Thursday, August 26, 2004

Posted here Thursday, August 26, 2004 at 4:03:18 PM     The New York Review on summer schedule recommends these Now They Tell Us The American Press and Iraq By Michael Massing Preface by Orville Schell In this influential series of articles, Michael Massing argues that a combination of self-censorship, lack of real information given by the military at briefings, boosterism, and a small number of reporters familiar with Iraq and fluent in Arabic deprived the American public of reliable information while the war was going on Further reading: Transcript of Michael Massing and Len Downie, executive editor of the Washington Post, on The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (August 18, 2004) Thomas Powers, The Vanishing Case for War (December 4, 2003) Glory and Terror The Growing Nuclear Danger By Steven Weinberg Preface by Anthony Lewis Steven Weinberg, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist, writes that America today "has an unprecedented opportunity to begin to escape from the risk of nuclear annihilation." But, he warns, President Bush is not only letting this opportunity slip away, he is, in some respects, moving in the wrong direction. Further reading: From The Connection on WBUR, Nuclear Weapons and Concerned Scientists (March 12, 2003) Fear and Loathing in George W. Bush's Washington By Elizabeth Drew Preface by Russell Baker Elizabeth Drew's reporting exposes the cynicism of the Bush presidential campaign and reveals the deep division between the neocons in the Defense Department and the realists in the State Department. The controversy between the two camps, she finds, has "brought out bitterness and knife-wielding of a sort that Washington has seldom seen." The result, she concludes, is that "the increasing unwillingness to compromise is not only blocking legislation but, it is not overdramatic to say, is subverting fundamental concepts of democracy." Further reading: Paul Krugman, Strictly Business (November 20, 2003) Fixed Ideas America Since 9.11 By Joan Didion Preface by Frank Rich Joan Didion describes how, since September 11, 2001, there has been a determined effort by the administration to promote an imperial America—a "New Unilateralism"—and how, in many parts of America, there is now a "disconnect" between the government and citizens. Further reading: Anthony Lewis, Bush and the Lesser Evil (May 27, 2004) Ronald Dworkin, Terror & the Attack on Civil Liberties (November 6, 2003) ********

Posted here Thursday, August 26, 2004 at 11:20:56 AM     Highly recommend the new blog by Steve Clemons of the New America Institute. http://www.thewashingtonnote.com/ ********

Posted here Thursday, August 26, 2004 at 11:00:15 AM     My personal opinion is that it is a mistake to try and outlaw all 527 groups, including the boat folks's adds. The adds should be legal, and everyone has the right to make them. The issue is, if they are wrong, the authors and supports should be held accountable which is done by voting. The issue of the boat ads is veracity, not spirit. What actually is wonderful about the adds is, it gives a glimpse into the reality behind events, and that helps people make up their minds. What is crucial is that people ask for, look for, the truth, and invite the media into their lives that help get there, and keep out the parts that don't.     ********

Posted here Thursday, August 26, 2004 at 10:54:01 AM     Update on Census economic report, full report at http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/p60-226.pdf   So far it looks like they use mostly median values. ********

Posted here Thursday, August 26, 2004 at 8:43:40 AM     So much happening. I find interset and drama in very local politics: what;s happening in your town?  Take the time to get to know the  council, mayor, developers, editors. It makes life more realizeable, and, you can see how larger issues affect local choices and thinking. But meanwhile, http://money.cnn.com/2004/08/26/news/economy/poverty.reut/ Survey: More Americans in poverty Census Bureau report says 1.3 million slipped below benchmark; health care coverage also declines. August 26, 2004: 10:28 AM EDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some 1.3 million Americans slid into poverty in 2003 despite the economic recovery, and children and blacks were worse off than most, the government said Thursday in a report certain to fuel Democratic criticism of President Bush. The percentage of the U.S. population living in poverty rose to 12.5 percent from 12.1 percent in 2002, the Census Bureau said in its annual poverty report, seen by some as the most important score card on the nation's economy and Bush's first term in office. The ranks of the poor rose to 35.9 million, a boost of 1.3 million. Health care coverage also dropped last year and incomes were essentially stagnant, the Census Bureau said in its annual poverty report, seen by some as the most important score card on the nation's economy and Bush's first term in office.   It will be important to take these numbers apart. For example, when it saya income is stagnanat, if that is an average, it may mean that upper went up, and lower went down. The question is, where is the tipping point. If the top 1% goes up 1% that may mean the bottom ten percent or more going down 1%. "on average, humans are all dead." ********