Wednesday, April 23, 2014

We're Number -- 16?

Americans are still number one in one thing -- our capacity for denial and disbelief.  That we may be the most superstitious nation amongst the worlds 'developed' countries makes it all the stranger, but about half us of seem to believe that in the beginning there was something other than the expansion of the universe from an infinitesimal singularity and more of us angrily assert that only our God can change the weather. We're as likely to hold to a superstitious idea of our place in the community of nations as our place in the cosmos.  To very many Americans not only is the universe about Man, the Earth and its history is about the United States of America.

Michael Porter appeared on Fareed Zacharia's GPS the other day.  That's the Michael Porter who is a professor at the Harvard Business School and Director at the Institute for Strategy and Competitiveness, and as Zacharia introduced him:

"a hard core capitalist, a registered Republican.  He is said to be the most cited scholar in economics and business in the world." 

Porter will inevitably be dismissed as a Liberal and probably as a Socialist simply because there is no other way to explain away the results of “The Social Progress Index”, a new report that ranks countries on how well their citizens live.  We're number 16, far too low on the scale for there to be a descriptive hand gesture.  Of course he's anything but a Liberal whereas the countries at the top of  the heap; the countries where people live the best, the longest, the healthiest and perhaps the happiest seem to be just that.  Is it too much of a stretch to look for a correlation between hide bound commitment to unfettered, unrestrained, unregulated Capitalism with massive political power and nearly full 'personhood' for corporations with a quality of life and level of opportunity that barely rivals Iraq and puts us at number 70 in terms of health and wellness?  Where does that put those who snark and mock and snicker and make up lies about Canada and it's "Socialist" health care sucking the life out of their economy when we're told the Canadian Middle class is expanding as ours is shrinking and that middle class Canadians are richer then we are?  It puts us in a locked room, sucking our thumbs, listening to Fox News and whining.

Perhaps if we weren't number one in self delusion and gullibility there might be some major changes coming in short order, but we are and there probably aren't going to be. In our own minds, if I can use that term without irony, we're always number one.

16 comments:

  1. boy&howdy....I am number....87-349-3450-3409. Heaven has a waiting list....and God told me he wont let me in until I was my face. I wish America would get off this 'we is the bestest' stuff. I mean, I think it is a pretty dandy place and all....but if we were so so so good...how come Mexican Food is so popular? And everyone likes French Toast...and Polish Sausage....and Italian Bread....and Swedish Meatballs, and Russian Dressing?

    something to think about. Like, dig it, who goes out for 'Minnesotan Cuisine"??? Ponder that one.

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    Replies
    1. In Minnesota, I wouldn't go out at all, most of the year. Not even to get some McLutefisk.

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    2. McLutefisk.????? why gosh, it is the Lenten special! Did you live there?

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    3. Spent a few days there one winter. Seemed like a long time.

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    4. Capt. Ha...a few days in MinnieToesa...is like waiting for a bus....three hours early. It is forever

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  2. George Orwell was right. Some animals ARE more equal than others – or at least they think they are. Witness the headlines this morning:

    Tech millionaire beats girlfriend 117 times and ducks jail despite damning video

    Veterans languish and die after placement on secret VA wait list

    Koch group misleads voters

    White supremacists hide racist notes in Easter eggs

    And finally this one:

    FCC backs fast lanes for web traffic:

    The Federal Communications Commission said on Wednesday that it would propose new rules that allow companies like Disney, Google or Netflix to pay Internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon for special, faster lanes to send video and other content to their customers.

    The proposed changes would affect what is known as net neutrality — the idea that no providers of legal Internet content should face discrimination in providing offerings to consumers, and that users should have equal access to see any legal content they choose.

    (Skip)

    Consumer groups immediately attacked the proposal, saying that not only would costs rise, but also that big, rich companies with the money to pay large fees to Internet service providers would be favored over small start-ups with innovative business models — stifling the birth of the next Facebook or Twitter
    .”

    Ah yes. Chicanery and corruption: The perennial default condition of the human species. At least post-troglodytes have their limits. They will never become so obese to a point beyond which the force of gravity takes over and reduces them to a Black Hole. No one will steal your light, Captain.

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  3. Capitalism tends toward monopoly and to concentrate ever more in ever fewer hands, but I have a feeling so does any other economic system, humans being what they are. Chicanery and corruption and greed are urges as natural as hunger and lust. That's one of the reasons we have government -- so guess why we're taught to hate government.

    I have to think that anyone still hoping for a bright future for humankind is fooling himself.

    But you know, if there were a special no speed limit lane for cars I would be happy to pay for it. Who said I wasn't human?

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  4. No speed limit lanes? But, but, but, Captain! You're not advocating race-ism, are you?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used to be a racist, but NASCAR sucks....and like other racists...go fast and end up where youj started from and they call that 'winning'??????

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  5. How can I be number 1 if there's no race?

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  6. gotz me a thinkin, wasn't they a jaw bonin bouts how bad things was bad back in them thar ancient daze wit socratees?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course. Somebody is always complaining, but in fact things were pretty horrible. Still Sock-rates wuz framed.

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    2. yessiree, isa heard that thar tail whenz isa were jusa youngin.

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    3. Well, I went to high school with the dude, but I was a year older.

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  7. It is the responsibilty of the war criminal bush and the plutocrats. When it really isn't their fault... it still is.

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  8. Bush did more than his share in dragging us down, but we elected him twice and defend him still. Stupid is a stupid does.

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