Comments on: Linkfest: Activist Legislators

By: Steve Harrelson

Steve Harrelson — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:01:03 +0000

Yes, the 'S resolution, which is garnering much more attention than I ever anticipated, was filed by me. I filed this as a simple non-binding resolution in hopes that it would sail through on the front end of our voting calendar (during the same period of the day when we recognize local tennis stars and commend couples for managing to stay married for an extended period), but it has caught the attention of reporters, scholars, and historians. I guess you can call it a waste of legislative resources if you consider the paper the bill was printed on and the 2 minutes it took for me to present.

While much of the criticism (waste of time, must not have enough to do, etc.) is probably deserved, I've secretly enjoyed this little debate on our historical roots as a people and find many of the e-mails I've received from scholars and teachers (both pro and con) quite amusing -- it is definitely not a waste of time to some. Of all the legislation I've filed and pursued, I just have to laugh about this one being scooped up and disseminated in the way it has (but I have to admit, I brought it on myself).

By: EazieCheeze

EazieCheeze — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 03:02:50 +0000

Regarding Arkansas's measure: Let's keep in mind that Arkansas is the only state to codify its pronunciation (Title 1, Article 4, Section 105).

I don't put this beyond them.

By: doinkicarus

doinkicarus — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 18:17:16 +0000

style rules change is not the same as adding or removing serifs on your font, which is the equivalent of the long s. It's just not a popular typeface.

It was, is, and forever will be an s, not an f.

By: KipEsquire

KipEsquire — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:38:28 +0000

doink,

Regardles of what "it" was, "it" is a was and is not an is.

Style rules change.

By: KipEsquire

KipEsquire — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:34:50 +0000

Windy,

I do NOT mean by empirical observation (which is fun to do but not my thesis). I mean by definition.

By: doinkicarus

doinkicarus — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 21:28:45 +0000

Tsk, tsk. About the "f" in "Congrefs": It's actually an ſ.

I was under the impression that what we see as an "f" was simply a character used in place of an interior "s" to save space while typesetting, and that despite appearances, it is actually an "s" or an "f," depending on the subsequent letter.
I may be misinformed, because this guy thinks it's a calligrapher's error. OTOH, the wikipedia agrees with me.

By: Skip Oliva

Skip Oliva — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:58:55 +0000

Regarding the "price gouging" law, I suspect the main reason FTC Chairman Majoras is opposed is that it would destroy her agency's "business model" as it were. The FTC thrives on bullying firms into complying with fairly narrow antitrust regulations. Often, the FTC targets small businessmen and sole proprietors (in contrast to the populist myth that antitrust is about "big business.") Even large firms tend to be targeted over minor matters. Only a handful of FTC cases are litigated, and even fewer fall outside the agency's carefully choreographed administrative process.

A "price gouging" law would disturb the balance. Large oil companies and gas retailers will fight the FTC every step in the way in every court that's available. Majoras's staff would have to devote a disproportionate share of resources to a cause that probably has little chance of success in the courts.

By: Brian Miller

Brian Miller — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:38:03 +0000

That none of them are Libertarians?

Well, yeah, that was the second half of my thought.

But the first half was that I bet at least one of them was from the D's.

By: Windypundit

Windypundit — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:24:36 +0000

And another thing...you keep saying "All politicians are, by definition, moral defectives."

Why "by definition"? I could understand it if you said "by empirical observation," but how are they moral defectives by definition? What definition?

By: Windypundit

Windypundit — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 20:16:06 +0000

"Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding 's. Follow this rule whatever the final consonant." -- Strunk and White, 3ed, the very first rule in the book

My Chicago Manual of Style agrees, but takes longer to say it. Both sources list exceptions, but Arkansas doesn't fit any of them.

(My copies of these books are about 20 years old, so I admit it's possible the rules have changed.)