Border Wall Update

[_Morley]

I think we're screwed. This article from the post explains it better than I could. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions ... rc404=true

TL/DR: the foundational problem we have is a habit of contempt.

And the head of our country is an infinite fountain of contempt. Our most recent medal of honor winner got famous by weaponizing contempt on a national scale. We have a whole section of media devoted to encouraging contempt. Hell, when was the last time we had a political discussion here without expression of outright contempt?

What chance does the ordinary guy or gal have? I feel like we're barreling toward a Rwanda, only with guns.

The author offers a solution. But, of course, its a prisoner's dilemma. And I see no evidence that, as a society, we are good at solving those.

Yeah. Screwed.

Thanks for sharing this, counselor.

I admit I was braced to dislike this piece (I hardly ever agree with
Brooks' reasoning and hate the way he misuses data), but here he makes a good point.

[_Res Ipsa]

I think we're screwed. This article from the post explains it better than I could. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions ... rc404=true

TL/DR: the foundational problem we have is a habit of contempt.

And the head of our country is an infinite fountain of contempt. Our most recent medal of honor winner got famous by weaponizing contempt on a national scale. We have a whole section of media devoted to encouraging contempt. Hell, when was the last time we had a political discussion here without expression of outright contempt?

What chance does the ordinary guy or gal have? I feel like we're barreling toward a Rwanda, only with guns.

The author offers a solution. But, of course, its a prisoner's dilemma. And I see no evidence that, as a society, we are good at solving those.

Yeah. Screwed.

Thanks for sharing this, counselor.

I admit I was braced to dislike this piece (I hardly ever agree with
Brooks' reasoning and hate his misuse of data), but here he makes a good point.

You're welcome. Is it possible that you are confusing Arthur Brooks with David Brooks?

[_Morley]

Thanks for sharing this, counselor.

I admit I was braced to dislike this piece (I hardly ever agree with
Brooks' reasoning and hate his misuse of data), but here he makes a good point.

You're welcome. Is it possible that you are confusing Arthur Brooks with David Brooks?

Nope. David Brooks is a well-reasoned center-right writer for the NYTimes. He stopped identifying as a Republican after some of Mr Trump's shenanigans, I believe. [I have to say 'Mr.,' because it's in the NYTimes stylesheet. Ha!] I try not to miss David Brooks whenever he has a column.

On the other hand, Arthur Brooks is a gentle conservative culture warrior who promotes religion, capitalism, and conservative beliefs as the way to happiness. He always seems a little disingenuous to me. If I remember, he gained real fame during the Bush years for a treatment about conservatives and charity-giving that was a little skewed. I could go about another of his books, but better not. Needless to say, he's written a lot. Some of it is okay.

Fast forward to the present day. The last thing I read by Brooks was an article in The Atlantic that talked about how intelligence is fluid among the young and crystallized when one gets older. He was now older, crystallized, and thus retiring from his job and going into teaching. His presentation of personal philosophy as psychology was irritating. I won't even talk about his idea that teaching needs a crystallized intellect instead of a fluid one. I admit this piece pushed a few too many buttons for me.

I'll shut up now.

On the plus side, Brooks does look the part of the French horn player that he always claims to be (and I don't doubt that he is). I like the French horn, so I'll give him that.

edit: Did I stay away from contempt?

[_Res Ipsa]

Thanks. I originally thought the author was David. I wasn’t aware of Arthur until I read this article. So I learned something.

Did you roll your eyes?

[_Morley]

Did you roll your eyes?

I almost spit my drink on the screen laughing at this.

God, I'm still laughing.

[_canpakes]

Michael Bloomberg approves of this message.