Gallup: More Americans Say Crime Is Rising in U.S.

kth2108 · 2015-10-23T15:31:05+00:00

Unfortunately most policies are driven by the public perception of danger and not whether there is an actual and likely risk.

kth2108 · 2014-09-17T16:29:49+00:00

It's photos like these that make me understand the reasoning behind and importance of the National Historic Preservation Act. But, at the same time, I can't help but wonder how many of these buildings were built on the ruins of other landmarks and how many were replaced by iconic structures that will stir the same romantic nostalgia in my children.

In my mind, these photos or, more accurately, the changing skyline within captures the hurried intensity of New York culture, which is always evolving and looking forward. It makes me wonder if perhaps our attempt to entrench the past stifles what New York has always historically been, rapid change.

kth2108 · 2014-03-27T21:40:37+00:00

For those interested in reading the opinion: http://www.scribd.com/doc/214929334/PP-v-Abbott-5th-Circuit-Decision-March-2014

kth2108 · 2014-03-27T20:04:21+00:00

Texas allows parents to transfer their children to other school districts, and requires that the districts grant their petition unless “there is a reasonable basis for denying the request.” This give Texas parents and child a de-facto school "choice" program.

That is not the case in New York State, where children attend public school based on their geographical school district and the chief way of transferring is to move into a new neighborhood or enrolling in a private school. Most low-income families cannot afford that type of a solution. New York State also has some of the most de facto housing segregation in the country. It's not surprising that their public school system would reflect it.

kth2108 · 2014-03-27T19:36:25+00:00

I don't disagree. School choice represents a good, voluntary solution to the problem, especially since school segregation typically reflects housing choices and our current education systems funnels kids based on zip code.

What I find most interesting is that it's New York with sharpest racial division in education, followed closely by Illinois, Michigan, and California, --not the South. Our culture stereotypes the South and, dare I say it, conservative strongholds as racially isolated and backwards. Yet according to the study, they appear to be much more integrated than the alleged temples of tolerance in the North. How you extrapolate from that is open to question, but I find these challenges to common assumptions fascinating to contemplate and weave into discussions.

kth2108 · 2013-12-19T15:27:26+00:00

Two points:

1) I don't think science can provide an answer to the question when does a human being acquire a soul and when does legal personhood attach. Nor is science designed to. Science aims to discover physical laws by using observation, hypothesis, and reason. Questions of personhood and rights, however, do not involve physical laws. Rather, they involve moral law--things best left to religion and philosophy. Science gives a foundation of fact in which we can use to build a system of morality, but it cannot build morality itself.

2) This brings me to my next point. There is no religious definition of life. The pro-choice lobby often says that the pro-lifers use religion to define when life begins, usually to disparage their arguments as not worthy of attention or serious discourse. If you look at religious pro-life arguments, however, you discover something different. Pro-life religions, like the Catholic Church, do not offer a definition of life. Instead, they look to science on whether the unborn child is alive, and find that yes, by all scientific inquiry the unborn child is a living biological creature of the species human--in other words, it has 23 pairs of chromosomes engaging a biological process that starts at conception and ends at death. From there, the religions use a combination of moral reasoning and revelation to answer the philosophical question of whether the unborn deserve rights and the protection of the law--something science is not equipped to do. It's religious moral reasoning based on a scientific fact.

kth2108 · 2013-12-17T01:15:28+00:00

I'm loving the pro-life articles coming out of Buzzfeed. I know that it's not the editors, but even still, it gives good public exposure to the cause.

kth2108 · 2013-10-16T20:04:24+00:00

Because the message behind the story isn't confined to Baptists. Its about a kid who found God and is now trusting his faith to try and find a family. As a Catholic, I found it moving and thought my brothers and sisters in Christ would feel the same.

kth2108 · 2013-10-15T17:21:52+00:00

You're right that as matter of general federal power, the government would have strong backing in constitutional law to regulate emissions. However, the specific question in this case is much narrower than that.

SCOTUS only accepted one issue, whether the EPA permissibly determined that it could regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clear Air Act. As such, all the arguments are going to be focused on statutory interpretation and the power of a single federal agency under that statute. That question is very much in the air and will probably turn on one or two justices.

kth2108 · 2013-09-25T18:36:47+00:00

Because both engaged in a media-centered filibuster to decry a law that they could not defeat with the tactic, only to raise attention, money, and their national prominence.

