Category Archives: Economics and the like

Just Because A Company Is Owned By Christians Doesn’t Mean The Company Has Christian Beliefs

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Ampersand

A good post by Jessica Pieklo at RH Reality Check: What’s noteworthy about the decision in this case is not the outcome, but the detailed and well-reasoned dissent crafted by Circuit Judge Ilana Rovner. In examining the question of what … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care and Related Issues, In the news | 84 Comments

Both Parties Agree: Drown Government In A Bathtub. But Only The GOP Admits That’s What It’s Doing

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Ampersand

Ross Douthat discusses the two major political parties and the debt: In this landscape, no matter which painful solution polls better in the abstract, a political coalition that’s actually laid the groundwork for what it wants to do seems more … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like | 81 Comments

Family Scholars Blog Symposium on Marriage Policy

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Ampersand

Family Scholars blog is having an online symposium on marriage policy, featuring responses to their new “State Of Our Unions” report from various folks with an interest in family and policy. One thing that’s interesting is that this is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like, Families structures, divorce, etc, Same-Sex Marriage | 23 Comments

Cartoon: Talking About The Deficit

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Ampersand

[spoiler]Cartoon depicts a woman and her child, sitting on the edge of the curb. The child is sleeping leaning against its mother. In front of them, a homemade cardboard sign reads “Unemployed Hungry.” On the sidewalk behind the pair, two … Continue reading →

Posted in Cartooning & comics, Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Economics and the like | 19 Comments

The Minimum Wage, Global Warming, and Expert Consensus

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Ampersand

Via Bleeding Heart Libertarians, I read Daniel B. Klein and Stewart Dompe’s admirable article “Reasons for Supporting the Minimum Wage: Asking Signatories of the ‘Raise the Minimum Wage’ Statement.” Klein, an economist who opposes the minimum wage, wanted to understand … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like, Environmental issues, Minimum Wage | 22 Comments

Mitt Romney Reveals His Contempt For Half Of America

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Ampersand

Well, 47% of America, to be accurate. This is a video of Romney, at what he thought was a private, unrecorded fundraiser: There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, poverty, labor, & related issues, Economics and the like, Elections and politics, In the news | 67 Comments

Two great long-form political cartoons

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Ampersand

I really like long-form political cartoons, which we don’t see much of, I think because it’s hard to find a market to sell them to. But here are two great ones I came across this week: “Straw Feminists In The … Continue reading →

Posted in Anti-feminists and their pals, Comics I Like, Economics and the like | 6 Comments

From Forbes.com: “The Bomb Buried in Obamacare Explodes Today – Hallelujah!” by Rick Ungar

Posted on July 2, 2012 by Richard Jeffrey Newman

An interesting article. I wonder what people think. Here’s an excerpt: [T]he provision of the law…called the medical loss ratio…requires health insurance companies to spend 80% of the consumers’ premium dollars they collect—85% for large group insurers—on actual medical care … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care and Related Issues | 14 Comments

Supreme Court Upholds Affordable Care Act

Posted on June 28, 2012 by Ampersand

Still not much time for posting, but I do want to point out that — much to my surprise — the Supreme Court has upheld the Affordable Care Act, with Roberts voting with the four relatively liberal Justices, and Kennedy … Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care and Related Issues, In the news, Supreme Court Issues | 26 Comments

I Said, “Pretend You’ve Got No Money.” She Just Laughed and Said “Oh, You’re So Funny.”

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Jeff Fecke

The Romneys are not like you and me. [Ann] Romney alluded to the fact that not all women can stay at home saying, “I love the fact that there are women out there who don’t have a choice and they must … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics and the like, Elections and politics | 46 Comments