Ellen Goodman on the working poor in this country. Remember when The Wall Street Journal editorial page referred to low-income families as the “lucky duckies” who don’t pay any income taxes? Today the only social policy of the Bush administration is tax cuts, the only citizens worthy of compassion are taxpayers who want to conserve [...]
Archive for June, 2003
Top Country Songs?
June 19, 2003
Jack Sparks continues his good list of top 100 country songs: There’s a certain amount of irreverence involved in this list. That is to say, there are acts that I like that I don’t revere, and vice versa. Second, this list is about to get really weird now that we’re out of the top 20. [...]
Hard working executives rewarded with raises
June 19, 2003
The Washington Post reports that executive pay rose significantly last year: Total cash compensation in 2002, including salary, bonus and other direct payments, rose nearly 17 percent, to a median of about $1.2 million, in 2002. The median figure represents the point at which there are an equal number of chief executives above and below. [...]
Bush: “What, me worry?”
June 19, 2003
The NY Times reports that the Bush administration continues to deceive Americans over global warming: The editing eliminated references to many studies concluding that warming is at least partly caused by rising concentrations of smokestack and tail-pipe emissions and could threaten health and ecosystems. Remember the Bush mantra: there is no lie too big. As [...]
Redner sues Tampa, wants fair treatment
June 19, 2003
Did Joe Redner get a raw deal? Looks like he may have. After an appeals court forced the Tampa City Council to revisit their denial of a liquor permit, they may have unlawfully muscled Redner into accepting less than ideal conditions in order to open his business: To get wet zoning for the property, Redner [...]
Republican against human bodies
June 19, 2003
The SP Times reports today that US Rep. Mark Foley is upset by some Florida summer camps. For 10 years, young people ages 11 to 18 have gathered in Pasco and other Florida counties to pitch tents, swat volleyballs and sing around campfires. Typical summer camp, save one important distinction: They do it naked. …snip… [...]
More on medical malpractice damages
June 19, 2003
The Tampa Tribune has an article in today’s business section (note: why isn’t there a Labor Section?) that illustrates the underlying unfairness in setting arbitrary caps on pain and suffering (AKA noneconomic damages) in medical malpractice cases: But Betsey Herd, a Tampa attorney who represents plaintiffs in medical malpractice cases, said that given the way [...]
Bush’s racial profiling order a sham!
June 19, 2003
Elaine Cassel weighs in with a look at the tricks and deceptions that make up Dubya’s recent racial profiling proclamation: So, in one “order,” at once arrogant, bold, and evil, Bush has declared that it is lawful to violate the Constitution when he says it is—if you fit any racial or ethnic stereotype. And his [...]
Link to “They Just Don’t Want to Know Of Dissidents and Dissonance”, by Ben Tripp
June 17, 2003
I read this piece on MorningWood today. Lotsa requests for the source, so here you go: Ben Tripp: Of Dissidents and Dissonance
More later?
June 17, 2003
I did my regular show on WMNF this morning from 4-6. I think I might rest for a while. Stay tuned for more rants later today or tomorrow.