Open Thread for Sunday October 1st – The Vanished Center

Two reading from the Book of "We are really in the shit now". One from Steve Newton via FB, and one from William Butler Yeats. As for me... While I am one to rage against the "center" as it is thought of nowadays. I understand the utility of "the center" as George Washington might have thought about it. In that I get that the secret to maintaining a Democracy is creating a system in which the losers can lose with dignity. A system that allows the runner up think, "Well... we lost, but the system is fair, so we'll get 'em next time." The idea of a "center" is good for maintaining that fantasy. We once had that. We don't anymore, so I guess we are pretty well fucked.

Regulations can build public confidence

This Cape Gazette Editorial is chock a block with common-sense.
A reference in the Sept. 22 edition of the Cape Gazette stood out because of its unusual nature. An article discussed the experience level of a California contractor hired by Rehoboth Beach for its treated wastewater outfall project. The reference came in a discussion about the potential perception problem created by dumping treated effluent in ocean waters. A municipal employee for a California water district talked about an ocean outfall built to discharge extra-salty water left over from a reverse osmosis process that removes salt from seawater. The process provides fresh water for a parched region. People there were concerned that the effluent would make kids sick or harm marine animals. "Mulligan said the perception was ... mitigated by public confidence in California's regulatory climate, which is very strict."

Bad Day For GOP

Two breaking stories even before Roy Moore beats Big Luther Strange tonight: GOP Won't Even Vote On Graham/Cassidy. Sen. Corker of Tennessee Will Retire.  R nominee will almost certainly be…