The Age of Romanticism, with beginnings in the 18th century, was partly a reaction to the Enlightenment and Science. Its focus was on the individual and emotion. Its progenitor, Jean Jacques Rousseau, was a man of dubious character with an over-sized influence. In art and literature Romanticism engendered much to be admired, but not in […]
Romanticism Returns Read More »
On 17 Feb 2021, President Biden revoked Trump’s 2017 Executive Order 13801 (Expanding Apprenticeships in America). That EO said, part: It shall be the policy of the Federal Government to provide more affordable pathways to secure, high-paying jobs by promoting apprenticeships (defined, essentially, as work-study arrangements) and effective workforce development programs, while easing the regulatory
Another of president Biden’s orders that caught my eye is: Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking. The premise would seem to be that lack of trust rests on prior use of science in ways that lacked integrity. The memo doesn’t explain the lack or why such lack has led
Another of president Biden’s first-day actions was Executive Order on Revocation of Certain Executive Orders Concerning Federal Regulation. Its goal is “executive departments and agencies (agencies) must be equipped with the flexibility to use robust regulatory action to address national priorities.” It does this by rescinding: >> Executive Order 13771 of January 30, 2017 (Reducing
Revoke, Rescind, Regress Read More »
This is the title of one president Biden’s first day orders and memoranda. The full text is here. I think it portends a full-bore Progressive agenda. It notes that “the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has been charged by Presidents of both parties with reviewing
Modernizing Regulatory Review Read More »
I just finished an interesting book about Harry Jaffa. The author makes this statement. “Today’s progressives do not think of themselves as tyrants any more than the Progressives of Wilson’s time, but the underlying doctrines are metaphysically identical to totalitarianism.” — Hayward, Steven F.. Patriotism Is Not Enough (p. 207). Encounter Books. Kindle Edition. Wilson
The Constitution provides 3 branches; Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. Over the past century a 4th has grown — the labyrinth of agencies, often called the Administrative State. The historical underpinnings are complex, but the operation is plain. Congress passes laws establishing, or expanding, an agency and giving to it the authority to promulgate regulations. These
U.S. Government — Branch #4 Read More »
Prior to the 2020 election the Hatfield vs McCoy pejoratives seemed to be “extreme right wing” vs “liberal”. The latter has faded away. Now it’s “progressive”. Why? I think because it denotes a more definite leftist position. This type of labeling goes back a ways. “The French Revolution set up the spectrum of political views
What Happened to “Liberal”? Read More »
Today’s political arguments often pit Capitalism vs. Socialism, simplistically treating them as a binary choice. They are not. There are three main dimensions to how either approaches the social contract: (1) ownership — private vs. public, (2) control of production and distribution — collective vs private contract, and (3) distribution of the material outcomes —
From Plato & Aristotle until Machiavelli (1532),political philosophy rested on notions of virtue residing in the rulers and the ruled. Machiavelli changed the paradigm; the primary goal is the preservation of order. Thomas Hobbes, in Leviathin 1571, produced the four parts of the contract theories, which have been evident ever since: a description of the
Political Philosophy Read More »