Author: Thomas L. Knapp

US Economic Growth Looks Slow — Until You Compare It to Europe’s

Source: The Daily Economy
by John Phelan

“Over the past decade, the United States has outperformed every other G7 nation. Key measures show why the US is not just getting bigger, but also growing richer.” (02/16/26)

https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/us-economic-growth-looks-slow-until-you-compare-it-to-europes/

Thomas L. Knapp

FCC finds no violations in Bad Bunny halftime show

Source: NBC Sports

“Many were triggered by the Bad Bunny halftime show at Super Bowl LX, largely because it became the latest fuel for the American outrage and counter outrage machine. Some complained to the FCC about the supposedly profane nature of the lyrics they loudly complained they didn’t understand anyway, because they weren’t in English. Whatever the language, an initial FCC review concluded that the show didn’t violate applicable decency regulations.” (02/16/26)

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/fcc-finds-no-violations-in-bad-bunny-halftime-show

Thomas L. Knapp

Anti-Intellectualism and Violence, Take 2

Source: ProSocial Libertarians
by Andrew Jason Cohen

“I am sometimes inclined to believe that anti-intellectualism is new or, if not new, worse now than in the past. In my calmer moments, I don’t believe either claim. I think that what is different now is that we expect more people — perhaps everyone — to be literate and to keep up with national politics. That sounds like a great idea (to democratic theorists anyway) until you think about what people are usually like. Some people want to spend time considering political ethics and discussing the issues of the day or perennial issues. Some of those do so with deep concern and impartiality. Some do not. And, of course, some have no desire to do these things at all. … We can’t make everyone an intellectual. For many people, it would leave them unhappy.” (02/16/26)

https://prosociallibertarians.substack.com/p/anti-intellectualism-and-violence-89c

Thomas L. Knapp

Why Not Eliminate All Foreign Aid?

Source: Future of Freedom Foundation
by Laurence M Vance

“The Trump administration’s turning off of the foreign aid spigot to some recipients of foreign aid should come as no surprise. Republicans have over the years called for foreign aid to be withheld from one country or another to punish them for doing something particularly egregious or to persuade them to follow a particular course of action. But Republicans have no philosophical opposition to foreign aid. Just like they have no philosophical objection to government grants to the arts unless it funds blasphemous or pornographic art, no philosophical objection to welfare as long as it has some work requirements, and no philosophical objection to antidiscrimination laws as long as they don’t include discrimination against sexual orientation and gender identity. Republicans generally don’t even have any objection to government funding for Planned Parenthood as long as the funding is not used to provide abortions.” (02/16/26)

https://www.fff.org/explore-freedom/article/why-not-eliminate-all-foreign-aid/

Thomas L. Knapp

The Increasing Attacks on Francesca Albanese Presage a New Dark Age

Source: The Chris Hedges Report

“The viscous and sustained campaign mounted against Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967, by Israel and the U.S. now includes the German, Italian, French, Austrian and Czech foreign ministers demanding her resignation. This campaign is part of an effort by industrial nations to at once sustain the genocide in Gaza — nearly 600 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the sham ceasefire took effect — and silence all those who demand the international community abide by the rule of law.” (02/16/26)

https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/the-increasing-attacks-on-francesca

Thomas L. Knapp