Jeff Jacoby

Because it's Monday we have this great feature that I love it is the -- that we do with Boston Globe columnist and the we get to talk about the issues of the day sometimes we talk about the very very specific column. And then sometimes you talk about things that we just want to bounce around. And Jeff Jacoby is our Boston Globe columnist today at a great. Column in yesterday's Sunday globe about the other David -- he says David -- came out of the closet this month known don't know about that closet. But I called the idea closet Jeff Jacoby always writing about ideas principles philosophy of government. Always makes it fun -- to see that David mamet is showing some growth -- that's reassuring to us all we welcome back to transform the one and only Jeff. --

gorgeous -- but I much feeling guilt and pain in my gut at the thought of what that the the coast of Dr. -- posted on the pop pop pop pop pop -- in his grave yeah.

They just did they just get multiple. Injustices and injuries that.

I presume would you with the coach -- you -- about pop pop pop -- very interesting show this morning I've been I've been catching -- to pieces of it on and off I would never -- because the subject of trash to -- yeah bottle -- yeah -- he's a big part of -- the big -- in my neighborhood I live in Brooklyn one of my biggest -- all the -- has been. The the carelessness with which people put out -- traction of the productive. Bags and boxes still loose stuff that'll put a lid on it -- critical -- it gets very -- we live at the bottom but it also course that would blows multiply. The Jacoby backyard. Or you know that the Euro trash collectors Camelot you know -- are not exactly the most.

That's you know yes -- kept talking pop pop pop pop up fastidious and trash collection just you know -- I guess they've sent out.

Every every dollar -- you -- quite cloudy I take my boys go around the neighborhood and a Sunday morning just picking stuff up quickly and make replaced with a little and.

That'll clean up and I don't know what it is about my little street -- opinion but whenever their high winds I don't know what it was but you know how windy it was on Thursday Friday Saturday of this the past week. Well I have more junk in my Addai went out there it doesn't DM times and -- it is what it is week. I guess we get -- get to a but I mean this curbside recycling I really do think Jeff most most people would try to do the right thing it has to be the least of this bottled. The least efficient. Judy. Least sanitary way of trying to get some good things accomplished that I could ever match.

You know I'm not done not a big fan of of government intervention and and you know he just rejection of -- taxable I have to say this is one great to a -- and I do -- why don't die every year you know early on the morning of -- see people -- extreme than neighborhood there's one elderly woman with -- Vietnamese and almost comical -- uncle -- to -- going through people's -- likely been pulling -- the things it's still have the the department on them. Now and assure you see a lot less of modified the -- for exactly that reason people people what the motivation to -- and make the money our people responding to consent of that was created so with that -- actually doesn't.

We're going to mark this day down that on Monday march 24 2008 Jeff Jacoby Tom Finneran he had Steve Bailey were all in agreement at least on one particular right up but.

Now let me -- what the media redeem my reputation -- later on on the topic you talked about the last -- this is what -- really -- break from the conventional wisdom I think that the more the government I expect that the Commonwealth -- that's -- for going to have a -- might as well have a program and it that the that recognizes talent -- and and hard work and -- but just. Don't take one step back I don't really really deception this notion that the weight you make. Higher education affordable -- to have. More more government programs too good to try to subsidized tuition to -- tuition or to provide government guaranteed student loans or toll -- You know I've written about it once or twice over the years and big the dot dynamic that seems to need to really be in place is that the more the government creates these. That's a rate of subsidies to try to make higher education or or more unaffordable the more expensive higher education becomes. And to be perfectly clear why that happens -- the government we're gonna give out. -- At all we've accomplished is making it ever more unaffordable.

I know Betty -- media with you know -- Hillsdale College out there in Michigan. Which -- accept any hospital you talked about acting really consistently. On principle and I'd give -- courage and conviction I admire the curriculum I admire the discipline I had -- it's just the transparency they say look we are not going to run a you know oblige the government did any of its -- in any -- perform you -- media for an education this is what we focus on this -- that we built character -- so -- I'm a huge -- Yeah -- big I admire about.

I heard you know what are your -- late last out was -- the point I don't think these were his exact words but that essentially when you talk about. State colleges and state universities its really get kind of welfare for the middle class and even the wealthy you don't have to be or to get this highly subsidized tuition to go to the state college university in Massachusetts or any other state -- you can be just sort of a millionaire you can be a very successful firmly with two. High -- parents and you know you look at the same same yeah -- page four which is subsidized by Europe by hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts taxpayers but -- Probably never attempt to.

