Listener--I remain hopeful that I will live to see our country start to return to the principles of the New Deal that were the general political consensus of my youth. So many have suffered so much because we lost our way. That said, the political establishment probably needed to be refreshed--but did it need to be largely destroyed? Should the "Democratic" Party nominate HRC, I think they will be playing with fire.
As for an easy choice should it be Trump vs. Clinton, that's true; I will vote for neither. There is always an alternative. No more lesser evilism for me--look at what it has brought us.
As for PBS, the name of the parent organization is instructive: The Public Broadcasting CORPORATION (emphasis added). About a dozen years ago I realized that their news and opinion programs really followed the standard corporate line, and I quit listening to them. The local nonprofit "liberal" radio station, an affiliate of the Pacifica Network, seemed promising for some time, but proved to be controlled by a dictatorial clique of people who know that they are the true prophets of what is "liberal." I figured I didn't need them to tell me what to think. Thank goodness for the Internet--it's more trouble to go rooting around there for news and opinion than to just turn on the radio or open the newspaper, but there is a huge smorgasbord available and a vibrant marketplace of ideas.
US Distressed Communities Index [Click] Scroll down a bit to the first map and consider the general location of the bulk of said distressed communities. To my eye it seems roughly contiguous with the Confederacy…
It's important to note that "community" means zip code. Although an analysis by zip code can be useful for certain purposes, I find it hard to relate to.
If you do the analysis by city, the formerly industrial Midwest ranks high.
I just re-read Ursula LeGuin’s short story The Day Before the Revolution [Click], which explains part of the background of “The Dispossessed.” Both very good reads, if you should not have read them. The link to the former is an online version in HTML format—narrow your browser window to make the lines about book-page width. The story is included in LeGuin’s anthology “The Wind’s Twelve Quarters” (which I have and read today).
Work over for the weekend, now to nab a nap before driving home (that takes about an hour and a half).
I thought that The Dispossessed was a moderately interesting exploration of issues likely to arise in an anarcho-syndicalist society, with some passing reference to advantages of capitalist society and relations between the two. The structure of the story works well for that particular story, but is not (as I recall) unique.
It's encouraging to see that the Vice Chair of the DNC has resigned to come out in support of Bernie Sanders for President! Sad, though that she had to to do so.
Okay, America, let's get humming!
ReplyDeleteWouldaCouldaShoulda been Dean.
Bernie may be our last great choice.
I dearly hope this nation figures out how to reward the good and throw out the bums!
Bernie and Ben & Jerry's are first!
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, Ben & Jerry's are firstest of all most firstliness all by themselves!
Listener--I remain hopeful that I will live to see our country start to return to the principles of the New Deal that were the general political consensus of my youth. So many have suffered so much because we lost our way. That said, the political establishment probably needed to be refreshed--but did it need to be largely destroyed? Should the "Democratic" Party nominate HRC, I think they will be playing with fire.
ReplyDeleteAs for an easy choice should it be Trump vs. Clinton, that's true; I will vote for neither. There is always an alternative. No more lesser evilism for me--look at what it has brought us.
As for PBS, the name of the parent organization is instructive: The Public Broadcasting CORPORATION (emphasis added). About a dozen years ago I realized that their news and opinion programs really followed the standard corporate line, and I quit listening to them. The local nonprofit "liberal" radio station, an affiliate of the Pacifica Network, seemed promising for some time, but proved to be controlled by a dictatorial clique of people who know that they are the true prophets of what is "liberal." I figured I didn't need them to tell me what to think. Thank goodness for the Internet--it's more trouble to go rooting around there for news and opinion than to just turn on the radio or open the newspaper, but there is a huge smorgasbord available and a vibrant marketplace of ideas.
Grumpy old git descends from soapbox...
--Alan
US Distressed Communities Index [Click] Scroll down a bit to the first map and consider the general location of the bulk of said distressed communities. To my eye it seems roughly contiguous with the Confederacy…
ReplyDelete—Alan
I suppose those dark red areas in the general vicinity of the Four Corners area are mostly indian reservations.
Delete--Alan
My goodness! Do you suppose it could be coincidence that the most distressed areas are contiguous with the Confederacy?
Deleteend of snark
It's important to note that "community" means zip code. Although an analysis by zip code can be useful for certain purposes, I find it hard to relate to.
DeleteIf you do the analysis by city, the formerly industrial Midwest ranks high.
I just re-read Ursula LeGuin’s short story The Day Before the Revolution [Click], which explains part of the background of “The Dispossessed.” Both very good reads, if you should not have read them. The link to the former is an online version in HTML format—narrow your browser window to make the lines about book-page width. The story is included in LeGuin’s anthology “The Wind’s Twelve Quarters” (which I have and read today).
ReplyDeleteWork over for the weekend, now to nab a nap before driving home (that takes about an hour and a half).
TTFN
Alan
Thanks for the link, Alan. Never have been able to get into The Dispossessed. Maybe reading this story will help.
DeleteI didn't care as much for The Dispossessed as most people do, but I think that was because I was already familiar with the ideas.
DeleteI thought that The Dispossessed was a moderately interesting exploration of issues likely to arise in an anarcho-syndicalist society, with some passing reference to advantages of capitalist society and relations between the two. The structure of the story works well for that particular story, but is not (as I recall) unique.
Delete--Alan
We made it there and back again!
ReplyDeleteIt's encouraging to see that the Vice Chair of the DNC has resigned to come out in support of Bernie Sanders for President! Sad, though that she had to to do so.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/dnc-vice-chair-rep-tulsi-gabbard-resigns-endorses-bernie-sanders/
More details here:
http://www.salon.com/2016/02/28/dnc_vice_chair_resigns_endorses_sanders_blasts_clintons_interventionist_regime_change_policies/
A very welcome addition to the crew. As for South Carolina, it seems some things never change:
Delete" South Carolina is too small for a republic and too large for an insane asylum."
--James Louis Petigru, 1860
--Alan