Policy Ben
@policyben.bsky.social
Lecturer Economics, Public Administration and Policy, active Democrat and progressive, Corgi Dad and Mass resident. Hoya and Phillies fan. Love books, arts, film and data.
Columns for Public Administration https://patimes.org/?s=Tafoya&x=12&y=9
He/Him
Columns for Public Administration https://patimes.org/?s=Tafoya&x=12&y=9
He/Him
Reposted by Policy Ben
A lifetime of "thoughts & prayers" have done JACK-SQUAT to reduce or eliminate gun violence. We need to do MORE.
It is the GUNS.
#SadButTRUE 💔
It is the GUNS.
#SadButTRUE 💔
December 14, 2025 at 8:29 PM
A lifetime of "thoughts & prayers" have done JACK-SQUAT to reduce or eliminate gun violence. We need to do MORE.
It is the GUNS.
#SadButTRUE 💔
It is the GUNS.
#SadButTRUE 💔
Ken Burns ends his reflection on The American revolution with the words of Benjamin Rush … still true today … Hear her proclaiming, in sighs and groans, in her governments, in her finances, in her
trade, in her manufactures, in her morals, and in her manners, “the revolution is not over!”
trade, in her manufactures, in her morals, and in her manners, “the revolution is not over!”
December 14, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Ken Burns ends his reflection on The American revolution with the words of Benjamin Rush … still true today … Hear her proclaiming, in sighs and groans, in her governments, in her finances, in her
trade, in her manufactures, in her morals, and in her manners, “the revolution is not over!”
trade, in her manufactures, in her morals, and in her manners, “the revolution is not over!”
This is a great article about the almost universally wasteful use of tax incentives to subsidize private development. Great example of non-profit journal. Many years ago I did my doctoral work and examined 1200 projects in Massachusetts and came to similar conclusions.
www.wosu.org/politics-gov...
www.wosu.org/politics-gov...
Development tax breaks increase 140% since 2016 in Franklin Co., new report questions its impact
A Franklin County Auditor's Office report authored by two independent economists found the use of the tax incentives may be losing their effectiveness while limiting revenue from schools and other tax...
www.wosu.org
December 13, 2025 at 5:36 PM
This is a great article about the almost universally wasteful use of tax incentives to subsidize private development. Great example of non-profit journal. Many years ago I did my doctoral work and examined 1200 projects in Massachusetts and came to similar conclusions.
www.wosu.org/politics-gov...
www.wosu.org/politics-gov...
It is as if Paine could see the future and encourage us today as he did in 1776 …
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine
patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that
stands it now deserves the love … 1/2
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine
patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that
stands it now deserves the love … 1/2
December 10, 2025 at 11:23 PM
It is as if Paine could see the future and encourage us today as he did in 1776 …
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine
patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that
stands it now deserves the love … 1/2
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine
patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that
stands it now deserves the love … 1/2
You actually have to read through to see all the scams here but the Trumpers invested government funds into a firm who had Miller and his wife as stockholders and the prin were investors in Truth Social. Just grand.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
Stephen Miller’s Stock Sale Raises Questions, Ethics Experts Say
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:34 AM
You actually have to read through to see all the scams here but the Trumpers invested government funds into a firm who had Miller and his wife as stockholders and the prin were investors in Truth Social. Just grand.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
The headline I want to see is … HHS probing how many deaths are due to poverty each year.
apple.news/AOdodJPjORgG...
apple.news/AOdodJPjORgG...
FDA to probe whether adult deaths linked to coronavirus vaccine — The Washington Post
An agency memo alleged that at least 10 children died after receiving coronavirus vaccinations, citing it as a basis for overhauling how vaccines are approved, despite studies finding the shots have g...
apple.news
December 9, 2025 at 10:35 PM
The headline I want to see is … HHS probing how many deaths are due to poverty each year.
apple.news/AOdodJPjORgG...
apple.news/AOdodJPjORgG...
I wrote this piece a couple of weeks ago for a November deadline. Since then more data has been released thanks to private sector job estimates that are convincing there is a downturn.
patimes.org/are-we-in-a-...
patimes.org/are-we-in-a-...
Are We in a Recession? The Shutdown Makes It Harder to Know - PA TIMES Online
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization. By Ben TafoyaDecember 5, 2025 The federal government shutdown we just experienced creat...
patimes.org
December 9, 2025 at 12:03 PM
I wrote this piece a couple of weeks ago for a November deadline. Since then more data has been released thanks to private sector job estimates that are convincing there is a downturn.
patimes.org/are-we-in-a-...
patimes.org/are-we-in-a-...
Trump has two speeds Grift and Retribution. So here is
more grift.
more grift.
File this under Least Surprising News of the Day
The Corruption never ends
The Corruption never ends
December 8, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Trump has two speeds Grift and Retribution. So here is
more grift.
more grift.
The cruelty is the point because the Trump people are awful humans.
December 7, 2025 at 2:53 AM
The cruelty is the point because the Trump people are awful humans.
