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Born at the Crest of the Empire

Friday, September 04, 2009

No public voice questions the premise that Congresspeople's first priority should be holding onto their jobs above all else.
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Random, unrelated thoughts:

Compare this US news Jobless rate rises to 26-year high with this Canadian news Canada gains 27,100 jobs in August

Now, I'm not reading too much into these headlines. But my point is that I think the American culture -- steeped in self-delusion, greed and fear rather than pragmatism -- actually makes recovery more difficult. Much as it makes making smart social policy difficult.

By -epm, at 1:40 PM
I sorta get that argument.

On the other hand, our complete lack of history, even recent history, means that we forget our fear faster than anyone else.

By mikevotes, at 1:52 PM
But there's an ingrained visceral "American" fear of real change, despite the results of the 2008 election. Change means someone else changes, not that we personally make changes.

There's also the small but violently activist segment of American culture that fears anything and everything outside their own immediate racial/religious/political group of ditto-heads.

By -epm, at 2:45 PM
Interesting. I've often wondered what it is that makes the most powerful nation on earth so fearful.

By Anonymous, at 4:15 PM
EPM, I think "american" in quotes is right on. It's a white fear of change.

They're not Archie Bunker, but they're the Archie Bunkers' of our times.

....

Anon, it's brown people.... and gays.

By mikevotes, at 5:27 PM