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Intellectual controversies can take on a life of their own, as ideological gambits cross into unanticipated issues and sometimes backfire on their progenitors. The 1990s science wars are an arcane example. Postmodern humanities scholars, mainly on the left, cast doubt on sciences capacity for objectivity, a critique that in time, as Michiko Kakutani has persuasively contended, fed into Trumpisms disdain for facts and expertise. Ive wondered whether such unexpected deconstruction effects might repeat with the current left-wing push to decolonize various institutions and locales. I can imagine near-future rightists claiming theyre decolonizing small towns or suburbs in opposition to liberal cities.

The right-wing assault on critical race theory, with a wide range of material lumped under that label, has had considerable political salience. Driving to a rec soccer game in New Jersey recently, I noticed someone had taken the trouble to print their own sign, Stop Critical Race Theory, and post it on their front lawn. But the push in state legislatures to ban ideas associated with CRT could have all sorts of effects. It establishes a degree of educational micromanagement from state capitals that conservatives may regret if they cease holding majorities in those bodies. It also makes a mockery of the push to include anti-evolution arguments in biology curricula on grounds of academic freedom.

In another manifestation of the unexpected, libertarian exaltations of property rights likely have helped pave the way for a new environmentalist aspiration to give property rights to animals. Such efforts are part of a broader push to establish rights of nature, exemplified recently in efforts to protect waterways and wildlife in Florida and wild rice, or manoomin, in Minnesota; the latter plant, as Ive written, has been named as lead plaintiff in an Ojibwe tribal court lawsuit against a pipeline project called Line 3.

Another area where strong belief in property rights might end up parlaying into novel positions is the efforts to establish the concept of universal property. That refers to natural or social resources that dont readily fit traditional categories of private or public property and accordingly may fairly be converted into individual payments to the public. Alaskas Permanent Fund to distribute the states oil wealth is one example, and another would be divvying up proceeds from charging for carbon emissions into the unowned sky. A financial-transaction tax may be similarly justified on the grounds that the overall infrastructure enabling such transactions was created by society broadly, rather than by specific institutions.

With inflation resurging, hard money may reemerge as a political priority. Traditionally, such efforts have focused on restoring a gold standard, a policy that was mostly eliminated in the 1930s with its final vestiges ending in the 1971, thanks to Richard Nixon. Recently right-wing Congressman Madison Cawthorn suggested cryptocurrency could serve as the new gold standard, sparking a backlash on grounds of the high volatility and huge energy use of crypto such as Bitcoin.

While one might argue that Bitcoin, having built-in limits on how much can be created, bears some resemblance to golds natural scarcity, any effort to stabilize a currency on the basis of an underlying asset, physical or electronic, faces a problem of credibility: Whats to stop a government (or other currency issuer) from reneging on whatever tight-money commitment its made? Insofar as radical monetary reform reemerges as a right-wing emphasis, this seems more likely to result in a marketing boon for dealers in precious metals or crypto, rather than any actual policy change.

However, intellectual trends that seem disconnected from practical outcomes are a feature of both left and right. The 1990s science wars receded, to some degree, after a physicist named Alan Sokal successfully submitted a nonsense paper about quantum gravity to a postmodern journal; revealing the hoax, he invited anyone who thinks gravity a social construct to jump from his high-rise window. In my work as a copyeditor, Ive dealt with manuscripts, such as a recent one about social justice and Star Wars, where I felt a need to check authors credentials carefully to be sure I wasnt in receipt of a Sokal-type hoax. People on either side of the ideological spectrum may take comfort in knowing some of whats preoccupying the other side.

Kenneth Silber is author ofIn DeWitts Footsteps: Seeing History on the Erie Canaland is on Twitter:@kennethsilber

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Backfires of Left and Right - Splice Today

Rep. Don Young addresses constituents at The Powder House bar and grill. (Aug. 31, 2020) Photo by Zachary Snowdon Smith/The Cordova Times

Seeking a 26th term in the U.S. House, Alaskas lone representative will face a challenger in 2022 with strong name recognition in the state.

Nicholas Begich III has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to challenge U.S. Rep. Don Youngs hold on the states sole seat in the U.S. House.

Young is only the fourth person to hold the seat since statehood and won it in a special election a year after Begichs grandfather, U.S. Rep. Nick Begich, was declared dead after his plane went missing while flying to Juneau in 1972.

But unlike his grandfather and uncles former U.S. Sen. Mark Begich and current state Sen. Tom Begich, all Democrats, Nicholas Begich III is a Republican.

I think what Ive been hearing from Alaskans is theyre ready to look forward, into the future, the 44-year-old Begich toldAlaska Public Media.