Perhaps just a maniac
blood thirsty maniac
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), to reporters, after viewing video footage of the U.S. strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean on Sept. 2:
"Righteous strikes." "Entirely lawful."
"Righteous strikes." "Entirely lawful."
December 5, 2025 at 2:24 AM
Perhaps just a maniac
Very excited about all the new followers. Thank you all so much and I will follow people back over time. Just a few shy of 3000 and hoping to hit that mark! So much camaraderie to fight the fascists.
December 4, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Very excited about all the new followers. Thank you all so much and I will follow people back over time. Just a few shy of 3000 and hoping to hit that mark! So much camaraderie to fight the fascists.
Finished watching Death by Lightning and wow have we fallen off a cliff going from Garfield to Trump.
#deathbylightning
#deathbylightning
December 4, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Finished watching Death by Lightning and wow have we fallen off a cliff going from Garfield to Trump.
#deathbylightning
#deathbylightning
Reposted by Policy Ben
Their ignorance knows no bounds.
Indigenous 'Northern Exposure' Actor Says She Was Detained By ICE After Agents Claimed Tribal ID 'Looked Fake'
www.comicsands.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Their ignorance knows no bounds.
November 28, 2025 at 11:26 PM
U.S. to Press Europe and Other Allies on ‘Mass Migration,’ Document Says
www.nytimes.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:03 PM
The Brazilian film, I’m Still Here, is based on a true story. It follows the impact of the dictatorship on one family and the death by torture of Rubens Paiva, a former Deputy in their federal legislature.
November 20, 2025 at 2:21 AM
The Brazilian film, I’m Still Here, is based on a true story. It follows the impact of the dictatorship on one family and the death by torture of Rubens Paiva, a former Deputy in their federal legislature.
Tonight I finished watching The Penguin Lessons with Steve Coogan as the author of the memoir. It reminded me of the desperate cruelty of the Argentinian junta and the other dictators from Brazil and Chile and Guatemala and sadly more. Because of the US regime those horrible forces may be back.
November 19, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Tonight I finished watching The Penguin Lessons with Steve Coogan as the author of the memoir. It reminded me of the desperate cruelty of the Argentinian junta and the other dictators from Brazil and Chile and Guatemala and sadly more. Because of the US regime those horrible forces may be back.
This is nuts and @mark-carney.bsky.social should be ashamed. Falk is 95 years old for heavens sake. As penance they should all read one of his books. They would learn something.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
Calls for answers grow over Canada’s interrogation of Israel critic
Ministry of public safety says it is seeking more details about questioning of scholar Richard Falk at Toronto airport.
www.aljazeera.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:10 PM
This is nuts and @mark-carney.bsky.social should be ashamed. Falk is 95 years old for heavens sake. As penance they should all read one of his books. They would learn something.
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/11...
Everything is a scam or retribution with this guy ... on.ft.com/3JHIDEd
Trump family and Saudi partner unveil tokenised Maldives resort
Project announced on eve of Saudi Crown Prince’s visit to White House
on.ft.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Everything is a scam or retribution with this guy ... on.ft.com/3JHIDEd
Reposted by Policy Ben
Repost this everywhere you’re active on social media. Send to your friends and family who aren’t.
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Repost this everywhere you’re active on social media. Send to your friends and family who aren’t.
Reposted by Policy Ben
A foreign country bribed the president with a bar of gold.
Where are my Originalists at?
Where are my Originalists at?
"It was tough to beat Apple, but the Swiss did it." said one administration official.
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A foreign country bribed the president with a bar of gold.
Where are my Originalists at?
Where are my Originalists at?
A peaceful moment at sunrise Plymouth MA.
November 15, 2025 at 8:57 PM
A peaceful moment at sunrise Plymouth MA.
This is the Trump philosophy in a word … empathy and the urge for justice are a weakness. How dare they denigrate the people exercising their rights in this way. This regime will crack with continued political pressure. We saw it on #nokings day and at the elections.
Yikes 😬 an official U.S. government account just referred to Americans as “imbecilic morons.” That’s… a choice.
November 15, 2025 at 12:05 PM
This is the Trump philosophy in a word … empathy and the urge for justice are a weakness. How dare they denigrate the people exercising their rights in this way. This regime will crack with continued political pressure. We saw it on #nokings day and at the elections.
We were supposed to be winning but when we elected the pussy grabbing guy immersed in a sex scandal we get this …
www.realtor.com/news/trends/...
www.realtor.com/news/trends/...
www.realtor.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:35 PM
We were supposed to be winning but when we elected the pussy grabbing guy immersed in a sex scandal we get this …
www.realtor.com/news/trends/...
www.realtor.com/news/trends/...
Reposted by Policy Ben
The crisis of elite impunity that is ruining our society cannot be more clearly or convincingly demonstrated than with the fact that all of these people wrote all this stuff into an email and hit Send.
November 12, 2025 at 9:06 PM
The crisis of elite impunity that is ruining our society cannot be more clearly or convincingly demonstrated than with the fact that all of these people wrote all this stuff into an email and hit Send.