Blog 3 Columns

The Atlantic: A Crisis of Truth is Upon Us (Apart From Trump)0
- Culture
- January 29, 2018
A mere one-third of Americans trust their government to “do what is right,” according to a new report by the communication firm Edelman. Trust in the media is not much higher (42%), and while trust in business and non-governmental organizations appear stronger, both are down considerably (10 and nine points, respectively). What’s strange is there is
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So You’re Too Ethical to Eat Meat; But Should Cows Go Extinct?0
- Philosophy
- January 29, 2018
Vegetarianism and veganism are becoming more popular. Alternative sources of protein, including lab-grown meat, are becoming available. This trend away from farmed meat-eating looks set to continue. From an environmental perspective and a welfare perspective, that’s a good thing. But how far should we go? Would it be good if the last cow died? Many
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Red Robin is Cutting 570 Jobs. Can You Guess Why?0
- Economics
- January 29, 2018
Red Robin, a popular burger chain, will cut jobs at all 570 of its locations because, chief financial officer Guy Constant said, “We need … to address the labor [cost] increases we’ve seen.” To put it differently, Red Robin is cutting these jobs because of bad government policy: namely, hikes in the minimum wage. On
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PBA Cards: When Corruption Is a Job Perk 0
- Culture
- January 26, 2018
I recall quite vividly the day I first witnessed the potency of the “get out of jail free” cards issued by Police Benevolent Associations. I was a teenager in the New Jersey suburbs headed to a concert with a car full of friends, and our driver was so caught up in conversation about what a
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How a Woman Can Know if a Man Truly Loves Her 0
- Culture
- January 26, 2018
If asked to name one of the world’s most foremost novels on relationships between men and women, Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice would undoubtedly be in the running. Indeed, Mr. Darcy has somehow become synonymous with the idea of a perfect gentleman. But while Austen-mania grips modern culture, its decorum does not. Modern day Lizzys
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Did Trump Throw the First Pitch in a Trade War with China?0
- Economics
- January 26, 2018
Despite receiving billions of dollars in subsidies, the U.S. solar panel manufacturing industry is not competitive with Chinese imports. There is a robust solar industry in the United States; it’s just not in the manufacture of panels. As the Wall Street Journal explains: “The U.S. solar industry has discovered that its comparative advantage lies not
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‘Critical Theory’ Needs a Good Critique 0
- Education
- January 26, 2018
By now, almost everybody is familiar with the phenomenon of “social justice warriors”, a.k.a. SJWs. Originally it was a pejorative moniker, but it seems that its bearers have recently adopted it as a badge of honor. SJWs embrace a “critique” of various forms of “oppression”: racism, “the patriarchy,” “heteronormativity,” and capitalist exploitation of the poor
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‘What’s Wrong with the World?’0
- Philosophy
- January 26, 2018
Just over a century ago G. K. Chesterton wrote a book that is as relevant today as it was then. In fact, its title remains as relevant today as it was then: “What’s Wrong with the World.” Would Mr. Chesterton be surprised and/or disappointed to learn that there are still things wrong today? Not at
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Religion Isn’t the Enemy of Science: It’s Been Inspiring Scientists for Centuries 0
- Religion
- January 25, 2018
Take notice of any debate in the media and you’ll see that science and religion are, and always were, at loggerheads. Science is about evidence-based fact, religion is about faith-based belief. But repeating statements endlessly in the media doesn’t make them true. The actual entanglements of religious tradition and the development of science are far
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The Atlantic: A Crisis of Truth is Upon Us (Apart From Trump)0