Thanks for this overview -- which I'll have to think about. In the US, most gambling was banned in most states, and then has come back in two ways: State-run lotteries, and Indian casinos. (The India… (View Post)

Here's an interesting detail: "The effort to send the Ukraine bill back to committee failed, 88-336." So there were Republicans (24, probably) who were willing to make it sure is passed tod… (View Post)

Cyclefree - I have been wondering for some time how you would react to this claim from science fiction writer Robert Heinlein: Men who go down to the sea in ships have long had another way of express… (View Post)

Off topic: Can any of you recommend a good biography of John Bright? (This https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bright ) I have been impressed by the help he gave to Lincoln and the Republicans during … (View Post)

One way to understand the US electoral college is that it was originally intended for nominations, not the election itself, which would take place in the House of Representatives. (Everyone involved … (View Post)