Yeah every single listener and I'm I'm glad to make the point because I used to sometimes get into arguments with you know about different advocates on higher education about G have to do below the prices too high and I'd remind them I said. The price might seem ideal but steady ought to 40% has been picked up by every taxpayer that's the really the extent of the --

He isn't that written into law that tuition at the state colleges and state universities may not be more than once -- public wants third the cost of providing that it.

Yeah that was actually a goal I don't know that they ever did it they did not do while I was gonna Jeff I don't know that it's happened since. I left the legislature but that was certainly a goal of the advocates I mean can you imagine. That's you know the subsidy was going to become even more extensive I recognize the pressures that the Jacoby family definitively every families under but. You know -- it -- different ways to do it my daughters went to holy cross and you know not a nickel of financial -- we just did because we deemed it we deemed it. Worth there while and -- while and so we did it.

And the more the more the government insists that it's gonna provided it's gonna subsidized it's gonna make affordable you know in this says in too many other things -- the very problem but it's a sought to correct. Source but you try to save that it should explain that to people at all vacancies at tuition -- they've got to keep this month. You know they're going to -- to grab assistance where from whatever direction with.

Anywhere it comes -- and -- and the beast feeds on itself no question he speak in the -- you had a great column yesterday the headline of which -- in in the Sunday globe and with what I think we're probably already posted it up if not we the other David mamet -- David -- obviously very very well known not play right. And I guess has been a a habitual denizens of the left the intellectual and political left. And he's kind of come clean on -- they say less and less and less is he comfortable over the if you wrote about it yesterday Jonah Goldberg from national review writes about our day. As good great minds think alike tell us what's.

On on all the canola Irving Kristol many years ago I had this famous line about how conservative as a liberal who's been -- by -- And you know quite -- light of this column David -- one of the best don't play Ericsson in in working today of the theater. Mugged by reality ZZU. You know was well known as you say he's from the series lives that we -- offices and Cambridge yes -- so he's he's -- that is placed produces several premieres at least one -- it is like a bright and -- independent sixteen years ago and -- to put a leader. In Cambridge that would has played only and it was first produced. So he's American buffalo and glengarry Glen Ross many of which have been made its. It's will be is that listeners will -- reconfigured -- depleted state so he -- this essay in the village voice. Couple weeks ago at the headline was something like come while I am no longer a brain dead liberal. And he opens with this great quote from John Maynard Keynes the you know of the British economists have the -- Who said what the facts change. It's -- it -- has been criticized by someone. You know said he was being inconsistent in king said when the facts change I change my opinion what do you do sir. And David mamet goes on to write about how for a long time he just took has granted the liberal. Ideology and opinions and assumptions that he you know basically took -- with his mother's milk but that the Morse -- Looked -- politics ought to -- read about it regardless got to play on Broadway -- November and -- deals with with the president of the Oval Office is a conservative is of the speechwriter who's the liberal -- you know it's it's it's a comedy but he's like trying to make a serious point this -- as well which is that there's this -- between the conservative view and the liberal fuels like and he just three years is it's like if something like four. And -- took the liberal view for many decades. But I believe I have changed my mind this. And what he has caused him to change his mind was. Realizing that the liberal worldview that -- taken for granted for so -- simply didn't mesh with reality as these -- all riled him. And as he decided to write this political plate but he began reading about politics and he writes -- began reading -- with the economics of Thomas sole. Our greatest contemporary philosopher but -- Friedman Paul Johnson -- a host of conservative writers and spiraled. But I agree with that. And I.

