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Author Archives: James Hanley
Why the Last Jedi Was a Good Star Wars Movie, and Why Its Critics are Pathetic Mary Sue Fanbois
There is a meme on social media pointing out that critics complained that The Force Awakens was too derivative of the original Star Wars film and are now complaining that The Last Jedi was too different from the original Star … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Heterodox Academy
I am now a member of Heterodox Academy. This is their apostles’ creed. I believe that university life requires that people with diverse viewpoints and perspectives encounter each other in an environment where they feel free to speak up and … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Jason Brennan’s Against Democracy
Months after misplacing it, I have finally found and finished reading Jason Brennan’s Against Democracy. I want to record a few notes on his argument for Epistocracy. First, a fundamental foundation of his argument is that people deserve competent government. … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Against Democracy, Epistocracy, James Hanley, Jason Brennan
8 Comments
The Coming Presidential Tyranny: Maybe Trump, Maybe Later, but Coming Ever Closer
This screed is a response to a friend’s Facebook post. He linked to the article The Republic Conquered: On America Entering the Post-Democratic Era, with a warning to conservatives to set down their coffee while reading it “unless you enjoy … Continue reading
Santa’s Return – A Christmas Story
It began with Wolf and Dessauer. In the years before shopping malls and chain retail stores, Wolf and Dessauer was where Fort Wayne shopped. A purely local department store, it made its name as a place that was not just … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
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Even Absentee Votes Are Counted
There’d a weird rumor going around, particularly among conservatives it appears, that absentee ballots are not counted unless a race is close enough for them to make a difference. I find it odd that conservatives of all people seem so … Continue reading
Posted in The Democratic Process
Tagged 2016 Presidential Election, Absentee Ballots, Counting Absentee Ballots, Counting Absentee Votes, Donald Trump, Electoral College, Hillary Clinton, James Hanley, Popular Vote, Popular Vote Winner
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Liberals, Trump, and the Anti-hero
Liberals are wondering how anyone could have voted for Trump. No single answer explains it all, but here’s what I think is part of it. Liberals, not alone, love their comic book anti-heroes, the guy who rejects the establishment and … Continue reading
Could a Unicameral Congress Better Rein in Presidential Power?
Kevin Flohe asks, “Do you think a unicameral legislature would be more or less effective at reining in executive power?” Sorry, Kevin, but it’s a long answer. That’s why I moved it to the blog. TL/DR version: At the margin, … Continue reading
Gary Johnson’s Narrow Path to a Likely Loss in the House
The #neverhillary/#nevertrump crowd is looking closely at Gary Johnson’s prospects for breaking through as a third party president. Everyone agrees they are slim, but many think it’s not impossible. My conclusion is that it’s not that implausible for Johnson to … Continue reading
How Scalia Answered My Question
Antonin Scalia once answered my question and drew a laugh from the audience. But that’s ok. The laughter was directed at someone else, and Justice Scalia was wrong. Some years back, in need of money, I sacrificed part of my … Continue reading
Posted in Laws
Tagged Antifederalist, Antonin Scalia, Bill of Rights, Federalist Papers, Gonzales v. Raich
3 Comments
The Bawdy House Provisions 