Is that a compliment???

In shoving her controversy-plagued healthcare reform bill to victory by a paper-thin margin, she (Pelosi) conclusively demonstrated that a woman can be just as gritty, ruthless and arm-twisting in pursuing her agenda as anyone in the long line of fabled male speakers before her.

The more I read Camille Paglia, the more I like her.

Which statement should not, in any way, shape, or form, be so construed as to imply that I agree with all--or even most--that she writes.

On to the previous post, which is far more interesting and far less likely to elicit controversy.

Quote of the Day

A right by definition requires nothing of anyone else except that they do nothing to infringe upon that right.

from this response to the "everyone deserves health care" platitudes

A Good Democrat

It's rare that I cite a liberal article, for the simple and obvious reason that I generally disagree with them. However, this Camille Paglia editorial making the blog rounds is an excellent piece. I take issue with the idea that regulating (or, better, outlawing) abortion is any more an example of government overreach than outlawing murder, but that is my sole major complaint (which is not to say that I would necessarily sign my name to every other statement, of course).

My favorite quote?

It was as if Democrats live in a utopian dream world, divorced from the daily demands and realities of organization and management.

. . .except that I think I might replace "Democrats" with "politicians in general."

Oh, The Drama!

I think this is a great summation of a responsible conservative (and Christian) attitude toward President Obama's speech tomorrow.

To Consider

as clear an explanation of human rights--and so-called human rights--as I've seen

Worth the Read

This article, I think, offers a wise perspective on one of the major causes (and, thus, potential remedies) for our country's current economic state.

No Free Market Left Unturned

I am so very glad that our illustrious Congressmen have realized the significance of this matter and are giving it their attention.

When the government easily sees its way clear to intervene in the frivolous pastimes and pursuits of its people, tell me the word "totalitarian" doesn't hover on the edge.

One More Election Post

Dr. Albert Mohler on the election

the Archbishop of New York on the black and white nature of abortion

Randy Alcorn on abortion

Doug Wilson on the election

Taxes

Doug Wilson has an interesting post about the U.S. system of income taxes. It's food for thought.

I Confess to Being Conservative

At the risk of annoying some, I share this quote from John Derbyshire on The Corner on National Review Online.

The entire problem with healthcare is that it's a risk-reward curve. How far do you want to (or: can afford to) let people go along the curve? About 95 percent of the healthcare that people need can perfectly well be supplied by nursing assistants with a couple of years' training, or Third World providers like the ones I discussed. When you climb up into the remaining five percent, you are in the zone where real doctors and expensive equipment are needed. Keep going and you enter the zone of million-dollar drugs, teams of specialists, experimental technology, and months of intensive care. A billionaire can of course travel all the way along the curve. Should the rest of us be able to? Our system is organized around the answer "yes." This is probably untenable. Sooner or later you're going to die. Get used to it.

I grant that this ends a bit harshly. And I grant that I do not know enough to readily offer a solution to our current healthcare conundrum. However, I submit that, without many of our subsidized programs, the demand for expensive treatments would lessen, driving costs down--which would, in turn, increase the demand and restore some sort of market balance to the system. Just a thought.