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| The Tokuchinoura region of Japan. From the Huffington Post. |
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
TODAY'S BIG NUGGET: Fighting Racist Fire with Literal Fire
Burning Confederate Flags (Joe Lapointe) from the Detroit Free Press
"In that South Carolina will never willingly take down the flag, the time has come for opponents to exercise their First Amendment right to free speech and burn the Confederate flag — at the state Capitol in South Carolina, in front of the White House, in front of Fox News or maybe even outside the Grand Ol' Opry."
I am not sure I actually endorse this plan -- but I find it has a certain in-your-face quality that progressives usually eschew (at least since the flag-burning days of the Vietnam era -- which I never thought was a good idea). This tactic could actually have the potential of bringing home graphically, dramatically, and in a no-shit kind of way how offensive the confederate flag is for TOO MANY Americans. For too long defenders of this flag have been able to get away with the unstated assumption that somehow they are more American or their views as white South Carolinians or Mississipians carry more weight than their fellow African American citizens. DONE! Interestingly, it seems the floodgates of change on this issue have really opened just in the last 72 hours. When you look at how FAST some of the other hottest of hot button "culture war" issues (gay marriage, marijuana legalization) have shifted recently, you have to wonder: what else might be possible for related issues such as gun control, police violence, campaign finance reform? This flag episode shows that the politics on some issues can shift ... almost overnight!
"In that South Carolina will never willingly take down the flag, the time has come for opponents to exercise their First Amendment right to free speech and burn the Confederate flag — at the state Capitol in South Carolina, in front of the White House, in front of Fox News or maybe even outside the Grand Ol' Opry."
I am not sure I actually endorse this plan -- but I find it has a certain in-your-face quality that progressives usually eschew (at least since the flag-burning days of the Vietnam era -- which I never thought was a good idea). This tactic could actually have the potential of bringing home graphically, dramatically, and in a no-shit kind of way how offensive the confederate flag is for TOO MANY Americans. For too long defenders of this flag have been able to get away with the unstated assumption that somehow they are more American or their views as white South Carolinians or Mississipians carry more weight than their fellow African American citizens. DONE! Interestingly, it seems the floodgates of change on this issue have really opened just in the last 72 hours. When you look at how FAST some of the other hottest of hot button "culture war" issues (gay marriage, marijuana legalization) have shifted recently, you have to wonder: what else might be possible for related issues such as gun control, police violence, campaign finance reform? This flag episode shows that the politics on some issues can shift ... almost overnight!
TODAY'S SECOND BIG NUGGET: Irrational Tribal Politics Over ...Everything
The Duggars, Duck Dynasty, And The Irrational Tribalism Of Conservatives (Amanda Marcotte) from Talking Points Memo
Kudos to whatever trickster thought it wise to poll Romney voters, asking them to rate how they feel about the Duggar family from TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting and how they feel about President Obama. The result—67 percent of Romney voters like the Duggars better than they like Obama—perfectly encapsulates one of the most troubling aspects of modern conservatism: the way that it’s ultimately about irrational tribal politics over everything else."
Kudos to whatever trickster thought it wise to poll Romney voters, asking them to rate how they feel about the Duggar family from TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting and how they feel about President Obama. The result—67 percent of Romney voters like the Duggars better than they like Obama—perfectly encapsulates one of the most troubling aspects of modern conservatism: the way that it’s ultimately about irrational tribal politics over everything else."
Why Democracies Dominate
America’s Edge over China from the National Interest
"The place to look for an answer to whether China really will become the globe’s most dominant power is not primarily in the economic or military realm. The more pertinent area of interest is China’s domestic political institutions, and they suggest that a more equivocal answer is warranted to the question of whether China will emerge as number one. ... America’s institutions are its key competitive advantage in the coming contest with China."
"The place to look for an answer to whether China really will become the globe’s most dominant power is not primarily in the economic or military realm. The more pertinent area of interest is China’s domestic political institutions, and they suggest that a more equivocal answer is warranted to the question of whether China will emerge as number one. ... America’s institutions are its key competitive advantage in the coming contest with China."
Europe Deals a Double Blow to Putin’s Russia
Europe Deals a Double Blow to Putin’s Russia from Foreign Policy Magazine
"A Belgian court goes after Russian assets in the decade-old Yukos case just as Brussels renews economic sanctions on Moscow through the rest of the year."
"A Belgian court goes after Russian assets in the decade-old Yukos case just as Brussels renews economic sanctions on Moscow through the rest of the year."
China's Bubble Will Burst
Stand Back (Clive Crook) from Bloomberg
"The fact that a lot of shares have been bought with borrowed money will worsen the impact on many households and put lenders at risk as well. The blow to confidence will be all the greater because the government has acted so conspicuously as a market cheerleader. That's why the bursting of the stock-market bubble could conceivably deflate the myth that what Beijing commands of the economy shall be so."
"The fact that a lot of shares have been bought with borrowed money will worsen the impact on many households and put lenders at risk as well. The blow to confidence will be all the greater because the government has acted so conspicuously as a market cheerleader. That's why the bursting of the stock-market bubble could conceivably deflate the myth that what Beijing commands of the economy shall be so."
The Populist Backlash in Europe
The Old Continent Creaks (Arthur Goldhammer) from Democracy Journal
"Austerity and the failures of the technocratic elite have created the current populist backlash. France’s experience is instructive—and, possibly, ominous."
This is something I have been saying for years: democracies cannot afford to do nothing in the face of prolonged economic hardship. European leaders are facing a double whammy here (of their own making) by PROMISING that austerity would solve something. Well, they are seven years into this economic downturn and the unemployment numbers out of the EU range from really soft to really bad.
