Off- T, but Cornwell has TWO Sharpe books out this year. One I missed in April (but have now) and another to be released in October. That's exciting yet worrisome.
Obligatory response for your amusement and consternation (;-)) :
Why is it that when people opposed corrupt and incompetent politicans from doing a thing, it's presumed we want the thing not to be done? In the US we had education before the Department of Education -- and it was manifestly superior to what is turned out today in terms of quality and depth. It also focused on teaching kids, not propagandizing them into the fad of the hour, like transmania or oikophobia. I shudder at some of the eight-grade exams I've seen from the early 20th century: they were actual challenges. Children used to read Shakespeare -- now university studies have to take full terms of remedial courses. We had affordable healthcare -- people used to buy into self-support organisations that offered insurance to their members. The history of government progress in the 20th century -- with some exeptions like the Clean Air/Clean Water act -- is one of the government assuming functions of society, doing them poorly, and then acting like people are terrorists if they suggest that we try a new approach.
Mafia dons also used to offer protection and act like they were doing you a favor. The State is just a mob with a P.R. department. ;-)
We have a similar problem in Germany at the moment. The conservatives had the power for 16 years (even longer when you imagine that there was only stint of four years after another 20 year conservative government) and there is a guy of Trumpian dimensions who blames "the Green party" for everything they themselves started. Also, the Greens are not the only ones in the government, they have to compromise a lot but it's easier to blame them than their own failed politics.
@ Stephen: He's definitely on a roll... I wonder, now he's 80, that he wants to get them out there ASAP?
Sure, some politicians are corrupt/incompetent, but not ALL of them are. I doubt *very* much that education anywhere was materially 'better' (whoever you define that) in the 19th century than in the 21st. Likewise healthcare was probably affordable 100+ years ago... but that doesn't say very much. I'm guessing (without actually doing the Math) that healthcare that cuts out the insurance company middle-man would probably be a LOT cheaper - or at worse no more expensive - that a State provided one paid through taxation.
I wonder if its possible to change either of our minds about Government? Could be a 'fun' lifetimes project! I guess it'd be something like getting someone to change their mind about their religion [muses].
@ Marianne:
Although I hate to admit it, the English do tend to vote in Tory governments over LONG periods of our history. You can see why they think of themselves as the natural governing party - probably because historically/statistically they are. The Greens did 'well' here this time - in that they now have 4 seats instead of 1. Interestingly, Reform got 5 seats but had double the vote of the Greens... As you say, its easy blaming other people for Tory failed policies.
Not just the English. You have that in common with us. Since 1949, we've had the conservatives (Christians, ha!) ruling except for 74 to 82 (eight years) and 98 to 2005 (seven years) and now since 21. But the conservatives make such a fuss (at Trumpian level) and also help the ultra-right that I am sure we will have a new government next time. grrr
Yep. But you can't fix stupid, unfortunately. If we could, we would not have had trump for four years, and the threat of him again. The Dems might also have a viable candidate if that was the case, too.
5 comments:
Off- T, but Cornwell has TWO Sharpe books out this year. One I missed in April (but have now) and another to be released in October. That's exciting yet worrisome.
Obligatory response for your amusement and consternation (;-)) :
Why is it that when people opposed corrupt and incompetent politicans from doing a thing, it's presumed we want the thing not to be done? In the US we had education before the Department of Education -- and it was manifestly superior to what is turned out today in terms of quality and depth. It also focused on teaching kids, not propagandizing them into the fad of the hour, like transmania or oikophobia. I shudder at some of the eight-grade exams I've seen from the early 20th century: they were actual challenges. Children used to read Shakespeare -- now university studies have to take full terms of remedial courses. We had affordable healthcare -- people used to buy into self-support organisations that offered insurance to their members. The history of government progress in the 20th century -- with some exeptions like the Clean Air/Clean Water act -- is one of the government assuming functions of society, doing them poorly, and then acting like people are terrorists if they suggest that we try a new approach.
Mafia dons also used to offer protection and act like they were doing you a favor. The State is just a mob with a P.R. department. ;-)
We have a similar problem in Germany at the moment. The conservatives had the power for 16 years (even longer when you imagine that there was only stint of four years after another 20 year conservative government) and there is a guy of Trumpian dimensions who blames "the Green party" for everything they themselves started. Also, the Greens are not the only ones in the government, they have to compromise a lot but it's easier to blame them than their own failed politics.
@ Stephen: He's definitely on a roll... I wonder, now he's 80, that he wants to get them out there ASAP?
Sure, some politicians are corrupt/incompetent, but not ALL of them are. I doubt *very* much that education anywhere was materially 'better' (whoever you define that) in the 19th century than in the 21st. Likewise healthcare was probably affordable 100+ years ago... but that doesn't say very much. I'm guessing (without actually doing the Math) that healthcare that cuts out the insurance company middle-man would probably be a LOT cheaper - or at worse no more expensive - that a State provided one paid through taxation.
I wonder if its possible to change either of our minds about Government? Could be a 'fun' lifetimes project! I guess it'd be something like getting someone to change their mind about their religion [muses].
@ Marianne:
Although I hate to admit it, the English do tend to vote in Tory governments over LONG periods of our history. You can see why they think of themselves as the natural governing party - probably because historically/statistically they are. The Greens did 'well' here this time - in that they now have 4 seats instead of 1. Interestingly, Reform got 5 seats but had double the vote of the Greens... As you say, its easy blaming other people for Tory failed policies.
Not just the English. You have that in common with us. Since 1949, we've had the conservatives (Christians, ha!) ruling except for 74 to 82 (eight years) and 98 to 2005 (seven years) and now since 21. But the conservatives make such a fuss (at Trumpian level) and also help the ultra-right that I am sure we will have a new government next time. grrr
Yep. But you can't fix stupid, unfortunately. If we could, we would not have had trump for four years, and the threat of him again. The Dems might also have a viable candidate if that was the case, too.
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