The Minuteman: Crossing the Conservative Wires
1. So Much For Checks And Balances While Elena Kagan’s confirmation this summer didn’t change the balance of political power on the Court, it will shift the Court’s legal philosophy. Kagan, a long-time supporter of the Administrative State, revealed in her testimony that she doesn’t think much of the idea of checks and balances in…
Conflicts of Interest Drive Costs Up and Quality Down in Higher Education
Students across the country are having difficulty paying for the high cost of higher education. At the University of California, students face particular challenges in the wake of major tuition hikes due to the state’s escalating budget crisis. As the dire circumstances become glaringly obvious, students need to collectively refocus on dual goals of containing…
What the 32% Fee Increases Really Means
Berkeley students are painfully aware of the Regents of University of California’s approval of a 32% tuition increase last November, and of the widespread, unnecessary rioting that followed. These protests displayed many students’ complete lack of understanding of the plan’s necessity, and of the actual details. Many incoming freshmen to the University of California were…
Peace-by-Piece?
Since 1967, Israel has promoted the “land for peace” strategy to resolve the conflict with the Palestinians. As we have learned in the last 43 years, this strategy is flawed. Peace will not be gained by appeasing those that seek your demise. Peace will occur when both sides are willing to negotiate and so far,…
Educational Innovation at UC Benefits All
Revolutionary ideas rarely come unopposed. That’s why it was no surprise that almost immediately after Berkeley Law Dean Christopher Edley suggested establishing an online degree program for the University of California the suggestion came under fire. Professors and graduate student unions claimed that the courses would lack the quality of other UC courses and thus…
Under New Management
Compatriots! It is my pleasure to head off the new school year as the Patriot’s Editor-in-Chief, and I look forward to leading an excellent staff. This issue features a Point-Counterpoint – the first in a long time! – on Proposition 19, an initiative that would drastically reshape California drug policy. Opinion Editor Charlie Deist writes…
Cal Rendition of the National Anthem Inappropriate
It’s a Cal football tradition. After the band concludes playing its traditional pump up pregame show, it leads the stadium, Cal and visiting fans alike, in a rendition of the national anthem: “And the rockets’ BLUE glare, …, For the land of the freeeeee, and the home of the BEARS!!!” Okay, not quite what Francis…
Counter-Point: Proposition 19 Does More Harm Than Good
Pragmatists will argue that prohibition just doesn’t work. The Big Government crowd will argue that the State’s finances are in such dire straits that we might as well tax marijuana, which will be consumed whether we like it or not. Social conservatives will argue that legalization will unravel the fabric of society. Strangely enough, none…
Point: Prohibition Insanity – Trying the Same Thing, Expecting Different Results
A sane and rational drug policy should be based on the best estimate of the relative costs and benefits of prohibition versus legalization. Usually, a precise cost/benefit analysis is impossible, given the inability to conduct natural experiments on a society-wide level. In this case, though, there is ample evidence of the counterproductive effects of prohibition…