Author: Thomas L. Knapp

When It Really is Racist to Talk About Racial Gaps

Source: Bet On It
by Bryan Caplan

“I have a dream. I dream of a world where well-informed people calmly and candidly discuss society’s ugliest statistical realities. I dream of a world where no one stigmatizes those who participate in these discussions as ‘racist’ (or ‘sexist,’ ‘homophobic,’ ‘xenophobic,’ ‘anti-Semitic,’ or ‘Islamophobic’). I dream of a world where everyone in these discussions speaks respectfully about all of the groups under consideration. I dream of a world where the point of these discussions is to help craft humane tailored policy responses, not rationalize collective punishment or bless the status quo. Above all, I dream of a world where all participants are mindful that individual exceptions to statistical rules are ubiquitous. The hashtag #NotAllX is never far from the thoughts of any intellectually honest person.” (06/11/26)

https://www.betonit.ai/p/when-it-really-is-racist-to-talk

Thomas L. Knapp

Why I’m done with “Heteropessimism”

Source: Sex and the State
by Cathy Reisenwitz

“‘Heteropessimism’ is top-half women aping their bottom-half counterparts. It’s a rich person performing poor-person behavior. Like a man wearing Dickies to his graphic design job, top-half women pretend to swear off men while bottom-half women really do it.” (06/11/26)

https://cathyreisenwitz.substack.com/p/why-im-done-with-heteropessimism

Thomas L. Knapp

Nostalgia

Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Mani Basharzad

“If someone asked me what the most dangerous economic ideology is, many would expect an Austrian to give a typical answer: Marxism, socialism, or Modern Monetary Theory. Yet I believe there is another way of thinking that is even more pervasive. It is not a coherent body of ideas like those ideologies. Rather, it is a sentiment so widespread and socially accepted that it threatens not merely economic freedom, but our very understanding of progress itself. I call it ‘nostalgia economics.'” (06/11/26)

https://fee.org/articles/nostalgia/

Thomas L. Knapp

Sudanese paramilitary drone strikes kill at least 15 people in central region, officials say

Source: ABC News

“Sudanese paramilitary forces carried out drone strikes overnight in central Sudan, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens, health officials said Thursday, as the use of unmanned aircraft becomes increasingly common in the more than three-year war in the African country. The attacks, which started late Wednesday, targeted various areas of the city of el-Obeid, including near an army position, according to two health officials at el-Obed Hospital, which received the victims. More than 10 people were also wounded, some critically, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023, after long-simmering tensions between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF. The conflict has killed at least 59,000 people, displaced some 13 million, and pushed many parts of the country into famine.” (06/11/26)

https://abcnews.com/International/wireStory/sudanese-paramilitary-drone-strikes-kill-15-people-central-133784827

Thomas L. Knapp