It came to me with sickening suddenness that the misadventures of POTUS, all of them but now particularly, resemble the fantasy quest of a hormone-driven teenaged boy. It seems a world in which everything is viewed as a centerfold, and an opportunity to gain a prodigious rush.
Tag: politics
Process Eats Product
There is no music that is free of the instrument. Interface dictates product. Consider this quote, “An elective despotism is not the government we fought for” from James Madison.
Words Poorly Used #110 — Integrity
It turns out that America’s agreements are not worth the paper on which they are written. But that was something that native peoples could have told us a long time ago. Integrity is just another weasel word.
Did it Really Work For You?
You don’t have to be happy, but you probably shouldn’t be the person who talks about how important a product is for people’s happiness if your life looks like a glaring counterexample. If you’re going to fight for a particular point of view, then you should at least try to look satisfied with the life it gave you.
Take a Knee. Take a Seat. Take a Chill Pill.
If it bothers you to the point of distraction that some people are, by your lights, insufficiently respectful of the Stars and Stripes, your priorities are way out of whack. And if the flag does indeed stand for freedom, you’re part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Why a Radical Libertarian Can Enjoy a Show About a British Monarch
Here I am, a radical libertarian, enjoying a show whose protagonist is the monarch of one of the world’s brutal and oppressive empires. How do I square that circle?
Cooperation vs. Interventionism
Henry J. Gomez of buzzfeed recently wrote an article about libertarianism. To his credit, he mostly describes libertarian foreign politics as non-interventionist – except for one awful passage: “libertarians believe […] less-interventionist, more-isolationist themes.” No, no, a thousand times no.
Flags, Football, and Begged Questions
Defenders of Donald Trump’s condemnation of NFL players who “take a knee” during the national hymn — sorry, anthem — beg a few questions. They assume the truth of matters that are or should be in dispute. So, not so fast, Trump defenders. You have work to do.
Governments Need You (To Lie)
Those who want you to lie will look for ways to hurt you if you tell the truth about their gang. And they have a lot of power at their disposal. In the long run, lying in support of government is still more destructive and harmful. This isn’t an exercise you’ll survive– but neither will they. No one gets out alive.
Down with Partisan Politics
I find partisan politics disgusting, even repulsive for many reasons. Perhaps the most important is that it rests from A to Z on dishonesty and fraud.