Blogcritics Author: Dan Miller

Why are The Somali Pirates So Successful?

Dan Miller — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:08:35 EST

Piracy off the coast of Somalia is getting worse and serious steps should be taken to counter it.
Piracy off the coast of Somalia is getting serious. Even the supply of video games for the Christmas season may be in danger. Should this happen, more attention may well be paid to the problem. On 15 November 2008, Somali pirates captured their biggest prize thus far, a very large Saudi owned oil tanker.The attack on the Sirius Star, three times...

The Free Trade Agreement Between Colombia and the United States Should be Approved

Dan Miller — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:56:46 EST

The Free Trade Agreement with Colombia should be approved, now.
In a recent BC article, it was argued that the free trade agreement between the United States and Colombia should be rejected. I disagree. As I understand the article, the agreement would be good for the U.S. economy but bad for the Colombian people, particularly the much abused trade unionists. However, the article provides scant support for the...

Who is Senator Obama?

Dan Miller — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 22:18:44 EDT

If misinformation concerning a candidate is to be limited, the candidate should make the facts known.
In another Blogcritics article and its associated comments, it has been suggested that there have been lots of false accusations concerning Senator Obama. One comment notes, A) He's an ArabB) He is related to Osama bin LadenC) He's going to be sworn in on the Qu'ranD) He has "ties" to Al QaedaE) "Just look at his name....

Possible Effect of Voter Registration Fraud on the Election

Dan Miller — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:45:06 EDT

The pre-election and exit polls are frequently wrong. Vote for whomever you wish, but vote (once and legally)!
We have all heard of the Bradley Effect -- the polls suggest that there will be more votes cast for Senator Obama than actually will be: Senator Obama is Black, and since some poll respondents do not wish to be considered racist they conceal their true intentions. Although difficult if not impossible to quantify rigorously, there is probably...

Satire: Speaker Pelosi Will Moderate the Thursday Debate Between Governor Palin and Senator Biden

Dan Miller — Wed, 1 Oct 2008 18:48:23 EDT

The political debates are fun. Let's all watch the Biden/Palin debate.
A confidential but highly reliable source confirms that the debate between Senator Biden and Governor Palin will be moderated by Speaker Pelosi, rather than by Gwen Ifill. This has come about due to the controversy over whether the formerly intended moderator might exhibit some bias toward the Biden/Obama ticket in her conduct of the debate. It...

Should the Presidential Debates Go Forward As Scheduled On 26 September?

Dan Miller — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:58:45 EDT

The Presidential Debate should be postponed, briefly, to permit the candidates to participate in resolution of the financial crisis.
The present Congress is not exemplary. Neither is the present executive branch. However, they are the only ones we have, and they are the ones which can deal now with the current economic difficulties; they are the only bodies with the legal ability to do so. The Presidential debate scheduled for 26 September is important. Should Senators McCain...

What's All This Stuff About Racism And Sexism?

Dan Miller — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:20:08 EDT

Racism and sexism are perverse, regardless of whose ox is being gored. They are not likely to disappear soon.
There are doubtless some people who will vote for or against Senator Obama because he is Black. Some will doubtless vote for or against Senator McCain because he is not. According to a recent AP-Yahoo News survey, there are many Whites who harbor misgivings about Blacks. This survey focused on the attitudes of Whites concerning such...

Is An Ivy League Education Really Important?

Dan Miller — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:35:35 EDT

Success at a prestigious university is not a bad thing. Nor should it determine for whom we vote.
During the general elections, we focus on the most trivial questions possible. Perhaps they are easier to comprehend. Governor Palin has religious convictions against abortion, Senator Obama takes a different view. We can all understand that, and agree or disagree; even though their personal views on abortion are unlikely to make any difference, we...

Is Senator Obama About to Implode or Has He Already Done So?

Dan Miller — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:39:54 EDT

Senator Obama is worried. He should be. However, he is not reacting as many of us would wish a president to react.
ABC News quotes Senator Obama during a recent public appearance:"You know, you can put lipstick on a pig," Obama said, "but it's still a pig." The crowd rose and applauded, some of them no doubt thinking that he was alluding to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's ad lib during her vice presidential nomination acceptance speech...

Religion and Politics

Dan Miller — Mon, 8 Sep 2008 16:13:45 EDT

When you consider for whom to vote, let your conscience be your guide. That's the best advice I can offer.
Well bred people are, I am told, very reluctant to discuss either religion or politics on social occasions; to discuss them in concert is generally considered to be in extremely poor taste. This reluctance often results in rather dull discussions.The purpose of this article, in poor taste though it may be, is to explore what, if any, proper nexus...