Social Scientist Robert Rector does it again, exposing the government's intellectually debilitating misuse of the word "poverty". (No, things haven't changed under Bush II). Quotable:
Forty-six percent of all poor households actually own their own homes...The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe... Overall, the typical American defined as poor by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family is not hungry and he had sufficient funds in the past year to meet his family�s essential needs.
(via EconLog)
Zogby poll -- there are two Americas, divided by culture, politics, morality and religion. All you ever wanted to know about America's "Red State" / "Blue State" divide.
Worth quoting:
If a veterinarian visiting a Montana ranch should conclude the dead cattle there had died of mad cow disease, who would know first: Congress, or the cattle futures market?
-- Pat Buchanan
Sometimes great teachers are also great scientists. This is the case with U.W. professor Rodney Stark. Stark is now giving a good kick in the pants to sociologists of religion, point out how they have failed to come to grips with the fact that people truly believe in their Gods, and this belief has made a difference to world history. Stark's new book is For the Glory of God: How Monotheism Led to Reformations, Science, Witch-Hunts, and the End of Slavery