Harvard Talks Politics: April 11, 2011

Harvard Talks Politics is your guide to the most important online political content Harvard has to offer. Don’t have time to pick up a copy of The Independent? Don’t know which opinion pieces to read in The Crimson? Want to know what The Perspective and The Salient have to say on the big issues? The Harvard Political Reviewhas you covered. Here’s your weekly guide on what to read prepared by our writers so you don’t have to waste any more of your precious time. You can find it at harvardtalkspolitics.com
Frank Mace in Defense of the Obama Space Exploration Plan

When President Obama originally announced his proposed plans for NASA, including scrapping the Constellation plan to return to the moon, there was significant criticism. Frank Mace, however, writes in a recent article for The Harvard Political Review that the plan emphasizes what is important for both the United States and the future of space exploration. As Mace explains, “Obama rightly prioritized jobs, science, and national inspiration with his new direction for NASA.”
Read the full article at The Harvard Political Review.




Alexander R. Konrad on Berlusconi and Political Sex Scandals
In a recent piece for The Crimson, Alexander R. Konrad delves into the Berlusconi sex scandal. Konrad suggests that “Berlusconi appears confident that his persona is simply too big to fail,” but that “such in-your-face flippancy about his situation would prove disastrous in American politics.” Konrad compares the prevailing attitudes in Italy and the United States, detailing American politicians that have succeeded and failed in overcoming their own sex scandals.
Read the full article at The Crimson.




Ravi N. Mulani on the Republican Budget Proposal

In an op-ed for The Crimson, Ravi N. Mulani takes to task Congressional Republicans for their 2012 budget proposal. Arguing that their budget cuts vital services for the elderly, poor and disabled, Mulani details how proposed cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and affordable housing target our nation’s most vulnerable populations. Furthermore, Mulani slams the Republicans for faultily reasoning that the tax cuts for the wealthy will stimulate economic growth, saying such an assumption is “absurd.”

Read the full article at The Crimson.




Ralphie Haro on the IOP Poll: Obama and the Youth Vote

In a recent piece for the The Harvard Political Review, Ralphie Haro details, with a conservative slant, the findings of the recent poll conducted by the Institute of Politics Survey Committee. Haro describes some faults of the data, such as the fact that the individuals polled vote more than their demographic does as a whole, and concludes by determining that, in his current position, Obama cannot “rally the troops once more.”
Read the full article at The Harvard Political Review.




Gary Gerbrandt on Abort, Retry, Fail? No, Shutdown

In a recent post for Dem Apples (the Harvard College Democrats’ official blog), Gary Gerbrandt excitedly writes about the current budget negotiations between President Obama and Republican leadership. Although he holds both parties accountable, Gerbrandt especially blames the Republicans’ “nothing-but-tax-cuts policy” for stalling progress. He concludes by alluding to the significant Democratic victories following the 1995-1996 government shutdowns and thanks the Republicans for their kindness.
Read the full article at Dem Apples.



Adam Kern on Academic Government and its Pretensions

Adam Kern, in a recent piece for The Harvard Political Review, analyzes the academic nature of the Obama presidency. Quoting Obama’s desire to have an “academically approved” health care plan, Kern questions the legitimacy of founding authority on such expertise. Drawing upon the philosopher Alasdaire MacIntyre, who was similarly wary of basing leadership on academics, Kern concludes that in circumstances where the administration is solely in charge, the public ought to be “properly skeptic.”

Read the full article at The Harvard Political Review.