Shallow and sad

Jim Manzi posted a poll on National Review Online. He said "...Republicans face losing a generation as decisively as the Democrats did under Reagan if they don't figure out how to appeal to people under 30."

Here's the note I sent him in response:

I think you may misunderstand something. Democrats don't "appeal" to young people either. It's not about appeal. It's all about negativity, dislike, unhappiness, victimization, and shallow immaturity. No one tells these people the truth and they've been told it doesn't matter. Nothing matters. Except saying you care about the Earth and oppose the war can help your social status -- you might get invited to a party. Pretense to ideals is their virtue and talking points are their creed, if they even bother with those.

These people can't be reached until they grow up. And since many of their "parents" never grew up to be responsible adults, why should they?

A good conservative leader could gain the support of this group, but so could a good communist leader. Anyone with a good story and a magnetic personality could do it. They want to be told a story. That story was Obama's, but flakes blow where the wind takes them and the wind is not in Obama's favor.

Don't take these young people's political opinion seriously. They are not serious.

America is shallow. If you want something to worry about, worry about that.

Image from wvs

I sent a note to Victor Davis Hanson

This is a quick email I sent to Victor Davis Hanson.


I'd like to respond to your statement:

"...but since a dictatorial communist China holds over $1 billion dollars in U.S.-government-backed bonds, it is unlikely that any street protesting will lead to much more than a few meaningless resolutions in Congress..."

Two things about this:

1. "$1 billion dollars" must be a typo. (or actually 2 typos). Congressmen spend this much money without thinking about it at all.
2. This is fodder for conspiracy nuts. The fact that other countries hold US debt does not drive policy. Why would it? What recourse does China have with regard to the debt?

The idea that equates personal debt with national debt leads to a huge number of misunderstandings, to fear mongering, and to a loss of focus on the real problems. National debt is not a large enough part of GDP to represent a real problem in the US. (The unfunded Social Security and Medicare liabilities are, but that's not generally talked about as "debt" and has absolutely nothing to do with bonds or foreign bond holders.)

Please don't feed the fear mongers and conspiracy nuts. If you don't have a full understanding of the debt and finances, then ask someone at NR who does before you tell people to worry about foreign bond ownership. Foreign bond ownership is a non-factor.

Taxpayer funded Islamic School in Minneapolis area

Katherine Kersten reports today on a taxpayer-funded Islamic school in Inver Grove Heights in the Minneapolis area.

TIZA has many characteristics that suggest a religious school. It shares the headquarters building of the Muslim American Society of Minnesota, whose mission is "establishing Islam in Minnesota." The building also houses a mosque. TIZA's executive director, Asad Zaman, is a Muslim imam, or religious leader, and its sponsor is an organization called Islamic Relief.

Students pray daily, the cafeteria serves halal food - permissible under Islamic law -- and "Islamic Studies" is offered at the end of the school day.

Mrs. Kersten seems to be saying that the taxpayers ought not have to fund an Islamic school. I think this is a bigger opportunity than that. If Muslims can get taxpayer funding for an Islamic school, then Catholics can get government funding for a Catholic school.

Perhaps Muslims can lead the way here. It would be refreshing to see schools do something besides teaching children to hate their country.

Photo by bookish