Bruce Bartlett
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Articles by Bruce Bartlett
“Beyond Ready” with 4-H
One of the traditional activities for Oregon kids is The 4-H Wagon Train that teaches history, builds leaders, and creates remarkable outdoor experiences for youth and families. The theme of the 2026 National 4-H Week (October 4-10) “Beyond Ready,”reminds us that 4-H challenges young people to grow a generation ready to become engaged, successful, independent and interdependent productive adults.
Under Control: Microphone Techniques For Taming The Live Stage
Let’s face it — the live sound reinforcement realm presents some microphone challenges that regularly threaten sound quality. Look at the conditions. The monitors feed back. They leak into the vocal microphones and color the sound. The bass sound leaks into the drum mics, and the drums leak into the piano microphones. And then there are the other mic-related gremlins breath pops, lighting buzzes, wireless-mic glitches, and even electric shocks.
Washington County Extension explores new funding option
Oregon State University is the home of the Extension Service, which is directed by federal legislation to “extend” university-proven horticultural and life-skills information and services to the public at no or nominal cost. In Washington County, these include the 4-H program that helps young people build confidence, discover new skills and access enriching experiences while empowering student leaders to grow and give back.
The Republican Screw-up Cycle
A few weeks ago I wrote about how Republicans will hamstring the next Democratic president by suddenly seeing inflation everywhere, which will force the Fed to tighten, which will bring on a recession and balloon the deficit, which will force Democrats to put aside their agenda and concentrate on deficit reduction.
Bartlett: Traditional Media No Longer Serves Democracy's Needs
Why the Traditional Media No Longer Serves Our Needs The Truth Matters, Chapter 1 Bruce Bartlett Bartlett’s Notations, Feb 09, 2026 With the decimation of the Washington Post newsroom by billionaire Jeff Bezos, the crisis of the media seems to have reached an apex. I saw this coming in 2017 and wrote a book about it: The Truth Matters. Since I believe that the message of the book still resonates, I’ve decided to serialize it here on Substack.
Thoughts on the Federal Reserve
By all accounts, National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett is the odds-on favorite to be named chairman of the Federal Reserve when current chairman Jay Powell’s term expires in May 2026. Since Trump is too ignorant and stupid to understand the mechanics of monetary policy, we can assume that all he knows is that it is politically important because it sets interest rates. As a former real estate developer, he does understand their importance as a cost of doing business.
Republicans Can't Hide Their Obamacare Paternity
Republicans continue to rant that Obama’s health reform, enacted in 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), is the most socialistic legislation in American history. The reality is that it is virtually textbook Republican health policy, with a pedigree from the Heritage Foundation and Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, among others.
Classic Quality: Detailing The Techniques Used To Record Rick Nelson
From 1957 to 1962, pop and rockabilly star Rick Nelson recorded a string of number 1 hits such as Be Bop Baby, Believe What You Say, Poor Little Fool, Lonesome Town, It’s Late, Stood Up, Hello Mary Lou, and Travelin’ Man. Although these hits were produced before multitracking and digital recording, their sound quality is incredible — powerful and punchy, wide range, with extremely low hiss. What a sound they got 50 years ago.
Which Is Worse: The Crimes of “Socialism” or the Crimes of “Capitalism”?
On November 21, the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution “denouncing the horrors of socialism.” (Resolutions do not carry the force of law, are not signed by the president, and express only Congress’s opinion on some topic.) H.Con.Res 58 presented a laundry list of crimes committed by “socialism.” No definition of this term was provided and all the examples are from countries controlled by Communists or Marxists.
When Republicans Used to Be Sane, Even “Compassionate”
In a previous post, I discussed the decline of the moderate Republican. I should have posted this essay first because it explains how moderate Republican presidents were in practice between Eisenhower and George W. Bush. My point is to show that Trump is historically out-of-step, not part of a long-term Republican trend, which is what I think most Democrats believe. I should note that my references to the Tea Party essentially refer to proto-MAGA. See my earlier posts (Pt. 1 and Pt. 2) on this topic.
