Political Theatre category archive
The Vacuum 0
At the Portland Oregonian, Steve Duin muses on the many differences between a true wartime leader and the wannabe. A nugget:
Because Trump lacks focus and empathy, the White House briefings invariably take a mean and sullen turn. At the onset, we are on common ground, seeking reassurance and precious honesty about the battle at hand.
After a maddeningly robotic opening, the president abandons us. He has scores to settle, ratings to celebrate, snake oil to sell. Trump is never more animated and aggressive than when he wanders off script to belittle reporters, belabor grudges, brag about mythical travel restrictions, or highlight the corruption – unsubstantiated, of course – in vote-by-mail.
Lowering the Barr 0
And the Barr is already pretty damn low.
The Disinformation Superhighway 0
Trudy Rubin advises us to vet our sources carefully in these viral times.
“It’s Every Man for Himself” 0
Dylan Selterman argues forcefully that the disparate reactions to the coronavirus that have filled the news–hoarding food and supplies, purposefully defying “social distancing,” emphasize ‘the tragedy of the commons,” which he defines as follows:
(snip)
But when too many people focus on maximizing their own outcomes, then essential resources become depleted and society suffers.
This is an era when one of our two major political parties no longer believes in the common good.
The Privatization Scam 0
Scott Maxwell tells the tale of a highway project in Orlando, Florida, in which it looks as if the primary thing being privatized is the public’s money. Here’s a bit:
It turns out they’re doing neither.
Part of the project is already a year behind schedule. Five workers have been killed. More than 1,000 drivers and property owners have filed claims for everything from misplaced barrels to chunks of concrete that fell through windshields.
And now there are $125 million in overruns — with no guarantee there won’t be more.
Overfill 2
Brad Stennerson argues that there’s such a thing as too much television news and offers advice on how to dial it back.
A snippet; follow the link for the rest:
Shoot for the minimum necessary news. Not a second more.
Obviously, that’s not what the networks want. They want you transfixed by the screen, eyes wide with terror, heart fluttering with every overly-Midwestern pronunciation of every unnerving word.
My own opinion is that any television news is too much television news (unless there are nice pictures of a snow storm to look at). Television reporting manages to be both overblown and superficial at the same time.
Why spend half an hour watching someone talk about something when you learn more in greater depth in five minutes of reading?
Under Cover of Coronavirus 0
While news of the coronavirus is grabbing everyone else’s attention, Will Bunch takes the time to look at what’s going on elsewhere. Here’s bit:
Follow the link to read why he wrote that passage.
