of course it's mischief though it is ironic as the Dems have been trying variations on this theme for some time in GOP states. Lately in North Carolina.

I'd rather they just fight these initiatives wherever they pop up but it's still fun to see the Dem response.

are pissing me off... That agenda is garbage.

I can not stand, and they should be confronted about about it in these debates, or some forums -- get them on record

I don't give a hoot if some of them choose not to believe in evoution -- don't make no diff to me -- but this? this does, oh yes.

What is it about Republicans that they insist on looking into our bedrooms and sex lives?

IMHO, from what I've read and gathered, such hardline social stances taken by factions within the GOP are the result of fear of man's inclinations when left to pursue his moral agenda in a world of abundance and choice.

I touched on this in the past though I can't find the topic thread. These groups feel that sound "moral fabric" and norms (to their specs) are necessary for a wealthy society to endure and not hallow itself out into oblivion. My aunt is one of these people. She refers to the decline of the Roman Empire as a moral problem...not a geopolitical or economic one. She says the USSR lacked religion and moral fiber and that's why they failed.

While these people are generally pro-growth as I understand it, they taint it with massive exceptions on moral, cultural and nationalistic grounds.

basically, for them:

Free enterprise is good but not when used to promote "unsavory" activity, choice and variety are good but not for
things that undermine traditional values and open up markets for "vulgar behavior" that leads to social decay and rot that threaten the nation's ability to continue to excel in their vision. Vast opportunity is good but we must contain its reach. Abundance is good but we must prune it to weed out morality-threatening choices. and on and on.

Basically, capitalism is good but must be morally regulated to preserve society's moral strength because, without it, we will impoverish ourselves through our excesses and the moral relativism that comes from more points of view.

In this sense, they do not support individual freedom the way libertarians and to a slightly lesser extent...less dogmatic fiscal conservatives and fiscally moderate Clintonesque liberals do.

They support the machinery of capitalism but not its free use by all because they fear the moral implications to tradition and family that come from abundance. This makes them strangely similar but different from populist liberals and socialists who fear the machinery but not its social implications...at least not in the same sense as the Social Right does.

Both may hate Wal-Mart, for example, but not necessarily for the same reasons.

prevents conception but not any that allow conception but prevent implantation.

It's for a few key reasons (if I can get a way with the same level of generalizations as the article does ;}).

1) Their needs are simple. For the extremely poor, a few items from the Mexican bakery cost maybe a dollar, and can suffice for the day. Tortillas are simple and cheap to make at home. Secondhand clothing is fine. Entertainment is hanging out with friends and family, watching the children play. Healthcare is for free from the local charity clinics or the emergency room. Other financial burdens like auto insurance (or auto inspections or drivers licenses or whatever) are ignored or blackmarketed; if you get caught, well, you just go to jail for a week to two or whatever is normal for the area.

2) They don't mind working. If a job comes along, they will take it. The only time I've seen any issue with this is when men take jobs they perceive as women's work. They don't seem to like that much but will do it until something better comes up.

3) Their family ties are indeed strong, and if they have family here, they both share with and take from that family as their needs and circumstances change.

We have some Hispanic beggars here, but it is usually the infirm who do so. The hale are hanging on the street corner looking for work, not for a handout.

and I think one of the comments below, by someone named greenpagan, nails it:

Ever been to Mexico or anywhere else in Latin America? Beggars are everywhere.

Furthermore, in the States Hispanics are hardly going to go to an Anglo on the street first for help. You first go to "your own".

I'm a little suspicious of broad generalizations like in the second sentence, but it's a better explanation than what Caplan suggests, given the first sentence. Caplan's trying to discuss a very distinct phenomenon - poor Hispanics living in the United States - and create a universal theory about Hispanics, who live many places other than the United States. That's quite a weak line of reasoning.

1. "Scratch a little higher, now to the left, yeah right there . . . ah."

2. "Only a little longer, comrade, and we will make those dirty capitalists pigs pay, eh?"

3. "This huge tie is styling!" (Guy in the back right--what the hell is that thing?)

Ok, not very good, but worth a shot. Did I mention it was just for fun?

I noticed the picture already has a caption, "CarterisanIdiot", if you place the mouse over it. I give it a D- for creativity and a C for humor.

The one where they we constructing their bamboo walls.

I must say, I am a bit ambivolent here because on the one hand I don't mind if these people want to make a bamboo shower and to feel like they are doing something to help the planet, I admit that attitude is a good thing, but on the other hand the way they constructed the thing has more pressure treated lumber than bamboo.

So, I applaud their good intentions but I denounce them as morons for using so much man-made lumber for such a simple project which in the end defeats the purpose (reduces the benefit even further?).  They do have the benefit that the grey water can be used to water the bamboo crop, but they could do that from inside the house anyway by simply routing the bathtub/shower drain out there ... although I fear that local plumbing codes may not really allow this.

Anyway, I don't think that this solution to the world's "shower problem" is going to scale up in places like Manhattan.  Just a thought.

Oooh, outdoor showers are fabulous. You have no idea ;}

much about America, much less 'the world' --- because presumably? some Dems approached him about a possible run b/c of his name recognition?

[fun fact: the final episode of MASH was viewed by over 50 million Americans -- pre cable, of course]

is Al Franken's Senate campaign tragic? and is 'the world' despairing? oy