As you may know the members of the Watcher’s Council each nominate one of his or her own posts and one non-Council post for consideration by the whole Council. The complete list of this week’s Council nominations is here.
Soccer Dad, “I’m a Fuel, Fuel, Fuel for You”
Soccer Dad critiques Sen. Obama’s proposal for a windfall profits tax on oil companies. Regardless of the economic folly of the proposal I suspect it will prove popular among the economically illiterate electorate. As George Bernard Shaw put it, when you rob Peter to pay Paul you can always depend on the support of Paul.
Done With Mirrors, “Omaha Beach”
Callimachus shares some family photos with us. These are pictures taken by his uncle who participated in invasion of Normandy during World War II and were taken in the immediate aftermath of the assault on the beaches.
The Razor, “The Global Warming Cult”
Scott makes the case that the beliefs of global warming reform advocates has assumed the characteristics of a cult. Of more concern to me is that the advocates have (correctly) noted that it’s a lot easier to become prosperous by rent-seeking than it is by working for a living. That’s a common thread that runs through a number of the Council submissions this week.
The Colossus of Rhodey, “Excellent Article On Parenting”
Hube comments on parenting styles.
Cheat Seeking Missiles, “Quote of the Day: Gas Wars Edition”
Laer points out the impending collision between environmentalists and anti-poverty advocates. I agree with his premises but not his predictions on the likely outcome:
This is a tipping-point situation. Either the world is going to tumble head over heals into a deep recession caused by global warming hysteria, or it’s going to slap down the Warmies and fix the oil biz.
Frankly, I doubt it. IMO this is yet another instance of the conflict between technocracy and populism and today’s Democratic Party, paradoxically, is deeply committed to both. I think they’re likely to try and split the different which is more than likely to be the worst possible combination. Nonetheless, I think we’ll be able to muddle along like this for another generation or more, one group demanding suzerainty, the other subsidies. It’s a positive feedback situation as in all such the flywheel will come off eventually but I’ll probably be dead by then.
Bookworm Room, “For Once, It Really Is About the Children”
Bookworm reflects on the institution of marriage.
The Glittering Eye, “Caring Is Not Enough”
In my submission for this week I comment on a half-baked op-ed from the Washington Post on health care reform.
Rhymes With Right, “Remembering the Heroes”
Greg considers D-Day.
Hillbilly White Trash, “No Threat of Heterosexual AIDS”
Lemuel Calhoon takes note of a report from the WHO that the threat of a worldwide AIDS pandemic among heterosexuals has dissipated. Lost in the commentary is an important question: why has AIDS been primarily a disease of heterosexuals in sub-Saharan Africa and, as best as we can tell, only in Sub-Saharan Africa?
Joshuapundit, “The Chicken or the Egg?”
Freedom Fighter considers whether Islam and tribalism are inextricably tied together. I think better questions are whether internalized guilt as opposed to externalized shame is inextricably tied to orthodox Christianity and Judaism and whether liberal democracy is practical outside of a society in which internalized guilt is the dominant ethos.
Wolf Howling, “Dear Pakistan”
GW asks a number of very good questions in his open letter to Pakistan.
The Education Wonks, “The Carnival of Education: Week 174”
EdWonk’s submission this week is the Carnival of Education. I’ve hosted several of these carnivals in the past myself and am aware that it takes considerable effort to do a decent job. Nice job, EdWonk!
Well, I’ve decided which posts I’ll vote for this week. Which posts would get your votes.
