Mike, I was in a similar position in the corporate world and found it the same, hollow, sad, disconnected. I left as well and was glad I did despite the lesser resources coming in. What really caused me to stop and reflect though was your commitment to staying and leading the fight, which you are. I have struggled with the idea of leaving the country, changing citizenship or residency because I am scared, I am old (69!) and I don't want to spend my last years in fear. But you have forced me to reckon with myself, to face what I think I believe and what I am willing to place on the line. I couldn't be more grateful even if it scares me.
Ah, the farther side of cosmopolitanism. You make a strong case here that there's a way to do it which is very, very wrong.
Yet, there are also cosmopolitan variants which are rooted in place, and liberal to the core, not just as a manner of dress -- people in cities, even traveling abroad, for social, artistic, and intellectual gain, only worried enough about money to pay the rent and occasional air fare. There are hundreds of thousands such in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, even Philly and Baltimore. You know, the hipster 'woke' ones whom the oligarchs hate.
Yes, these are a privileged minority, with far more dabbling in arts and ideas than making notable contributions, individually. But collectively, it takes a few thousand who think they can be the next great artist or writer to produce one whom talent and luck elevate to prominence. The effort of the larger collective, largely unsung (if singing) is essential. Fuck the oligarchs. Long live cosmopolitanism.
I don’t think I’ll ever truly understand what it feels like to have that amount of options and leverage on a global scale, but I’m glad at least one person from that set decided it wasn’t in society’s best interest and then said “nah fuck this”. Good on you, my guy.
I like this! Please let me offer a slightly different angle:
"The emptiness at thirty thousand feet, laptop open, attending a fourth conference that month in the third time zone—isn’t caused by the absence of borders but the absence of commitment. People unmoored can go anywhere -- no reason to stay."
The fascist sees a person without roots and says: make it easier to be rootless and careless. The humanist says: make staying meaningful, something to care about, to work and fight for.
Carl Schmidt, a 1930s Nazi, defined a dual legal system making some immune and others prisoner. That’s what the oligarchs are doing, with the help of Repugnicans on the Supreme Court.
The neglected and abused of America are the most aroused and noisy, while the emotionally mature mind their own business and remain walled in by imaginary safeguards. As the fascist thugs disappear and abuse people from MAGA’s fictional bottom, up, their democratic neighbors are rising to an awakening that we’re all at risk – something that didn’t happen in 1930s Germany.
Liberalism has become confused with neoliberalism (for obvious reasons), by liberals themselves, and it’s time to return to progressive activism to counter MAGA nihilism.
Some of us who have dual citizenships may not have a choice in the matter if this administration and certain Republican lawmakers decide to take away our US citizenship. Of course, they probably wouldn’t take away Melania’s.
Well, I’m pleased you came our way because of your wisdom and insight . I live among your former comrades in what was once the cradle of the counterculture (SF) and grew up in So. Cal. where you are currently and I’m saddened by what has been a perversion of that legacy. Most of the survivors of that counter culture are entering their twilight years and, as a cusp boomer forever in their shadow, I’m pretty disappointed in the generation of swine that followed and who have now become ascendant. They’re your age and younger. Hat’s off to you for maintaining your dignity.
Respect your convictions. I'll likely have to do the same. I live in the TC area and have a newborn child (daughter) that I love more than anything. I got married in Canada and I would move there in a heartbeat. Truthfully, wanted to move there as far back as 2012. Just didn't have the guts.
Oh Mike how right you are! The conferences that claim the importance of “values” or “values based policies” whatever that means. But occasionally the mask would drop and the visceral response to rabid Zionist speakers whipping the audience into a mad frenzy of rage and solidarity would explode with chants and yes, maniacal standing and stomping on metal chairs! Full fascism, for all to see. Shocking, frightening and horrific! The genocide in Gaza? No surprise at all. So much for “values based policies.”
A great piece. Very much applicable to the promoters of Brexit - James Dyson moved his HQ to Singapore - but also to the voters. The Brexit outcome that got the most cheers was the return of the blue UK passport (amusingly, printed in France).
The fascism they created will follow them. As will the hollowness and emptiness of never being known. Beautiful essay, as usual.
Hell. They’re trying to simulate it in the EU
Mike - I'm glad you chose the path you did and continue to speak truth to power, as I enjoy and have learned much from your writing.
