Note what this one shovels in: “I long for a nation and government that embodies the principles of our constitution, life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness."
Jefferson took out "property" from the Declaration, putting "pursuit of happiness" in its place because he was convinced, from reading Hutcheson, that accumulation of property is only justified to the degree that it is required for happiness, and not beyond. No one requires a private megayacht to be happy. The word "property" was removed on purpose from the initial draft as going too far -- just as our would-be demon lords strive to do today.
"In 1962 I was a Conservative. I believed privilege could only be justified by service, high taxes on very high incomes were necessary to prevent an entrepreneurial economy becoming a rentier economy, and Keynesian growth would finance public service improvements and a welfare state that steadily reduced inequality. I was suspicious of ideologically driven, large-scale change. These were the mainstream policies of the Macmillan government at the time. In 60 years I have moved from centre right to hard left without changing my opinions."
I would like to see how you would contrast those who leave because that can with those who leave because they feel they must. Those are people like my grandmother’s family that left the pogroms of Poland for Ellis Island, the Blacks of the Great Migration who left the Jim Crow South for the lesser racism of the North, and the parents of trans children who are leaving states and sometimes the country to protect their children. Obviously very different situations from people who are only concerned with unquestionable rights to property. That there are people who feel they must flee the US is a sign that the system is breaking, and that battle to save it must be joined by those who wish to save it.
I am old enough to remember all the presidents since Ike. And I’ve never seen such a dysfunctional sociopath as DJ T. And then with him are the influencers and money elite who curry favor with the. “President who would be king”. And so I’m frustrated and upset that the electorate and the system allowed this leadership in place. Or was gamed by the monied class. Particularly after January 6, and our failure to hold the insurrectionist accountable.
I fear this is enough for many people to say “I’m done with politics” to hell with them and go their own ways . But I hope the rude behavior, illegal inside deals, hatred and manipulation of public opinion can be changed. I know so many people who are decent, hard-working and care about justice and inclusive processes in their government. My hope is we get through this with a public citizenship that has learned about democracy and supports good government and just behavior. Am I naïve?
"Civilization is what you build by staying when leaving would be easier." The abdication of care as the glue that holds civilization together. I've been writing a piece on Ishiguro's novels The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, focused on how the author's particular brand of literary feminism is all about the principle of quiet care. His characters are the most ordinary people, or clones with a conscience. The magistrate in Coetzee's Waiting for the Barbarians recognizing his moral imperative, the survivors in Bradbury's Fahrenheit 415 reciting literature when all the books have been burned.
I have to admit, as we descend further into a new American Dark Age*, I have been quietly keeping an eye out for opportunities to leave the United States. Unfortunately, I'm a late-middle-aged programmer with a background in astronomy, but if you're living outside the U.S. and need such a person, let me know.
I long for a nation and government that embodies the principles of our constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and other founding documents - that all intelligent beings are created equal, and are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. And that from these fundamental rights naturally flow other rights, such as rights to speech, food, shelter, healthcare, employment, security, and justice, among many others.
I hate these mofos so much. They use our system to accumulate vast wealth (demonstrating how well the system works for them) and then when they can’t control politics as much as they feel entitled to they whine like spoiled children and declare it’s all broken. There’s not even the slightest inkling that maybe they should give back to the system that gave them so much.
Balaji Srinivasa regularly deleted comments he did not like from his blog. I don't mean people being obscene or even rude, just anything that offered the slightest challenge to whatever he had written. I had it happen to me a couple times, naively thinking it was some glitch, before I realized it was him just doing what he does.
Not sure why this tech bro fantasy is worth the ink you're using to write about it. Rich people's circle jerk really. They made a movie about exactly that, Mountainhead.
What you are saying is important. It would be stronger if you made it much shorter. This was published recently by a Canadian Conservative pollster. In this man’s mind we are consumers not citizens with values. Why would anyone sacrifice their life, or worse the lives of their children for this.
Superb analysis of the last one and a half centuries. Adam Smith would despise these charlatans for their systematic destruction of the foundations of the free market.
That said, on “democracy” - without disagreement - I respectfully refer you to the trap identified by Orwell in imv his most important work “politics and the English language “. (I may revert to you in a week or two when I’m back on a computer…)
Note what this one shovels in: “I long for a nation and government that embodies the principles of our constitution, life, liberty, property, and pursuit of happiness."
Jefferson took out "property" from the Declaration, putting "pursuit of happiness" in its place because he was convinced, from reading Hutcheson, that accumulation of property is only justified to the degree that it is required for happiness, and not beyond. No one requires a private megayacht to be happy. The word "property" was removed on purpose from the initial draft as going too far -- just as our would-be demon lords strive to do today.
Balaji Et Al are free to leave America. Here's hoping they do.
May our constitutional republic be restored. May our country have a new birth of freedom.
