The high cost of being a Minnesota legislator

The high cost of being a Minnesota legislator:

Branden Petersen hit his peak income at the age of 23. He was the youngest sales manager for home improvement chain Lowe’s in the Midwest region, and he was moving up fast. He was one promotion away from a mid-six figures salary. via Pocket

Tearing Down the Confederate Flag Is Just a Start

Tearing Down the Confederate Flag Is Just a Start:

Suppose African-Americans marked their heritage with flags depicting Nat Turner’s rebellion of 1831, in which slaves massacred about 60 whites before the uprising was crushed? The flag wouldn’t be celebrating the murder of whites, via Pocket

It’s Not Just About Bad Choices

It’s Not Just About Bad Choices:

WHENEVER I write about people who are struggling, I hear from readers who say something like: Folks need to stop whining and get a job. It’s all about personal responsibility. via Pocket

Scott Walker and the Fate of the Union

Scott Walker and the Fate of the Union:

On his first day of work in three months, Randy Bryce asked his foreman for the next day off. He wanted to go to the Capitol in Madison, Wis., and testify against a proposed law. via Pocket

This Age of Derp, Kansas Edition

This Age of Derp, Kansas Edition:

Menzie Chinn notes the continuing failure of the Kansas experiment with supply-side tax cuts. And yes, it is an experiment — Gov. via Pocket

The Insecure American

The Insecure American:

America remains, despite the damage inflicted by the Great Recession and its aftermath, a very rich country. But many Americans are economically insecure, with little protection from life’s risks. via Pocket

Can Bruce Bartlett save the GOP by bursting its 'bubble'?

Can Bruce Bartlett save the GOP by bursting its 'bubble'?:

Bruce Bartlett has 24-karat conservative credentials. He worked in the Reagan White House, the George H.W. Bush Treasury Department, for former Texas Rep. Ron Paul and the Heritage Foundation. via Pocket

​Food deserts: why it costs much more to try to eat on $29 a week

​Food deserts: why it costs much more to try to eat on $29 a week:

Much has been said recently about Gwyneth Paltrow’s Twitter post showing the $29 worth of food she attempted to live on last week in order to raise awareness about cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the food stamp program. via Pocket

Fraternity of Failure

Fraternity of Failure:

Jeb Bush wants to stop talking about past controversies. And you can see why. He has a lot to stop talking about. But let’s not honor his wish. You can learn a lot by studying recent history, and you can learn even more by watching how politicians respond to that history. via Pocket

Obama’s Advance Team Should Be Fired

Obama’s Advance Team Should Be Fired:

The Obamas are proving singularly inept at choosing appropriate venues to highlight their initiatives. In June 2011 Michelle invited giant retailers, including Walmart to the White House to launch her effort to persuade the country’s largest retailers to move into inner city “food deserts. via Pocket

What ‘Wild’ Has Wrought

What ‘Wild’ Has Wrought:

ON THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL, Calif. — THIS is arguably America’s greatest hiking trail, a 2,650-mile serpentine path running through desert and wilderness from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. via Pocket

A question for Scott Walker about Iran: What’s your alternative?

A question for Scott Walker about Iran: What’s your alternative?:

It’s probably too soon to take Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker seriously as a possible next president. He looks strong in the latest polls. via Pocket

Enjoying the Low Life?

Enjoying the Low Life?:

The United States is the most powerful colossus in the history of the world: Our nuclear warheads could wipe out the globe, our enemies tweet on iPhones, and kids worldwide bop to Beyoncé. Yet let’s get real. All this hasn’t benefited all Americans. via Pocket

It Takes a Party

It Takes a Party:

So Hillary Clinton is officially running, to nobody’s surprise. via Pocket

De Blasio's big microphone, and the little party pulling Democrats back to the left

De Blasio's big microphone, and the little party pulling Democrats back to the left:

The agenda of a political party you’ve likely never heard of, one with just a handful of members and that’s never elected a candidate of its own to an office higher than state senator, is driving much of the national conversation. via Pocket

Economics and Elections

Economics and Elections:

Britain’s economic performance since the financial crisis struck has been startlingly bad. A tentative recovery began in 2009, but it stalled in 2010. via Pocket

Denmark’s Drug-Free Pigs

Denmark’s Drug-Free Pigs:

PRESIDENT OBAMA didn’t need to issue a $1.2 billion National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, which he did last week, to figure out how the United States could reduce the antibiotic-resistant bacteria created by the country’s agriculture industry. via Pocket

A Little Respect for Dr. Foster

A Little Respect for Dr. Foster:

ONE sign of a landmark shift in public attitudes: A poll last year found that Americans approved more of gays and lesbians (53 percent) than of evangelical Christians (42 percent). That’s partly because some evangelical leaders were intolerant blowhards who give faith a bad name. via Pocket

Mornings in Blue America

Mornings in Blue America:

Two impossible things happened to the U.S. economy over the course of the past year — or at least they were supposed to be impossible, according to the ideology that dominates half our political spectrum. via Pocket

Hidden Healthcare Horrors

Hidden Healthcare Horrors:

One of the odder subplots of the health reform saga has been the almost pathetic efforts of Republicans to come up with Obamacare horror stories. via Pocket