The Rationalist Papers (20): Analysis of the candidates’ words at the town halls

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Donald Trump and Joe Biden participated in competing town hall broadcasts last week. I analyzed their speech. Trump talked about himself a lot more, but Biden talked about voters and what he would do for them. Just a reminder: these Rationalist Papers posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservative, moderate, undecided, and … Continued

The Rationalist Papers (19): A cabinet of “the best people”

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Why does Donald Trump have such difficulty retaining people in leadership positions? In August of 2015, candidate Trump said “I’m going to surround myself only with the best and most serious people. We want top of the line professionals.” Since then, turnover in the most influential positions in the executive office of the President has … Continued

The Rationalist Papers (18): Biden will raise taxes. But not on you.

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Yes, taxes would be higher under President Biden. Enough to raise $2.4 trillion in the next ten years. You almost certainly won’t be paying them, though, unless you make more than $400,000 a year or run a decent sized business. Just a reminder: these Rationalist Papers posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservative, moderate, … Continued

The Rationalist Papers (17): Why bother voting?

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The polls say Biden will very likely win. Why spend your time and effort voting? Just a reminder: these Rationalist Papers posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservative, moderate, undecided, and third-party voters considering their choices in the 2020 US Presidential election. The horse race As they do every year, news organizations devote a … Continued

The Rationalist Papers (16): L’état, c’est moi.

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The president serves the government and the nation. When the president exploits the functions of government for political aims, we must toss him out. Just a reminder: these Rationalist Papers posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservative, moderate, undecided, and third-party voters considering their choices in the 2020 US Presidential election. In the early … Continued

The Rationalist Papers (15): Big tent

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American presidential politics has always been about winning over the middle. And Donald Trump has abandoned the middle. Are you in the middle? Just a reminder: these Rationalist Papers posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservative, moderate, undecided, and third-party voters considering their choices in the 2020 US Presidential election. Who’s for Biden? Certainly … Continued

The Rationalist Papers (14): The presidential COVID quiz

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While most Republicans believe Trump has handled the COVID-19 crisis as well as other wealthy countries, nearly all Democrats disagree. If you were in charge, could you have done better? Today we find out. Just a reminder: these Rationalist Papers posts are for the group I call the deciders: conservative, moderate, undecided, and third-party voters considering their … Continued

The Rationalist Papers (13): A normal debate

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The “debate” between Joe Biden’s selection for vice-president, Senator Kamala Harris, and Trump’s VP Mike Pence was normal by 21st Century televised debate standards. By that I mean that the level of shouting, screaming, interrupting, and abuse was sufficiently low that it was actually possible to hear much of what the candidates were saying, and … Continued