Daily Reading/Viewing

January 13, 2012

Better with Ezra: I strongly urge all to read Ezra Klein's January 11 article on just how much a President can really impact the economy (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-12/economists-scoff-at-obama-romney-job-creation-commentary-by-ezra-klein.html). Well-written as always, and a topic very long overdue for discussion.


Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid: Saw the Rev. David Atkins of the South Carolina Baptist Convention on television yesterday explaining that the people who founded this country did so in the pursuit of religious freedom, not economic freedom or opportunity. Rev. Atkins, I am so sorry that you had nothing but horrible history teachers during your education. While it is true that the first pilgrims (and some subsequent generations) came to escape the religious stranglehold of the Church of England, by the early 18th century reasons for immigration were both religious and economic. And by the way, the first pilgrims did not found our country. That wasn't their goal. They were still citizens of England, and none of them were "talkin' about a revolution." The impetus for rebellion, and subsequently for independence, was economic, specifically taxation. Does the Reverend know that many of the actual "founders" were Deists? Time to return your diploma.


And Now For Something Completely Different: On a completely non-political note, may I recommend viewing Jimmy Fallon as David Bowie (http://www.theblaze.com/stories/jimmy-fallon-sings-this-is-tim-tebow-to-jesus-christ/)? Fallon is the best impressionist this side of Frank Caliendo. As the biggest Neil Young fan in America, I can tell you Fallon's Neil is absolutely spot-on.