Akkam’s Razor

• Best of the ’08 Campaign: The effective use of history—By Scott Horton (Harper’s Magazine) – History is grabbed by the roots when it is used to remind a new generation of the accomplishments of the past, when it is used to inspire a people to accomplish what they can and prevent what they must. The invocation of history is particularly powerful when it is used to remind a nation of aspirations long cherished but not fully achieved. The image of that tall and gangly lawyer from Springfield has been summoned to motivate a new generation of Americans to reclaim a democratic legacy. It has served to power a political campaign that has known few equals in the nation’s history. The election on Tuesday will mark the beginning of the end of a great national nightmare. But still greater tests are ahead of us.
• Economics and the Science of Voter Turnout – Economix Blog – NYTimes.com – Does that turnout chart imply that 5% of voting-age individuals are ineligible to vote? If so, that's kind of a big deal. Who are those 5%, who wins, and who loses?

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