Following are some of the important news and opinions from recent days.
Syria: So Obama’s plan in Syria, apparently, is to arm certain of the rebels, and to bomb those rebels involved with Islamic State. In other words, the U.S. will simultaneously attack and defend the Assad regime. What could go wrong?
Egalitarianism: Yesterday USA Today published Glenn Reynolds’s op-ed on income inequality, which he regards as a genuine problem. In my reply for the Objective Standard, I argue that, although Reynolds confuses the relevant issues, he is right to point to the problem of rights-violating government policies.
Progressivism: Recent Don Watkins of the Ayn Rand Institute interviewed George Will about “progressivism” in the United States. It’s a great 25-minute introduction. I side with Watkins over Will regarding the appropriateness of challenging the welfare state as such; Will thinks it’s an unalterable fact of life.
Eco Cars: “Colorado has so far spent $8 million in taxpayer money on nearly 240 compressed natural gas vehicles, with dozens of them stationed in places where there is no compressed natural gas filling stations, Watchdog.org has learned.” Read the report.
Cory vs. Cory: U.S. Senate candidate Cory Gardner made a smart play by advocating over-the-counter birth control pills. But, as incumbent Mark Udall shot back, Gardner’s proposal rings a little hollow, given Gardner has sponsored federal legislation that could outlaw hormonal birth control. Read Lynn Bartels’s report for the Denver Post.
Apple Watch: This looks impressive to me, although the haters are already out in force. (Yes, I’m listening to my new free U2 album, courtesy of iTunes.)