I’ve been re-watching Tony Gilroy’s masterpiece Andor. In the first season, the story reaches one of its most evocative moral crescendos when Andy Serkis’ character, Kino Loy, delivers one of the most stirring monologues in contemporary screenwriting.
Mike, Gilroy, deeply grounded in history, did indeed create a two season masterpiece - superb ensemble acting, laser-sharp writing, gorgeous visual design, and most importantly, a vision of the costs of resistance - to everyone— stripped of romanticized narrative. The heart-breaking scene in “Only One Way Out” brings home- yes, resistance is the only way, but not everyone can swim😿
You've cast new light on a couple of terms, and I think we'll gain from it. "Pragmatism" is one of those curious defections to failure of vision; who needs it? And "prison" for the headspace around those afflicted with arbitrary discipline, its consequent mistrust, and the predatory scapegoating of algorithm-laden media (it's a large, invisible, indoor-outdoor prison where everyone's a victim)
Well said, Mike. I liked your mention of the “neo-Randian worship of the self,” because the Rand poison has long been an obsession of mine. It permeates not only the tech-bro community but pretty much all of the right, from Paul Ryan to Donald Trump (who, I once read, was actually a fan of her books. No, really!)
"But their choices were not in service of any greater good, but in service of greater profit."
The concept of "fiduciary responsibility" prioritizes profit over greater good: could a legal redefinition of the term mitigate these kinds of obvious social lapses?
Thanks Mike for enlightening us on the fight ahead!
IMHO unregulated capitalism is our underlying enemy, a Medusa of many snakeheads!
Beware!
The nihilistic Republican Techno-fascists will survive Trump’s crypto scams! Republican billionaires will continue to support the corrupt Supreme Court’s dictatorship of wealth!
Indeed, billionaires lurk behind the easy cultural liberalism of the wealthy blue states (New York, California Illinois +++)!
The corrupt infrastructure of the traditional Democratic Party is built on corporate donations!
To overthrow this destructive and demoralizing greed will involve more than ridding ourselves of MAGA!
Indeed MAGA may become our strongest ally in fighting this many-headed monster!
Watch for these catch-words: “commie”, “communist,”extremist,” “ Islamic terrorist,” and radical extremist!”
Our fight to save our democracy is just beginning!
There comes a point when there is no choice. There is nothing to lose.
The politics play against a backdrop of dying ecosystems. The assholes had a choice. Be humane and responsible in their leadership or live for themselves. They chose to burn down the house and profit from the heat until it is gone. What they plan to do at that point I don't know, but I expect they've made plans.
The rest of us need to understand that the systems we trusted are killing us. We have nothing to lose. Die now or die later. Rebellion throws the dice. Maybe some will survive. If we continue with the established system, we die. Besides, they really piss me off. Why make it easy for them?
I don't want to appear to be someone I'm not. I won't be fighting. I'm sick, old, and live on social security.
Submission, rebellion, or something in between, one way or another, it'll probably be over by 2100. I doubt the resources exist to keep any form of this system going past 2070. At that point living will get difficult.
Mike, Gilroy, deeply grounded in history, did indeed create a two season masterpiece - superb ensemble acting, laser-sharp writing, gorgeous visual design, and most importantly, a vision of the costs of resistance - to everyone— stripped of romanticized narrative. The heart-breaking scene in “Only One Way Out” brings home- yes, resistance is the only way, but not everyone can swim😿
You've cast new light on a couple of terms, and I think we'll gain from it. "Pragmatism" is one of those curious defections to failure of vision; who needs it? And "prison" for the headspace around those afflicted with arbitrary discipline, its consequent mistrust, and the predatory scapegoating of algorithm-laden media (it's a large, invisible, indoor-outdoor prison where everyone's a victim)
Well said, Mike. I liked your mention of the “neo-Randian worship of the self,” because the Rand poison has long been an obsession of mine. It permeates not only the tech-bro community but pretty much all of the right, from Paul Ryan to Donald Trump (who, I once read, was actually a fan of her books. No, really!)
Andor was amazing.
He rationalized that the complete collapse of democratic institutions would be preferable to paying a higher capital-gains tax.
Great piece!
Beautifully said Mike!
"But their choices were not in service of any greater good, but in service of greater profit."
The concept of "fiduciary responsibility" prioritizes profit over greater good: could a legal redefinition of the term mitigate these kinds of obvious social lapses?
Thanks Mike for enlightening us on the fight ahead!
IMHO unregulated capitalism is our underlying enemy, a Medusa of many snakeheads!
Beware!
The nihilistic Republican Techno-fascists will survive Trump’s crypto scams! Republican billionaires will continue to support the corrupt Supreme Court’s dictatorship of wealth!
Indeed, billionaires lurk behind the easy cultural liberalism of the wealthy blue states (New York, California Illinois +++)!
The corrupt infrastructure of the traditional Democratic Party is built on corporate donations!
To overthrow this destructive and demoralizing greed will involve more than ridding ourselves of MAGA!
Indeed MAGA may become our strongest ally in fighting this many-headed monster!
Watch for these catch-words: “commie”, “communist,”extremist,” “ Islamic terrorist,” and radical extremist!”
Our fight to save our democracy is just beginning!
Brilliant assessment. Thank you. Andor is the perfect media piece for explaining our choices in this moment, IMHO.
They will be prosecuted of course
"He rationalized that the complete collapse of democratic institutions would be preferable to paying a higher capital-gains tax."
And that is the essence of what has dragged USA down. Petty greed of people who never had it so good.
To coin a word Antolipatriotism.
There comes a point when there is no choice. There is nothing to lose.
The politics play against a backdrop of dying ecosystems. The assholes had a choice. Be humane and responsible in their leadership or live for themselves. They chose to burn down the house and profit from the heat until it is gone. What they plan to do at that point I don't know, but I expect they've made plans.
The rest of us need to understand that the systems we trusted are killing us. We have nothing to lose. Die now or die later. Rebellion throws the dice. Maybe some will survive. If we continue with the established system, we die. Besides, they really piss me off. Why make it easy for them?
I don't want to appear to be someone I'm not. I won't be fighting. I'm sick, old, and live on social security.
Submission, rebellion, or something in between, one way or another, it'll probably be over by 2100. I doubt the resources exist to keep any form of this system going past 2070. At that point living will get difficult.
I'll be dead by 2035.
No forgiveness for the enablers. A priceust be paid!
Sadly true. But so many have capitulated, or worse. It will be a long way back