"Austerity and the failures of the technocratic elite have created the current populist backlash. France’s experience is instructive—and, possibly, ominous."
This is something I have been saying for years: democracies cannot afford to do nothing in the face of prolonged economic hardship. European leaders are facing a double whammy here (of their own making) by PROMISING that austerity would solve something. Well, they are seven years into this economic downturn and the unemployment numbers out of the EU range from really soft to really bad.
Trying to Put a Period on One of the Darkest Chapters in US History
Senate Votes To Outlaw Torture from the Huffington Post
"In a landmark showing, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to outlaw the practice of torture and solidify a noncoercive method of intelligence interrogation, indicating a firm departure from the years of the Bush-era torture program -- a period that many have characterized as one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history."
"In a landmark showing, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to outlaw the practice of torture and solidify a noncoercive method of intelligence interrogation, indicating a firm departure from the years of the Bush-era torture program -- a period that many have characterized as one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history."
Poll: Social Intelligence and Computer Knowledge Seen as more important than College
When It Comes to Getting a Job, Americans Believe Skills Trump College from the Atlantic
"People see social intelligence and computer knowledge as more important than a four-year degree in preparing for the workplace, according to a new poll.
"Social intelligence"? You ... what? ... play well with others!?
"People see social intelligence and computer knowledge as more important than a four-year degree in preparing for the workplace, according to a new poll.
"Social intelligence"? You ... what? ... play well with others!?
The Obsolescence ... of Work?
A World Without Work (Derek Thompson) from the Atlantic
"For centuries, experts have predicted that machines would make workers obsolete. That moment may finally be arriving. Could that be a good thing?"
"For centuries, experts have predicted that machines would make workers obsolete. That moment may finally be arriving. Could that be a good thing?"
A New Social Contract for a Nation of Freelancers
Shared Security, Shared Growth (Nick Hanauer & David Rolf) from Democracy Journal
"Our changing economy has given rise to a nation of freelancers and contractors—and the need for a twenty-first-century social contract."
"Our changing economy has given rise to a nation of freelancers and contractors—and the need for a twenty-first-century social contract."
Why so many Americans are unmarried
Singles nation (Stephanie Hanes) from the Christian Science Monitor
"Singles now outnumber married adults in the US. What's behind that social shift – and why it matters."
"Singles now outnumber married adults in the US. What's behind that social shift – and why it matters."
Same-sex unions ... with Kids
What Could Gay Marriage Mean for the Kids? (Gabriela Herman) from the New York Times
"When courts consider same-sex unions, they often ask about what life is like for children with gay parents. Here are some answers."
"When courts consider same-sex unions, they often ask about what life is like for children with gay parents. Here are some answers."
With Gun Control, Self Defense is No Defense
Using Guns In Self-Defense Is Rare, Study Finds from the Huffington Post
"American gun owners are far more likely to injure themselves or someone else with their firearm than to stop a criminal, according to a new study from a group calling for tighter gun control."
"American gun owners are far more likely to injure themselves or someone else with their firearm than to stop a criminal, according to a new study from a group calling for tighter gun control."
Pope Condemns Weapons Makers
Pope says weapons manufacturers can't call themselves Christian from Reuters
"Francis issued his toughest condemnation to date of the weapons industry at a rally of thousands of young people at the end of the first day of his trip to the Italian city of Turin."
"Francis issued his toughest condemnation to date of the weapons industry at a rally of thousands of young people at the end of the first day of his trip to the Italian city of Turin."
It’s not Fox News’ America anymore!
Americans want a dialogue on race and gun violence after Charleston (Sophia Tesfaye) from Salon
"Right downplays guns & racism in wake of latest massacre, but Americans say it's time for a serious discussion."
"Right downplays guns & racism in wake of latest massacre, but Americans say it's time for a serious discussion."
The "Big Surprise" of Jeb's Campaign
Jeb Bush's 18-month shadow campaign (Marc Caputo) from Politico Magazine
"... many in the world of national politics thought it more likely than not that Jeb wouldn’t run in 2016, especially because they were certain his protegé, Sen. Marco Rubio, would."
It just goes to show that DC never lacks for an infinite number of beltway dunces. As regular readers here know, I have been predicting for, oh, about 18 months that Jeb was going to run.
"... many in the world of national politics thought it more likely than not that Jeb wouldn’t run in 2016, especially because they were certain his protegé, Sen. Marco Rubio, would."
It just goes to show that DC never lacks for an infinite number of beltway dunces. As regular readers here know, I have been predicting for, oh, about 18 months that Jeb was going to run.
The Candidate that Brings Real Gusto to the 2016 Race!
Trump: The 'Carnival Barker' Joins the 2016 Circus (Russell Berman) from the Atlantic
"To the chagrin of Republicans and delight of Democrats, Donald Trump jumped in to the presidential race with his typical gusto."
Berman's photos and "analysis" are priceless!
"To the chagrin of Republicans and delight of Democrats, Donald Trump jumped in to the presidential race with his typical gusto."
Berman's photos and "analysis" are priceless!
Rush Limbaugh’s downward spiral continues
Another demotion, another step toward irrelevancy (Eric Boehlert) from Salon
"The conservative yakker has a new home at one of Boston's cellar-dwelling outposts. This is Rush's life in 2015."
"The conservative yakker has a new home at one of Boston's cellar-dwelling outposts. This is Rush's life in 2015."
Sunday, June 14, 2015
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