6 Responses to “WELCOME”

1. Robert says:

   February 23, 2010 at 6:48 pm

   thoughtful intro and article. the quote from Ronnie Babie’s quote reminds me of the, let them into your schools and pretty soon they’ll be in your bedrooms thinking.
2. Dan Altemus says:

   April 20, 2010 at 5:15 pm

   Very thoughtful article that attempts to flesh out some of the implications of the sound-bite rants that get all the attention. Thought the use of the Korean experience was an excellent example of the concurrent need for both individual effort as well group collaboration. While I agree that the state of techno-world allows for, if not promotes, individual self-determination, the reality is that such individualism cannot prosper without a community framework within which to function. Moreover, I think the historical record of mankind establishes that humans, as a species, have prospered and advanced by virtue of communal, rather than individual, efforts. While individual efforts may often stand-out from lower common denominator of the “group”, they would not be possible without the support of the “community”, which, in one form or another, be subject to governance.
3. admin says:

   July 27, 2010 at 6:22 pm

   Thanks for your generous comments and for setting up a link,
4. Robert says:

   January 24, 2011 at 7:14 pm

   01/24/2011
   My initial thought was why dignify the rants of a drug using reactionary extremist through blogs that focus more attention on those rants? I’ve never read or heard his radio program and the reading of this blog will not change this position. However, in the same way that it is possible to judge the culture and climate of a corporation by examining the humor directed toward the CEO it is likely possible to judge the culture and climate of some very scary people by considering the extremities of its Limbaugh” Becks, Palins, etc. When thoughtful and liberal people take these comments so seriously they consider “moving toward the center” there is really a movement to the right. I don’t think that Liberals are about to move toward the center and embrace this distorted suggestion for constitutional reform, amendment or judicial interpretation but I do know that what were once Republican right wing ideas are now considered centrist positions. So, oldmanonthe street, be my selective monitor and continue the very important function of keeping me from becoming complacent in this society,
5. Dan Altemus says:

   August 1, 2011 at 6:19 pm

   Hi Robert,

   Finally got a chance to sit down yesterday and read your well-researched piece regarding right-wing rumblings about a states’ right movement. I must admit that I was unaware of the number of groups and actions that have been initiated towards that end. The ALEC group seems particularly well-organized. In many ways, however, I think you provided the antidote to your concerns. That is, when played out to its logical conclusion, the “movement” has no clothes. In some ways it is slightly analogous to your observations in an earlier posting that addressed the idea of individual vs. collective action. The States’ rights advocates operate within a system of tolerance that does not discourage a smorgasbord of ideas, however abhorrent some may be. While there will always be a small percentage of ideologues who genuinely believe the federal government is the root of all evil, my sense is that there are just as many, and probably many more, who espouse such thoughts without any regard to the consequence of their hopes (“be careful what you wish for, it may come true”) and who would quickly slink away from the reality of such a situation. Unfortunately, although perhaps therapeutically, I suspect we may soon get a glimpse of this phenomenon in course of the current idea de jour of politicians that deficits must slashed at any cost. I am sure there will be more than a few Tea Party advocates who will be astonished and dismayed at diminished federal services that they either took for granted or never even realized they benefited from.
   While I believe that the current economy is perhaps most responsible for the general surliness of the American public, and hence their unhappiness with all things government, the States’ Rights advocates are using that discontent to present an option that sounds appealing, on one level to some folks, but really does not exist. The American “exceptionalism” that they are so quick to claim is being undermined by the powers that be in DC would not be possible if we were but a fractional group of fifty little sovereign states all looking out for their own self-interests.
   In conclusioin, while it is exasperating and occasionally disheartening to listen to the States’ rights folks, I am reasonably confident that they will never evolve beyond “fringe-group” status, even if some manage to get elected to legislative positions.
   As a quick aside, I would recommend Jon Meachem’s book on Andrew Jackson for a historical perspective on how the concept of “nullification” played out in the 1830’s (and which of course ultimately led to the Civil War 25 tears later)
6. Robert says:

   October 25, 2011 at 9:56 pm

   Much has recently been made of the similarities (???) between the teapublicans and OWS. Your most recent blog is a sharp reminder that the two have no common ground and, perhaps more importantly, the comparison points to the superficiality of the analysts. Yes your thoughts and projections are dark and hopefully will not come about. Yet, I too feel a deep forboding and have largely been absent from political reading and discussion. There are people whose positions are such that I choose to decline any discourse. Well, no one ever said that fighting the good fight; win. lose or draw, would be easy. The feeling is akin to the third law of thermodynamics redefined. That is, you can’t win, you can’t break even, and you can’t get out of the game. Perhaps that law is incorrect. Carry on old man. You’ve somewhat roused this old, but younger, man.