Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Florida Felon Un-Disenfranchisement Might Make it to the Ballot

Posted on April 21, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Ending ban on felon vote clears hurdle. I'll believe this when I see it. And I have some doubts that it would pass. But it is still really good news that a legislative committee has approved putting the question of amending the state Constitution to restore voting rights to felons onto the next ballot.

I admit, thought, that this is somewhat baffling to my sense of how Florida politics works. What gives? Three ideas:

Public-spiritedness has broken out in Tallahassee
Florida Republicans think they can win black votes by taking up issues that the black community cares about
The GOP has done focus groups, figures the issue is a loser if it gets to a state vote, and that Democrats will not only waste money and time supporting it, but can be tarred as the pro-crime party.

Alas, I have no facts on hand to tell me which if any of these is correct.

Posted in Florida | 2 Comments

Why I’m No Fan of John Kenneth Galbraith

Posted on April 21, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

My friend Brad DeLong has a warm review of Richard Parker's, John Kenneth Galbraith: His Life, His Politics, His Economics in, of all places, Foreign Affairs.

It's clear Brad likes Galbraith's work, and up to a point I do too. But in my mind the work is inescapably tarred by my one meeting with the man, and ironically it has everything to do with foreign affairs.

Continue reading →

Posted in Econ & Money | 1 Comment

Is That Legal? No It Is Not!

Posted on April 20, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

It is time, again, to praise Is That Legal?

Eric Muller is a public intellectual in the best sense: engaged with real things. I especially recommend the series of posts on under-the-radar Christian propaganda in public schools that not-very-subtly attacks other religions — and is required (or extra credit) reading. The stuff is published and promoted by the Renaissance Learning company, and adopted by schools either because they share the worldview or, more likely, because it comes with convenient little tests that the elementary students can take. I hope Eric will organize these posts onto a separate, easily indexed free-standing page, but until then, if you have a child in public school, or care about the separation of church and state, see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

And watch out for “Escape from Egypt” or “Journey to Japan” in your elementary school library.

PS. Eric's more recent series of posts attempting to correct rapidly propagating untruths about an element of the the new Pope's biography are good too.