Category Archives: Politics

Three Profiles of the Modern Republican Party

Posted on Wednesday 5 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

It used to be a respectable party. But even some inside it are questioning its extremists. Three groups of items today. Moms of Liberty, Republican appeals to famous dictators, and their take that apologizing, for anything, is a weakness; DeSantis … Continue reading →

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A Predictable Trend; Ideas about Patriotism

Posted on Tuesday 4 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Two items about the decades-long trend of the decline (even) in the US of allegiance to organized religion, and how this fits into the theme of primitive v. mature moralities; Heather Cox Richardson reflects on the stages of American independence; … Continue reading →

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Ideology vs. Reality, Endlessly

Posted on Monday 3 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Is this the core issue to rule them all? Since the survival of humanity seems to be in the balance? Item’s today: How the Supreme Court’s anti-LGBTQ case should never have been brought; How the rise of the religious far … Continue reading →

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Conservative “Intellectualism,” and Fear

Posted on Saturday 1 July 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Today: A long article about “conservative intellectuals”; How my attention to politics, especially to conservative antics, is actually all about science fiction, and its aspirations; A couple items about the Supreme Court case that did not involve an actual gay … Continue reading →

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The Supreme Court’s Conservative Rollback

Posted on Friday 30 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Topics today: This week’s Supreme Court decisions on affirmative action and discrimination against gays; My wondering why such discrimination against, say, mixed-race couples, and people of other religions, isn’t also OK (or maybe it is?) Republican hysteria about immigrants, whom … Continue reading →

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Recent Headlines

Posted on Thursday 29 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Let’s round up some recent headlines, with minimal comments and quotes. LA Times, LZ Granderson, 29 Jun 2023: Column: Sure, people are moving to Texas. But not for the reasons Gov. Greg Abbott claims

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Stomping the Floor and Deafening Applause

Posted on Tuesday 27 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Let’s see how my thesis of yesterday might inform some of today’s news. How Republicans don’t want to solve problems, they want to stomp the floor to protest people they feel threatened by; How Republicans define crime; Shifting the goal … Continue reading →

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Savannah Morality and Conservative Values

Posted on Monday 26 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Thinking about the morality of primitive humans living on the Savannah, tens of thousands of years ago — apparently the basis for conservative morality unto this day; How DeSantis, authoritarian, is worse than Trump; How MAGA women reject modern options … Continue reading →

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Summer Solstice; Reality and Illusions

Posted on Friday 23 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

The summer solstice is a consequence of basic facts about the Earth and the solar system, which apparently few people understand; Another example of how debates are usually pointless, including political debates; Another take on the false idea that people … Continue reading →

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Debate Is Not the Way to Do Science

Posted on Thursday 22 June 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Because debate is all about winning an argument toward a preconceived conclusion, not trying to identify truth. Vox, 22 Jun 2023: Joe Rogan wants a “debate” on vaccine science. Don’t give it to him., subtitled “How to have better conversations … Continue reading →

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