Mexican justice: Ayuda, por favor!
Everyone knows about the river of blood – criminals’, bystanders’, and good guys’ – flowing in Mexican streets as the country tries to get on top of its drug trafficking problem and the corruption of...
View ArticleCivilization returns to the Bay Area
Many years ago, the typical public radio station played classical music and some jazz all day, news like Morning Edition and All Things Considered at drive time, some public affairs or newsy features...
View ArticleWhy do we undercapitalize white-collar workers?
The paper SF Chronicle has a front-page story about the crisis of deferred maintenance at California’s state universities. I’ll put up a link when it’s available online; meanwhile, things are as bad...
View ArticleWhen considering Mademoiselle Liberté, save a thought for OSHA
125 years old, still young and still hot. I love her. I love where she stands, I love her crown of radiant wisdom and her torch and her book of laws, I love Miss Lazarus’ poem, I love that she’s an...
View ArticleThe leaking America’s Cup
Hey, the famous America’s Cup Yacht Races are happening right now in San Francisco Bay! Hey, really, is that exciting or what; you can watch this immortal series, cheer for your favorite boats, see...
View ArticleIf no one can hear us …
I recently attended the annual research conference of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management. For those who do not frequent academic conferences, this is a get-together of people...
View ArticleReclaiming the street for Real Americans
Some things are central to being a Real American, things that make us the best country; others are not. In the first category are driving alone anywhere I want; with light traffic, few stoplights,...
View ArticleAbe Lincoln
Wednesday was the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s death. It’s hard to spend too much time reflecting on Lincoln; I use the first thing he ever published, comparing two infrastructure projects in...
View ArticleOpen letter to the class of 2020
The original version of this letter was posted in late 2010 on the Reality-Based Community blog). In the last several weeks, I’ve been asked by a variety of friends and colleagues to post it again;...
View ArticleLessons from the London high-rise fire
Every catastrophe has multiple causes, so there will be lots to learn about this one as the facts come in. Whatever they are, they will include irresponsible, probably corrupt, behavior by people who...
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