Young, 88, seemed unfazed by Begichs entry into the race.

Im running hard and Im running to win. Anyone is free to file, but the question is, who can best represent Alaska? he said in an email to The Associated Press.

Ive always welcomed challengers to the race, but I have the experience and know-how to continue getting things done for Alaska, said Young, who filed candidacy papers with the state elections office in April.

Alaskans deserve effective representation in Congress, and I will work hard as Ive always done to secure another term, he said.

Begich also has close ties to Young, serving as a chairman of the congressmans campaign in 2020, when Young defeated independent Alyse Galvin.

Begich has hired Truman Reed to be his campaign manager. Reed was Youngs campaign manager in 2020 and has worked in Youngs congressional office.

I have hundreds of former staffers from my years of service to our state. It is unfortunate that these two did not want to be part of the winning team this time around, said Young, who is the longest serving Republican in the U.S. House and the last remaining member to have served during the President Richard Nixon era.

Begich lives in Chugiak and is executive director of a software development company. His grandmother, Pegge Begich, lost twice to Young in the 1980s.

Others who have filed for the House seat with either the Alaska Division of Elections or the federal commission are Randy Purham, Gregg Brelsford and Shannon Scott Evans, all Republicans, and Chris Bye, a Libertarian. No Democrats have filed for the office.

A voter initiative passed last year calls for a single primary ballot, with the top four vote-getters advancing to the general election. Ranked-choice voting would be used for general elections.

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Young to face off with familiar family - The cordova Times

With more than half of all legislative districts in Chautauqua County uncontested for the November election, it is still technically possible for the Democrats to take control from the Republican party. Realistically, the party has a better shot to take away the super majority control Republicans have now but even that isnt a given.

Currently 14 of 19 legislators are Republicans. By having at least 13 legislators, Republicans have a supermajority, which means they dont need any Democratic support for any legislation.

In November, eight of the 19 districts will have a challenger. Democrats will need to win at least seven of the eight races to control the legislature, none of which are open seats. If they win at least two of the races, they will take away the supermajority control by the Republican party. Six of the eight contested races are currently held by Republican legislators and two are held by Democratic legislators, one of which has no Republican challenger.

CONTESTED RACES

One of the races has two registered Democrats running, so Democrats will keep that seat no matter what. In District 4, Susan Parker of Fredonia defeated Fredonia incumbent Christine Starks in the June primary to become the endorsed Democratic candidate. Starks, however, still has the Working Families Party and will be on the ballot in November. District 4 covers a portion of the village of Fredonia.

Another twist is in the 18th District. Bill Ward of Mavyille is a registered Republican. See SHOT, PIn the June primary he lost the line to Martin J. Proctor of Findley Lake. Proctor was previously a county legislator, filling the remainder of the term of David Himelein, who passed away in 2019. He lost to Ward that year when Ward had secured both the Democratic and Republican lines and Proctor ran on the Cornerstone line. Ward had previously secured the Democratic line and was again seeking to be the endorsed candidate by both parties. Ward also has the Working Families line, while Proctor has the Conservative line. Ward has not said if he wins if he will continue to caucus with the Republicans or join the Democrats. District 18 includes the towns of Mina, Sherman and a portion of the town of Chautauqua, including the village of Mayville.

In District 16, there are three candidates running for the seat. John Davis of Frewsburg is the incumbent. He has the Republican and Conservative lines. He is being challenged by Dustin Carvella who is the endorsed candidate of the Democratic and Working Families. Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole is running on the Libertarian line. Cole is the secretary of the county Libertarian Party. This is the only district that has a Libertarian candidate. District 16 includes the towns of Poland, Carroll and Kiantone.

In District 11, Robert Whitney is running for re-election. He is endorsed by the Democratic and Working Families parties. He is being challenged by David Wilfong, who is endorsed by the Republican and Conservative lines. This is a rematch of sorts. Wilfong defeated Whitney in 2013 for the seat. Wilfong stepped down from the seat when he ran for Jamestown mayor, but eventually lost to Eddie Sunquist. District 11 covers a portion of the city of Jamestown.

In District 12, which is mostly in the city of Jamestown, along with a small portion in the town of Ellicott, incumbent Elisabeth Rankin is being challenged by Heather Fagan. Rankin is running on the Republican and Conservative lines while Fagan is running on the Democratic line.

In District 8, Pierre Chagnon of Bemus Point is being challenged by Scott Humble. Chagnon, who is the legislature chairman, is running for re-election on the Republican and Conservative lines, while Humble is running on the Democratic line. District 8 covers the towns of North Harmony and Ellery.