"In 1962 I was a Conservative. I believed privilege could only be justified by service, high taxes on very high incomes were necessary to prevent an entrepreneurial economy becoming a rentier economy, and Keynesian growth would finance public service improvements and a welfare state that steadily reduced inequality. I was suspicious of ideologically driven, large-scale change. These were the mainstream policies of the Macmillan government at the time. In 60 years I have moved from centre right to hard left without changing my opinions."
I would like to see how you would contrast those who leave because that can with those who leave because they feel they must. Those are people like my grandmother’s family that left the pogroms of Poland for Ellis Island, the Blacks of the Great Migration who left the Jim Crow South for the lesser racism of the North, and the parents of trans children who are leaving states and sometimes the country to protect their children. Obviously very different situations from people who are only concerned with unquestionable rights to property. That there are people who feel they must flee the US is a sign that the system is breaking, and that battle to save it must be joined by those who wish to save it.
I am old enough to remember all the presidents since Ike. And I’ve never seen such a dysfunctional sociopath as DJ T. And then with him are the influencers and money elite who curry favor with the. “President who would be king”. And so I’m frustrated and upset that the electorate and the system allowed this leadership in place. Or was gamed by the monied class. Particularly after January 6, and our failure to hold the insurrectionist accountable.
I fear this is enough for many people to say “I’m done with politics” to hell with them and go their own ways . But I hope the rude behavior, illegal inside deals, hatred and manipulation of public opinion can be changed. I know so many people who are decent, hard-working and care about justice and inclusive processes in their government. My hope is we get through this with a public citizenship that has learned about democracy and supports good government and just behavior. Am I naïve?
"Civilization is what you build by staying when leaving would be easier." The abdication of care as the glue that holds civilization together. I've been writing a piece on Ishiguro's novels The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, focused on how the author's particular brand of literary feminism is all about the principle of quiet care. His characters are the most ordinary people, or clones with a conscience. The magistrate in Coetzee's Waiting for the Barbarians recognizing his moral imperative, the survivors in Bradbury's Fahrenheit 415 reciting literature when all the books have been burned.
Thank you for insights wrapped in eloquence.
I have to admit, as we descend further into a new American Dark Age*, I have been quietly keeping an eye out for opportunities to leave the United States. Unfortunately, I'm a late-middle-aged programmer with a background in astronomy, but if you're living outside the U.S. and need such a person, let me know.
I long for a nation and government that embodies the principles of our constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and other founding documents - that all intelligent beings are created equal, and are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. And that from these fundamental rights naturally flow other rights, such as rights to speech, food, shelter, healthcare, employment, security, and justice, among many others.
* https://www.notesfromthecircus.com/p/the-21st-century-is-a-new-dark-age/comment/189037990
I hate these mofos so much. They use our system to accumulate vast wealth (demonstrating how well the system works for them) and then when they can’t control politics as much as they feel entitled to they whine like spoiled children and declare it’s all broken. There’s not even the slightest inkling that maybe they should give back to the system that gave them so much.
Balaji Srinivasa regularly deleted comments he did not like from his blog. I don't mean people being obscene or even rude, just anything that offered the slightest challenge to whatever he had written. I had it happen to me a couple times, naively thinking it was some glitch, before I realized it was him just doing what he does.
Technocratic collectivism...such a frightening and bleak *weltanschauung*...product of an impoverished spirit and absence of any humaneness.
Not sure why this tech bro fantasy is worth the ink you're using to write about it. Rich people's circle jerk really. They made a movie about exactly that, Mountainhead.
I think you deftly define END CAPITALISM.
Where are the American heroes and patriots when needed or is it all a historical Hollywood fantasy..
The ideas and values expressed are admirable. Make it half , even two thirds, as long, and it will be gold. Winnow.
https://www.notesfromthecircus.com/p/on-my-writing-style
What you are saying is important. It would be stronger if you made it much shorter. This was published recently by a Canadian Conservative pollster. In this man’s mind we are consumers not citizens with values. Why would anyone sacrifice their life, or worse the lives of their children for this.
https://open.substack.com/pub/davidcoletto/p/politics-is-a-market-not-a-mood?r=zsk0&utm_medium=ios&shareImageVariant=overlay
Superb analysis of the last one and a half centuries. Adam Smith would despise these charlatans for their systematic destruction of the foundations of the free market.
That said, on “democracy” - without disagreement - I respectfully refer you to the trap identified by Orwell in imv his most important work “politics and the English language “. (I may revert to you in a week or two when I’m back on a computer…)
Mike Brock
Stands. Flowing. Bridging
Our here and now
Out of our uneasy past
Into our uncertain future.
May We
Stand with him.
Taking his steady hand
From wherefore we come
Joining the Procession.
Your best essay so far...keep going.