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  • ZipDialog Roundup for Thursday, February 23

    By Charles Lipson
    Thursday, February 23, 2017 0 Free Speech, Healthcare, Higher education, Kim Jong Un, Media and Reporting, Mexico, NAFTA, North Korea, Rex Tillerson, US foreign policy, US Healthcare System, Washington Post, ZipDialog Roundup of News Beyond the Front Page California, Iowa, John Kelly, Kim Jong-nam, Malaysia Permalink

    Hand-picked and farm-fresh–
    ⇒Linked articles in bold purple

    ◆ Mexico slams US immigration plans as US Sec. of State and Director of Homeland Security arrive in Mexico City  (CNN)

    Comment: This visit by Secretaries Tillerson and Kelly is important and so is the rollout of new immigration policies if our country is to avoid a train wreck.

    Americans are rightly concerned about illegal immigration and especially about recidivist felons and criminal gangs. But they are generally favorable to children who were brought here illegally by their parents. They want policies that focus on one and not the other.

    Trump’s initial actions, as opposed to his rhetoric, look to focus on gaining control of the border, removing felons, and ending “catch and release,” all policies that have wide public support.

    The danger is that hostile, high-octane rhetoric will produce predictable backlash in Mexico, increase the popularity of anti-American, Hugo-Chavez style politicians, and decrease cooperation within immigrant communities in the US. That is definitely not in America’s interest.

    ◆ Iowa legislator wants state universities to ask prospective faculty how they would vote. (Washington Post)

    Comment: How about “I wouldn’t vote for any moron who would propose such legislation.”  Political bias in the classroom is an issue. This is not a way to solve it.

    In an interview with NBC affiliate WHO, another Democrat, state Sen. Herman Quirmbach, called the bill “one of the worst ideas I’ve heard in 15 years here.” –Washington Post

    Senator Herman Quirmbach told the NBC station that he had just seen his name on TV and would change it quickly to something less ridiculous.

    ◆ The Washington Post posts a new motto online

    “Democracy Dies in Darkness” True enough, but really depressing. How about “Democracy Thrives in the Light”

    The paper denies the motto was inspired by Trump. (Fox)

    Comment: Yeah, sure. What’s the chance they would ever have run that motto while they were investigating  President Obama.

    Actually, what’s the chance they would have seriously investigated scandals in the Obama administration? This is the sort of hooey that has generated such public distrust of the media–and that’s a terrible thing for democracy. 

    ◆ Judge blocks California law that–yes, really–says you can’t publish actors’ age if they say “no”  (Politico)

    Comment: I wrote earlier about this unbelievably stupid, unconstitutional law: “California Dreamin’ . . . about abolishing the First Amendment”

    ◆ Disturbing news: “Study sees US Life Expectancy Falling Further Behind Other Countries” (CBS News)

    Life expectancy in the United States is already much lower than most other high-income countries and is expected to fall even further behind by 2030, new research published today predicts.

    According to the most recent government figures, life expectancy at birth in the United States is 76.3 years for men and 81.2 years for women.

    Using a number of forecasting models, researchers from the U.K. predict life expectancy in the U.S. will improve to 83.3 years for women and 79.5 years for men by the year 2030.

    But despite these modest gains, the United States is still lagging behind other developed countries.

    “The USA has the highest child and maternal mortality, homicide rate, and body-mass index of any high-income country, and was the first of high-income countries to experience a halt or possibly reversal of increase in height in adulthood, which is associated with higher longevity,” the authors write. –CBS News

    The scholarly study is here in The Lancet.

    ◆ “North Korea demands ‘sinister’ Malaysia stop investigating Kim Jong-nam death”  (The Guardian)

    North Korea has lashed out at Malaysia over the death of Kim Jong-nam, accusing it of having a “sinister purpose” and collaborating with South Korea, which has said Pyongyang agents assassinated Kim Jong-un’s half-brother. –The Guardian

    Comment: Taking such enormous risks to kill a family member (in a culture that reveres family ties) and a person under Chinese protection (when that is your country’s only international supporter) indicates how unstable the North Korean regime must be.

     

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  • “Can American pay for the Wall with avocado purchases?” ask the Chicago Tribune and Washington Post

    By Charles Lipson
    Friday, January 27, 2017 0 Donald Trump, Goofy News, Humor, International relations, Mexico, NAFTA, Protectionism and trade barriers, Trade, US foreign policy Chicago Tribune Permalink

    The Tribune story is here. (Chicago Tribune via the Washington Post)

    Comment: I, for one, am ready to do my part and eat the first billion or so.

    But it is pure media bias to say we would need to import 25 billion avocados and simply omit the other essential imports, from taco chips to cilantro, from jalapeno peppers to garlic and tomatoes.

    How bland is the guacamole they make at Tribune Tower?

  • ZipDialog’s Roundup of News Beyond the Front Page . . Friday, January 26

    By Charles Lipson
    Friday, January 27, 2017 0 Brexit, Britain, Donald Trump, Economy, EU European Union, Hillary Clinton email scandal, NAFTA, Nuclear Proliferation, Protectionism and trade barriers, Republican Party, Rex Tillerson, Theresa May, Trade, US foreign policy, World Economy, ZipDialog Roundup of News Beyond the Front Page Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, State Department Permalink

    Hand-picked and farm-fresh–
    ⇒Linked articles in bold purple

    ◆ Four top State Department officials, all political appointees, fired (NBC) New administration will appoint its own people.

