Author: Andrew Solomon
Please Don’t Deport My Mom
PBS’s FRONTLINE recently aired a powerful report on the Obama Administration’s “get tough” immigration policy. It’s both alarming and heart-breaking, and I’d encourage you to watch. At the very least, take seven minutes to watch this clip, which tells the story of Roxana Garcia, who was deported to Mexico and torn from her five American-born children, after being stopped by police for failing to signal before changing lanes. (Their story begins at minute 3:00 of the clip.) Watch Lost in … Read More
Today’s Visual: Is Rome Burning?
When in Rome, Run Like Hell! That might be prudent advice to politicians, investors, and Italian citizens these days, as the financial crisis threatens to overtake the world’s eight largest economy. I imagine that you’ve gotten pretty tired of hearing about the “Greek crisis.” Well, you may want to prepare yourself for a much bigger Italian tragedy that could unfold in the coming months. This isn’t just a matter of concern for central bankers, Euro-crats, and hedge fund managers. American … Read More
The Romney Ceiling Myth
For months now, the political media have advanced the narrative that Mitt Romney is trapped under a ceiling of about 25% of the GOP primary electorate, that he can never win over the conservative wing. Hence the month-by-month hero worship (and inevitable disappointment) of Trump, Bachmann, Perry, Cain, and, now, Gingrich (please, please, please!). While it’s plenty fun to watch the GOP flail around, there is little support for the view that Romney “cannot” win the nomination. The latest expression … Read More
Today’s Visual: Stop & Frisks Booming
After reading a new report from the New York Civil Liberties Union, I’m no longer surprised that Jessica doesn’t trust the NYPD. According to the report, the number of so-called “Stop & Frisks” has increased 130% from 2004 to 2011 (while the city’s population increased less than 2%). Close to 85% of those stopped were Black or Latino. Equally frighteningly, only 10% of these encounters led to an arrest or summons: in other words, 9 out of 10 New Yorkers … Read More
Today’s Visual: Walmart, Ever Fatter
Sometimes a good visual is the simplest way to illuminate an argument or frame a complex situation. I run across a lot in school these days, and I’m going to try to make a habit of sharing the most compelling ones here. My hope is that you’ll find these bite-sized, information-packed morsels useful, be they over drinks with like-minded friends or on Facebook with reactionary relatives. Today’s, from Flowing Data, describes the proliferation of Walmarts and Sam’s Clubs across the … Read More
“Romney” (v. tr.): to loot or plunder
I keep waiting for it: the first general election attack on Mitt Romney. Though still well within the formal primary phase of the 2012 campaign, my view has largely moved to the seemingly inevitable head-to-head clash between Romney and President Obama. I don’t like what I see. It’ll be a nasty fight. And I foresee some of the nastiest of it emanating from “our” side.
The “Occupation” Hits Home at Wharton
Just two weeks ago, I lamented the fact that my fellow Wharton students seemed so disengaged from the national debate swirling around the Occupy Wall Street movement. Well, on Friday afternoon, Occupy Wall Street “occupied” The Wharton School. The proximate cause of the “occupation” was a planned speech at Wharton by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R) on “inequality.” When Cantor realized that the speech would be open to the public (a policy made known to Cantor’s people all along), … Read More
Citi-bunker
This afternoon, a number New Yorkers went to the Citibank branch at 555 La Guardia Place to register their support for Occupy Wall Street by closing their accounts. Such a move — “voting with your feet” — is exactly what free market economists advocate: if you don’t like a firm, take your business elsewhere. Little did they realize that Citibank really didn’t want to lose their business. Details are still sketchy, but it appears that the protesters were asked to … Read More
Pre-Occupied Wall Street
These days, my Twitter feed is aflutter with frenetic messages from progressive activists about Occupy Wall Street. But, back on campus at The Wharton School, you’re more likely to hear the twittering of birds than you are to hear anyone talk about the foes of finance. This is all the more striking because the protesters’ primary target is the industry with which Wharton has historically been almost synonymous.
Surrender in the “war on voting”?
Rolling Stone ran a disturbing piece last week that detailed “an unprecedented, centrally coordinated campaign to suppress the elements of the Democratic vote that elected Barack Obama in 2008.” What’s most frightening about this campaign is how public — and, yet, how widely ignored — it seems to be, despite its potential to dramatically reshape the electorate. As we have seen again and again, we progressives lose the long-term wars — from campaign finance to redistricting to election law — … Read More
