New York Times columnist, is simply amazing. In his column today, he argues (with a straight face, I presume) that poor people didn’t get that way due to a lack of access to resources, and furthermore that the main problem is cultural, not economic. In other words, they deserve it. I guess it’s not that amazing, really – it’s really just another repetition of the common conservative theme that people are evil and must be forced, by their betters, to become virtuous. At least he doesn’t bring god into the whole thing like 90% of his American colleagues.

The Economist weighs in on The case for gay marriage. “Yet that [civil unions in place of real marriage] would be both wrong in principle and damaging for society. Marriage, as it is commonly viewed in society, is more than just a legal contract. Moreover, to establish something short of real marriage for some adults would tend to undermine the notion for all.”

Oliver Willis notes that Arnold Schwarzenneger has clarified his position on gay marriage: he’s not against it as long as voters approve it, and does not support a US Constitutional amendment banning the practice.