Seriously, I don't get it.
Here is a man who is the perfect reflection of everything most of my libertarian friends think a political thinker should be - extremely precise, versed in the facts, comprehensive in his treatment. Non-interventionist and an advocate of absolute free association. Putting his name on the line for what he believes in.
Are we libertarians so superficial as to cast out his enlightening findings on society and politics - simply because he doesn't like corporations? Are we that glib? Sure, we may not agree with his solution to the corporate / institutional problem (or at least the one he alludes to) - complete social revolution - but certainly we can address his concerns?
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Can anybody point me in the direction of some interesting feeds that aren't too mainstream media-esque? I'm thinking of some alternative or at least balanced feeds that I can monitor for news.
Also, if you're a blogger and you're not syndicating full text, you're an ass.
My favorite serious blog of all time is Arthur Silber's The Light of Reason. It was like reading the blog of somebody with the passion of an objectivist but the common sense of an average joe and the heart of a... well, a big heart. OK, that's a little bit of exaggeration. But his posts influenced my move from stoic, rigid right libertarianism to a more (forgive the term) holistic embrace of free association, markets, and thought. He even got me to vote for Kerry.
Well, he ran into some rough times and his blog ended up being a pain in the ass for him. Now he has a new blog called Once Upon a Time. Check out this very interesting post of his and see what I mean.
Great post from my favorite blogger, Kevin Carson:
In the past, I've noted neoliberal portrayals of Red China as an exemplar of the "free market." Its so-called "market reforms" and "liberalization" have made it the promised land for offshored production by American corporations. To add some substantive content to those cliches, just consider the Chinese government's repression of independent labor activists, and of local resistance to "rampant industrial pollution" and "widespread evictions and land seizures by corrupt local governments in cahoots with increasingly powerful property developers...."
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The collusion between Western sweatshop employers and the Chinese "people's state" reminds me a lot of that scene in Animal Farm, when the pigs hold a summit conference with the neighboring farmers: "If you've got your lower classes, we've got our lower animals!"
This just brings home the point that I'm always making - China going from socialist totalitarian state to fascist/corporatist totalitarian state should mean the same thing for us: no dice. I'm not sure if they're markets should be off limits or not, but all the neoliberal wankery about the "sun rising in China" needs to give it a rest.
Via digamma, this great insight from Crooked Timber:
Much of the reason why French Gaullists annoy US Republicans is that they have so much in common. There's little doubt that, if Chirac had the kind of global power that Bush does, he'd abuse it in exactly the same way. Australians and New Zealanders, who've seen Chirac and his predecessors throwing their weight around in the South Pacific (long used as the site for French nuclear tests), are well aware of this. The same kind of heavy-handedness is evident in domestic policy and seems to have contributed to the riots.
Too true.
I'm just not inspired to write lately.
The fraud that is the Bush Administration seems to be in full retreat. Not a lot going on in my personal life. Job takes a lot of my time lately - and as interesting as it is, it consumes much of my daytime resources.
So I apologize for not being up for blogging lately. I'm still keeping up on things, but it's strange how internet habits morph and change over time. I think probably the biggest reason I blog less is the retirement of Right Thinking Girl. The conversation always stimulated my political ideas, and I'm still looking for another blog that is as wrong - but tolerant of correctness - as that one was.
Lately I've been extremely interested in anarchism and mutualism. I may have some stuff to write about that at some point. Right now I'm regrouping; at least, that's what it feels like. Bear with me.
UPDATE: Maybe this could spur me to blog.
Meh.
This is the shit.
Sorry, I'll have more substantive posts soon. I'm just exhausted.
Don Boudreaux of Cafe Hayek wrote a great argument for libertarian opposition to the Iraq war called An Open Letter to My Libertarian Friends Who Don't Understand My Opposition to the War in Iraq:
Removing a dictator is child's play for a military as awesome as that of the United States. So Hussein is now history. But because the underlying causes that put him in power to begin with are still in place in Iraq, that country likely will soon revert to another dictator -- one different in name and different in style, but a brute nevertheless. He will oppress, kill, and impoverish. (The notion that a poweful military can uproot dysfunctional cultural, political, and economic root causes of tyranny strikes me as naive in the extreme. Just as your local policeman can protect Ms. Jones from her husband's physical abuse but can't hope to counsel their marriage into a happy one, so, too can a military remove a tyrannt like Hussein but can't hope to cure that society of what really ails it.)
And Americans will be blamed for this tragedy. The fact that our President meant well will matter little to people tyrannized by the government that replaced the one we abolished. Americans will be hated more intensely, and suffer greater danger of terrorist attacks.
My picks for best performances:
- Mates of State - these guys completely blew me away. Two people made a bigger, fuller sound than a lot of the 5 person bands. And the girl hit every high note and the guy playing drums and singing hit every harmony perfect. It felt wierd to be that thrilled by what is essentially a pop act, but it literally moved me to tears how fucking tight and full sounding this group was.
- Arcade Fire - obviously, this was the high point of everybody's festival experience. The only performance where I was within 50 ' of the stage. Wow. All I can say is wow. Absolutely amazing - it's nice to see angst done that gorgeously. Chris Martin remarked during the Coldplay performance that when they saw the Arcade Fire that day they all resolved to get new jobs.
- Wilco - now, I didn't think I would appreciate the performance that much, as I'm not familiar with a lot of their songs. But I remember James posting something after seeing them about how they are one of the great American bands, and I'd have to agree. Though the show started slow it really took off. I was amused at how thoroughly I enjoyed what at first listen always seemed like such straight ahead music.
- The Decemberists - I had heard these guys before but they were REALLY good. About as eclectic as you can get, and while it wasn't neccessarily "rocking" music it was hard not to do a little polka dance when they were playing.
- Keane - yeah, I said it. I know they're poppy as hell, and they really take themselves far too seriously, but I enjoyed the show.
- The Fiery Furnaces - liked it, would like to hear more.
Was not impressed by Death Cab or Coldplay. Spoon and Rilo Kiley were alright (I think if I had seen more of the latter I would have enjoyed it more, but it was 106 degrees and Tasha needed to cooldown). Bloc Party was alright, too, I guess. Tortoise was cool but didn't quite fit in.
It was really hot and expensive. Was anybody else there?
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Instead of birdseed we were pelted with bubbles as we left the wedding...
This pretty much speaks for itself.
My groomsmen, from left to right: Bill, Gary, Matt, and Dan.
While my best man, Matt, was giving the toast, my groomsmen decided to proclaim their love for me.
Well, it's over. The wedding was great. A little hot, but awesome. Pictures are going up right now - we got the first digitals the day after from a friend of Tasha's family (UPDATE: first pictures are posted here).
Apparently, many people commented that it was the nicest wedding they had ever attended. Considering the amount of effort, design, and expense Tasha put into it, that is awfully gratifying. Thanks for all your support, everybody!
Right now we're at Matt's mom's beach house in Nags Head, NC, trying to relax. We've got WiFi access so I'll try and keep you updated on our honeymoon. And Matt and Matt's brother are both accomplished photographers, so just expect more pics.
Blogging will probably be damn light for the next few days. Rehearsal tonight and the real deal tomorrow. We just had a bunch of friends come into town last night who are staying with us right now. Wish us luck!
God, I have so much shit to do...
And yet they keep voting for them:Trust in politicians is abysmally low around the world and most citizens say their governments do not reflect the will of the people, according to an intriguing global survey of what influences our lives.
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Share your thoughts now, before it's too late and I change my mind!
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...pansies...
UPDATE: Just added Fuzzy Recent Comments so I can keep track of you animals.
