How fantastical thinking has led Americans into a self delusion that threatens our nation’s economy and soul.

Jim Moss’s response to the “homework assignment”, the Three Things Project for Labor Day.

This is the fourth part of an analysis of the swing state Pennsylvania. It focuses on the industrial southwest, a once deep-blue region rapidly trending Republican. Part five can be found here.

Pittsburgh and the Southwest

Pennsylvania’s southwest has much in common with West Virginia and Southeast Ohio, the northern end of Appalachia. Electoral change in the region is best understood by grouping these three areas together as a whole.

Socially conservative (the region is famously supportive of the NRA) but economically liberal, the industrial southwest voters typify white working-class Democrats. These voters can be found in unexpected places: Catholics in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, loggers along the Washington coast, rust-belt workers in Duluth, Minnesota and Buffalo, New York.

More below.

From all corners of the conservative media (and from a few on the left), the “elitism” drumbeat will thunder down on Elena Kagan, trying to convince us that having spent time at some of the top academic institutions in the land somehow disqualifies her from performing what is the most academically rigorous job in our government.

Every once in awhile the media mouthpieces attempt to explain to the public that the immigration issue is “complex.” Would anyone here like to explain to me in real terms how this is so? I am not going to name names or point fingers here.

The Missouri Senate opened debate Thursday on a bill to replace the state’s income tax with a higher and broader sales tax. It’s an idiotic idea all around.