Steve Kelman on poliitics, culture, and life August 19, 2024
Democrats should take clear stance against Hamas
A Globe columnist writes that Harris “must answer for the Biden administration’s policies on the Israel Hamas war,” continuing on with some additional anti-Israel rhetoric. it is sad but true that this is a common, though clearly very much not universal, view among Democrats. The sooner Democrats take a clear stand against Hamas and recognize that Israel is part of the western democratic world, the better.
“Brat”
The never Trump Republican group the Lincoln Project is advertising election gear online. The header calls on people to “look brat” by buying it. This new slang word has spread like wildfire, but I think mostly in political context. Am I right or wrong, is it used widely more generally outside of political references? Is it particularly associated with Kamala Harris?
Trump better looking than Harris?
Trump said about Harris at rally, “I’m better looking than she is.“ The high tone of his campaign continues.
Harris the future?
Harris‘s speech main message is that her campaign is about the future, and Trump‘s is about the past. For me, frankly, this message went over like a lead balloon, why is it that she represents the future and Trump the past?
Immigrants and innovation
A Harvard study reported in the Economist concluded that though immigrants were only 14% of the US population, they were responsible for 36% of innovation. The description of the study in the article suggested to me that it should not be taken as definitive, nonetheless these are interesting and suggestive findings.
H1-B visas
75% of applicants for H-1B visas, which require that the applicant be a highly skilled worker who has a six figure job offer, are turned down. Applicants wait on average a year to get a decision, which is often longer than they’re able to wait without taking another job. We are losing opportunities to get highly motivated immigrants into our workforce and our culture. Terrible.
China and the Mideast
The South China morning post points out that after decades of having a balanced approach on the Middle East between Israel and the Arab world, in recent years China has moved very definitely to becoming a supporter of the Arab world and the  Palestinians. Given their own worries about Xinjiang terrorism, one would think they would have more worries about Hamas. Most of the people I personally know in China are sympathetic to Israel.
Podcast from China Communist Party
Beijing Review has introduced something called The Governance Podcast, which is apparently available on YouTube among other outlets. The site "delves into topics related to President Xi Jinping's leadership and how the government functions in China."
Harassment of Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State
Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State, whom Trump has frequently attacked, has been sued for defamation by a far right podcaster who claims that the official’s criticism of phony claims of stolen ballots in 2020 defame her, though the official never mentioned her name and says he has no idea what she even is.
No restrooms in Starbucks
Apparently many new Starbucks locations have no restrooms.  is this company trying to commit suicide?
“The feds” in Canada
I was surprised to see a reference to the Canadian federal government as “the feds.“ So they have adopted American nomenclature.
Topless in Boston Common
Six women marched topless in the Boston Common in the center of the city yesterday demanding legislation to make it legal for women to expose their breasts in public.