Other Issues

OPM Is the Problem, Not the IRS

2013-06-07T14:39:30-04:00

Suddenly, Democrats are in a tizzy about wasteful government spending. At hearings this week into the IRS's misuse of taxpayer dollars to fund staff junkets, Rep. Elijah Cummings, ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, bemoaned, "The money that was spent on that -- that's my money! That's the lady who got the early bus this morning. That's her money. The one who makes $35,000. Hers. The gentleman up the street from me who makes 45 (thousand dollars) hauling trash. That's their money! So, it was wasted." But he shouldn't be surprised.

What went on at the IRS is built into the system. It's not an IRS problem. It's a problem whenever individuals are free to spend Other People's Money. The more removed those who spend OPM are from those whose money they're spending the greater the likelihood for corruption.

The New York Times Won’t Give Up (But We Won’t Either)

2013-06-04T11:54:49-04:00

The New York Times is pulling out all the stops in its efforts to ensure that the Supreme Court doesn’t ban racial and ethnic preferences in university admissions. But the Center for Equal Opportunity has answered it, here and here, and as discussed in this week’s email.

Last week it ran a front-page, above-the-fold article titled ”Affirmative Action Ruling Near, Blacks’ Progress Remains Slow.” As the title suggests, the message of the story is: It would be very bad if the Supreme Court were to rule in Fisher v. University of Texas against the use of racial preferences in student admissions, because African Americans remain underrepresented in many professional occupations (dentists, physicians, architects, lawyers) and among corporate executives.

Tone at the Top

2013-05-27T13:06:37-04:00

Lucky for Barack Obama, he's the president of the United States and not the CEO of a major corporation. If he were the latter, his board would be busy seeking a replacement about now. But the American people have no such recourse. We elected him, and we're stuck for another three years and eight months, no matter the scandals that emerge in his administration nor how incompetent a chief executive he proves to be.

Straight Talk on Race Relations

2013-05-27T13:05:06-04:00

Here’s an excerpt from a recent column I wrote (you can read the whole thing here) and that I thought you might enjoy:

Race relations in the United States are good, have never been better, and in all likelihood their future is even brighter. And the key for continued progress is not complicated: don’t discriminate, and don’t screw up.

A Simple Prescription for Race Relations, As We Await Fisher

2013-05-22T01:46:14-04:00

As the Supreme Court prepares its opinion in Fisher v. University of Texas (in which that school’s use of racial and ethnic admissions preferences is challenged), and as our bien pensants continue as always to agonize about the state of race relations in the United States (which are actually quite good, by the way), a few thoughts.

Do the Right Thing

2013-05-17T20:56:19-04:00

In my experience, many who plead most passionately for bipartisanship do so because they hope to persuade those on the other side of the aisle to cave in on their principles. But there are times when bipartisanship is not only desirable, but also absolutely necessary. Partisan bickering and finger pointing have no place when national security is at stake.

Unfortunately, both parties seem to ignore this rule when it suits them. Democrats did so routinely during the Bush years; now Republicans seem to be playing the same game over the Obama administration's investigation into national security leaks last May.

Recent News Supports Our Supreme Court Arguments

2013-05-16T05:06:30-04:00

Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act imposes burdens on some states and not others whenever they want to change practices or procedures related to voting. I explain why Section 5 is bad policy, outdated, unconstitutional, and ought to be struck down by the Supreme Court here and here.

“The Fox Is Guarding the Henhouse”

2013-05-07T04:07:13-04:00

Last week I sent to you a special email about President Obama’s disturbing nomination of Thomas Perez to head the Department of Labor. (The committee vote on that nomination will be this week, by the way.) I’d like to lead off this week’s email by flagging another bad nominee.

Don't Capitulate to North Korea

2013-05-04T12:37:04-04:00

The sentencing of an American citizen to 15 years of hard labor in North Korea's infamous prison camps has escalated the cold war between the totalitarian regime and the United Status. Since assuming his role of head of state following his father's death, Kim Jong-un has repeatedly ratcheted up tensions between his nation and ours.