Recall this from Kropotkin: throughout the history of our civilization, two traditions, two opposing tendencies have confronted each other: the Roman and the Popular; the imperial and the federalist; the authoritarian and the libertarian. Now,…
Browsing Category Society/Culture
The Changing of the Oligarchical Guard
Jay P. Greene, as is his wont, writes something idiotic to favor his bias of market love. Again, as preface to everything I write contra Greene I want to remind you that he occupies and…
A Seasonal Gift of Skepticism: Markets Do Not Passeth Understanding
I suppose it would be fair to say I try to offer two things: an idea or vision of things we might do that could actually create non-destructive pleasure and fulfillment in our daily lives;…
The Stone of Life Need Roll Nowhere
I am a relaxed person. Until I read the newspaper, or see links from Facebook posts, telling me what is being done around me. You see, I like not doing anything. That doesn’t mean I…
Ignorance and Charity: One Man’s Garbage…
Correction in text–12/1, 12:38 This Foreign Policy blog post was put on the Facebooks today by a friend (h/t Kelly), “Haiti doesn’t need your old t-shirt.” True, too true. Here’s the gist, and it’s a…
Claims on Belief: The Greatest Show on Earth
My son is studying James Whitcomb Riley for school. Hoosier Poet or Children’s Poet depending on which books you like of his. In reality he appears to have been a very amazing comedian and story-teller. …
Organized Lovelessness; Occupy Charity
Recently I wrote about an invasion of our local schools by a “relief” organization using the plight of children in Uganda and other Central African states (but also a very real plight everywhere) to raise…
Why Do We Honor Erasure?
As the days advance and we continue down the same path using the tried and true manipulations of espousing freedom, liberty and choice I have come to despair. I can do nothing. The world of…
To the Tally of Our Souls
It is both easy and difficult to give thanks, to be thankful. It seems an ingratitude to be ambivalent or even hostile to the notion of this day as a kind of celebration. But we…
Radiating from Our Senses, Pedagogically Yours
The poet May Swenson, in her preface to a selection of Tomas Transtromer poems she had translated into English, offers what might be the perfect vision for public education: Signals and responses radiating from our…