In District 3, Bob Scutter of Fredonia is being challenged by Robert Dando. Scutter is running on the Republican and Conservative lines while Dando is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. District 3 includes a portion of the village of Fredonia and the rest of the town of Pomfret.

In District 1, Kevin Muldowney of Dunkirk is being challenged by Marcus Buchanan. Muldowney is running on the Republican line while Buchanan is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. District 1 includes a portion of the city and West Town of Dunkirk.

NEW FACES

There is a guarantee for at least two new faces, one of which is already serving.

Mark Odell is the only candidate listed for District 7. Odell, who is running on the Republican and Conservative lines, resigned from his seat in August after taking a new professional position in Florida. After Odell resigned, the Republican committees of Stockton, Portland, and District 4 of the town of Chautauqua selected Johnathan Penhollow of Stockton to take Odells place. He was sworn into office in August. Because of when Odell resigned, it was too late to get any new names on the ballot. In November, should Odell be re-elected, it is expected he will either decline the position or be found ineligible to be sworn in and then Penhollow would continue until the end of 2022. In November next year, Penhollow will need to run for a one-year term if he wants to keep the seat.

Meanwhile, Democrat Chuck Nazzaro of Jamestown has decided not to run for re-election for District 9, which covers the south end of the city. Billy Torres, also a Democrat, is running for the seat unopposed.

UNCONTESTED RACES

Of the 11 legislators who are running unopposed, eight are Republicans and three are Democrats. Along with Odell, Republicans running unopposed include: Terry Niebel of Sheridan for District 5; Thomas Harmon of Silver Creek for District 6; Ken Lawton of Lakewood for District 10; Dan Pavlock of Sinclairville for District 14; Lisa Vanstrom of West Ellicott for District 15; Jay Gould of Ashville for District 17; and John Hemmer of Westfield for District 19.

Along with Torres, Democrats who are running unopposed include: Robert Bankoski of Dunkirk for District 2 and Paul Whitford of Jamestown for District 13.

This years elections are set for Tuesday, Nov. 2. Seats are for two years. The legislature will need to have the districts redrawn following the 2020 Census results before the next election in 2023.

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Dems have outside shot to take control of legislature - Evening Observer

Early voting has already begun for the November 2 election in which citizens will be able to vote on constitutional amendments and local propositions. One of the measures on the Erath County Ballot is Proposition A which, if passed, will allow the legal sale of all alcoholic beverages including mixed beverages. It deserves voter support.

Supporters of Prop A argue that Based on our population, studies show we could be gaining as much as $10 million a year in additional sales, nearly 100 new jobs and generate another $200,000 in local sales tax revenue. The sources for these figures are reliable and the figures are probably accurate. But even if Prop As passage generated no new revenue in either sales or sales tax, or created a single additional job, its passage would still be beneficial because it would increase the fairness and freedom with which we conduct our business and our lives.

Ive been involved with economic development issues in Stephenville for 18 years14 as a city council member and Mayor Pro Tem, and 4 as a member of the Stephenville Economic Development Authority Board of Directors. Ive always thought the government can best support economic development with policies that promote:

Passage of Prop A will advance all three of these principles. The projected revenue, for example, will ease our tax burden and help finance quality services and infrastructure, not only to the benefit of the restaurant and retail industries, but to everyone who patronizes them or otherwise pays taxes and uses city and county services.

Moreover, Prop A supporters note that currently restaurants which sell alcohol operate under burdensome rules which prohibit our on-premise establishments from purchasing their inventory locally and the private club rules [which] add on costly expenses. Some research indicates that the additional expense may range from $3000 to $20,000. The added burden to private clubs competing with other restaurants is clearly unfair. Removing the burden levels the playing field while promoting greater free-market competition for customers.

But the most important reason for supporting Prop A, for me at least, is that it expands the freedom not only of local restaurants and retailers, but of We the People as well. As both an economic and a social libertarian, Ive always thought that adults should be able to pursue whatever lifestyles they choose, other than those that hurt others or lead to an abdication of personal responsibility for ones actions. With this in mind, as a city council member I supported each application from the owner of a bar or restaurant to sell alcohol, even though I myself am a strict teetotaler. I also spoke, in a public debate, for the passage of the 2008 proposition which first permitted the sale of beer and wine in Erath County. And although Im a nonsmoker, I also opposed smoking restrictions in restaurants and private property, believing that the property owners should have the right to determine the degree, if any, to which adults could smoke on their premises.