    Comment: Lots of my friends, who know a great deal about foreign affairs, are deeply concern about the resulting loss of experience. I am not.

    Although I have many concerns about Trump’s foreign policy, reorganizing the State Department is not among them. First, these were political appointees, even though they had begun as foreign service officers. A new administration has every right to bring in its own people in top positions. Second, I have real concerns about several of these fired employees, some of whom were enmeshed in Hillary’s email scandals and other policy fiascos. Third, if there is one thing Rex Tillerson, the next Sec. of State knows, it is how to build and control a bureaucracy.

    Bottom line: I am concerned about US policies and several of Trump’s major initiatives, but cleaning house in Foggy Bottom is good news, not bad.

    ◆ British Prime Minister Theresa May to meet with Trump on Friday (BBC) The meeting follows May’s very positive speech in Philadelphia urging a renewal of the “special relationship” between the US and UK.

    Comment: Theresa May has proved herself very adroit so far and willing to listen to voters. She opposed Brexit, but, after it was approved by the voters and she entered office (replacing David Cameron), she has moved strongly to implement it. In short, she listens to voters. Second, as Britain leaves the European Union, it needs to renegotiate all its trade treaties (since they are now done through the EU). A strong trade relationship with the US is crucial.

    ◆ The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists moves its Doomsday Clock closer to midnight “thanks to Trump” (Washington Post)

    ⇒ The full, thoughtful statement from the Bulletin’s scientists is here. They have now set the clock at 2 and 1/2 minutes til midnight.

    ◆ Google Pixel: onward and upward Pixel 2 said to be faster, stronger, water-resistant,says C|Net, and may be complemented by a new, budget version.

    ◆ This is news! Scientists say they have discovered how to put the flavor back in tomatoes  (Business Insider)

    Comment: Today’s tomatoes have been bred for long shelf-life and long-distance transportation. They taste nothing like summertime tomatoes from the backyard. Any tech that can improve this unhappy result will be most welcome.

    ◆ Comment: The US-Mexico relationship is in deep trouble over two big issues, trade and immigration, and is likely to worsen as the rhetoric ramps up.

    The US has tremendous negotiating leverage because Mexico depends on the US market for its goods. But pushing that advantage will surely bring anti-American politicians to the fore in Mexico, pushing left-wing populism. And it may become politically difficult for Mexico’s centrist leaders to push compromise solution.

    In the US, the risk for Republicans is continued alienation of Hispanic voters, a growing segment of the population. Although they generally vote Democratic, some state parties, like Texas Republicans, have won significant Hispanic support and will be very edgy about a deteriorating relationship.

     

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  • ZipDialog’s Roundup of News Beyond the Front Page . . Monday, January 23

    By Charles Lipson
    Monday, January 23, 2017 0 Charles Schumer, Chicago Crime, Courts and the Law, Democratic Party, Donald Trump, Humor, Mexico, NAFTA, Senate, Solar Energy, Tweets of Note, ZipDialog Roundup of News Beyond the Front Page Canada, Dallas Stars Permalink

    Hand-picked and farm-fresh–
    ⇒Linked articles in bold purple

    ◆ Chuck Schumer, the Democrats’ leader in the Senate, has been slow-walking Pres. Trump’s Cabinet nominees. 21 need Senate approval; only two have received it.  Some of the fault is the nominees. Some were named late and many have very complex finances, which require disclosure, resolution of conflicts of interest, and the signature of ethics forms. But this is also a Democratic political stratagem.

    Comment: I don’t think this slowdown is smart politics for the Democrats, but that is hard to judge because their donor base may like it (even if it alienates ordinary voters).

    Whether it is smart politics or not, it harms the country not to have a full complement of senior executives running their departments.

    ◆ The political lawsuits begin, aiming to tie up Trump presidency  NYT headline: “Foreign Payments to Trump Firms Violate Constitution, Suit Will Claim”

    The lawsuit is among a barrage of legal actions against the Trump administration that have been initiated or are being planned by major liberal advocacy organizations. Such suits are among the few outlets they have to challenge the administration now that Republicans are in control of the government.

    In the new case, the lawyers argue that a provision in the Constitution known as the Emoluments Clause bans payments from foreign powers like the ones to Mr. Trump’s companies. They cite fears among the framers of the Constitution that United States officials could be corrupted by gifts or payments. –New York Times

    ◆ Trump immediately begins negotiations with Canada and Mexico on NAFTA (CNN) The story contained no specifics.

    ◆ Chicago’s free-fire zones continue: 5 Dead, 44 Wounded over Weekend (Chicago Sun-Times)

    ◆ Solar panel prices continue to drop: good for consumers, bad for producers. Some producers are now losing money, but the industry is booming. Prices for home systems that recently ran $30,000 are now half that cost or less. The biggest producers are Chinese, but their home country is now the world’s largest solar market. (PRI)

    ◆ Tweets from Katharine Hayhoe, Jay Nordlinger, and Austin Knuppe

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    zd-hat-tip-facing-inward-100px-w-margin♥ Hat Tip for helpful suggestions:
    ◆ Michael Lipson
     for Dallas Stars’ attendance

     

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