Jerry Cayford is a philosopher and policy analyst in the Washington, DC area. “The Radical Reading of Wittgenstein” was his dissertation for a Ph.D. in philosophy from Northwestern University, and he has a bachelor’s in economics from U. C. Berkeley. He co‑authored Democracy in Practice: Public Participation in Environmental Decisions with Thomas C. Beierle, and “American Patent Policy, Biotechnology, and African Agriculture: The Case for Policy Change” with Michael R. Taylor. Solo works include “Breeding Sanity into the GM Food Debate.” He’s been a small business manager, editor, contractor’s assistant, gardener, computer programmer, and a modern dancer. Email: jccayford [at] gmail.com
by Jerry Cayford The topic today is misinformation and knowledge, conspiracy theory and evidence, not biblical exegesis. When Saint Paul tells the Corinthians, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12), he is contrasting partial, human knowing with the perfect knowing that will come when we reunite…
by Jerry Cayford The rigged rules that govern our economy are being rewritten right now. And the fight is fierce. “The most powerful agency you’ve never heard of” (as the media calls the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs) is revising its main guidance telling federal agencies how to structure regulations. That is, OIRA is…
by Jerry Cayford Boomer-bashing is everywhere. Maybe it’s warranted, but a reality check is in order, because the bashing starts from an easy and false idea about how power has moved in American society. The recent change in House Democratic leadership is almost too perfect an example. As a “new generation” takes power in the…