Loved the point that you make in yacht in York -- a radical a column from yesterday. But that -- Mehmet Kenton noticed that the real world wasn't anywhere nearly as wretched right as the liberal commentary. Leo and how well we actually -- you and I and every person listening we have the most fabulous lives really in the recorded history of the planet. How will we live in yet again according to -- on the left left wing of you know politics American politics everything's gonna Helena you know --

Other exceptions on both sides I think it's no surprise. No coincidence. That some of the most famous leftists in the world. Are so lonely and negatives and -- Noam Chomsky. Governor but pleasant thing about anybody it's probably tax that the patients who have the most left wing candidate who was running for president to hear which he was Dennis Kucinich again you know you see it. The notebook weight that you -- to the world everything is that this terrible awful and there are problems all the wrong but we need more and bigger government to make -- better meanwhile. The most famous conservatives like -- the most for things conservative president -- it was Ronald -- Reagan's famous for his optimism. Just a couple of weeks ago that bill Buckley there rightly left but -- junior who also get you know saying this for a for his good nature -- They say there are exceptions on both sides but. It but if you speak yourself and the pearl world view and I put it. -- misery -- the world according to liberals it's a world in which climate change devastate the environment -- assembly struggle to make ends meet and hate crimes are terrorizing minorities tobacco companies are poisoning children. Reveal look it's bad news teachers don't make enough money into innocent people are prison and nobody -- health concern to the good jobs are going overseas. You know -- analysts litany of movement to -- 10. And then it says you know. It just doesn't square -- like for -- what are you large people do okay and we do okay this country better than people in almost anywhere else.

You know G if you had a column my kind of a close cousin to this column. I'm guess and at least a few if not several months ago in which you pointed out I think maybe than this if not the headline at least that he was. The fight is on the right. That at least on the right hand side of the American political spectrum there was a robust discussion of ideas. In on the left -- it becomes very very sterile there's only one view one size fits all -- example on healthcare it has to be a national healthcare system everybody has to be enrolled so on and so forth like a vacation has to be a certain way. That is literally no dissent. That seems to be allowed on the left -- the right you have a good fist fight going on every couple of days.

You'll look at the presidential race again visit that it's a good illustration. By these -- healthcare you know what's what what really distinguishes Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama just details on the margins you look at what they were urgently to vote in the Republican primary when that's what was going immigration you know pro or con. Should America be it war overseas pro and -- You know which is more important tactic to cut spending were to cut taxes. People who elect George W. Bush who called -- the avatar of the sort compassionate conservatism. And the other conservatives said that's that's the wrong approach that's not the way we should be talking with attribution is. As this seems to be a real heated debate about it on the right. I think that over the can make it sometimes so at least you know little unpleasant and you'd better not friends with everybody. I can tell you the long run rhetorical arguments before great don't write it for national review in the syndicated columnist. -- doing a debate -- on some radio program because he had written columns saying that -- we do without that this sexy. -- You know that doesn't -- the -- and spirited too much what you think I think it's good to allow it.

acknowledge it keeps the blood -- no question about we are talking to Jeff -- columnist for the Boston -- let me remind people by the -- the twentieth -- 100 magazine. Is that going to be published again very very shortly to showcase of the message of state of Massachusetts top businesses can pick up this easiest issue on May twentieth and if you want to advertise in the globe 100 visit global 100 advertising. Dot com that's visit global 100 advertising. Dot com Jeff we're talking about the you know the kind of the robust nature of the debate in the very very different shades of nuance between Hillary and Barack. Let's talk a little presidential politics -- can't. Let's start McCain. As the candidate himself. And then from Jeff Jacoby is point of view -- deal. You know like -- VP candidates for Senator John McCain.

That's a good question I -- Or you have -- typically presidential candidates want to have a running mate who will print credit at its strength to the ticket that the -- atop the ticket doesn't have. My college or been knocking it comes to the -- that this could keep Mitt Romney being a running mate actually took I I think that there's that there's at least -- that Romney would bring. If they obviously had pretty spirited disagreements especially in the creation issue and others. It's you know it it seems to be widely understood that the two men. That there's an activity between them whether that would keep you know keep -- often a ballot. Not I don't know John F Kennedy didn't speak -- Lyndon Johnson but he made him vice president. But you know and away the most interesting thing about. Probably the most seeing the most valuable -- you might think is exactly what it's sank his candidacy. For himself which is you know didn't seem to be able to flexible. In what eastwood's work what he espoused but it sure presidential candidate you want -- running mate who will be justice flexible necessary to support your position. Even if that means that he's tied himself a little -- not what used to say himself. You know -- you -- to putting me to go out and make the case for your candidacy to keep it electing your administration. You know with all the -- possible there's a lot of talk about some of the governor of -- North Carolina. Mark Sanford. A lot of that conservatives -- seem to be a real you know real up encumbered go -- Actually I got you know kind of a real yeah I would love to see the new governor of Louisiana. -- An incredible message about inclusion in reaching -- it every sector of population. As you know our net written any columns disagreeing with the conservative based on immigration. And I think they have you know the son of immigrants from India. On national Republican ticket would send a message that says that Republicans are not the kind of isolationist nativist protectionist. You know sealed -- pulled the gangplank. Types. That there are some there are some of the spokesman speak you know you might think that work.

