Although the founders of the United States didn’t exactly represent a clean break with the past, they did bring several new aspects to the economy. One was the role of individual philanthropy, which is unique in this country. Historical perspective For much of human history, religious organizations or feudal lords handled charitable works. Most of… [Read More]
Blog
Category: Political Discourse
Cutting Inequality by Cutting (Some) College Giving
Harvard got a new president, Lawrence Bacow, on July 1, arriving as we are grapple with inequality as a nation. In the June issue of The Atlantic, Matthew Stewart wrote about the new aristocracy. They aren’t the plutocrats who control 0.1% of American wealth, but rather the aristocrats who control the next 9.9%. That would… [Read More]
List: Fights you can never win, so why even try?
Who works harder Who deserves a raise more Who is busier Whose life is harder
Writer sued for libel, inspired to research plaintiff. Ooops.
Sometimes, people sue writers because they have something to hide. That was the case here. Ron Shrinkman was a writer sued for libel. Well, almost. Jeannette Martello, a physician in California, threatened to sue him for reporting on how she had been enjoined from the California Department of Managed Health Care for balancing billing patients…. [Read More]
A rant about raising kids, making choices, and Sarah Palin
I don’t write very much about my family. I don’t write about parenting. I don’t spend time fighting the Mommy Wars. But today, I’m mad, and so here’s my rant about raising kids, making choices, and Sarah Palin. First: raising kids. We like to believe that we know what we’re doing and that what we’re… [Read More]
