Chicago’s ‘machine’ in the 21st century “Machine politics in Chicago started in 1871 as a partnership between saloonkeepers, brothel owners, and politicians,” Richard Simpson, former Chicago alderman and current head of the political science department at the University of Illinois at Chicago, explained to the HPR. The Chicago machine became one of many urban juggernauts dotting the American political landscape ... Read More
So apparently McCain’s strategist, Steve Schmidt, is recommending that Republicans drop their rabid opposition to gay marriage. I think the “rabid” part is right; it’s certainly not netting them any votes. Strategically, however, I think it’s wise for them to not just give in entirely; it’s hardly as though there’s a clear majority of Americans in favor of gay marriage, ... Read More
When former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao spoke at Harvard as a visiting fellow, I hoped she would spark debate on everything from white collar overtime regulations to pension assets. I attended her study groups and can attest to the fact that she did this and more. Ms. Chao was engaging, provocative, and thoughtful, the type of speaker who helps ... Read More
8:17 Questions begin. So I have been holding my tongue for a while, but this is the part of the debate that entirely ticks me off. “Harvard is for the students and faculty first”? “If we were the only university we could save jobs, but we need to compete with Georgetown”? Seriously? First of all: it is not at all ... Read More
How globalization is a game-changer for nuclear security “Unless the world community acts decisively and with great urgency, it is more likely than not that a weapon of mass destruction will be used in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013,” the Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism reported in December 2008. ... Read More
Afghanistan and the reevaluation of NATO According to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s founding documents, member nations “are determined to… promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area.” Almost sixty years later, NATO is mired in longstanding and unprecedented involvement in Afghanistan, a nation far outside the organization’s geographic sphere. Founded during the Cold War era, NATO’s original purpose ... Read More
So auditors are now reporting that GM’s long-term viability is, to put it charitably, a little bit doubtful. When this sort of language is going into GM’s annual report, then it is a virtual certainty that the depth of its problems are no doubt quite severe. Insofar as Citibank and BofA (and possibly all major American banks) are now zombie ... Read More
Reconciling perceptions and realities of economic mobility in America
Judicial experience and Supreme Court nominations
Mr. or Mrs. “tired of liberal self-delusion” raises an interesting objection to my argument that the liberal state can remain metaphysically neutral while teaching only evolution and ignoring creationism/ID. He or she says, “If the state flipped a coin in these matters what you ‘think’ here might have merit.” So, does neutrality require the state to do a coin toss ... Read More
Barack Obama’s election to the presidency should not come as a shock. His political operation was more disciplined, more organized, and more effective than that of his opponents. The wisdom of his policy objectives compared to those of his rivals can be debated ad nauseam, but, it is not my intention to do so; I will leave all normative judgments ... Read More