Why the Populist Tea Party Was One of the Most Pernicious Movements in American History
Part 1 of this bibliography covered important articles in the popular media. This one looks at books and articles published in academic journals. Materials are in chronological order. (They are from my personal files; I do not claim comprehensiveness. For additions, contact me at bartlettbruce@verizon.net.) Sean Fitzgerald. 1970. “The Anti-Modern Rhetoric of Le Movement Poujade.” Review of Politics, 32:2 (April): 167-90. Joseph D. Reid Jr. 1979.
Location, Location: The Effect Of Mic Placement On Instrument Tonal Quality
. Microphone choice and technique have a powerful affect on the amplified sound of a reinforcement system. The sound picked up might be “natural,” “boomy,” “thin,” “colored” and any other number of descriptive terms that are applied to a sonic signature. It’s usually most desirable to attain “natural” sound. But what does that mean? I define it as the tonal balance heard with our ears in front of a musical instrument, a few feet away.
A Beautiful Sonic Treat: Microphone Approaches For Acoustic Performances
Take a breath of fresh air on a country morning. That’s the sensation you get from a well-amplified acoustic ensemble. Guitar, upright bass, mandolin, dulcimer, banjo – all produce a sweet, airy sound that can be captured with the right approach. Acoustic music heard over a sound reinforcement system is all about beauty and naturalness, not hype. Listen to a number of well-recorded CDs of old-time country, bluegrass and acoustic jazz.
Not Typical: A Range Of "Off The Beaten Path" Microphone Techniques
Getting a little bored with the same old “tried-and-true” microphones and techniques? Let’s have some fun with fresh approaches that are off the beaten path. To create a differential (noise-canceling) mic, tape two identical omni mics together, one over the other, separated by a block of wood (Figure 1). Mix both mics at equal levels but with one mic switched in opposite polarity. Have the performer sing close to the top mic.
County proposes changes to CPO program
In November, we introduced readers to the Community Participation Organization (CPO) Modernization program, a long-anticipated effort by Washington County administration to change many aspects of the CPO system. This month, we are sharing thoughts on one of the elements of the proposal: changes to the Focus and Scope of the future CPO program. Changes are also proposed for descriptive language, membership and how leaders are selected, geographic boundaries, and program requirements.
Ghost In The Machine: Phantom Power
Unsure about phantom power? Let’s clear up the mystery. Nearly all mixing consoles and audio interfaces provide phantom power at their microphone input connectors. Most condenser mics need phantom power to operate, so you simply plug the mic into the mixer to power it. But the ways we use and connect phantom power can make a big difference in how well those mics work. So what, exactly is phantom power, and how do we apply it effectively?
La economía de la ofereta en el pensamiento económico contemporáneo
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Not As Simple As They Look? Identifying & Solving Microphone Problems
Besides sound quality, there really isn’t much to think about when it comes to microphones, right? Well, guess again! Like all elements of a sound system, mics present their own unique set of special problems. Fortunately, a lot of these problems are relatively simple to solve. It’s just a matter of identification and appropriate action. For example, most mic handles include a set-screw near the connector, with many models using this screw to ground the mic handle.
The Single Mic Technique: An “Old-Fashioned” Approach That Can Be Surprisingly Effective
What goes around comes around. From the 1920s through the 1940s, PA systems for music often used only a single microphone. Band members would gather closely around this mic, balancing their sound by moving toward or away from the mic. Radio broadcasts and recordings often used one mic as well. And over the past several years, this “old-fashioned” technique is making a comeback.
Why the Case for Tax Cuts is Failing (And What Should be Done About It)
February 8, 2000 25 min read Authors: Bruce Bartlett, Stanley Collender and Grover Norquist MR. LINDBERG: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Heritage Foundation. I am Tod Lindberg, the editor of Policy Review magazine. We are here this morning to talk about tax cuts, why the case for tax cuts is failing, and what should be done about it. We will not talk about whether tax cuts are a good or bad thing.