Yeah of the tanker deal with that what I call the Tancredo Tancredo -- thought the -- and it's curious how how -- how are really how. How little Tancredo was able to progress notwithstanding the supposed hue and cry out the a -- you know very serious and -- in fact he was the first candidate to -- no question about -- site I like Joan scholar -- for -- era colleague at the globe by lecture column pointing out. As the the the economy and economic issues and concerns become more and mall. I hope aliases he salient as -- as far as the upcoming election that what this is going to be certainly in Romney's real house. In terms of his ability to just to speak to that really and an impressive way I think it I think that's really was pop apostle of his success here in Massachusetts when he when he won. His own race for a for the governorship there was based upon I think economic anxiety more than anything else.

I -- say this I think who ever him McCain is prepared to offer was for the seat in. Oh crap. For. Which offer actuarial. I. Mean he would be the oldest president ever elected to -- and you know without without wanting to. To wish him well you know -- 120 and you know be healthy you have all the way through but it wouldn't -- seize the opportunity to work to you to -- to vice president and number two. The company will be seventy's if he becomes president what would select the.

Absolutely Jeff before we let it go even great -- time I give it should take on the Obama. Dynamics I don't think last week was the best week he's had and his young and incredible life. Do you think he has put it behind them are is this one of these unforgettable episodes that people might not be discussing openly today tomorrow. But will never ever forgive or forget the rhetoric to which he apparently willingly or how to make.

Just judging from the reaction to the column that I wrote about it played a piece about you I think that like so what it's still a matter of right to the W and brought. Of course can sliding it from everywhere and -- far beyond anything that I had been anticipating. If if that's the kind of response that you know the get to -- column about that subject it tells me that this is an issue. That really touched that are. I don't think he's -- that may not be on the front page anymore. But it I I think it hasn't put behind him but hasn't been forgotten. Hillary Clinton may not be able to have to make use of you know of the it. To be able to exploit different candidates but if Obama becomes the nominee is increasingly seems likely -- I don't I think -- who will will resurfaced during the general election campaign -- be hearing more about. This candidate -- for twenty years in the church -- these kind of things were -- and he called the guy who preached at his mentor and spiritual father and donated tens of thousands of dollars to support you know support Jeremiah -- mission in his church. I think what. Well they have been and rightly so I I I think that. Obama was inconsistent in his answers and unconvincing in and in the the other that the the excuses and justifications -- the ended up making. So I don't -- behind it like it -- more.

You know Hillary has been huge beneficiary of -- I I think that without having to do anything and she'll stay miles away. I did bump it to somebody over the weekend it was going to visit my mama was in rehab facility in China spent a lot of time there of a of a wise old man came out not so all but -- wise person came out and said Tommy the Obama miracle is although when they do the autopsy. When they do the autopsy. Cause of death. It's going to be the one and only Reverend Wright he put it that succinctly and I said it's you know I don't have the -- name is that you're kidding me he said don't know he said this is real this is.

And allow you to do with going to -- his candidacy in the for the nomination or -- general election.

No general he was speaking of the general election he thinks he still is probably going to win this nomination although I even think that is up for grabs and -- on -- here. Multiple times as saying you know fortunately -- Reverend Wright episode -- episodes plural. That I thought he was going to secure the nomination in the aftermath of the last two debates where I thought he handled themselves very well. Very very well there are increasingly strident tone. -- Thanks to -- Jeff Jacoby had thanks to the Boston Globe get a reminder coming soon. The twentieth version of the globe 100 magazine the globe 100 magazine is a showcase of massachusetts' top businesses. Pick up this he is issue on May twentieth in if you are interested in advertising in the globe 100 is what to do. Visit global 100 advertising dot com that address again that. Email address what I'm sorry web address. -- 100 advertising dot com special thanks to Jeff Jacoby in the Boston Globe would be back to you and your calls in a moment unfit parents forum AM 680 WRKO.