Matt Yglesias recently took to his blog to decry one of the great evils of our time: Harvard students who donate $10 to support their school. To make his case, he sets up a straw man — namely, the idea that we give Senior Gifts primarily to “promote social justice”: [L]ook, if you’re considering giving $10 … Read more
Last month I wrote about a murder trial that I observed in Dupage County, Illinois. Josh Matthews, who was found guilty in that case, inspired me to reflect on the question of morality in our society. Matthews defended himself in court and displayed a dishearteningly suspect moral code. His descriptions of his mother were unflattering, … Read more
A year ago, during the wake of the financial crisis, it was fashionable to lambaste the greedy. Today, however, the moral pendulum has swung the other way. With the U.S. still sluggish in its recovery, commentators point towards to a new culprit: the global saving class, from the likes of Germany, Japan and China. Their … Read more
Last night probably could not have gone better for Democrats, even though the party establishment is shedding crocodile tears over Arlen Specter and Blanche Lincoln (the latter of whom is in serious trouble, as Lt. Gov. Bill Halter outperformed polls and has three more weeks to close the deal). Even in Kentucky, Democrats probably got … Read more
In the new Harvard Salient, Patrick T. Brennan has achieved the Platonic ideal of a Salient article: equal measures of pure arrogance, submerged racism, and exclusive affection for all things ancient. The only way to appreciate this article is to quote some of the choicest sections. For example: Americans of color have undoubtedly done some … Read more