In The Studio: Microphone Techniques To Produce Warm, Spacious Stereo
Renowned recording engineers Jack Renner of Telarc Records and Marc Aubort of Nonesuch Records describe spaced omnidirectional microphones as their favorite technique for stereo recording of symphonic ensembles. Of all the stereo mic techniques available, the “spaced-omni” method is especially good at providing a warm, full sound (deep low-frequency response) and a spacious sense of ambience. It adds up to a pleasant listening experience.
The Future of the Right (by Bruce Bartlett)
The Future of the Right by Bruce Bartlett Published on Twitter 8/20/2022 I’m glad to see right-wingers abandoning Trump, but where do they go? For decades, the failure of Republican presidents to fully implement the right-wing agenda has primarily been attributed to a lack of will. But that was clearly not Trump’s failure. Trump’s problem was a lack of competence, owing to gross stupidity, ignorance of public policy, inexperience in government, and incredibly bad judgment about hiring staff.
Think Tank Archives - The Big Picture
Spotify: YouTube: Do they think we’re deaf? Why can’t they leave well enough alone? And going straight to the...
Perspective | The debt limit fight is a scam. The GOP counts on voters not knowing that.
On the Senate floor Monday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) proclaimed that if the Democratic majority decides, in his rendering, to “go it alone” on a suite of pending budgetary matters, “they will not get Senate Republicans’ help with raising the debt limit,” a ceiling that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned we’ll hit sometime in October.
Bartlett: How Nixon Changed U.S. Economic Policy Forever
23a U.N. Monetary Conference 763×600 The Day That Richard Nixon Changed U.S. Economic Policy Forever Fifty years ago, in response to rising inflation, he rejected several long-standing practices. His Keynesian turn holds lessons for today’s economy.
The Debt Ceiling Debate Is Congress at Its Dumbest
As I warned last October, Republicans planted a fiscal time bomb two years ago in the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019. What they did at the time was suspend the debt limit—an archaic fiscal tool that should have already died a thousand deaths—until July 31, 2021. Whatever the federal debt is on that date becomes the new debt limit, permitting no additional borrowing (although the Treasury can still extend the limit slightly using what are called “extraordinary measures”).
Creative Solutions: Approaches For Effectively Amplifying The Voices Of Children
Perhaps one of the most challenging sound reinforcement job – in terms of feedback – is amplifying the voices of children. It’s often hard to hear children in dramatic or musical productions. That’s because most children don’t project. Since they produce a low volume on stage, you must turn up their microphones quite a bit to hear them, which all too often can resulting in feedback.
The Day That Richard Nixon Changed U.S. Economic Policy Forever
August 15, 1971, was a fateful day in the history of American economic policy: President Richard Nixon imposed far-ranging wage and price controls on the U.S. economy, abolished the fixed exchange rate system that had been in place since 1945, and took other significant actions to deal with inflation, which had become the economy’s overarching problem. In many ways, we are still dealing with the consequences of those actions.
Rediscovering Trickle-Up Economics
It Took the Democrats Half a Century to Rediscover Trickle-Up Economics While Republicans cling to trickle-down delusions, Biden is reviving a philosophy of growth that the party hasn’t embraced since LBJ. TNR, May 7, 2021 When Republicans began reformulating their tax philosophy in the late 1970s, they looked to their party’s policies in the 1920s for inspiration.
Half a Century Passed to Rediscover Trickle-Up Economics
Half a Century Passed to Rediscover Trickle-Up Economics Dan Crawford | May 12, 2021 7:00 am “It Took the Democrats Half a Century to Rediscover Trickle-Up Economics,” The Soap Box, Bruce Barlett Republicans still cling to trickle-down delusions of the wealthy and big business delivering economic progress to the rest of the nation, while Joe Biden revives a philosophy of growth Democrats have not embraced since LBJ . . . Stimulating economic growth and prosperity from the bottom up.
I Quit the GOP and Moved Left. Will Liz Cheney Do the Same?
