Since its inclusion in the House of Representatives version of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan and parliamentary exclusion from the Senate version, there has been a lot of discussion about raising the minimum wage to $15/hour. Unfortunately, political debate over this issue has drowned out enlightening economic considerations. So let me take a … Read more
NOTE: The title of today’s post comes from an experience many years ago when my wife and I attended the performance of a music composition advertised as being written in the style of Bela Bartok. When the ensemble played the final note, a member of the audience stood up and yelled, “RUBBISH.” Yes, you could … Read more
A few posts back, I discussed the difference between acknowledging Donald Trump as “the” president versus “my” president. Words matter. This time the distinction lies between the words “voter” and “voting.” Much is being written and talked about concerning “voter suppression.” The Brennan Center for Justice reports, as of February 19, 2021, “state lawmakers … Read more
In his book The Joys of Yiddish, Leo Rosten gives the following example of the word “chutzpah” which Merriam-Webster defines as “nerve or gall.” A person on trial who, after murdering his mother and father, begs the judge for mercy because he is an orphan. Of course, this example is fiction. Last week Representative … Read more
If we learned nothing else from the 2020 election and its aftermath, we now know what happens to law students who graduated at the bottom quartile of their classes. They represent Republican officials. Not that we needed more proof, but last Tuesday the sample size increased by one during Supreme Court arguments related to … Read more