GOP's Playbook Deconstructed
Mon Jan 31, 2005 at 07:30:31 PM PDT
Thanks to Kos,
we have struck riches more plentiful and beautiful than any privatized Social Security account (not that that's hard to do).
A few gems from pages 22-23:
what makes it hard to see Bush prevailing is that there isn't a Democrat on Capitol Hill who is afraid to oppose him on this issue.
So, even the GOP thinks the Democrats can win this one. More...
Attention Canadians
Sat Jan 01, 2005 at 08:02:22 PM PDT
Today the Globe and Mail produced an editorial with the following dubious statement:
"...Washington's attempt to spread liberal democracy and free markets to Iraq..."
Only a snippet of the article is available online. But, if you get the G+M, I encourage you to read it (page A16) and write a response to Letters@GlobeAndMail.ca
Here's what I wrote:
In an otherwise excellent editorial, the line, "Washington's attempt to spread liberal democracy and free markets to Iraq" seems out of place. In the countries that you cited, Ukraine and Indonesia, democracy has bubbled up from the bottom, not been hammered down from the top. Indeed, if history tells us anything, it is that democracy and free markets only emerge when dictators and foreign-rulers are over-thrown by the people themselves. This should be no surprise to anyone in Washington, after all, their Constitution begins, "We the People..."
Newbie Nurturing
Fri Dec 31, 2004 at 02:34:58 PM PDT
I really enjoy dKos. The articles are interesting and the comments are generally well thought-out. Overall, it's a great on-line community that even accepts Canadians at par. I have a couple suggestions for how to nurture newbies so that they contribute positively and stick around.
First, it might be worth having some 'suggested readings'. This post on community norms would be good. I just read it now and it might have saved me some embarassment earlier (sorry Marie!). A link to Lakoff's model might help too. As well, some examples of well-written, highly recommended posts might be useful. Perhaps during the 7 days between sign up and being able to create diaries, instead of a blank diary page, the newbie could be offered a daily suggested link.
Guardian Morals
Wed Dec 29, 2004 at 07:05:31 PM PDT
This is the third in an on-going series about the ideas in Jane Jacobs' "Systems of Survival".
In Part 1, I summarized the basic premise of the book: there are two moral systems, Commercial and Guardian. I also offered the conclusion that
Government should not be run like a business.
Businesses should not be run by government.
In Part 2 I listed the totality of Commercial Morals. Each behaviour reinforces the others.
Now, I'll cover Guardian Morals. The military is the foremost example of an organization designed on Guardian Morals.
The morals are:
Firearms for Protection
Mon Dec 27, 2004 at 08:51:00 PM PDT
Very few people on the left have a problem with firearms for hunting. Aside from animal rights activists and over-anxious environmentalists, most of us are fine with hunting. If proper safety regulations are followed, hunting is no more dangerous than fishing.
Indeed, hunters and fishers are powerful allies in progressive causes: reducing pollution and keeping government out of your private life (abortion, same sex marriage).
However, firearms for protection is what many of us find problematic.
Commercial Morals
Sun Dec 26, 2004 at 08:02:57 PM PDT
What if you were to analyse newspaper articles over a 15 year period to determine what morals apply to people engaged in commercial activities such as business or applied science? What might you find?
This is exactly what Jane Jacobs did in writing "Systems of Survival". I've posted a summary of the concepts here: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/12/23/214021/92
Here are the elements of what she calls "Moral Syndrome A" or the "Commercial Syndrome":
- Shun force
- Come to voluntary agreements
- Be honest
More beneath the fold...
Care Bears vs. Dora the Explorer
Sun Dec 26, 2004 at 02:48:40 PM PDT
| 
|
| Do-Your-Best Bear | Dora and Boots |
Kids' TV can help explain Lakoff's frames. The Care Bears embody strict-father morality. Dora embodies the nuturing parent metaphor. But, in either case the heros are brave, caring and hard-working. So, how is this possible?
The difference lies in how their enemies are portrayed...
Systems of Survival
Thu Dec 23, 2004 at 06:40:21 PM PDT
The concept from Jane Jacob's "Systems of Survival" is that there are two and only two patterns of behaviour. The patterns (she calls syndromes) are symbiotic, but mutually exclusive. Picking and choosing behaviours from each results in corruption.
The syndromes are Guardian and Commercial.
Following her logic leads to the conclusions:
-government should not be run like a business
-businesses should not be run by governments
Wedge Issues
Wed Dec 22, 2004 at 07:31:20 PM PDT
The vast right wing conspiracy has figured out how to divide and conquer progressives through wedge issues such as same-sex marriage.
It is tempting to say that we are above this. It is tempting to write wedge issues off as dirty politics. But perhaps it is worth first exploring possible wedge issues that we could use.
Here are a sampling:
