Life, Liberty & The Pursuit of Happiness

Equality for all!

by Reena Kapoor

Meanwhile, at the uber-expensive Sidwell Friends Private Independent School in Washington, D.C.  .  .

Q&A

by Reena Kapoor

All we can do is laugh: Cash for Clunkers Q&A

Immigration Blues!

 

by Reena Kapoor

An interesting report "Losing the world's best & brightest" by Duke University Professor Vivek Wadhwa and team.  Telling trend especially in light of the march of the lemmings into communism without demur or protest.  Apparently many potential immigrants are concluding the difference in economic benefits - a by product of freedom - are not sufficient anymore, anyway. Might as well be closer to friends and family. I hope people will start listening before US innovation, entrepreneurial spirit and Silicon Valley all become a sad memory.

We can't get reform with backroom deals

by Rakinder Grover

This post in Mish Shedlog's blog is quite revealing.  Do we think we'll get real change/reform if the government cuts such deals and lines the pockets of the existing players? Liberals like Arianna Huffington are getting quite upset about this. And this is certainly not the free market working.  In a few years after the excitement of "doing something" dies down and when people start to realize that things have not really changed (and likely have gotten worse), see insurance and pharma companies still making profits - they'll blame the free market and capitalists.  The problem is the "reformers", even those with "good intentions", are not working to cause real reform.  That requires breaking the cozy relationship of government and business and they are not going to bite the hand that feeds them.

No Surprise!

by Reena Kapoor

Every few months I get really mad at some piece of news I read. This is one of them:  Fraud by Trial Lawyers Taints Wave of Pesticide Lawsuits. And why are we surprised that trial lawyers committed fraud to win these lawsuits? See how media reports these cases, and how most people assume that companies are guilty --- before they even hear of a shred of evidence --- and you won't be so surprised. Note that, SIMILAR FRAUD WAS COMMITTED IN THE ASBESTOS LAWSUITS. And how DOW (the company) was tried, judged and ruined over breast implants without evidence.  The rewards for wining are ridiculously huge, the biased media and sheep-like public are only too happy to declare companies guilty without evidence and the rule of law just a nice memory. So why not try you luck by suing someone? All you have to do is find a trial lawyer and sue away!! 

I find this completely believable, do you?

by Reena Kapoor

The Panel in the WSJ today sent chills down my spine. If you've ever lived in a socialist or communist state and if any important decision of your life was ever in the hands of a bureaucrat - or if you saw the film "Lives of Others" - you will read this and remember that awful feeling. Coming soon to a life near you!

Strong Medicine

by Reena Kapoor

An excellent article How American Health Care Killed my Father in The Atlantic about the true costs -- and causes of the cost -- of health care in this country.  A must read for all on the left and right who want to understand what is wrong with our system so they can support/devise sensible solutions.  While his proposed solutions leave a lot to be desired, the author's ideas for reform would certainly move our current system in the right direction vs. Obama's heavy handed approach.  Of course the chances of such reform even being considered by the current administration are close to none.

Be scared!

by Reena Kapoor

Here is an excellent video The American Form of Government which provides a real civics education.  Besides providing more evidence for the fact that public education has failed (how many Americans know we were designed to be a Republic and not a Democracy) it also offers great illustration of why Democracy (which US was not designed to be) is often antithetical to liberty.  We should be scared! And while I hate the cynicism that has come upon my own thinking I am convinced USA has turned into a tyranny of the elite - an oligarchy - where the rest of us are ...well...not important.  Wall Street + Obama's henchmen, Obama + UAW + GM or Obamacare + AMA .....   The only thing that remains to be debated is how soon the police state will descend upon our everyday lives. 

Rethinking Men

by Reena Kapoor
An excellent article Is there anything good about men? pointed out by my friend Stephen Hicks about why men and women are what they are. Original insights backed by some sound analysis -- although probably quite dissatisfying for gender warriors - thankfully.  The author's fear of the feminist penchant for attacking anyone who does not stick to the orthodoxy of why men are bad, bad, bad is evident from how many times he defensively says "...I am not saying this is good or bad...." 

Nonetheless a worthwhile read.