One grim fact is that there is no essential connection between the modern research university and the values of liberal democracy other than, as (recall) Michael Polanyi noted, that they can have the same enemies.

digressionsimpressions.substack.com/p/on-the-pre...

Quickly, let's switch from Medicaid to Medicare. Totally different picture. Republican incumbents would be highly exposed to voters angry over cuts to or uncertainty around Medicare.

Thank you for this. I
f we look at the politics (as opposed to the ethics) of this question, they are pretty interesting. Using your figures, here are the combined CHIP, Regular, and Exanded Medicaid enrollment percentages, lowest to highest, for each district. 1/5

Meanwhile, in Germany, leadership breaks out. It will pay closer-to-normal interest rates but will be followed instead of resented. Pretty good deal.

(Thanks to @arpitrage.bsky.social for the image.)

"Tracking freezing temperatures in the U.S."
Why are freezing temperatures 'news' in December?

Yes.

The comparative figure that Joey shows us is impressive -- but there are reasons why, over the longer term, US productivity growth has not led to general rejoicing. Here is one of them.

The comparative figure is impressive -- but there are reasons why, over the longer term, US productivity growth has not led to general rejoicing. Here is one of them.

A riff on one of the greatest paintings of all time: Mu Qi's "Six Persimmons".

But in Oberlin you weren't in Kansas any more.
Know this monument?

"Nearby"

The inequality wars. Auten and Splinter vs Piketty and Saez .