"To be is to do - Socrates
To do is to be - Sartre
Do Be Do Be Do - Sinatra"
:-)
A quick review: three main points.
1. The industrial age has ended and the Internet age has begun.
2. The end of factory work, and the rise of global communications, has changed the way society works.
3. The chaos will not last forever. All we can do is to deal with it and try to survive.
A quick review: three main points.
1. The industrial age has ended and the Internet age has begun.
2. The end of factory work, and the rise of global communications, has changed the way society works.
3. The chaos will not last forever. All we can do is to deal with it and try to survive.
Knebel is a good storyteller and an excellent writer. This tail of a popular president whose staff perceives that he is slowly losing his mind was published prior to the creation of the 25th Amendment, and seems even more appropriate today because of that. www.amazon.com/Night-Camp-D...
Knebel is a good storyteller and an excellent writer. This tail of a popular president whose staff perceives that he is slowly losing his mind was published prior to the creation of the 25th Amendment, and seems even more appropriate today because of that. www.amazon.com/Night-Camp-D...
The rural/urban divide, the rise of Big Tech, the widespread use of automation – all of these blend together in a complicated dance as our society, its politics and its economy move into the Internet Age. Our current problems are reflection of this.
The rural/urban divide, the rise of Big Tech, the widespread use of automation – all of these blend together in a complicated dance as our society, its politics and its economy move into the Internet Age. Our current problems are reflection of this.
American advertising abounds with rural scenes - likely a reflection of the longing that many city dwellers have for the "country". And with the rise of telecommuting it has become possible to live in a rural area and work anywhere. So possibly the tide is beginning to turn.
American advertising abounds with rural scenes - likely a reflection of the longing that many city dwellers have for the "country". And with the rise of telecommuting it has become possible to live in a rural area and work anywhere. So possibly the tide is beginning to turn.
Empty has its charms. The air is clean, the water pure, the streets are quiet, you can see the stars at night, and there are deer wandering through your backyard. But emptiness provides few services, and has no economy to speak of.
Empty has its charms. The air is clean, the water pure, the streets are quiet, you can see the stars at night, and there are deer wandering through your backyard. But emptiness provides few services, and has no economy to speak of.
It's worth repeating. Over 80% of all Americans live in the urbs and suburbs. The other 20% are spread out across the rest of the country. This makes most of America essentially empty.
It's worth repeating. Over 80% of all Americans live in the urbs and suburbs. The other 20% are spread out across the rest of the country. This makes most of America essentially empty.
The media keeps it's focus on Donald Trump, but it is the millions of unhappy Americans who support him who give him his power. Those millions, registered as Republicans, are generally older and live primarily in rural areas – while their Democratic opponents live primarily in cities.
The media keeps it's focus on Donald Trump, but it is the millions of unhappy Americans who support him who give him his power. Those millions, registered as Republicans, are generally older and live primarily in rural areas – while their Democratic opponents live primarily in cities.
The workers were mostly registered Democrats who voted as independents. When Donald Trump arrived and focused on the "swamp" in Washington, saying that he would fix it, the workers re-registered as Republicans an adopted "Make America Great Again" as their slogan.
The workers were mostly registered Democrats who voted as independents. When Donald Trump arrived and focused on the "swamp" in Washington, saying that he would fix it, the workers re-registered as Republicans an adopted "Make America Great Again" as their slogan.
Except for Pittsburgh and Detroit and one or two other cities, The industrial Midwest was a collection of small town factories. After the collapse, many people moved away, and the entire region became depressed and even more rural. The new urban politics had little use for it.
Except for Pittsburgh and Detroit and one or two other cities, The industrial Midwest was a collection of small town factories. After the collapse, many people moved away, and the entire region became depressed and even more rural. The new urban politics had little use for it.
If you were a 50 year-old former steel worker, who lost his job, his pension, and his house before becoming addicted to fentanyl and losing the rest of his savings – and the government did nothing to help, then you might be a little angry. This was the genesis of the group that became MAGA.
If you were a 50 year-old former steel worker, who lost his job, his pension, and his house before becoming addicted to fentanyl and losing the rest of his savings – and the government did nothing to help, then you might be a little angry. This was the genesis of the group that became MAGA.
The "Industrial Midwest" had been the center of the US economy and the envy of the world since the end of the Civil War. And now, in less than two decades, it was gone. The economy had moved on, and the factory workers had been replaced by automation and foreign labor.
The "Industrial Midwest" had been the center of the US economy and the envy of the world since the end of the Civil War. And now, in less than two decades, it was gone. The economy had moved on, and the factory workers had been replaced by automation and foreign labor.
