken-and-egg question: the question not asked is, do those "leaning" Democrats really feel particularly attracted to big-D Democracy, or are they moderate conservatives who don't want to be apologists for a party which is often ( Read more... )

I am struck by how I feel a little guilty playing the "evil" side of many role-playing games, since they require one to do things which are often downright depraved. Less offensive to the conscience, but still deeply offensive to one's sense of cultural respect, is that in most games the primary means of fund-raising (for the adventuring player ( Read more... )