My normally-loving preference for good old capitalism's been suffering lattely. It's been diseased by a guilty conscience. Out, out, damn spot of conscience, I scream. Alas, I remain diseased. Too many catastrophes are reminding me that we may have hit and exceeded the zenith of greed.
We live in an unprecedented era: the age of Capitalism As Special Interest. And, as we all know, Special Interests rule the day. A good example from my 46 years occurred to me the other day. Back in the day of my 1950's and 60's childhood the message from the pulpit of our churches dared not offer political advice, but didn't think twice about promoting wealth redistriction as a moral objective. Today I'm not exxagerating by stating that the situation (and the pulpit messages) are weak on egalitarian economics and heavy on politics as morality. A complete 180, to be sure. We're told left and right nowadays that the faithful can also be wealthy and self-interested. Me thinks it's had quite a negative effect on what kind of earthly stewards we are.
Perhaps not since the latter half of the nineteenth century have our laws and the men who made them bowed down to the business interests of the day more than today. You remember reading about those times, right? Robber barons, monopolies-a-go-go, cheap Chinamen slave labor, absolutely no workers' rights, nor any child labor restrictions, volatile and changing currencies, unstable markets. The history buffs out there will appreciate my musings about Teddy Roosevelt and what our world would be like today were he to have lacked the cajones to have taken his historic stand against monopolies.
I have often wondered if the Wild West romanticism of those times was more than anything a national escapism from the hard-hearted realities of a civilization seemingly dictated by "the going rate". I'm no expert historian, but from what I know of that period in our history, if you were not a farmer and completely self-sufficient or a profitable and resiliant business owner, you face a life of drudgery, back-breaking work, and even odds on living in poverty. Americans were still categorized in classes: social, economic, ethnic. And what you were categorized determined your quality of life. No help in the form of unemployment, welfare, benefits, insurance, or even work safety standards. Tis true that those were the days of unfettered capitalism more than now, but I doubt even the most miserly and stingy Robber Baron of that day would run his infrustructure into the ground like we have.
Today we face the growing pains of a global economy, and we seem to think that unfettered capitalism is our best way to excel in this environment. We're quite obstinate about it, in fact. We pass trade laws that read like they protect us, but we don't enforce them so they don't. We give American companies carte blanche to move jobs away, and then we reward this with tax breaks. We leave no stone unturned in our quest to de-regulate everything. Nothing, absolutely nothing should stand in the way of American business to make absolutely as much money as it can: this is our unspoken rule. Any restriction, no matter how needed or noble, is critically viewed through this prism.
Yet, all around us, we hear voices whispering, maybe not, maybe not...maybe this is not the best way. Maybe Man cannot police himself when it comes to the temptation of greed, because we are not even putting money back to maintain and service this wonderful world that capitalism has built. To wit, voices from the lead paint in 9 million and counting toys. Voices in the concrete pillars of the Minneapolis I-35W bridge. Voice of the dead victims of Hurricane Katrina. Some might even include voices of the dead from the Twin Towers, because of the terrorists' hatred for the so-called invasion into their way of life of American capitalism. It seems like each week brings us another catastrophic reminder of how, in our zeal for profit-making and taking, we've neglected to maintain our infrastructures and support systems.
It's like when people buy new cars on credit. The stupid ones think the car payment, insurance, and gasoline will be their only expenses. The smart ones know that maintaining and upkeeping on a car costs, too, and they know it's only smart to start saving for the next one. This analog, therefore, begs us to remember that what previous generations have built, that we take for granted, will not live forever. We must either maintain or re-create. Oh, yeah. Or do without. So which choice are we wanting to make?
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
EARTH 2 OBAMA:
You are not ready for political prime time, dude.
**NOTE: I’m new at this blogging thing, but I did want to write about my political thoughts so why not start now? I saw the AFL-CIO Dem debate tonight. I’ve seen all of the debates of both parties, so far. I had some pretty strong thoughts after tonight’s episode. Here they are.**
I’m gettin’ tired of Obama. He was so tied-up with the bow and lookin’ good at first, even though I’ve never had the slightest inclination to support him for 2008, for now. Lately, though, the hesitations, the stuttering, the circling rhetoric that uses 45 words to say what could be a clear 13, and most of all, the irritating way he starts every other sentence with “Look,…”; it’s all adding up to just plain old not being ready. He needs more experience. More wisdom. More seasoning. More idealistic tempering. Which is sad, for 2 reasons.
First, he has a TON of moola, so he’ll be in the race until HE decides to quit. Worst case scenario: think Ralph Nader within the Dem party.