The people involved were mostly blue-collar factory workers. They were not urban minorities, so the Democrats were not interested. They were not upper middle class business owners, so the Republicans were not interested. They were destitute and desperate, and they were ignored - until Trump.
The people involved were mostly blue-collar factory workers. They were not urban minorities, so the Democrats were not interested. They were not upper middle class business owners, so the Republicans were not interested. They were destitute and desperate, and they were ignored - until Trump.
In an area including Western Pennsylvania, most of Ohio, and parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, hundreds of factories whose business had been the processing of steel closed down. The local economies collapsed, but no one seemed to notice, and the government offered no assistance.
In an area including Western Pennsylvania, most of Ohio, and parts of Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, hundreds of factories whose business had been the processing of steel closed down. The local economies collapsed, but no one seemed to notice, and the government offered no assistance.
In the late 1980s, buffeted by recession after failing to innovate, many steel mills in the Pittsburgh area ceased operations. 150,000 workers lost their jobs. Steel had been the primary driver of American industry, and the side effects of the closures were staggering.
In the late 1980s, buffeted by recession after failing to innovate, many steel mills in the Pittsburgh area ceased operations. 150,000 workers lost their jobs. Steel had been the primary driver of American industry, and the side effects of the closures were staggering.
We have come to depend on a hierarchically organized central government to provide us with any number of services, but the efficiency of this approach is now in question. (The average age of a US senator is 64 years, so it is likely the change will be slow in coming. Stay tuned.)
We have come to depend on a hierarchically organized central government to provide us with any number of services, but the efficiency of this approach is now in question. (The average age of a US senator is 64 years, so it is likely the change will be slow in coming. Stay tuned.)
This Just Security article outlines the legal situation with regard to the US action in Venezuela.
www.justsecurity.org/127981/inter...
This Just Security article outlines the legal situation with regard to the US action in Venezuela.
www.justsecurity.org/127981/inter...
What is it called when you take over another nation and claim their natural resources for yourself? Colonialism? Are we an empire now?
What is it called when you take over another nation and claim their natural resources for yourself? Colonialism? Are we an empire now?
CHRNCL is devoted to analysis of the social systems that brought our culture to its present day. POLITX will be a thread devoted to the current political situation. It should be noted that I am not virulently anti-Trump, but I am strongly pro-democracy, and I worry about where we are headed.
CHRNCL is devoted to analysis of the social systems that brought our culture to its present day. POLITX will be a thread devoted to the current political situation. It should be noted that I am not virulently anti-Trump, but I am strongly pro-democracy, and I worry about where we are headed.
Because it was created during the industrial age, our government is designed as a hierarchy. The President issues commands which travel down the hierarchy to government workers. Congress and the Supreme Court both work at the top level in conjunction with the President's commands.
Because it was created during the industrial age, our government is designed as a hierarchy. The President issues commands which travel down the hierarchy to government workers. Congress and the Supreme Court both work at the top level in conjunction with the President's commands.
Corporations are changing from hierarchies into networks. Telecommuting moves employees from the corporate center, but connects them via the net. Internally, employees may be members of work groups that are cross connected and not hierarchical at all. Such complexity increases flexibility.
Corporations are changing from hierarchies into networks. Telecommuting moves employees from the corporate center, but connects them via the net. Internally, employees may be members of work groups that are cross connected and not hierarchical at all. Such complexity increases flexibility.
Families are already showing this change. In 1800 you could find three generations living on a single farm. Today, children move away, often far away, as soon as they become adult adults. But the family remains connected via the Internet.
Families are already showing this change. In 1800 you could find three generations living on a single farm. Today, children move away, often far away, as soon as they become adult adults. But the family remains connected via the Internet.
But the Internet links people directly to one another. Individuals can work on many projects at once, thus taking on many roles at the same time. This breaks down the hierarchy; replacing it with an interconnected network - the "networked" society brings change at every level.
But the Internet links people directly to one another. Individuals can work on many projects at once, thus taking on many roles at the same time. This breaks down the hierarchy; replacing it with an interconnected network - the "networked" society brings change at every level.
Every organization in a hierarchical society is also a hierarchy. Every business had people in low level roles who reported to people in higher level roles and an executive at the top. Families were organized as a male and female roles with the male as the higher level manager. And so on.
Every organization in a hierarchical society is also a hierarchy. Every business had people in low level roles who reported to people in higher level roles and an executive at the top. Families were organized as a male and female roles with the male as the higher level manager. And so on.