John McDonald on Politics
I don't know why, but I've been hooked on politics for nearly as long as I can remember. It really doesn't make sense - I'm not a fan of government in general and there are few politicians I can even stand to read or hear about.
Latest Politics Posts:
Ron Paul wins CPAC Poll – Gets Mixed Reception
Ron Paul was the big winner at this year’s CPAC straw poll, but not everyone in the crowd was happy to hear about the result. Hear his speech here to know exactly what is causing a major rift in the modern Republican party.
2010 Predictions
A few political and predictions for 2010. Hopefully, I’ll be proven wrong!
Let Anything Destroy Healthcare Reform
Compromise among existing lobbies and extending coverage won’t fix American medicine and healthcare systems. My personal experiences with American medicine have led me to write this response to a recent article arguing that the current health-care legislation is worth saving.
Religion as Rebellion
What can “religion as rebellion” teach us about foreign policy, war, and resistance to imperial rule?
Has Debate Become Impossible in American politics?
Can we have an open and honest debate about healthcare? Really, is it even possible anymore? A review of how political loyalties often seem contradictory yet stay so strong – and how this stubborn loyalty can stifle debate and lead to political mismanagement of important issues.
Who is in Charge of the U.S. Dollar? This guy, unfortunately
Obama has announced that he will be re-nominating Bernanke to chair the Federal Reserve board, but the recent performance of the Fed and its power over our dollars is anything by reassuring.
North Korea – Back and Forth at the Brink
Anyone following North Korea’s politics over the last few months may have noticed something that looks like a lot of mixed signals. The motive behind Kim Jong Il’s erratic behavior may actually be an attempt to establish his legacy.
FDIC Bailout on the Way?
Another round of weekend bank failures threatens to bring the FDIC’s insurance fund into the red. Will we be financing a new bailout here soon?
Obama Approval Rate Dropping – Is he too Conservative?
Obama’s job approval rating is in sudden decline – are the president’s policies being viewed as too conservative, too similar to the path Bush has set us on?
What’s $24 Trillion Between Friends?
The government has promised a couple years worth of GDP to backstop financial institution losses, and what exactly have the tax payers gained from it?
Florida Cigarette Price Doubles in Three Months
Cigarette taxes have exploded over the last few months – but at least they’re still a whole lot cheaper here than they are in many places.
Healthcare Costs must be Contained with a Public Plan
Healthcare costs continue to rise as a portion of GDP – and America is starting to lag behind other developed nations in terms of the return we get on that investment. Although I generally favor free markets, there is nothing competitive about medicine in the U.S.A., and all evidence suggests a public approach is best at containing costs and improving results.
Banks Back Off – California IOUs in Limbo
An update on the last post – despite the guaranteed profit margins, TARP banks won’t be taking California IOUs after all.
As California Goes…
If California is an indicator of things to come for America, we’re headed in the wrong financial direction. Why are our states are broke and begging to pay interest on loans from publicly bailed out banks?
Airport Security Theater
Inconvenience is the most visible effect of modern airport security theater. The question I’m left asking is whether or not it even helps with safety.
No Society is Static – The Seasons of Civilization
They say that those who do not understand history are doomed to repeat it… so we obviously haven’t learned our lessons yet. One theory fits the historical evidence and shows us why we may never achieve a perpetually stable and ideal society.
Trying to Give Obama a Chance
After a few months in office, Obama’s administration seems to differ from Bush’s legacy in rhetoric alone.
Slaying Dragons for Fun and Profit
Slaying dragons – a look at one of mankind’s favorite villain archetypes from the view of a post-modern world.
The Federal Reserve and the Credit Crunch
Unless you’re living in a cave or you work for the government, you’ve probably noticed that prices are going up much, much faster than wages. This isn’t necessarily an accident or unplanned market event, this is the result of many decades of specific monetary & fiscal policies designed to drive consumption and “expand the [...]
Underground Politics
Underground Politics News and Discussion Forum
This is my first website. It started off as a place to stash various essays and opinions I have written about politics, but by the time I got Joomla set up and vaguely modified for my uses, I realized I have basically already lost most of what I wrote [...]