Archive for June, 2017
Rare Free Speech Victory in the Supreme Court
Posted by An Observer in Constitutional Issues, The Courts on June 21, 2017
Even rarer, the Court unanimously agreed with a federal appellate court that free speech is “…a bedrock First Amendment principle: Speech may not be banned on the ground that it expresses ideas that offend.” The case, Matal v. Tam (No. 15-1293, 2017), centered on a musical band, The Slants, whose band name trademark application was […]
Democrats Lose in Georgia’s Special Election
Posted by An Observer in Miscellaneous, Observations on June 21, 2017
Noteworthy in this case, in what is being reported as the most expensive House election in American history. As I have discussed here before, losing has become a common theme for Democrats over the last few years. Maybe this latest defeat is due to the Russians. Maybe something more practically logical can explain this electoral […]
Statism and Pacifism are Antithetical Principles
Posted by An Observer in Constitutional Issues, Economics, Fiscal Issues, Monetary Policy, & Taxation, Education, Environment, Equality, Foreign Policy, Gun Politics, Miscellaneous, Observations, The Welfare State on June 14, 2017
By definition, this is fact: Pacifism (ˈpæsɪˌfɪzəm) N 1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the belief that violence of any kind is unjustifiable and that one should not participate in war (emphasis added) Statism (ˈsteɪtɪzəm) N (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the theory or practice of concentrating economic and political power in the state, resulting in a […]
General Thoughts on the Comey, Sessions Congressional Testimonies
Posted by An Observer in Miscellaneous, Observations on June 13, 2017
My overall thoughts on the recent congressional testimonies of former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey and sitting Attorney General Jeff Sessions can be summed up thusly: pure Kabuki Theater. Or, to quote something funny and apropos I saw on Twitter: they are “a big fat nothingburger.” Honestly, I should care a lot more […]