I truly shudder to think of it, honestly. Someone that promising and valuable as a future statesman, who’s this willing to go onstage to the Big Show without adequate rehearsal and training, may not be graceful about exiting it, ya dig? Really, wrap your brain around that for a bit and truly think that through. The Repugnants might even win again up against a deeply and bitterly divided Democrat den o’ crap, and that would truly be against all odds…and just not right. (I ascribe to generational history theories that say it’s more than a bit too early for Obama’s Gen X to take over for the Boomers, so that is an important criteria for me.) I might have to drag up here and move to Canada, or waste copious amounts of time wishing I wouldacouldashoulda.
Second reason is, turns out the country is in fact pretty ready for a President of color, as they say. (Aren’t they all of color? Definitely mostly peaches and cream color, but hey, Kennedy had yellow under that tan because of his jaundice due to Addison’s disease, does that count? Sorry, just had to add that.) So, by running and not being ready, Obama is squandering hard-fought capital for what, selfishness? Stubborness (as in, being able to sing “My Way”)? Misguided calling? My belief is that it is possible for someone that green to learn the talk, the issues, develop the answers (or memorize what someone else develops for you) and then deliver them effectively and compellingly, so that most people think readiness is there. Why oh why is he not doing that, I wonder, although I’m relieved that he’s not fooling us all. Doesn’t he know how he appears by not having it committed to second nature, like a veteran Tony-winning Broadway performer? I think he has to know. Who would not see it, in his place, were they he?
Obama strikes me as someone who is pretty set on doing it his way, come hell, high water, or wasted opportunity. And hey, folks, call me crazy and gunshy like I’ve been shot at a lot, but I run from that kind of mindset. I believe we’ve had more than enough of that crap from the current renter at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And from his little dog Toto, er um, Cheney.
I just don’t see the obsession over Obama. Why don’t more people see it? One of my daughters had Obama fever for a while, so I posed the question to her. She quickly responded, dare I say like she’d already analyzed it, “He’s hot, and was the next big thing. Now, not so hot on both accounts. He’s boring, not really what we thought he’d be.”
We? Well, never mind, but that doesn’t exactly recognize the millions who strongly support him to this day, does it? My DD may be over him already, but me thinks there are tons of others out there who are not, and scarily, they don’t think his inexperience is a bad thing at all, whatsoever.
I’ve always admired idealism, but this is a great example of why too much is not a good thing. Obama seems way too idealistic in thinking that he can and should reveal beforehand his foreign policy attack strategies in the interest of being “transparent” with the American people. And his supporters seem way too idealistic in accepting inexperience at this particular time in our nation’s life.
If my generational history theories are at all on target, it’s getting very close to another Crisis (as was the Revolutionary War, the Civil War/Reconstruction, and the Great Depression/WWII). My personal guess is that we are right on the cusp of it beginning. We may even be experiencing the start of a cascading of events. Nobody knows what this Crisis will involve or be caused by or what it’ll be about. Why we had the Crisis will be obvious 50 years from now, but not now. Most of us will be blindsighted by it; we’ll all be affected by it.
I’ve been a skeptical believer since 1996 or so, when my pal Aimsy gave me the book for my birthday. (I call it GenHist Theory — there’s a link on my sidebar Blogroll to the website called The Fourth Turning. There’s an overview of both the 4 repeating “turnings” as well as the 4 repeating generational personalities, and a forum). I read the book and visited the forum (I never posted as it was a little too intimidating for me, and I’d never done the blog thing until now, but I’ve been reading it ever since then).
I probably check it once a month or so now, and over the years the coming Crisis issues have been greatly debated. Some think we are already in the Crisis, but a slight majority think as I do. Some think it started on 9/11/2001. Some think it’ll be vicious and dark, like the Civil War was. Others think things have been eerily similar to the late 1920’s. A few, few, very few are like me in thinking it might not be like anything we’ve experienced before because we are so global now, and we have lightning quick, egalitarian communication. We’re also living longer. All, some or none of these may be factors in changing up the dynamic.
I’m fascinated by it all. Makes me regret not being able to live long enough to know what the disinterested future will think of us and what we lived through. Back to Obama, though. He has to lead in a similar manner as Washington or Truman, according to the Theory. If I thought he could do that, I’d say we missed the Crisis. For now, I’ll just conclude he is trying to lead too early.
**NOTE: I’m new at this blogging thing, but I did want to write about my political thoughts so why not start now? I saw the AFL-CIO Dem debate tonight. I’ve seen all of the debates of both parties, so far. I had some pretty strong thoughts after tonight’s episode. Here they are.**
I’m gettin’ tired of Obama. He was so tied-up with the bow and lookin’ good at first, even though I’ve never had the slightest inclination to support him for 2008, for now. Lately, though, the hesitations, the stuttering, the circling rhetoric that uses 45 words to say what could be a clear 13, and most of all, the irritating way he starts every other sentence with “Look,…”; it’s all adding up to just plain old not being ready. He needs more experience. More wisdom. More seasoning. More idealistic tempering. Which is sad, for 2 reasons.
