Economics, Politics & Culture, Uncategorized

The Omnipotent Consumer & the Neutered Worker

Our thesis is that the idea of a self-adjusting market implied a stark utopia. Such an institution could not exist for any length of time without annihilating the human and natural substance of society; it would have physically destroyed man and transformed his surroundings into a wilderness. Karl Polanyi Could there be anything more demoralizing than having to wake up in the morning five out … Continue reading The Omnipotent Consumer & the Neutered Worker

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Economics, Politics & Culture, Uncategorized, Universal Basic Income

The American Dream vs. The American Bargain

The American Dream keeps you working for a future that never comes built on a past that never happened. It is not so much a dream as a value judgement. A pretense of patriotism at a price few can pay and at a cost few can bear. Sarah Kendzior In the United States, few ideas carry as much weight as the American Dream, that old … Continue reading The American Dream vs. The American Bargain

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Economics, Modern Money Theory, Uncategorized

Why We Don’t Need to Tax the Rich

It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so. (Maybe) Mark Twain (but probably not) As regular readers know, I spend most of my time writing about Trumpism, politics in general, Bigger Home Bases, and Universal Basic Income. But just as important to my overall project proposal, if not more so, is Modern … Continue reading Why We Don’t Need to Tax the Rich

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Politics & Culture, Uncategorized

Why the Voter Fraud Myth is the Core of Trumpism

Noncitizens are not permitted to vote in state and federal elections. It’s a federal crime for noncitizens to register or vote in federal elections, and it’s a crime under every state’s laws. So it should come as no surprise that every legitimate study ever done on the question shows that voting by noncitizens in state and federal elections is vanishingly rare. Brennan Center for Justice Trump … Continue reading Why the Voter Fraud Myth is the Core of Trumpism

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Economics, Intentional Communities, Politics & Culture, Uncategorized

A Rural Strategy for Libs

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move in the opposite direction. E.F. Schumacher As we have covered many times in this blog, American political and cultural polarization is almost completely a rural-vs-urban split. As the sophistication and cost of political operations have expanded over the … Continue reading A Rural Strategy for Libs

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Intentional Communities, Politics & Culture, Uncategorized

Battle for the Soul of America: A Three-Horse Race

You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time. Angela Davis What lies ahead? Reimagining the world. Only that. Arundhati Roy As Donald Trump sinks further into his dementia-addled, narcissistic hate bubble, and the Democratic would-be king breakers cross their fingers, toes, and every other appendage, hoping that a midterm blue … Continue reading Battle for the Soul of America: A Three-Horse Race

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Economics, Politics & Culture, Uncategorized

What Are People For? AI, UBI & Human Work

As long as the material basis of our well-being is understood to come from paid employment, we will continue to lean upon the moral coercion of the work ethic to justify the decision to not give people the material support they need, and we will do this whether there is a need for everyone to work or not. Tim Dunlop, “Why the Future is Workless“ … Continue reading What Are People For? AI, UBI & Human Work

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Politics & Culture, Uncategorized

We the People: The Patriotism Problem

For I do not conceive that we are more inspired — have more wisdom — or possess more virtue than those who will come after us. The power under the Constitution will always be with the people. George Washington I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the … Continue reading We the People: The Patriotism Problem

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Economics, Intentional Communities, Politics & Culture, Uncategorized

Our Crisis of Place

Under the pavement the dirt is dreaming of grass. Wendell Berry Our current crisis of place is pervasive yet largely unacknowledged. We see it everywhere, but we only talk about it tangentially, through the language of real estate or commuting time or the soullessness of strip malls. We live, or strive to live, in increasingly unaffordable yet somehow fragile micro-households (the US average household size … Continue reading Our Crisis of Place

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Economics, Modern Money Theory, Politics & Culture, Uncategorized

Making Sense of the Economy through the Lens of MMT

The point is, not every deficit serves the broader public good. Deficits can be used for good or evil. They can enrich a small segment of the population, lifting the yachts of the rich and powerful to new heights, while leaving millions behind. They can fund unjust wars that destabilize the world and cost millions their lives. Or they can be used to sustain life … Continue reading Making Sense of the Economy through the Lens of MMT

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