The Frustrated Bunny

Technology. Science. Politics. Geek. Etc.

Tagged: Politics

Politics

Much Ado About the National Debt

With today’s news that the United States’ national debt has topped $17 trillion, there is and certainly will continue to be much pontificating, finger pointing, and armchair policy advising over the issue. I’m all for some good policy discourse, but the the trouble is that, much like almost any political squabble that reaches the masses, the loudest voices are also missing some crucial details and facts. This is not meant to be an indictment–I have a fancy piece of paper that cost me a lot of time and money that says I’m supposed to be an expert about things like...

Politics

My presidential predictions, the day after: I was close…

To start, I want to say that on the big question, I was right. Obama won. Granted, that wasn’t much of a prediction on my part (all hail Nate Silver and his glorious statistical models), but it was right nonetheless. On the question of Obama winning both New Hampshire and Virginia with Romney taking North Carolina, I was also right there, but not exactly in the way I stated. I expected Virginia to be called MUCH earlier. I had no idea it was going to be that close. On that same note, I expected Ohio to be called much later...

Politics

My 2012 presidential election predictions

Okay, so between looking at a map of when polls close, looking at Nate Silver’s model, and playing with electoral votes, I am ready to make predictions. I’ve provided links so that you may play along at home. If you take an electoral map and fill in all the states that are strongly leaning toward either candidate (>90% likelihood of winning, with the exception of Ohio…more on that in a second), you wind up at Obama with 253 EV and Romney with 191. So to start out, my map has 7 states “in play”: New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio,...

Politics / Random

FAQ: “WHY IS GAS SO $#@!ING EXPENSIVE??!!”

This question has turned up on my social networks a number of times in the last few weeks as gas prices have risen quite a bit over the past month or so. The short answer: it’s not. Ok, ok…that’s not what you wanted to hear. $3.89 a gallon is a lot when you’re used to gas in the low-to-mid $2 range. It’s about that much per liter in places that don’t give insane subsidies to oil companies, but let’s just tackle the question of why gas is so relatively expensive right now. Keep in mind the explanation below should be taken...

Politics

Evidence mounts of political motivation behind Komen’s defunding of Planned Parenthood

In case you had doubts as to whether or not Komen for the Cure’s withdrawal of funding from Planned Parenthood was motivated by far-right social politics, add this to the evidence: Around the same time as the funding policy update was being rolled out late last year,  Komen released a statement (PDF) emphasizing that it does not and has never provided funding for cancer research using embryonic stem cells. The statement says that Komen will only fund researching using stem cells “derived without creating a human embryo or destroying a human embryo.” While embryonic stem cell research may or may...