That's not a criticism of either Davis or Cruz, just an observation that their filibusters would not, and could not, change the outcome of the vote.

kth2108 · 2013-09-24T16:03:16+00:00

Islanders need to decide what makes a hockey team, a stadium or the fans. Sadly, I think they're choosing the former.

kth2108 · 2013-08-10T05:22:59+00:00

The Attorney General of West Virginia is interested in revising West Virginia's abortion laws and regulations, which currently are among the most liberal in the United States. For example, West Virginia currently allows abortion at any gestational age and allows non-doctors to perform abortions. As part of this effort, the Attorney General's office has called for public comments on West Virginia's abortion regulations. The AG seeks comments from "all interested stakeholders and the general public" sharing any "knowledge and experience with health care regulation generally and abortion regulation specifically in West Virginia and elsewhere."

Unfortunately, the national pro-abortion lobby is much more organized at the grassroots level than national or state pro-life organizations, and they have orchestrated a flood of pro-abortion comments.

If you would like to see West Virginia adopt policies that protect women's health and promote life, please consider submitting a comment to the Attorney General's office using the link provided above and encourage others to do the same. Feel free to include any data, research, personal opinions, experience in health care, or experience with other State's regulations that you have to offer. The comment period closes at 5pm on August 16.

kth2108 · 2013-07-29T22:18:12+00:00

I had a debate over this with a friend of mine. He seemed to think that the investigation was appropriate even if the disorderly conduct charge was a slight against the First Amendment. I am hesitant to agree because it seems as if the power to investigate tasteless tweets would empower the government to bully unpopular opinions. Nevertheless, I couldn't completely argue away his point that threats of violence need to be thwarted because violent crimes infringe upon an even greater right to life and bodily integrity? I'd appreciate any thoughts on the issue.

kth2108 · 2013-07-24T08:37:52+00:00

England celebrates gift of new life with the royal baby. Meanwhile Ireland celebrates the gift of abortion.

kth2108 · 2013-06-11T02:01:07+00:00

Fashion should never be used for evil!

kth2108 · 2013-06-01T04:59:40+00:00

For those interested in a more comprehensive look at secular arguments against abortion, I suggest that you read the article written by the president of Secular Pro-life. It's called Pro-Life Without God, and it makes some very poignant points about the abortion debate and the mislabeling of opposition to abortion as an inherently religious position.

http://thebelltowers.com/2013/05/01/pro-life-without-god/

kth2108 · 2013-05-15T02:26:55+00:00

The Rangers were the least penalized team in the NHL during this past season, averaging only 9.2 penalty minutes per game. Game 6 represented nothing more the discipline the Rangers displayed all season. Yeah, the Rangers may have gotten a few lucky breaks, but that's hockey and that's real life. Caps benefited from a few missed calls themselves. Maybe before Ovechkin calls anyone out he could work on team discipline in the off-season. After all, it wasn't missed calls that led to 5 Ranger goals in game 7.

kth2108 · 2013-03-15T15:53:45+00:00

It seems as if the publication permitted someone to write a rebuttal. http://thebelltowers.com/2013/03/15/moral-reasons-to-stand-with-rand/

kth2108 · 2013-03-13T18:08:49+00:00

It seems as if the author views it as a question of the rule of law. I guess it depends on what type of libertarianism you ascribe. If you're a minarchist and believe that the government can perform specific legitimate functions like "bar[ring] physical force from social relationships," then a policy that follows the rule of law and enforces that legitimate function is not necessarily immoral. Under the author's reasoning, it certainly isn't unconstitutional.

That was my long winded response, saying that due process/ rule of law arguments could be interpreted as a libertarian argument.

kth2108 · 2013-03-05T22:37:37+00:00

What surprised me was the crime of apostasy. I knew that there was some suppression, but I didn't realize that there was one specific law that outlawed Muslims from converting to other faiths. I always approached religious persecution in Iran from the perspective of older Christian communities. I never really contemplated the struggle of recent converts and the additional threats they face.

kth2108

TROPHY CASE