Thursday, March 28, 2024
Miles from the Mainstream
D. R. ZUKERMAN, proprietor
Observations - May 2014

May 15, 2014 --

LPR's Question to the Media ...
 
Why did it take three weeks to notice the abduction in Nigeria of nearly 250 girls, seeking an education?

May 15, 2014 --

Looking Backward to Looking Backward for The Mother of the Single-Payer System ...
 
The Edward Bellamy novel, written in 1887 envisioned life in the United States in the year 2000. Per Bellamy, the United States, in the year 2000, did not have Social Security, food stamps, various subsidies, or a minimum wage. What it did have was a real single-payer system: all income came from government, and everyone, whatever one's work, calling or profession, received the same amount, in terms of annual credits, with goods and services obtained by "credit cards."

 

May 15, 2014 --

Media Bias?
 
The New York Times, May 3, reported that "dozens of people died in a fire related to clashes" in Odessa, Ukraine between Ukraine natonalists and pro-Russian activists." The Times, May 4, reported that "46 people had died as a result of street battles between pro-Russia and pro-Ukraine groups" in Odessa. The report continued "many of the dead were pro-Russia militants who had retreated into a trade union building that was then set on fire." There was no Times headline about the 46 dead. LPR has a hunch that had the 46 dead been "pro-Ukraine" there would have been banner headlines in the American press.

May 15, 2014 --

The Left's War on Women Commencement Speakers
 
News of yet another change in plans for a college commencement speaker, with the withdrawal of IMF chief Christine Lagarde as Smith College commencement speaker, after Condoleeza Rice withdrew as commencement speaker at Rutgers, and Ayaan Hirsi Ali was disinvited as Brandeis commencement speaker, prompts LPR to call for setting up the Speakers for Commencement Academic Banishments Society (SCABS) , with any person who agrees to replace the withdrawn or disinvited speaker qualifying as, well, a scab.