Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 131

Media election coverage

After the Republican convention, the media was giving Trump lots of unfavorable coverage.  But once Hillary Clinton racked up a seemingly safe lead in the polls, reporters started giving her a hard time.  To the point that after Matt Lauer’s interview of the two candidates, Democrats complained about media bias!  (Welcome to the Republicans’ world!) [Read More...]

Religion’s economic impact

A study of the economic impact of religious institutions has found that congregations, charities, religious hospitals, and other faith-based organizations contribute some $378 billion directly to the economy.  That/s more than Apple, Google, and Facebook.  Combined.  The indirect impact, as that money works its way through the economy is over $1 trillion. Read a report [Read More...]

The left is “weaponizing” sports

In our polarized society, there are few safe topics when you strike up a conversation with someone you don’t know.  Politics is likely to provoke an argument instead of small talk; music and TV are now targeted to narrow niches; and religion makes people feel uncomfortable.  But there is always sports!  You can talk about how [Read More...]

Civil rights must be “preeminent” over religious liberty

The U. S. Commission on Civil Rights is recommending that civil rights be made “preeminent” in American jurisprudence.  Specifically, that civil rights claims–for example, those regarding sexual orientation and gender-identity–should always trump religious freedom claims.  There would thus be no religious exemptions, because newly-coined rights would have priority over constitutional rights. From Charles C. Haynes, The deeply troubling [Read More...]

If Clinton drops out, Democrats want Sanders

What would happen if Hillary Clinton really is having serious health problems to the point of having to drop out of the race?  I’m not saying she is or that this is likely, but it’s an interesting mental experiment.  Donald Trump, who is 70, could also have a breakdown that could force him to withdraw. [Read More...]

Terrorist attacks in New York, New Jersey, & Minnesota

On Saturday, a pressure-cooker style bomb in a dumpster went off in Manhattan, injuring 29 people.  Earlier, a pipe bomb in a garbage can exploded just after a 5K run in New Jersey. No one was hurt.  (Authorities are saying that there is no evidence as of right now that the bombings are the result [Read More...]

Pope plans to canonize priest killed by terrorists

Pope Francis says that he wants to make Father Jacques Hamel, the French priest killed by Islamic terrorists as he was celebrating mass, a saint.  The usual miracles are not necessary, it turns out, because Father Hamel was martyred for his faith.  The pope also said that the persecution of Christians is satanic. From Pope signals [Read More...]

Trump’s surge

Democrats and their media minions have been writing off Donald Trump’s chances–just as the other Republican candidates did. But now polls show that he has dramatically narrowed the gap with Hillary Clinton, who leads by only one percentage point, a statistical tie.  More importantly, Trump, who previously was way behind in the battleground states and thus [Read More...]

Slow economy due to not enough government action?

A report from the Harvard business school argues that the reason the economy is growing so slowly is because of government inaction.  The government has been in a state of gridlock, so that the government can’t do what it needs to in order to make the economy grow. Read the reasoning, after the jump.  This would [Read More...]

Church removes minister for her atheism

We have blogged about the case of the atheist pastor.  Gretta Vosper has been a minister in a Toronto congregation of the United Church of Canada, where she preaches atheism.  Contrary to my prediction, the plenty liberal denomination has finally removed her from office “because she does not believe in God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit.” Now comes [Read More...]