It's not much of a link post--just three articles. But all three are very good.
(edit: 5 articles)
(2nd edit: 6 articles)
- First up, "Why $70 Million Wasn't Enough." This was maybe the most entertaining article we read last year. It's tangible proof of something we've discussed with the guys at Pendulum Politics--specifically, that CEO pay has to compete with the guys in hedge funds and private equity.
- Next, an enlightening article about Bill Cosby and black conservatism. It's good and informative, but reader beware w/regards to the author's interpretation of African American history.
James Q. Wilson has shown that slavery caused by far the greatest damage to the black family. And Thomas Sowell's research has proven that African American families were gaining ground economically on white families prior to Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" and some of the other bad policy to come out of that era.
- Finally, from Commentary magazine, an in depth look at "the anatomy of The Surge."
*UPDATE 11 May 11:58pm MST: (hat tip: S. Lybbert) A friendly reminder for those who still think we should/could exit Iraq and everything would be hunky-dory. Popular historian Arthur Herman wrote in the Wall Street Journal about the lives lost after the US withdrew its support in Cambodia and Vietnam. Democrats can close their eyes and plug their ears but it wasn't pretty.
In other news, we still fail to understand the logic of those who argue for intervention in Darfur, but want the US to immediately withdraw from Iraq. Uh, ok.
**UPDATE 11 May 11:59pm MST: (hat tip: Matt Lybbert) We're not experts, but we are economically literate. Check out this article by David Leonhardt in the New York Times on the future potential of economics to solve social problems. (yes, that New York Times)
***UPDATE 12 May 1:03pm MST (h/t: Matt Lybbert): Which of the three remaining candidates is least populist? We think that award should go to John McCain. You see, McCain remains in favor of Nafta and is one of the few and definitely the most visible politician arguing for the virtues of free trade. Check out this article, another from the NYT.
If you have tips, questions, comments, suggestions, or requests for subscription only articles, email us at lybberty@gmail.com.
3 comments:
The Cosby article is a great foray into the various ideologies at play in the black community. I think it’s overly critical of Cosby and especially Washington. It’s difficult to advocate a realists approach to race relations since it often gets interpreted as appeasement by ideologues. Cosby is no apologist and certainly no Uncle Tom. From my view, he is simply following the precedent other oppressed minority have set in order to better their societal standing—self-sufficiency.
Did you know Bill Cosby is dropping a hip hop album based on his latest book Come on People?
I think Cosby's message is going to be the best solution to the problem of racial inequality in the US. Of course the US has a shady past of race relations, especially with African Americans. I believe that as a government, the US has done all it can to redress the gross wrongs of slavery and segregation. At this point, reaching equality depends on the ability of African Americans to do as Cosby counsels, and the ability of white people to let go of racism. The government has reached the limit of its influence on both. Affirmative action is in place; government safety nets are ample; what more can be done? People like Michelle Obama, Reverend Wright, and others only make the problem worse by (1) creating an attitude of victimization and (2) making white people take African Americans less seriously.
The author of the article makes poor comparisons. He says Cosby's criticism of hip-hop is the same as criticism of jazz in its early days. This is a stupid comparison. Jazz didn't have lyrics glorifying violence, degradation of women, drug use, social irresponsibility, poor use of English, and hateful anti-white messages. Cosby is exactly right to say that much hip-hop is negatively socializing African American (and many white) youth and making them less likely to achieve social and economic equality.
The problem with this blog is that you all recommend so much good information, every time I visit On Life and Lybberty I go away with homework!
Post a Comment