1hundredsixty8

The recent kerfuffle in Indiana and Arkansas over so-called religious freedom laws has brought into focus the schizophrenic nature of Republican Party politics. As Jennifer Steinhauer points out in last Thursday’s NY Times, “the tug of war between… more »

News Item: "Kansas Fiscal Woes Forcing Brownback To Consider Medicaid Expansion" Talking Points Memo is reporting this morning that "Gov. Sam Brownback (R) and the Republican-controlled legislature in Kansas is inching ever so slowly toward expanding… more »

Catherine Rampell writes today in the Washington Post about Wisconsin governor Scott Walker's proposal is his state budget announcement that would require applicants for welfare, Medicaid, food stamps and unemployment benefits be tested for illegal… more »

One of the touchstones of American political and economic libertarianism is the free market. This is the one place where the contradictions inherent in America’s oxymoronic version of the social compact are on display. If you doubt this is so, please… more »

News Item: New York Times, Jan. 26, 2015 Koch Brothers Budget of $889 Million for 2016 Is on Par With Both Parties’ Spending By Nicholas Confessore “The political network overseen by the conservative billionaires Charles G. and David H. Koch plans to… more »

Several years ago, the Princess of Passion & Pain and I purchased a condo on the Gulf Coast of Florida and have been spending winters here. As a part-time resident, I have tried to familiarize myself with my new environment. The Sunshine State is a… more »