Steve Kelman on Politics, Culture, and Life, 5.6.2022
Steve Kelman, Harvard Kennedy School prof, moderate Dem, pro free speech/anti cancel culture, pro tax rich, pro-Israel. Research improving gov performance, China interest. Blog reprints Facebook posts
Don’t trust the Wizard of Dr. Oz
To a conservative mask skeptic friend: I definitely trust Dr. Fauci and the CDC more than I trust the Wizard of Dr. Oz.
No education for kids of undocumented immigrants?
Governor Abbott of Texas has stated that that he would like to see a reversal of the 1982 Supreme Court decision stating that the children of undocumented immigrants had to be educated in US schools.
Roe v. Wade “settled law”?
The ABC evening news tonight showed footage from the confirmation testimonies of Neil Gorsuch and brett Kavanaugh Both said that Roe v Wade was settled law.
J.D. Vance
J.D. Vance has appeared on Tucker Carlson 15 times. That and $15 million from Peter Thiel, and a hillbilly can go far.
Jailed in China for tweets
The South China morning post has a long article today on prison sentences handed out against people for simply posting tweets. It is heartening that South China morning post, owned by Alibaba, still is able to publish articles such as these.
China accounts cancelled for criticizing lockdown
The weibo accounts of some Chinese economists affiliated even with state banks have been canceled because of their posts about China's covid policy.
Why are so many Russian generals dying in Ukraine?
An article in The Times today interestingly points out that one of the reasons for the high Russian general officer casualties in Ukraine is that In Russia command decisions are made often at the top, unlike the more empowering US system that allows lower level officers to make decisions. This means that these officers need to appear on the battlefield in person more often.
Facebook birthday fundraisers by Swedish friends
Facebook birthday fundraisers are not nearly as common among my Swedish friends as among my American ones. However, the few I have seen are all, I think, on behalf of UNHCR, the UN high commissioner on refugees.
Great firewall of China
A guy I know in China is the editor of an English language Chinese magazine aimed at an International audience.. I have asked him whether he would be willing to publish an article by me where I say that, given that the Chinese government has a support of 91% of the population, they should not be afraid to stop blocking foreign websites and taking down posts on social media. No reply yet. Stay tuned. (I am not holding my breath.)
Government approval for two Swedish religious schools teaching Islamism yanked
The education authorities in Sweden have withdrawn approval for two private religious schools on the ground they were spreading Islamist doctrines to the students.
More union elections
In the last 6 months there has been a 60% increase in the the number of workers filing petitions to the National labor relations board for union elections.