Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 372
November 21, 2013
The fate of “transformational liberalism”
As Obamacare goes, says Charles Krauthammer, so goes the fate of what he calls “transformational liberalism.” The problems and unintended consequences of the former, he says, may discredit what has been the driving ideology of the Democrats. From Charles Krauthammer: Why liberals are panicked about Obamacare – The Washington Post: At stake. . .is more [Read More...]
The case of the Harry Potter stamp
The U. S. Postal Service is coming out with a Harry Potter stamp. Never mind that there is nothing American about Harry Potter. And never mind that the stamp is just a shot from the movie, with no particular artistic design. And that the committee whose job it is to recommend subjects for stamps and [Read More...]
November 20, 2013
The coach who never punts
A high school coach in Arkansas has developed a new football strategy: His team never punts. And he always employs the on-side kick. Coach Kevin Kelley developed these tactics from a study of football statistics; though the team often gives up the ball on downs, the increased number of possessions pays off in the long [Read More...]
Casino magnate funds crusade against internet gambling
Get ready for a major push to restrict internet gambling–a major lobbying effort, political arm-twisting, and public service ads on how internet gambling hurts children and the poor. The irony: All of this anti-gambling sentiment is being stirred up by a billionaire casino owner who wants to stifle the competition. By the way, he is [Read More...]
Conservatives launch war on poverty
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) is the founder of the Tea Party Caucus, a true limited-government firebrand. But the potential presidential candidate is launching a war on poverty. So is Mitt Romney’s running-mate Paul Ryan, the Congressman from Wisconsin known for his budget-cutting schemes. He too is a likely presidential contender. After the jump, stories about [Read More...]
November 19, 2013
80 lashes for receiving Communion
Aspects of our faith that are so commonplace that we often take them for granted are serious crimes in other countries, bringing horrible punishments. Yesterday we blogged about North Korea executing people for simply possessing a Bible. In Iran, since Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol, if you are a Muslim convert, receiving Christ’s blood [Read More...]
Two kinds of libertarianism
A writer who goes by the nom de plume “Hamilton” says that both Republican and Democratic intellectuals and policy makers are essentially libertarians. (He says that there are few old-school socialists or New Dealers left in the Democratic party.) But there are two different kinds of libertarians: the school of John C. Calhoun and the [Read More...]
Google to fight child pornography
Who says nothing can be done about online pornography? Google is not only applying technological solutions to blocking access to child porn, it is using the power of shame. Other search engines are following Google’s lead. The impetus is the crackdown on pornography by the United Kingdom that we blogged about earlier. But Google is [Read More...]
November 18, 2013
Heaven and the widow of seven husbands
The Sunday before last, our Gospel reading was about the Sadducees who tried to shoot down the doctrine of eternal life by asking Jesus a hypothetical question about a woman who was widowed seven times–in the resurrection, whose wife will she be (Luke 20)? Pastor Douthwaite preached a powerful sermon about the nature of life [Read More...]
The death penalty for possessing a Bible
North Korea executed 80 people, in some cases, tying them to stakes and machine-gunning them before 10,000 spectators of all ages assembled in a sports stadium. Among the crimes: possessing a Bible. From Public executions seen in 7 North Korea cities-INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily: Some 80 people were publicly executed earlier this month in seven [Read More...]
