Nice election, but what if the real prize isn’t won? What if we have to do something more or we’re all screwed? Look, it’s a fairly simple thing. George Will explained it years ago in clear terms, saying that we want about $300 billion per year more in services than we’re willing to pay for. … [read more]
It Isn’t About The Message
Here are some comments made by political pundits following the election. “The Republicans will have to change their messaging if they are going to appeal to Latinos.” “Mitt Romney had to pivot to the center in order to attract independents.” “Republican candidates have to stop saying things like, ’A woman’s body has a way of… [read more]
Making Sense
So much is ethically wrong and even economically nonsensical. I fight every day to keep my thinking out of the weeds, hoping to see the bigger picture and very occasionally I succeed. There are so many battles in this seemingly disappearing experiment in democracy and so many people are suffering with little relief in sight,… [read more]
It’s The System, Stupid
There was a small article in the September 25, 2011 edition of the New York Times reporting on demonstrations that are continuing around Wall Street. The piece was in a corner of page 18 and was short and bland. The protest was happening in Manhattan and arguably was a major event in the home city… [read more]
Because They Work
That’s the reason the Republicans distort, misrepresent and tell lies. Yes, that’s an incendiary thing to say. Yes, that especially includes those who honor their pledge to Grover Norquist over their pledge to the Constitution. Yes, we’ve been fed a steady, high calorie diet of dishonesty by these people for a long time. And don’t… [read more]
But Wait – There’s More!
To be read aloud – fast You’ve suffered through four years of economic stagnation and have the bills to show for it. You’ve watched as congress has locked itself in Tea Party tantrums and has paid no attention to you. You know that your Medicare and Social Security are at risk and feel the terror… [read more]
Murray-isms
My friend Pat Murray is one of the clearest thinkers I know in the areas of group and individual behavior and I have learned some valuable lessons from him. See if this pairing of one statement plus two questions from Pat’s work stimulates your motivation innards. YOU GET WHAT YOU TOLERATE – Children teach us… [read more]
It’s Personal
August 6 is the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and it is appropriate to remember in the ways that we can. There are millions of stories connected in various ways to that event and two are very close. They are quite different from one another, yet at root they bear the same message…. [read more]
National Despair
There’s no point in waving arms, getting red in the face and snapping at the annoying tweaks that are sent only to distract and manipulate us. If we’re to understand what is behind our national despair we need to focus on the core issue that keeps us stuck in a morass of helplessness and prevents… [read more]
Cacciato
In preparation for entering her freshman year in college, my daughter and her contemporaries were urged to read Going After Cacciato, by Tim O’Brien, and to arrive on campus prepared to explore the book in discussion groups just prior to the start of classes. Cacciato is an exploration of experiences of the Vietnam war, of both… [read more]
