This article delves into the pervasive issue of fake news, exploring its rise and impact, particularly in the context of the Internet and social media platforms. It emphasizes the need for multidisciplinary efforts to understand and mitigate the spread and influence of fake news, focusing on both individual and structural interventions. (more…)
Author: Bob Weeks
Republicans Will Encourage Voting Before Election Day
This article, written by Walter Olson and published on Cato Institute, discusses a significant shift in the Republican Party’s stance on voting methods. Former President Donald Trump, who once criticized alternate voting methods as prone to fraud and urged Republicans to vote on Election Day, and the GOP are now encouraging the use of various balloting methods, including vote by mail, early in-person voting, and the use of drop boxes. This change is largely seen as positive, allowing campaigns to allocate resources more efficiently and appealing to a broader range of constituents. However, the article also raises concerns about the potential risks associated with third-party ballot collection, emphasizing the need to balance convenience in voting with maintaining the secrecy and security of ballots.
Olson, Walter. “Republicans Will Encourage Voting Before Election Day.” Cato Institute, 22 Sep. 2023, https://www.cato.org/blog/republicans-will-encourage-voting-election-day
It’s Time to End the Trump-Biden Trade War with China
This article discusses the ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China, which began during the Trump administration and continued under President Biden. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s recent visit to Beijing highlighted the need for a reset in U.S.-China economic relations. The article criticizes the Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese goods, a move that was later supported by President Biden. This trade war has not been beneficial for the U.S., with the New York Federal Reserve estimating that the tariffs increased costs for average American households by about $830 annually. The article points out that while the Chinese Communist Party is partly to blame for the strained relations, U.S. policies have also contributed to the problem. The Trump-Biden approach to China has been described as “reflexively hawkish” and “economically illiterate.” The article suggests that the U.S. should reconsider its tariffs, reauthorize the Generalized System of Preferences, and join the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership. It also emphasizes the importance of immigration for the U.S. tech industry and warns against excessive regulations on American tech giants. The article concludes by advocating for a return to America’s traditional strengths, including openness to international trade and immigration.
Packard, Clark, and Scott Lincicome. “It’s Time to End the Trump-Biden Trade War with China.” The Bulwark. https://plus.thebulwark.com/p/time-to-end-trump-biden-trade-war-with-china.
How Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Sells Misleading Ideas
This article delves into the misleading rhetoric and tactics employed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an anti-vaccine activist and presidential candidate. Kennedy has been known to use a method called “data dumping” where he overwhelms listeners with a barrage of numbers, acronyms, and methodologies to falsely suggest that vaccine injuries are widespread. The New York Times analyzed numerous interviews and found that Kennedy often uses these rhetorical devices to spread misinformation on topics like vaccines, 5G technology, and global farming. (more…)
Federal Share of State Budgets
The share of state revenue from federal sources varies widely among states. (more…)
Kansas Tax Revenue, August 2023
For August 2023, Kansas tax revenue was 1.9 percent lower than August 2022, and 3.7 percent less than estimated. (more…)
Should Wichitans care when ballpark development starts?
This article discusses the financial implications of the delayed development around Riverfront Stadium in Wichita. Costing $85 million, Riverfront Stadium is among the priciest Minor League ballparks, funded by $42.14 million in sales tax and revenue bonds from a 2018 state program for tourist attractions. The initial development phase was set to conclude by July 2024, but construction has been postponed to late summer or early fall of the following year. Delays could mean the city using taxpayer money intended for other purposes to repay the state. Vice Mayor Mike Hoheisel expressed concerns about diverting funds from parks, streets, and public safety. The city’s financial strategy involves STAR bonds, which, when successful, allow cities to finance new attractions without upfront taxpayer costs. However, if these projects don’t self-finance, cities must find alternative funding sources. The article emphasizes the importance of timely development to ensure financial stability and avoid burdening taxpayers.
The Wichita Eagle. “Should Wichitans care when ballpark development starts? If you pay taxes, then yes.” September 03, 2023.
https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article278616494.htmlSummary generated by ChatGPT
The Articulate Ignorance of Vivek Ramaswamy
In David French’s op-ed titled “The Articulate Ignorance of Vivek Ramaswamy,” published on August 31, 2023, the author delves into the crisis of civic ignorance exacerbated by poor political leadership. French argues that civic ignorance is not a new phenomenon in America; however, it has reached a critical point due to the rise of leaders who not only perpetuate misinformation but also refuse to be held accountable for their actions. He cites historical data to show that Americans have long been uninformed about their own government and history, a situation that has worsened over the years.
French uses the example of Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate, to illustrate how articulate yet fundamentally flawed leadership can mislead the public. Ramaswamy is described as a charismatic speaker who often makes statements that are either blatantly false or unworkable. Despite this, he has found success in the political arena, reflecting a broader issue where the public, already disconnected from political reality due to ignorance, is further misled by leaders who exploit this ignorance for their own gain.
The author emphasizes that the problem is not just with individual leaders like Ramaswamy or Donald Trump but with a political culture that has abandoned the pursuit of truth. This creates a dangerous cycle where an uninformed public is unable to hold their leaders accountable, leading to a degradation of democratic values. French warns that the combination of civic ignorance, corrupt leadership, and partisan animosity is a ticking time bomb that threatens not just American democracy but the stability of the world.
French concludes by stating that a democracy can only function effectively when it has an informed public and an honest political class. The absence of both puts the democratic experiment at risk, making the nation susceptible to conspiracy theories and divisive politics. The op-ed serves as a cautionary tale, urging both the public and the political class to recommit to the principles of truth and accountability.
French, David. “The Articulate Ignorance of Vivek Ramaswamy.” The New York Times, 31 Aug. 2023.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/opinion/ramaswamy-political-ignorance.htmlSummary generated by ChatGPT
Trump’s Fate Belongs in the Hands of 12 Ordinary Citizens
This article, penned by Jesse Wegman on August 27, 2023, for The New York Times, delves into the significance of the jury system in the American democratic process, drawing parallels between the classic film “12 Angry Men” and the recent legal challenges faced by former President Donald Trump. The film, which revolves around the deliberations of a jury in a murder case, underscores the vital role that juries play in upholding the principles of democracy. The article emphasizes the impartiality of the jury system, where ordinary citizens are summoned to determine the guilt or innocence of an individual, irrespective of their personal biases.
Wegman reflects on the recent events where Donald Trump was charged in Fulton County, Georgia, for his alleged involvement in racketeering related to overturning the state’s 2020 presidential vote. While impeachment efforts against Trump were thwarted by partisan politics in the Senate, and the 14th Amendment’s disqualification clause, which could potentially bar Trump from holding public office, remains a contentious issue, the author posits that a criminal jury might be the most democratic solution to ascertain Trump’s accountability for the events of January 6.
The article underscores the sanctity of the jury system, where jurors, despite their familiarity with high-profile defendants like Trump, are bound by the law and procedural rules to ensure a fair trial. Constitutional scholar Akhil Reed Amar is quoted emphasizing the importance of juries as a means of political participation and self-governance. The Founding Fathers of America, recognizing the significance of juries, enshrined the right to a jury trial in the Constitution.
In conclusion, while juries are not infallible, they offer a more objective avenue for justice than partisan politics. Entrusting the fate of individuals, even someone as polarizing as Trump, to a jury embodies the essence of a society governed by the rule of law, where facts and legal principles take precedence over biases.
Wegman, Jesse. “Trump’s Fate Belongs in the Hands of 12 Ordinary Citizens.” The New York Times, 27 Aug. 2023.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/27/opinion/trump-prosecution-jury-courts.htmlSummary provided by ChatGPT