I’ve been thinking a lot about Liz Cheney. Her courage in standing up to Donald Trump and the increasingly authoritarian Republican Party shouldn’t make her exceptional—ideally, she would have a considerable amount of company—but it does. Having broken with the Republican Party myself, I know that the initial break eventually led me to an almost complete cutoff with the right side of the political spectrum and a somewhat reluctant embrace of the left.
It Took the Democrats Half a Century to Rediscover Trickle-Up Economics
When Republicans began reformulating their tax philosophy in the late 1970s, they looked to their party’s policies in the 1920s for inspiration. I remember Jude Wanniski, the late conservative journalist, telling me that he knew nothing about Republican tax cuts in the 1920s until he read about them in Herb Stein’s 1969 book, The Fiscal Revolution in America.
Not So Mysterious: A Primer On Phantom Power For Microphones
Condenser microphones need phantom power to operate their internal circuitry. The power is supplied to the mic through its 2-conductor shielded cable and can be provided either from a stand-alone device or from a mixing console (at each mic connector). The microphone receives power from, and sends audio to, the mixer along the same cable conductors. It’s called “phantom” because the power does not need a separate cable; it’s “hiding” in the signal conductors.
Bartlett: Vaccine Hesitancy and the Long Shadow of Racism
Vaccine Hesitancy and the Long Shadow of Racism in U.S. Health Care Nearly a third of Black Americans are taking a wait-and-see approach to the Covid vaccines or will only take one if required. What’s driving this? The New Republic, April 26, 2021 As we rapidly approach the point where the Covid-19 vaccine is available to all those who want it, the key constraint on reaching a sufficiently high level of vaccinations to achieve herd immunity is the hesitancy of certain groups to get vaccinated.
Vaccine Hesitancy and the Long Shadow of Racism in U.S. Health Care
As we rapidly approach the point where the Covid-19 vaccine is available to all those who want it, the key constraint on reaching a sufficiently high level of vaccinations to achieve herd immunity is the hesitancy of certain groups to get vaccinated. The latest survey data from the Kaiser Family Foundation breaks them down.
Bartlett: Washington’s Inflation Hysteria Is Fueled by Corporate Greed
20a Men Wearing Sandwich Boards During Great Depression 821×600 Washington’s Inflation Hysteria Is Fueled by Corporate Greed With the help of Larry Summers and a battery of conservatives, the business lobby is disingenuously warning that Biden’s recovery plans will actually wreck the economy. TNR, April 14, 2021 I first heard about the idea of a “reserve army of the unemployed” when I was in college.
Washington’s Inflation Hysteria Is Fueled by Corporate Greed
I first heard about the idea of a “reserve army of the unemployed” when I was in college. Advanced by Karl Marx in chapter 25 of Capital: Volume I, the theory is that it is in the interest of capitalists to maintain a relatively high rate of unemployment. This keeps workers under control and makes them fearful to ask for higher wages or unionize, lest they be replaced by machines or the unemployed or underemployed eager to take their jobs.
Bartlett on Robert Mundell & Supply-Side Economics
Remembering the Father of Supply-Side Economics Robert Mundell’s theories spawned decades of economic debate and still matter to the big ideas of today. Bruce Bartlett, TNR, April 7, 2021 The economist Robert Mundell died on April 4.
Racism in America | Spotlight | BillMoyers.com
Slavery is our nation’s original sin; the treatment of people of color a blot on the history of a country “conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” Those who might have thought that the election of Barack Obama was somehow proof of a “post-racial America” are confronted with the near-daily reality of police killings, the denial of voting and other civil rights, and near crushing economic inequality.
Remembering the Father of Supply-Side Economics
The economist Robert Mundell died on April 4. Although known primarily for his work on international economics—he’s popularly known in economic circles as the “father of the euro”—he played a vital role in the creation of what came to be known as supply-side economics: the idea that big tax cuts will so stimulate economic growth that revenues will not fall. Important supply-siders such as Arthur Laffer and Jude Wanniski credited Mundell as the originator of their ideas.
