Mammon category archive
The New Gilded Age 0
Last week, I mentioned a column by Greg Kesich in which he expressed a fear that we are entering a new “Gilded Age.” At the time, I said I thought we were already well into it.
Well, my two or three regular readers, I rest my case.
Facebook Frolics 0
BadTux sees a glimmer of hope.
Consolidation 0
At the Portland Press-Herald, Greg Kesich argues cogently that we are on the verge of a new “Gilded Age.”
Personally, I think we are already well into it.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
If politeness starts to cost insurance companies money, well, we can expect some interesting clauses in new insurance policies from here on out.
“The Happiest Place on Earth” . . . 0
. . . unless they sign your paycheck.
It’s All about the Benjamins 0
At The Roanoke Times, a doctor describes the latest attempt by Wall Street and insurance companies to milk money from Medicare for services not rendered.
Just read it.
Funny Money 0
It is a storied right-wing position to question “fiat currencies” and to yearn for a return to, say, the gold standard. And bitcoin and its imitators are the ultimate in fiat currency. Yet right-wingers seem fascinated with bitcoin, as Paul Krugman notes:
So what’s that about?
Follow the link for his theory.
A Picture Is Worth, Facebook Frolics Dept. 0
Don’t believe me? See for yourself.
It’s All about the Algorithm 0
At Psychology Today Blogs, Arthur Dobrin explains that algorithms are amoral. Here’ are his key point; follow the link for his reasoning.
- Machines making decisions has become commonplace.
- The choices machines make reflect the biases and values of the programmers.
- Morality is too complex to be solves by an algorithm.
- Machines can’t be any more moral than the people who program them.
Aside:
Methinks the last point goes a long way to explaining why “social” media isn’t.
Know Them by the Company They Keep 0
The Arizona Republic’s E. J. Montini points out that Arizona’s Governor does not shy away from shysters.
“What You Don’t Know Can’t Hurt Us” 0
Will Bunch explores Republicans’ war on public education. A snippet:
Follow the link for his reasoning.
The Disinformation Superhighway 0
I think I have noted before that I regularly turn off “autoplay” in Youtube because I don’t want Youtube’s algorithm making choices for me, and Youtube turns it back on when I’m not looking.
And around and around we go.