Sunday, May 20, 2012
ARRRRGH! 'Tis Pirates On The Political Horizon!
In Germany, at least. They may actually represent the next step in taking social networking technology and turning it in a permanent political revolution. Barack Obama and the Democrats, take note.
He's Working Overtime To Miss The Point
You'd expect that, of course, from a New York Post writer. Kyle Smith, indifferent film critic and even lesser political observer, here promotes David Brooks' book "The Social Animal," in which Brooks describes the human need for intimacy and challenges. Smith attempts to fling this critic in the face of young America, comparing their obsessions with technology and social mobility to the characters in Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World."
Of course, if Smith was willing to look beyond the boundaries of his own biases, he'd realize that it's the people who rely on Rupert Murdoch to keep them in power who exploit the priciest technologies and are the quickest to shed their own "contacts," whether those contacts are workers or wives. As for young people, it's precisely the economic limits of their own lives that limits their social mobility to social networks, in between multiple shifts at fast-food restaurants.
That's the dilemma of Victorian virtues: maintaining them costs money, and often requires public investment that the privately privileged feel (understandably) threatened by. And until we as a society can accept that fact, we won't make any progress toward becoming more virtuous.
Incidentally, Kyle, Huxley was a socialist who found struggle and social connection through advocating a better society for everyone. Wonder what Rupert would think of that? Tap his phone for me, will ya?
Of course, if Smith was willing to look beyond the boundaries of his own biases, he'd realize that it's the people who rely on Rupert Murdoch to keep them in power who exploit the priciest technologies and are the quickest to shed their own "contacts," whether those contacts are workers or wives. As for young people, it's precisely the economic limits of their own lives that limits their social mobility to social networks, in between multiple shifts at fast-food restaurants.
That's the dilemma of Victorian virtues: maintaining them costs money, and often requires public investment that the privately privileged feel (understandably) threatened by. And until we as a society can accept that fact, we won't make any progress toward becoming more virtuous.
Incidentally, Kyle, Huxley was a socialist who found struggle and social connection through advocating a better society for everyone. Wonder what Rupert would think of that? Tap his phone for me, will ya?
So, Where Are The Flying Pigs Circling Hell With Ice Buckets?
That's how I felt after reading this.
Imagine. Someone from the AEI admitting that cooperation is the American way, and Republicans are the ones who are barricading it. Perhaps there's hope for us, after all.
Imagine. Someone from the AEI admitting that cooperation is the American way, and Republicans are the ones who are barricading it. Perhaps there's hope for us, after all.
Privatization Doesn't Work!
It's destroyed school systems around the country, and it's about to do the same in Philadelphia.
I'm Sure The Republicans Haven't Noticed ...
... but one of their favorite issues is literally fleeing the country. And, given that they've contributed so much to our economy and gotten so little in return, can you blame them?
Maybe the real question is this: with Mexico's economy growing, will they come back when we need them? Then again, why would they want to?
One day, the world is going to have us over a barrel when it comes to the immigration issue. We'll need younger workers to support our rapidly aging population (especially the Boomer cohort). And they'll be saying "On the whole, I'd rather be in Canada." Or someplace else that's smart enough to open its doors to them.
Thanks to "free-market" economic policies and tight immigration policies, money moves around the world at the speed of light, and people are trapped behind borders, which are now simply tools to exploit the suffering of the working class and the poor. Hopefully, one day, they'll wake up, as Marx encouraged them to do, and do something about it.
Maybe the real question is this: with Mexico's economy growing, will they come back when we need them? Then again, why would they want to?
One day, the world is going to have us over a barrel when it comes to the immigration issue. We'll need younger workers to support our rapidly aging population (especially the Boomer cohort). And they'll be saying "On the whole, I'd rather be in Canada." Or someplace else that's smart enough to open its doors to them.
Thanks to "free-market" economic policies and tight immigration policies, money moves around the world at the speed of light, and people are trapped behind borders, which are now simply tools to exploit the suffering of the working class and the poor. Hopefully, one day, they'll wake up, as Marx encouraged them to do, and do something about it.
Why Urban Policy Is Good
It promotes a better American, by promoting social interaction and wise use of resources. Happily, and not coincidentally, it also promotes the Democratic Party. Frankly, if the national Democrats had any brains at all, they would actively promote the re-urbanization of America, as both a political and a growth strategy.
And, Speaking Of Cameron ...
... it's not just The New York Times that has noticed the Tories' double-dip. Look here.
Who knows? Maybe soon, everyone will figure out that there's only one way to:
Who knows? Maybe soon, everyone will figure out that there's only one way to:
- reduce deficits;
- stimulate growth;
- force the rich to stop hoarding cash; and
- prevent them from buying the government.
I Took A Week Off For Mother's Day ...
...and, since I had three wonderful mothers to celebrate (my own, my wife, and my stepdaughter), can you blame me? I hope that everyone's Mother's Day was happy.
Of course, if you live in Great Britain, and currently suffer from the effects of the Conservative government's austerity policies, that might not be the case. Thankfully, conservatives don't control the entire government here. Hopefully, after next November, that will still be the case.
Of course, if you live in Great Britain, and currently suffer from the effects of the Conservative government's austerity policies, that might not be the case. Thankfully, conservatives don't control the entire government here. Hopefully, after next November, that will still be the case.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
All Gun Owners Are Not Created Equal
It's important to recognize that fact, when we're talking about gun rights and gun restrictions. Both need to be addressed in a responsible way. Hopefully, with the help of people like this, they will be.
What's The Real Significance Of The Stock Market?
Apparently, it's this: Republicans like to talk about it, but Democrats actually do something about it.
Is Obama Wrong?
To do this, I mean. I don't think so. I think that he should have done it much sooner. He's been given a Congress that doesn't understand, for the most part, that there is a difference between being a co-equal branch of government and being a political roadblock. All he's doing is what the Constitution allows him to do.
I just hope, for his sake and ours, that he hasn't waited too long in doing this.
I just hope, for his sake and ours, that he hasn't waited too long in doing this.
Social Issues Aren't What They Used To Be
Social issues, like the rest of politics, are not local as much as they are generational. Here's proof.
You Can't Cut Your Way To Prosperity, Part 2
Europe is proving that you can't. Congratulations to France's new president; let's see if he can make a difference.
The Economy Of The Future
It's built upon sustainability and renewability. And it's already being built.
Will Social Issues Hurt The Republicans This Fall?
This article raises that possibility, while quoting various Republican leaders to the effect that they're not concerned about it. They believe that they'll be able to re-focus everyone's attention on the economy.
The problem with that theory is this: they've had two years to focus on creating jobs, and have done nothing but destroy jobs (in the public sector, at any rate). That, plus Citizens United, is what has given the the time and the money to do what they do best: join their economic power to what they perceive to be the social norms of voting America.
But those social norms have changed with the entrance of a new generation into voting America. And the Republicans have done absolutely NOTHING to help that generation. Unless, of course, you count playing politics with the interest rates for student loans.
It's more than a possibility. It's inevitable. The Republicans have reached the point at which they have no one to fool but themselves.
The problem with that theory is this: they've had two years to focus on creating jobs, and have done nothing but destroy jobs (in the public sector, at any rate). That, plus Citizens United, is what has given the the time and the money to do what they do best: join their economic power to what they perceive to be the social norms of voting America.
But those social norms have changed with the entrance of a new generation into voting America. And the Republicans have done absolutely NOTHING to help that generation. Unless, of course, you count playing politics with the interest rates for student loans.
It's more than a possibility. It's inevitable. The Republicans have reached the point at which they have no one to fool but themselves.
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