Bartlett: Socialism Is as American as Apple Pie
Socialism Is as American as Apple Pie The ideology that Republicans love to hate is woven through the fabric of the country. Bruce Bartlett, TNR, August 17, 2020 One of the strengths of the Republican Party is its message discipline. When it finds an issue that works, it beats that issue to death, flogging it long after it stops working.
Another Round of Right Wing Inflation Fear-mongering
Republicans Greet Covid Stimulus with Another Round of Inflation Fearmongering Their cry-wolf act is well practiced but lacks credibility. Bruce Bartlett, TNR, March 15, 2021 I will have more to say about inflation later, but wanted to remind people how wrong right-wingers have been for many, many years. Whatever else, they lack credibility. Predictably, conservatives are once again warning about inflation.
DCReport.org
DCReport.org https://www.dcreport.org Reporting what the President and Congress do, not what they say.
Shameless hypocrites: Conservatives cry wolf over deficit spending -- after being wrong again and again
Predictably, conservatives are once again warning about inflation. This happens every time a Democrat takes office—even if he merely continues the identical policies of his Republican predecessor. Unfortunately, these concerns, which always receive wide media attention, are costly both politically and economically. Bill Clinton was forced to adopt a deficit reduction plan in 1993 that led to the defeat of many Democrats in 1994 and the installation of Newt Gingrich as speaker of the House.
Republicans Greet Covid Stimulus With Another Round of Inflation Fearmongering
At this point, a reasonable person would be forced to admit that a prediction of high inflation made in 2010 was based on faulty theory. Yet, few of those who signed the letter to Bernanke owned up to any doubts when queried by Bloomberg News in October 2014. It is worth quoting them at length. Jim Grant, publisher of Grant’s Interest Rate Observer, in a phone interview: “People say, you guys are all wrong because you predicted inflation and it hasn’t happened.
The Incalculable Debt That America Owes Black People – BillMoyers.com
The long-standing idea of paying reparations to Black Americans for the costs of slavery, segregation, and other racist policies has lately gotten a boost. President Joe Biden has endorsed a commission to study the subject, and on February 17 the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on H.R. 40, which would create such a commission.
The Incalculable Debt That America Owes Black People
The long-standing idea of paying reparations to Black Americans for the costs of slavery, segregation, and other racist policies has lately gotten a boost. President Joe Biden has endorsed a commission to study the subject, and on February 17 the House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on H.R. 40, which would create such a commission.
I was a Rush Limbaugh whisperer
I was a card-carrying conservative for many years. Working in the Reagan White House when Rush Limbaugh went on the air in 1988, I ran out to buy a desk radio so I could listen to him daily. Even then, however, I didn't care for his callers—I thought they were ignorant, obsequious fools. But I liked Limbaugh's monologues at the top of the hour because I learned useful stuff from him. Cancer silenced Limbaugh on Feb. 17.
The Polite Rage of Shirley Hazzard
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Skip Navigation TNR_brand monogram_blackCritical Mass_wordmark_blackCritical Mass_wordmark alternate_black The astronomical event referenced in the title of Shirley Hazzard’s novel The Transit of Venus occurs in two installments–eight years apart, every 243 years–when Venus passes between Earth and the nearest star twice. For a short while, Venus is visible on earth in the form of a little black dot traversing the face of the sun.
By Jo Livingstone, Bruce Bartlett, Daniel Boguslaw Verified, James Robins, Josephine Livingstone Verified
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The New Republic
Verified
Massive Attack Has Never Sounded So Good
Skip Navigation TNR_brand monogram_blackCritical Mass_wordmark_blackCritical Mass_wordmark alternate_black This month marked the thirtieth anniversary of Massive Attack’s “Unfinished Sympathy,” not that anyone was keeping track. The song remains, for me at least, the high-water mark of what came to be known as trip hop, a bastard genre of languorous tempos and ponderous atmospherics that was once a staple of coffee shops in Amsterdam before becoming the background music at your local Starbucks.
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