In a recent column, political commentator and centrist Democrat Fareed Zakaria argues that the current round of progressive policy proposals such as The Green New Deal and Single Payer Health Care are the wrong ideas for the Democratic Party. The right ideas, according to Zakaria, are the kinds of "wonky proposals" that centrists have advocated over the last … Continue reading Why Centrist Democrats are Wrong
Author: Citizen Rat
I teach courses in Economics and International Relations at Shawnee State University, a small public University in Southern Ohio. I also teach and train in Shotokan Karate.The opinions expressed on this blog are my own opinions and do not represent the views of my University or any other organization.
Who’s afraid of Socialism?
As a recent article in the The New Republic notes, the word "socialism" has become virtually meaningless in American politics. President Trump throws the word around as a scare tactic , Kamala Harris disavows it, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Octavio Cortes celebrate it, while others use it as a euphemism for National Health Insurance. It is not surprising … Continue reading Who’s afraid of Socialism?
Democrats and Foreign Policy: Round 2
The recent controversy surrounding Ilhan Omar has got me thinking more about both the Democrats and Republicans on foreign policy. In reflecting on her comments, I am inclined to agree that her reference to "Benjamins" was at best, an unthinking resort to anti-Semitic tropes. An interesting article in The Atlantic makes the argument that this kind of statement makes the sort of public discussion we need to have about Israel … Continue reading Democrats and Foreign Policy: Round 2
The Democrats’ Foreign Policy Problem
If one begins from the premise that the goal is to replace Donald Trump with a Progressive Democrat in 2020, there are good reasons not to support Tulsi Gabbard in her Presidential bid. Then again, there are also good reasons not to support Kamala Harris, or for that matter, any of the erstwhile centrist alternatives. My point … Continue reading The Democrats’ Foreign Policy Problem
Updates on the Links Page
I've been in the process of compiling useful and informative links for this site. I have it broken into four categories: News and General Commentary Useful Academic Resources Higher Ed and Assessment Martial Arts and Fitness I've linked to sites that in my view have something to say that is worth reading in the context of political … Continue reading Updates on the Links Page
A note on “Political Marxism”
I received notice today that my Sabbatical request for Spring 2020 has been approved. This is of course great news. In celebration, I decided to put some thoughts on paper, with the caveat that today's entry, as with my last one, is just "thinking out loud". My hope is by that time I will be … Continue reading A note on “Political Marxism”
Evolutionary Political Economy and Philosophy
In this entry I will lay out a short, preliminary sketch of some philosophical problems in Evolutionary Political Economy. The reader may wish to note that this is part of a planned book length project on evolutionary political economy and that the problems I am writing about today are intended to form at least part … Continue reading Evolutionary Political Economy and Philosophy
