Steve Kelman on Politics, Culture, and Life, 1.12.022
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
Radical anti-covid lockdown in China
The relatives of a man in China who died in the hospital of a heart attack were not allowed into the hospital to visit him because of the strict anti-covid lockdown rules in the city of Xi'an. Now a social media post by the man's daughter has been deleted for publishing material "harmful to society."
Tort lawyers and Republicans
Republicans don't like tort lawyers, but the large personal injury firm Morgan and Morgan is a frequent advertiser on Fox News in the morning. Maybe Fox listeners have no objection to suing people to get money. I am also seeing ads for them in Spanish on Univision here in Miami.
China and protests in Kazakhstan
China's Global Times has been writing a lot in support of the Kazakhstan government's crackdown on protesters. Following the Chinese playbook, they are accusing protesters of seeking what in Chinese jargon is called a "color revolution," reflecting China's worry about the possibility of protesters in their own country.
Why do we have a progressive income tax?
I have learned in the William Jennings Bryan book I am reading that the initial argument for a progressive income tax was not the one we are familiar with today based on greater ability to pay, but rather the argument that the rich got more from government so they should pay more in.
Regional/class divides around for a long time
Divides mixing class and region are not new in our history. Michael Kazin's biography of William Jennings Bryan quotes him as mocking "some living along the Eastern coast better acquainted with the beauties of the Alps than the grandeur of the Rockies, more accustomed to the sunny skies of Italy than to the invigorating breezes of the Mississippi Valley."
The folk song army
Am listening to some Spanish Civil War songs by the Weavers. This reminds me of the immortal line by Tom Lehrer about the folk song army, "Remember the war against Franco. It's the kind where each of us belongs. Though he may have won all the battles, we had all the good songs."
Democratic convention ticket scalpers in 1896
Scalpers sold convention tickets to observe the 1896 Democratic convention for as much as $50, an amazing amount at the time.
Folk singers and Bob Dylan
The book I am reading on the leftwing folk band the Weavers notes that Pete Seeger of the group recommended adding some Bob Dylan songs to their repertoire, but the others rejected the suggestion.
Biden and “malarkey”
Has anyone noticed how often Biden uses the word "malarkey"? This is really a word from the past, and it is also I think very Irish.
640 foot yacht
The Times has an article today on a 460 foot-long yacht owned by a Russian billionaire, which includes its own helipad and, of course, a swimming pool. Perhaps one shouldn't be shocked by such things anymore, but I will confess that when I read the article, I was sickened.