First, he has a TON of moola, so he’ll be in the race until HE decides to quit. Worst case scenario: think Ralph Nader within the Dem party.
I truly shudder to think of it, honestly. Someone that promising and valuable as a future statesman, who’s this willing to go onstage to the Big Show without adequate rehearsal and training, may not be graceful about exiting it, ya dig? Really, wrap your brain around that for a bit and truly think that through. The Repugnants might even win again up against a deeply and bitterly divided Democrat den o’ crap, and that would truly be against all odds…and just not right. (I ascribe to generational history theories that say it’s more than a bit too early for Obama’s Gen X to take over for the Boomers, so that is an important criteria for me.) I might have to drag up here and move to Canada, or waste copious amounts of time wishing I wouldacouldashoulda.
Second reason is, turns out the country is in fact pretty ready for a President of color, as they say. (Aren’t they all of color? Definitely mostly peaches and cream color, but hey, Kennedy had yellow under that tan because of his jaundice due to Addison’s disease, does that count? Sorry, just had to add that.) So, by running and not being ready, Obama is squandering hard-fought capital for what, selfishness? Stubborness (as in, being able to sing “My Way”)? Misguided calling? My belief is that it is possible for someone that green to learn the talk, the issues, develop the answers (or memorize what someone else develops for you) and then deliver them effectively and compellingly, so that most people think readiness is there. Why oh why is he not doing that, I wonder, although I’m relieved that he’s not fooling us all. Doesn’t he know how he appears by not having it committed to second nature, like a veteran Tony-winning Broadway performer? I think he has to know. Who would not see it, in his place, were they he?
Obama strikes me as someone who is pretty set on doing it his way, come hell, high water, or wasted opportunity. And hey, folks, call me crazy and gunshy like I’ve been shot at a lot, but I run from that kind of mindset. I believe we’ve had more than enough of that crap from the current renter at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And from his little dog Toto, er um, Cheney.
I just don’t see the obsession over Obama. Why don’t more people see it? One of my daughters had Obama fever for a while, so I posed the question to her. She quickly responded, dare I say like she’d already analyzed it, “He’s hot, and was the next big thing. Now, not so hot on both accounts. He’s boring, not really what we thought he’d be.”
We? Well, never mind, but that doesn’t exactly recognize the millions who strongly support him to this day, does it? My DD may be over him already, but me thinks there are tons of others out there who are not, and scarily, they don’t think his inexperience is a bad thing at all, whatsoever.
I’ve always admired idealism, but this is a great example of why too much is not a good thing. Obama seems way too idealistic in thinking that he can and should reveal beforehand his foreign policy attack strategies in the interest of being “transparent” with the American people. And his supporters seem way too idealistic in accepting inexperience at this particular time in our nation’s life.
If my generational history theories are at all on target, it’s getting very close to another Crisis (as was the Revolutionary War, the Civil War/Reconstruction, and the Great Depression/WWII). My personal guess is that we are right on the cusp of it beginning. We may even be experiencing the start of a cascading of events. Nobody knows what this Crisis will involve or be caused by or what it’ll be about. Why we had the Crisis will be obvious 50 years from now, but not now. Most of us will be blindsighted by it; we’ll all be affected by it.
I’ve been a skeptical believer since 1996 or so, when my pal Aimsy gave me the book for my birthday. (I call it GenHist Theory — there’s a link on my sidebar Blogroll to the website called The Fourth Turning. There’s an overview of both the 4 repeating “turnings” as well as the 4 repeating generational personalities, and a forum). I read the book and visited the forum (I never posted as it was a little too intimidating for me, and I’d never done the blog thing until now, but I’ve been reading it ever since then).
I probably check it once a month or so now, and over the years the coming Crisis issues have been greatly debated. Some think we are already in the Crisis, but a slight majority think as I do. Some think it started on 9/11/2001. Some think it’ll be vicious and dark, like the Civil War was. Others think things have been eerily similar to the late 1920’s. A few, few, very few are like me in thinking it might not be like anything we’ve experienced before because we are so global now, and we have lightning quick, egalitarian communication. We’re also living longer. All, some or none of these may be factors in changing up the dynamic.
I’m fascinated by it all. Makes me regret not being able to live long enough to know what the disinterested future will think of us and what we lived through. Back to Obama, though. He has to lead in a similar manner as Washington or Truman, according to the Theory. If I thought he could do that, I’d say we missed the Crisis. For now, I’ll just conclude he is trying to lead too early.
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