Become a Patron! Attributing quotes to famous dead people is, as the great Greek poet Homer is said to have once remarked, one of mankind's oldest storytelling traditions. In that spirit, I want to pass along Margaret Thatcher's famous answer when asked to name her greatest achievement in office: "Tony Blair and New Labour. We forced our opponents to change their … [Read more...] about Donor-advised funds are in the news, here’s why it matters
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The SECURE Act and the defects of the centrist mind
Become a Patron! I've written previously about the SECURE Act, the House version of a measure designed to encourage employers to allow employees to gamble their retirement savings on the long-term financial stability of private insurance companies. The measure has since cleared the House but is currently being held up in the Senate for now by Ted Cruz who is trying to turn … [Read more...] about The SECURE Act and the defects of the centrist mind
Beware Republicans bearing robust debate and compromise
Aparna Mathur is a Resident Scholar, Economic Policy, at the American Enterprise Institute, a libertarian think tank with an excellent kitchen that I periodically visit when I want to save money on lunch or cocktails. If you're ever in DC I strongly recommend visiting their events page to see if you can enjoy one of their catered meals or open bars. Scholar Mathur has … [Read more...] about Beware Republicans bearing robust debate and compromise
Book review: Reihan Salam and the limits of American greatness
The local public library recently spit into my hands Reihan Salam's slender volume about US immigration policy, "Melting Pot or Civil War? A Son of Immigrants Makes the Case Against Open Borders." The "son of immigrants" in question is Salam himself, who is so thoroughly integrated into American life he manages to hold down a gig writing for the fringe conservative website … [Read more...] about Book review: Reihan Salam and the limits of American greatness
“Effective altruism” is as stupid an idea as “smart beta”
A spectre is haunting the United States — the spectre of "effective altruism." This is the idea, lifted from the corridors of financial capital, that philanthropy can and should be streamlined, optimized, A/B tested, and transformed to make sure each dollar is deployed "effectively." The other day I saw Dylan Matthews, in honor of "Giving Tuesday," write about his own … [Read more...] about “Effective altruism” is as stupid an idea as “smart beta”