Monday, November 28, 2005
Top 14 American Values
Torture is not, nor has it been, one of America's top values. A group of political scientists analyzing diaries, speeches, letters, pamphlets,etc. from the 1770-80's, found 100 American Values. The top 14 American values they found have remained constaint (though in different orders) over the past 235 years.
In no specific order, the top 14 values are:
In no specific order, the top 14 values are:
Freedom of Speech
Freedom of Religion
The Right to Private Property
The Right to Privacy
Equality
Fair Play
Justice
Individual Initiative
Concern for the Underdog
Financial Security
Loyalty to Country
Rule y Law
Order in Society
Tolerance of Others
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Absurdists Unite
Is it me, or are we following an absurdist plot line where Michael Brown the failed former FEMA head now can start a consulting firm focusing on " disaster preparedness . . . to help clients avoid the sort of errors that cost him his job." I guess hind sight is 20-20... (see CNN link)... can we say Peter Principle?
Or the Vice President saying those politicians who now question the Administration's policies vis a vis Iraq revisionist historians, as he continues to revise history by continually referring to WMDs, the Saddam Hussein- Al Qaeda connection. . .But what are we to expect from a person who thinks torture is right?
Where is Kafka when you need him?
Or the Vice President saying those politicians who now question the Administration's policies vis a vis Iraq revisionist historians, as he continues to revise history by continually referring to WMDs, the Saddam Hussein- Al Qaeda connection. . .But what are we to expect from a person who thinks torture is right?
Where is Kafka when you need him?
Friday, November 25, 2005
Searching for Democracy
This is the first entry. The title says it all: Searching for Democracy.
We are at a crossroads here in America: we have been sold a bill of goods under the guise of fear of terrorism, and we have given up some of our rights in order to be "safe."
Our current (s)elected leaders have until this point in time operated with carte blanche. They tried to practice Machiavelli's principle that the ends justify the means, but Machiavellian principles are not quite workable in a democracy, especially one in which public good not private greed is the "end." Unfortunately for them their administration is cracking, since it was built on a foundation of lies, and half truths. Hurricane Katrina uncovered many fallacies of their policies. Libby's alleged perjury is leading to more fallacies.
Fortunately for America, we are waking up and realizing that we need to save our democracy.
We are at a crossroads here in America: we have been sold a bill of goods under the guise of fear of terrorism, and we have given up some of our rights in order to be "safe."
Our current (s)elected leaders have until this point in time operated with carte blanche. They tried to practice Machiavelli's principle that the ends justify the means, but Machiavellian principles are not quite workable in a democracy, especially one in which public good not private greed is the "end." Unfortunately for them their administration is cracking, since it was built on a foundation of lies, and half truths. Hurricane Katrina uncovered many fallacies of their policies. Libby's alleged perjury is leading to more fallacies.
Fortunately for America, we are waking up and realizing that we need to save our democracy.
