For a couple of years now I’ve had a theory, one I haven’t told you all about. It goes something like this–Canada is just like us, but 5-10 years ago. Here’s how it works.
Tag: Donald Trump
How Trump’s Executive Actions are Like Obama’s–And How They’re Not
President Trump is fed up with everyone and everything. For months now, congress has refused to implement his agenda. He’s mad as hell and he’s not going to take it anymore. Does that sound like someone you know? It should–late in his presidency, Barack Obama became exasperated with years of Republican obstruction. He turned to his lawyers. What could the administration do unilaterally that might be legal? They threw the kitchen sink at it, trying all sorts of things and leaving it to the courts to decide what would stick. Like Trump, Obama began taking more executive action late in the first year, though most of his biggest and boldest moves came in the second term:
The fact that Trump is frustrated and is looking for ways to weasel around institutional impediments shouldn’t surprise us. When the Supreme Court got in Franklin Roosevelt’s way, he tried to pack the court with sycophants:
What’s interesting is how transparently bad this executive action is.
Continue reading “How Trump’s Executive Actions are Like Obama’s–And How They’re Not”
If Donald Trump Wants to Help Puerto Rico, He Should Help It Become a State
President Trump said he wants to help Puerto Rico deal with its debt (though his administration immediately U-turned on this). The territory has been devastated by multiple hurricanes and a long-running economic crisis. But while disaster aid and debt relief would be very good for Puerto Rico, what it really needs in the long-run is statehood. Here’s why.
Continue reading “If Donald Trump Wants to Help Puerto Rico, He Should Help It Become a State”
What the Single Payer Movement Can Learn From “Repeal and Replace”
Single payer healthcare seems to be getting more popular. More people are becoming aware of the advantages of single payer. A majority of Americans now say that the government has a responsibility to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage, and more than half of that majority now think the best way to do it is single payer:
The current push for single payer does however have a lot in common with another political movement–the Republican effort to repeal and replace Obamacare.
Continue reading “What the Single Payer Movement Can Learn From “Repeal and Replace””
Everyone Missed the Point of Charlottesville
Over the past couple weeks, I’ve been digesting the narratives swirling after the tragic violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. I’ve waited to write about it because I noticed that so many people’s emotions were running so high, even people who usually seem pretty level-headed to me. Nearly all the reactions I’ve seen have left me dissatisfied. This will take a minute to unpack, but I promise you it’s worth it. Continue reading “Everyone Missed the Point of Charlottesville”
Benjamin Studebaker 