Rich Kids Go to Elite Colleges, Becoming Rich Adults

The economics of higher education is increasing the gap between rich and poor.

501(c)4 vs 501(c)3 vs 527

Almost no one can confidently explain, let alone define, the specifics of the 501(c)4 designation.

Some Initial Thoughts on the AP and IRS Stories

A starting point for two important stories.

Bourbon Snobbery

The noted wine critic Robert Parker recently forayed into reviewing bourbon and came under intense fire from enthusiasts of American whiskey.

Could Benghazi Have Changed The Outcome Of The 2012 Election?

Would more information about the Benghazi attacks have changed the outcome of the Presidential election?

Does Benghazi Rise To The Level Of A “Scandal?”

Republicans looking to Benghazi for political ammunition are likely going to be disappointed.

Benghazi: Incompetence But No Cover-Up

Yesterday’s hearings shed more light while also raising yet more questions to which we’ll likely never get a satisfactory answer.

Gun Crime Down, But Americans Think It’s Up

The reality of gun violence in the United States is far different from the story the media is telling us.

Income Inequality and the Social Contract

The rich are getting richer and more politically powerful.

Gun Control A Low Priority Issue Among American Voters

There’s a very simple reason why gun control is stalling in Congress despite its popularity in the polls.

Shooting Sprees vs Organized Terrorist Attacks

We treat violence by lone individuals differently than organized violence. Race, religion, and national origin have nothing to do with that.

Why Are Sales Of Desktop PC’s Slowing?

Desktop PC sales fell by nearly 14% in the first quarter, continuing an ongoing trend. There are many reasons this is happening.

Mental Illness, Gun Rights, And Medical Privacy

Keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people while protecting individual liberty isn’t easy.

Why Marriage Equality Matters

A case from Missouri provides an excellent example of why it matters that states forbid people who love each other from being married.

The Iraq War And The Damaged Legacy Of The GOP

The Iraq War did significant damage to the legacy of the Republican Party.

News Industry In Crisis But News Reporting Better Than Ever

Matt Yglesias has a smart push-back against the lamentations of the decline of journalism.

Why Rand Paul’s Filibuster Mattered

Rand Paul’s filibuster is one that all American’s should thank him for that.

Obama White House Thinks It Can Kill Americans In America

The Obama White House is not ruling out targeted strikes against Americans inside American territory.

Rise of the Megacommuter

About 8.1 percent of U.S. workers have commutes of 60 minutes or longer and nearly 600,000 have “megacommutes” of at least 90 minutes and 50 miles.

Why Gay Marriage Can’t Be Left to States

Separate, it turns out, is not equal.

Conservative News Consumers Again Surprised By Obvious

The Hagel confirmation, like Obama’s election, was big news to some avid news consumers.

When Can Government Force You to Violate Religious Beliefs?

A federal judge poses an interesting question in a case over Obama’s contraceptive mandate.

Republican Obsolescence: Ideas, Not Technology

NYT Magazine asks “Can the Republicans be Saved From Obsolescence?”

Employers Screwing Workers To Sidestep ObamaCare Mandates

Employers have to provide health coverage for those who work 30 hours a week. Guess what?

The GOP’s Ongoing Bush Problem

Pretending like the Bush administration never happened is a problem for the GOP.

Poor Pay High Taxes, If We Redefine ‘Taxes’

The American tax code contains perverse incentives and barriers to getting out of poverty.

The Army’s Leadership Problem

Tim Kane continues his campaign against the US military’s antiquated personnel system.

Guns and Self-Protection

Some musing on guns: who uses them, how, and why.

Conservative Media Its Own Worst Enemy

Conservatives complaining about biased coverage from the liberal media should instead look in the mirror.

Does All-Volunteer Military Break the Social Compact?

Andrew Bacevich bemoans the social impact of the all-volunteer force.

America Cramped By Defensiveness?

Is America’s focus on defense weakening the country?

Further Evidence Limbaugh Should be Ignored on Immigration

Really, more evidence he should be ignored in general.

Suicide Not a Victimless Crime

When someone kills himself after being bullied, we rightly condemn the bully. Should we condemn his victim, too?

The Role of Editors

I have over the years been both editor and edited; currently, I’m both, often in the same day. Some thoughts on the relationship.

How Liberal is President Obama?

Looking at the data? Not very.

Guns and Tribalism

Josh Marshall explains what it’s like to be a non-gun person in a very pro-gun culture.

Congress Jumps Off Fiscal Cliff, Pulls Parachute Rip Cord

Our politicians have averted an artificial crisis of their own making. The next one’s in two months.

Administrative Bloat at America’s Colleges and Universities

One major factor in the skyrocketing cost of a college education in America is a huge increase in overhead costs.

Institutions Matter: Just Look at the Congress

Representative democracy is a process of delegation of power to agents who act on behalf of citizens. The process of delegation matters.

Liability Insurance for Guns

Would Liability Insurance Help Minimize Threats to Public Safety?

Right of the People

Sharing some thoughts and soliciting feedback on what the 2nd amendment means.

Pot Calls The Kettle Hack

Alex Pareene’s annual hack list omits an obvious candidate: Alex Pareene.

The N.R.A.’s Bizarre Response To The Sandy Hook Shootings

The NRA’s response to the Sandy Hook shootings was bizarre to say the least.

Republicans Fail Math Test

Radical tax groups secured a Pyrrhic victory last night.

Is The Gun Debate Over?

Conor Friedersdorf contends “The U.S. Already Had a Conversation About Guns—and the Pro Side Won.”

Are Mass Shootings Really On The Rise?

Obsessive media coverage makes us believe mass shootings are far more common than they actually are.

Meaningful Action To Prevent More Tragedies Like This

Will the massacre of twenty children in a Connecticut elementary school mark a turning point in America’s gun culture? Don’t count on it.

A Map Is Worth A Thousand Votes

Democrats are approaching an “Electoral College lock.” Republicans are trying to pick it.

Pennsylvania Considers Electoral College Reform

Pennsylvania Republicans want to do the right thing for the wrong reason.