Tax the Rich, hah!

Another good piece on the growing divide between rich and poor. This one takes a historical view, arguing that it has always been dysfunctional when a society gets to a point where the wealthy are able to cut themselves off from social responsibility, leading even unto ruination and destruction. I am afraid this is just more whistling pass the graveyard, but it is still a good argument.

( column )

The problem is that I don't think one can believe that the United States will be taken over by an enemy, nor do I think there is much of a chance for an internal revolution, so as to move our plutocrats from loosening their stranglehold on the future. We will just become poorer, morally as well as economically, at least as a nation, while our rich become richer, which is the point, I suppose.

It does not seem unreasonable to hope for a belated democratic correction, as I think we are still counting votes for the most part, but since that has failed to find a reasonable direction in the aftermath of that Wall Street mess, it is hard to feel expectant. It feels like we are caught in a vicious circle, and those who have brought us to these straits are only further empowered and are righteously inclined to do their worst.

But have some nice music, via Paul Krugman's blog:

Tax the Rich, hah!

Another good piece on the growing divide between rich and poor. This one takes a historical view, arguing that it has always been dysfunctional when a society gets to a point where the wealthy are able to cut themselves off from social responsibility, leading even unto ruination and destruction. I am afraid this is just more whistling pass the graveyard, but it is still a good argument.

( column )

The problem is that I don't think one can believe that the United States will be taken over by an enemy, nor do I think there is much of a chance for an internal revolution, so as to move our plutocrats from loosening their stranglehold on the future. We will just become poorer, morally as well as economically, at least as a nation, while our rich become richer, which is the point, I suppose.

It does not seem unreasonable to hope for a belated democratic correction, as I think we are still counting votes for the most part, but since that has failed to find a reasonable direction in the aftermath of that Wall Street mess, it is hard to feel expectant. It feels like we are caught in a vicious circle, and those who have brought us to these straits are only further empowered and are righteously inclined to do their worst.

But have some nice music, via Paul Krugman's blog:

Soft Pillow

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has marked as possibly inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. )

Soft Pillow

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has marked as possibly inappropriate for anyone under the age of 18. )

1984 (1,5) Syme

We get to tag along with Winston for lunch at the Ministry’s cafeteria. The food and atmosphere are on a par with prisons and public schools, maybe a bit worse. We are delighted to have lunch with Syme, a friend of Winston’s, or at least a comrade that he finds more companionable.

He is certainly one of the smarter denizens. Syme is a language geek, a philologist who is working on the latest edition of the Newspeak dictionary, the Eleventh edition. Hurry and pre-order your copy at Amazon! Though, he has his quirks. “In an intellectual way, Syme was venomously orthodox.” We can see that charming side of the man when he talks about the public hanging:

”It was a good hanging,” said Syme reminiscently. “I think it spoils it when they tie their feet together. I like to see the kicking. And above all, at the end, the tongue sticking right out, and blue - a quite bright blue. That’s the detail that appeals to me.”

Yes, it’s the bright quiet ones who are often a little weird, even twisted, no?

Winston finds this no more attractive and fun than we do, and it is not long before he steers the conversation so that we get an inside look of Oceania’s language.

1984 (1,5) Syme

We get to tag along with Winston for lunch at the Ministry’s cafeteria. The food and atmosphere are on a par with prisons and public schools, maybe a bit worse. We are delighted to have lunch with Syme, a friend of Winston’s, or at least a comrade that he finds more companionable.

He is certainly one of the smarter denizens. Syme is a language geek, a philologist who is working on the latest edition of the Newspeak dictionary, the Eleventh edition. Hurry and pre-order your copy at Amazon! Though, he has his quirks. “In an intellectual way, Syme was venomously orthodox.” We can see that charming side of the man when he talks about the public hanging:

”It was a good hanging,” said Syme reminiscently. “I think it spoils it when they tie their feet together. I like to see the kicking. And above all, at the end, the tongue sticking right out, and blue - a quite bright blue. That’s the detail that appeals to me.”

Yes, it’s the bright quiet ones who are often a little weird, even twisted, no?

Winston finds this no more attractive and fun than we do, and it is not long before he steers the conversation so that we get an inside look of Oceania’s language.