2021 archive
Going Bananas (Republic) 0
The small city of Oroville, located in the mountainous area of California about halfway between San Francisco and the Oregon state line, has declared itself independent of its state. In a long and fascinating article at the Sacramento Bee, Josh Gohlke considers the implications. A nugget (emphasis added):
While this measure might sound like a stray trickle from the town beneath the nation’s tallest dam, it’s part of a much larger atmospheric river of misinformation. For a variety of supposed reasons and one real one — namely, that majority rule no longer seems likely to put certain politicians in power — it’s become fashionable in certain circles to point out, as if it’s a crucial distinction, that “America is a republic, not a democracy.”
It is another indication that some of our polity have abandoned the concept of the common good (or, if you prefer, Will Bunch’s phrasing, the public good).
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another child is exposed to politeness at an early age.
Afterthought:
“Responsible gun owner” is an oxymoron. Q. E. D.
The Lies of the Land 0
While we’re on the topic of truth . . . .
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
A Tennessee teacher was fired for teaching truth. Apparently, his own white privilege flew.
Here’s a bit of the report.
Then at the start of last school year, he made a pronouncement during a discussion about police shootings that would derail his career. White privilege, he told his nearly all-White class, is “a fact.”
He spoke truth to students. We can’t have that, now, can we?
NFTs Are BFDs 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Bence Nanay tries to make sense of the brew-ha-ha over “non-fungible tokens.”
The Great Roll-Back 0
The Las Vegas Sun editorial board considers a speech at a recent right-wing gathering and concludes:
Follow the link for their reasoning.
Macho, Macho Men 0
Michael in Norfolk notes a new Republican strategy: fanning male grievance. Here’s a bit; follow the link for the rest.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
The hunt for politeness claims another quarry.
“Three Missing Words” 0
Will Bunch ponders the three words missing from dis coarse discourse and the effects of their absence.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports on a long-time white supremacist, ex-KKK leader, and convicted felon running for local office in Georgia.
The report points out that, though not a common phenomenon, this is also not an isolated one in these Trumpled times. Given the increased boldness of white supremacists, bigots, and haters, I think the article is well worth a read. Here’s a tiny bit:
(snip)
Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior political scientist with the RAND Corp. and an expert on political disinformation, said candidates with Doles’ background have good reasons to see an opening in mainstream politics. The rapid spread of disinformation on social media, a hyperpolarized political environment and the increase power of partisan rhetoric have created fertile ground for such campaigns, she said.
Suffer the Children 0
Afterthought:
It’s telling that Republicans fear that students might learn the truth about America’s history.
Image via Balloon Juice.