“Skepticism
like chastity should not be relinquished too readily. Indeed skepticism
is the chastity of the intellect and it is shameful to surrender it too
soon or to the first comer. There is nobility in preserving it coolly
and proudly through long youth until at last, when instinct and
discretion have ripened, it can be safely exchanged for fidelity of
outlook and for happiness.”~ George Santayana, Skepticism and Animal Faith: Introduction to a System of Philosophy
Cash-strapped Canterbury council has scrapped its immunisation program and closed its swimming pool over winter to save money. Yet Canterbury ratepayers have forked out almost $50,000 over the past four years for the council's all-powerful general manager Jim Montague to dine at Il Buco, a restaurant in Liverpool Road, Enfield.
Most Fridays the man known as the "King of Canterbury" and his companions place their customary order of carpaccio ($23), oysters, followed by the fish of the day ($38), and dessert which is washed down with a $48 bottle of Pepper Jack wine...
Bechara Khouri makes his money by opening doors for developers...
The King of Canterbury and his princely $50k lunch bills
Bryan Caplan, The Inanity of the Welfare State:
While taxes are highly progressive, transfers have an upside-down U-shape. Households in the middle quintile get the most money. The richest households actually get more money than the poorest. Think about how many times you’ve heard about government’s great mission to “help the poor.” Could there be any clearer evidence that such claims are mythology?
Wall Street Rises Again Be afraid. Be very afraid Wall street rises again
David Brunori, Mississippi’s Very Good Idea to Help its Poor (Tax Analysts Blog). It’s an earned income tax credit.
The economy’s broken record: Lots of jobs, but no raises WaPo
Why Ronald Reagan Should Be Seen as a Complete Failure ... If you’re thinking of running for president, you need to have a book. I don’t mean own one—I mean write one. Or at least pretend to do so. You don’t actually have to write the book, as long as your name is on the cover as if you did. The contents don’t matter much. They can be your “vision”—lifted in whole or in part from think-tank research on the Web. They can be your life story. If you love your wife or husband, mention that here. Ditto if you’ve ever overcome adversity of any kind. Do you like hunting? Great! Got any photos of you and an animal carcass?
The Irony and the Ecstasy