David Frum's Blog, page 99

The Oh So Stubborn Meritocracy

Is the human race naturally egalitarian or meritocratic? Most major societies trend meritocratic, and Dylan Evans notes that not even communism in practice is egalitarian, as bribes and high positioning within the ruling party makes some more powerful than others. Commerce, however, injects a sense of fairness and egalitarianism into this Darwinist scheme.

Yes, Heavy Pot Use Harms Teenage IQ

Kevin Sabet directs us to studies reconfirming the negative impact of cannabis on IQ in teenagers.

Joe Biden Said What?

While everyone chatters about the President's speech, something Joe Biden said the day before has surprisingly garnered little attention. A friend writes:

Not Even the King of Pop Can Survive the Amazon Trolls

A team of Michael Jackson fanatics used Amazon to kill a book about the life and death of Jackson. Every positive review of the book was reported to Amazon as “inappropriate” and was erased by Amazon, leaving only the 1-star ratings and very negative commentary. A vast majority of the negative reviewers had never read the book to begin with, and were attacking the book just for its topic, rather than its substance. They claimed it was filled with “lies.”

Egypt's President Morsi Warns: Beware the Jewish Controlled Media!

Have they no spin doctors in Egypt?

Is Embassy Security Underfunded?

The next time somebody tells you that Republicans cut funding for embassy security, send them this link to reporting by theDaily Beast's own Eli Lake:

Israel's 'Iron Dome' Saves Palestinian Lives

News legend Dan Rather makes a startling but shrewd observation at theHuffington Post about Israel's "Iron Dome" missile defense system

Republicans Have a Language Problem

Very wise words from Jennifer Rubin on why Republicans should take a walk outside their epistemic bubbles and realize the consequences of their language:

Obama's Fighting Speech - Part 4

Part 1

Yes, Syria Used Chemical Weapons

Josh Rogin has the whole of the secret State Department cable on poison gas in Syria at The Cable blog at Foreign Policy. Rogin's report embarrassingly discredits official assurances that no chemical weapons were used in Homs on December 23.