Spitzer to Resign?

Posted on March 10, 2008 | Comments Off on Spitzer to Resign?

It’s being reported that New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer may resign tonight.

Earlier today the New York Times revealed that he was a client of a recently-busted prostitution ring.

Ironically, Gov. Spitzer prosecuted at least two prostitution rings earlier in his career, and sent people to jail for it.

Now, I’m no fan of Spitzer’s policies or his hardball tactics. It would be good for New York if he were to step down. But if he’s going to resign, it should be over something substantive.

Victimless crimes aren’t really crimes, if you think about it. Prostitution should be legal, if disreputable. This matter should be between Gov. Spitzer and his wife and family.

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Posted in Political Animals

More on Universities and Climate Change

Posted on March 8, 2008 | Comments Off on More on Universities and Climate Change

Further along in the survey I mentioned in the previous post, there is a section that asks students which actions we are currently taking to reduce our CO2 emissions. One of them is very strange:

Eating lower on the food chain (i.e., less meat, more plant-based foods)

Am I reading too much into this, or is there possibly a larger agenda of some kind behind this?

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Posted in The New Religion

Universities and Climate Change

Posted on March 8, 2008 | Comments Off on Universities and Climate Change

George Mason University, where I am currently studying economics, “will be taking steps to ultimately eliminate or offset CO2 emissions from all sources associated with university operations including electricity, heating, commuting, and air travel.”

In a student survey where we can raise questions or concerns, I asked: “Will the benefits be higher than the costs? Will it raise fees and tuition? Are there other uses of Mason’s limited resources that would do more good? The University should have answers to those questions before it proceeds.”

All I’m saying is look before you leap.

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Posted in Economics, The New Religion

Keeping Health Care Costs High

Posted on March 8, 2008 | Comments Off on Keeping Health Care Costs High

The House recently passed the Mental Health Parity Act, which would require group health insurance plans to cover mental health expenses.

The bill still has a ways to go before it becomes law. Those of us who care about health care costs should hope it doesn’t get that far.

By requiring insurers to incur higher costs, the bill will make health insurance more expensive; companies pass on their costs. This could price some people out of affording health insurance.

People who want mental health coverage in their insurance plans should be able to buy it, obviously. But those who don’t need it – or can’t afford it – should not be required by law to pay for something they do not want.

Legislators should take a step back and ask if, maybe, they are one of the reasons health care prices are so high.

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Posted in Economics, Health Care

Green Buildings and Labor Conditions

Posted on March 7, 2008 | Comments Off on Green Buildings and Labor Conditions

The Department of Labor recently opened a new office building in San Francisco. There is no heating or air conditioning, and the elevators only stop at every third floor.

Obviously, the workers in the building are not happy. Maybe their employer is violating some of its own standards?

Now, “green” architecture sounds like a good idea in principle. But if this is any indication of the current state of the art, I’ll pass.

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Posted in The New Religion

Favre Retires

Posted on March 7, 2008 | Comments Off on Favre Retires

In my first – and probably last – foray into sports journalism, the American Spectator was kind enough to run my brief tribute to Brett Favre.

My thanks to Jeremy Lott.

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Posted in Publications, Sports

Modern Art

Posted on March 6, 2008 | Comments Off on Modern Art

Pet rat’s artwork sells for more than $3500

The end of the video is actually pretty cute.

I should probably also disclose that hanging on my wall is a painting by a bonobo. The proceeds went toward research and conservation efforts, so I like to think I’m not a total sucker.

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Posted in The Arts

A Cooler Perspective on the Global Warming Debate

Posted on March 6, 2008 | Comments Off on A Cooler Perspective on the Global Warming Debate

Over at the New York Times, John Tierney looks at the state of the global warming debate. He points out that those who hold non-mainstream views are usually dismissed as corporate shills.

This is a shame; people have put forward arguments that are either right or wrong. Funding sources have nothing to do with whether those arguments are right or wrong.

Many people think they’re wrong. It would be nice to know why, instead of who underwrites their research. Who cares? There are much bigger fish to fry here.

We know the Earth is getting warmer, and there’s a high probability that humans have something to do with it. Beyond that, we still have a lot to learn. We have yet to conclusively determine whether the net effects will be good or bad. Will it be better to adapt to a changing world, or to try to stop that change altogether? Those are big questions, and we don’t know the answers yet.

So let’s get to finding them out. Demonizing people who disagree with us is, to be frank, a waste of time.

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Posted in Argumentation, Philosophy, The New Religion

Yankees Cite Unfair Trade Practices

Posted on March 5, 2008 | Comments Off on Yankees Cite Unfair Trade Practices

Here is a clever bit of satire over at the Cato blog.

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Posted in Economics, General Foolishness, Sports, Trade

Brett Favre Retires

Posted on March 4, 2008 | Comments Off on Brett Favre Retires

As many of you know, I am a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan. I was sad to see this morning’s news of Favre’s retirement. Sundays this fall won’t be the same, but he probably did the right thing by quitting at the top of his game.

I wish him well in his post-football life.

Meanwhile, the Aaron Rodgers era begins in Green Bay. He’s got a lot of talent, and I look forward to seeing what he can do.

Peter King, the Peggy Noonan of sports journalism, shares a story about Brett here.

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Posted in Sports