Thursday, January 16, 2003

Offered without comment Off the Wagon. As a drunk is to alcohol, the Bush administration is to budget deficits. By by Paul Krugman. [New York Times: Opinion] Clemency Without Clarity. Perhaps the best argument against capital punishment may be that it is an issue beyond the limited capacity of government to get things right. By Scott Turow. [New York Times: Opinion] NYT.  So, the Supremes upheld that a Congress (that was bought off by monied copyright holders) can extend copyrights forever.  This is a classic Pareto problem of rentiers using the legal system to ensure their future revenue streams.   What they can't earn by creating they earn through changes in the law.  The end result of this type of power grab is a static and uncreative society.  Of course, the end result may be different.  New technology is the wild card in the revolution against the rentiers.  Rip, mix, burn, share. [John Robb's Radio Weblog] 10:49:22 PM    comment []  trackback []

Can you say "unconscionable?" [NY Times]: In a reversal, the Bush administration has ruled that managed care organizations can limit and restrict coverage of emergency services for poor people on Medicaid. I tried to formulate an insightful observation in response, but all I can do is sputter apoplectically. To paraphrase what the president said recently concerning affirmative action, the motives may be well intended ("to facilitate more appropriate use of preventive care and primary care") but "the method used ... to achieve this important goal is fundamentally flawed." 10:09:00 PM    comment []  trackback []