I’VE MENTIONED BEFORE IN THIS COLUMN that I started my voting life in 1980 (the year I turned 18) as a reliable Republican voter. I voted for Ronald Reagan twice and for Bush the Elder once. I even briefly explored joining the John Birch Society (they were sufficiently loony to dissuade even that long-ago hard-right, […]
Jerome Page: On the gallant Brothers Koch
IN PREVIOUS COLUMNS I HAVE TOUCHED ON THE KOCH BROTHERS and their influence. However, in that process I barely skimmed the surface of their enormous — and growing — power and the impact of that influence on both legislation and public policy. This will add just a tiny bit more to the prior lot. It […]
Christmas adventures on the garden island
WHAT IS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT A FORMER FOOTBALL PLAYER, career civil servant and now mayor of Kauai? In addition to these attributes, Mayor Bernard Carvalho has initiated the “New Cultural Initiative: Kaua’i Nui Kuapapa,” an innovative program that “will bring renewed life to Kauaʻi’s ancient land divisions of moku and ahupuaa, via signage, a […]
Matt Talbot: Positive economic news, and predictions
AS PROMISED IN LAST WEEK’S COLUMN, I have some predictions about the coming year’s economic performance. I’ll devote a column next December to review what I got right and wrong below. I’ve mentioned before in this space that economic expansion based on debt tends to end in tears (see 1929 and 2008 for what I […]
Jerome Page: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!
THIS COLUMN WILL BE PRESENTING ITSELF precisely between these two dates. Thus, I get all my allotment of greetings out with this post! To those friends and readers who share my political views, a deep sigh of mutual concern for the (possible!) direction of our society signaled by the last election. Let us hope. More […]
Matt Talbot: Beginning to look a lot like … an economic upswing
GIVEN THAT THIS COLUMN’S PUBLICATION coincides with Christmas Day, I would like to start by wishing all of you a very merry Christmas. And speaking of gifts — according to the Commerce Department, the U.S. economy grew by 5 percent in the third quarter of this year. Given that the economy grew by 4.6 percent […]
Jerome Page: On wasting funds on alternative energy
TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH concerning the various avenues and strategies being employed by America’s coal, gas and oil industrial giants to ensure their continued dominance involves immersing oneself in an enormous tidal wave of propaganda and misinformation generated by those huge financial interests. Sorting it all out is an almost herculean chore. At the heart […]
Notes from 30,000 Feet: Good day sunshine, Grubercrats and Nancy’s war on a woman
IF YOU ARE DRIVING INTERSTATE 15 TO LAS VEGAS, just before you enter Nevada, if you look north, you will see two massive structures in the distance. Those structures are part of the Ivanpah Solar Power Plant, which at design capacity of 392 MW is capable of providing energy for 140,000 homes. The plant, owned […]
Matt Talbot: War crimes should be investigated, prosecuted
FORMER VICE PRESIDENT DICK CHENEY appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. This is what he said when host Chuck Todd asked him about detainees who were tortured and later turned out to be innocent:
Dennis Lowry: Liberty and freedom — as American as mom and apple pie
BENICIA’S CITY COUNCIL RECENTLY ADOPTED a resolution to join Marin Clean Energy (MCE), a community choice aggregation program, by a 4-0 vote, with Councilmember Mark Hughes recusing himself. Did the Council’s decision to join MCE violate business owners’ and homeowners’ liberty and freedom? You decide! Liberty and freedom to act are as American as mom […]