Put simply, it's like choosing to not fund your retirement program so you have a few extra bucks to spend at Xmas time.

Worse, it's like borrowing from your 401K to buy a new car. (And anyone who knows even a little about finance can tell you why that's… Read full post »

In case you're wondering what might be going on behind closed doors on Capitol Hill in the current health care debate (or climate change, or fiscal policy, foreign policy, energy, military spending, education, campaign finance, et al., ad nauseam) perhaps this will give you better persp… Read full post »

just a note that this blog has its own Facebook fan page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occams-Taser/388282854024

  ... in case you were one of those social (media) butterflies who fancied that sort of thing.

 Stop by and become a fan. I'd appreciate it.

[updated with correct link]&nbs… Read full post »

"Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?"
Chico Marx in Duck Soup

It still amazes me that when you show somebody something, show them evidence they can see with their own eyes, they still willfully disbelieve it. You're not only lying, they insist, you're trying to… Read full post »

I didn't get a chance to get this written for what I've begun calling "Mendacity Monday," but it's been banging around in my head for the past couple days, so I'm going to get it out now.

When money falls short, what's the first thing to get cut back on? Infrastructure,… Read full post »

None of us actually needs health insurance. That's the most glaring fallacy in what passes for "debate" on health care. We're all falling all over ourselves trying to come up with ways to pay for something that's ideally not necessary.

I'll spare you the history of the insurance industry. Those who'r… Read full post »

Meet the new boss

Same as the old boss

It’s one of the most iconic screams in Rock and Roll. It occurs seven minutes, 45 seconds into an eight and a half minute song. (Depending on the version. Remember when “rebellious” musicians made songs… Read full post »

Does political outcome depend on the amount of money put in? Conventional wisdom says yes. Many, however, point to numbers and facts and state this isn't necessarily so.

I was just thinking about the phrase, "the exception that proves the rule." I was just thinking about what a malapropism that… Read full post »

All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.
George Orwell, "Animal Farm"

Yet one more perspective on the recent Supreme Court ruling that sided with a group dedicated to abolishing campaign finance laws (they are, look it up), a… Read full post »

What follows was a comment I made to this post, Why Supreme Court Corporate Spending Decision is Correct. I felt it had become long enough to justify a post of its own.

I'm late to the discussion, and this comment will likely be missed, but I feel compelled to tell you your… Read full post »

I should point out that the equation in the title is mathematically sound.

Consider a value of 2.38. You have two dollar bills in your pocket, plus a dime, three pennies and a quarter. "How much you got?" says your friend. Around $2, you say, assuming you're chipping in for pizza. … Read full post »

I started writing this as a comment on R. Joseph Hoffmann's post, "Good without God: Not the Problem"

I felt it was long enough to warrant its own post (and not clog the comments there)

there is the saying, "there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it… Read full post »

(with thanks to Gen. Brady (and I think one other person) for suggesting the theme)

What a way to start off what I hope to be a regular event - with news of Palin the Ass becoming a paid talking head on Faux Skews. Palin is the figurehead of mendacity, or a state… Read full post »