Proposition A, to the extent that it expands the right to buy and sell alcohol in Erath County, is of a piece with these other measures to expand the right of adults to live their lives their way, as long as nobody gets hurt. Proposition A imposes no obligations on those who, like me, dont drink. It expands choices and rights and rights for the interested. And its passage will strengthen the libertarian principle that our lives are ours to live as we sit fit without endangering others, and that whatever lifestyles we choose are ours by right.

Government at all levels is growing bigger. Higher taxes may finance better programs, but they reduce our power to spend our money our way as individuals. More rules, however beneficial they logically they seem, may reduce our personal freedom as well. Voting for Prop A is one way we can push against these trends. So:

Vote for Fairness.

Vote for Freedom.

Vote for Prop A.

Malcolm L. Cross has lived in Stephenville and taught politics and government at Tarleton since 1987. His political and civic activities include service on the Stephenville City Council (2000-2014) and on the Erath County Republican Executive Committee (1990 to the present). He was Mayor Pro Tem of Stephenville from 2008 to 2014. He is a member of St. Lukes Episcopal Church and the Stephenville Rotary Club, and does volunteer work for the Boy Scouts of America.Views expressed in this column are his and do not reflect those of The Flash as a whole.

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Vote for Fairness, Freedom, and Prop A The Flash Today || Erath County - The Flash Today

Many of your clients are successful business owners, accomplished professionals and other well-educated people who are used to being in control. They can go anywhere and do anything they want. As a trusted advisor, you need to strike the balance between letting them be in control and, at the same time, guiding them to a set of options thats going to come up with the best possible result.

As a good CPA, youre essentially a Libertarian Paternalist. A what?

A libertarian is someone who believes at their core that people should be free to do whatever they want to do. A paternalist is someone who is dedicated to helping people and guiding them.

As Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler explains in his book "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness," people should have total free choice, but at the same time, they can be nudged in the right direction to guide them to better decision-making.

The way this relates to our profession is that good accountants are what Thaler would call choice architects. While we live and breathe taxes, balance sheets and accounting all day long, most clients dont understand these things. But when you give them choices about what they want to do (within your field), most of the time they have no idea what to do. Our job is not to overwhelm clients with choices; its to provide them with options in the form of advice.

Many of your colleagues have trouble wrapping their heads around this notion. Theyve spent so many years asking clients: Mr. and Mrs. Jones, what do you want to do here? Clients dont know. Theyre not paying you for options. Google delivers millions of options for free. Theyre paying you to be their choice architect. Instead of asking clients what they want to do about a difficult financial decision, you should be taking the lead, as in: Hey, Mr. and Mrs. Jones, I think A or B will be your two best options, I would do A if I were you. What do you think?

Youre being a libertarian in the sense of: I guide, you decide. Youre telling clients: We should do whatever you want to do. My job is to cipher through the data and put the best options in front of you that I possibly can. Youre being a paternalist in the sense of telling clients: I want to try to move you in the right direction based on the best information we have at hand.

For more about guiding clients through tough decisions, see my article "Dont Succumb to Decision Fatigue."

I guide, you decide

When youre selling professional services, at the end of the day, your client is the boss. They can do whatever they want to do (i.e., libertarian). At the same time, its your responsibility to put good decisions in front of them that will nudge them responsibly toward making the right decisions.

When youre meeting with a client and an important decision is on the table, dont put yes/no choices in front of them. Always make it A or B. I like to take it a step further by saying, In my opinion, based on knowing what youre trying to accomplish, this is what I would do and here is why. Lets go with A. But, if I misunderstood your situation and we need to reestablish your goals, lets go ahead and do that.

Real-world example

Suppose you have a client who is planning to sell their business in a few years. But, in todays business climate, when there are huge piles of acquisition money floating around, good businesses are going for very high multiples. Your client may have received an offer to sell right away for double what an independent valuation told him his business is worth. Now the decision gets more difficult. On one hand, your client wants to delay selling because he believes he can sell for even more in a few years if he keeps growing the business. On the other hand, you know the offer he received may not be there in a few years when your client is ready to sell. Further, you know that if he accepts the offer now, hell have more than enough to achieve all of his familys financial goals without ever working again.

You know your client very well. The "nudge" here is to remind him of his goals and financial plan. Selling today ensures he will meet all of his financial goals, but he might not be ready psychologically to live life without the business his baby. And no amount of money in the bank can replace that feeling of purpose and accomplishment. Thats where you come in.

Again, nobody knows your clients better than you do. As their trusted advisor, you owe it to your clients to create a choice architecture that lets them maintain control, but ensures they understand the pros and cons carefully, of any decision they ultimately make.

Dont be afraid to say, This is what I would do if I were you. Thats why they pay you.

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Are you a Libertarian Paternalist with your clients? - Accounting Today