Mike, I was in a similar position in the corporate world and found it the same, hollow, sad, disconnected. I left as well and was glad I did despite the lesser resources coming in. What really caused me to stop and reflect though was your commitment to staying and leading the fight, which you are. I have struggled with the idea of leaving the country, changing citizenship or residency because I am scared, I am old (69!) and I don't want to spend my last years in fear. But you have forced me to reckon with myself, to face what I think I believe and what I am willing to place on the line. I couldn't be more grateful even if it scares me.
Ah, the farther side of cosmopolitanism. You make a strong case here that there's a way to do it which is very, very wrong.
Yet, there are also cosmopolitan variants which are rooted in place, and liberal to the core, not just as a manner of dress -- people in cities, even traveling abroad, for social, artistic, and intellectual gain, only worried enough about money to pay the rent and occasional air fare. There are hundreds of thousands such in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, even Philly and Baltimore. You know, the hipster 'woke' ones whom the oligarchs hate.
Yes, these are a privileged minority, with far more dabbling in arts and ideas than making notable contributions, individually. But collectively, it takes a few thousand who think they can be the next great artist or writer to produce one whom talent and luck elevate to prominence. The effort of the larger collective, largely unsung (if singing) is essential. Fuck the oligarchs. Long live cosmopolitanism.
I don’t think I’ll ever truly understand what it feels like to have that amount of options and leverage on a global scale, but I’m glad at least one person from that set decided it wasn’t in society’s best interest and then said “nah fuck this”. Good on you, my guy.
I like this! Please let me offer a slightly different angle:
"The emptiness at thirty thousand feet, laptop open, attending a fourth conference that month in the third time zone—isn’t caused by the absence of borders but the absence of commitment. People unmoored can go anywhere -- no reason to stay."
The fascist sees a person without roots and says: make it easier to be rootless and careless. The humanist says: make staying meaningful, something to care about, to work and fight for.
Carl Schmidt, a 1930s Nazi, defined a dual legal system making some immune and others prisoner. That’s what the oligarchs are doing, with the help of Repugnicans on the Supreme Court.
The neglected and abused of America are the most aroused and noisy, while the emotionally mature mind their own business and remain walled in by imaginary safeguards. As the fascist thugs disappear and abuse people from MAGA’s fictional bottom, up, their democratic neighbors are rising to an awakening that we’re all at risk – something that didn’t happen in 1930s Germany.
Liberalism has become confused with neoliberalism (for obvious reasons), by liberals themselves, and it’s time to return to progressive activism to counter MAGA nihilism.
Some of us who have dual citizenships may not have a choice in the matter if this administration and certain Republican lawmakers decide to take away our US citizenship. Of course, they probably wouldn’t take away Melania’s.
Mike please stay sure, stay committed to stating complicated but essential truths.
Well, I’m pleased you came our way because of your wisdom and insight . I live among your former comrades in what was once the cradle of the counterculture (SF) and grew up in So. Cal. where you are currently and I’m saddened by what has been a perversion of that legacy. Most of the survivors of that counter culture are entering their twilight years and, as a cusp boomer forever in their shadow, I’m pretty disappointed in the generation of swine that followed and who have now become ascendant. They’re your age and younger. Hat’s off to you for maintaining your dignity.
Respect your convictions. I'll likely have to do the same. I live in the TC area and have a newborn child (daughter) that I love more than anything. I got married in Canada and I would move there in a heartbeat. Truthfully, wanted to move there as far back as 2012. Just didn't have the guts.
Off off topic.
The motto of my Substack @MikeBrock is
“ life the ticket to the greatest show on Earth. “
Oh Mike how right you are! The conferences that claim the importance of “values” or “values based policies” whatever that means. But occasionally the mask would drop and the visceral response to rabid Zionist speakers whipping the audience into a mad frenzy of rage and solidarity would explode with chants and yes, maniacal standing and stomping on metal chairs! Full fascism, for all to see. Shocking, frightening and horrific! The genocide in Gaza? No surprise at all. So much for “values based policies.”
A great piece. Very much applicable to the promoters of Brexit - James Dyson moved his HQ to Singapore - but also to the voters. The Brexit outcome that got the most cheers was the return of the blue UK passport (amusingly, printed in France).