Slipping Away

The country we knew from the 50's is slipping away from the Republicans and they don't like it. Laura is leading the charge today. We're finally getting down to basics, aren't we?

Developing

The latest Republican mantra is that "facts develop." In other words, you lie and you lie and you lie until eventually you have to acknowledge the facts. Hard to believe it's come to this.

Roping Trump In

Give a man enough rope and he'll hang himself. Et tu, Trump?

American Political Thought

Emerson and Individualism

Posted on September 4, 2016by schesser2

In his essay “Self Reliance,” Ralph Waldo Emerson revealed his opinions on the importance of individualism as it pertains to the happiness of oneself, as well as the importance of upholding an individualistic identity in society. Emerson encourages his readers to live their lives with courage, bravery, and inconsistency,  while paying no attention to antagonists who try to influence their actions and decisions based off of societal constraints. Emerson believes that individual choices and actions all benefit society in a greater way than conformed choices and actions.

One of my favorite quotes by Emerson states,“It is the harder because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” Emerson uses his essay as a platform to encourage individualistic choices, desires, and endeavors among each person, regardless of the influence others try to hold over them. Emerson believes that conforming to opinions upheld by people and society as a whole, is easier than standing alone or resisting societal constraints.

Overall, I agree with Emerson’s stance on individualism in society. If no one challenged the ideas and actions of others, society and the lives of individuals would lack diversity and excitement. Today, it is easy to make decisions based off of the approval of peers, family, and even strangers with whom we may have little to no interaction with at all. It’s very easy for someone to go against their internal will and live their life in a way they are not 100% satisfied because they believe conformity will result in instant approval from others. There will always be people who claim they know what’s best for our well-being and try to convince us to abide by their beliefs and rules. Emerson ultimately believes that greatness can be determined by one’s ability to remain individualistic in a crowd of conformists because it can be seen as very challenging.

Emerson’s quote, for me, is very applicable to my everyday life. Specifically at this point in time, it is very important for myself to remain confident in my own ideas and decisions regardless of what I am being told by people around me. Choosing my own path education wise, considering possible careers that interest only me, and pursuing what makes me happy outside of work and school are a few factors that contribute to my individualism. It could be very easy for me to base my daily decisions or future plans off of what will please my family or impress my friends, but I am determined to put my interests and goals first. Being an individual in a group that only continues to conform may be challenging at times, but crucial when it comes to maintaining your individualistic self and all of the things that make someone unique. 

The Evidence

The evidence that Russia meddled in the election to put Trump in office is abundant. The evidence that they continue to meddle toward the next election is clear. The evidence that the POTUS is practicing classic fascist techniques is obvious like attacking the free press, likely to incite violence, and attacking the most vulnerable members of our society. The evidence that he lies without end is plentiful. That he is damaging our democracy with the full support of his party, weakening the economic safety net and undoing environmental standards is plain. That he seems to only to care about himself. Now we are moving to crazy and bizarre conspiracies. It is only going to get worse. Some days I feel like listening to Barry McGuire and "The Eve of Destruction." Enough said.

Are They?

Are the cops giving out promotions to those who shoot unarmed black men? Sometimes I wonder.

Susan Jacoby - The Age of American Unreason in a Culture of Lies - (Book Review)

This book dealing with our age of unreason, untruth, a factless world, takes more of an historical view as opposed to the last book written by a book reviewer referencing books.  How long will the "post truth world" last?

The author references Hofstadter, pointing out that Trump is not unique in American history.  What is unique about Trump is his use of modern media techniques and his uniqueness with nonstop lying and getting away with it.  Also he is the first President with no experience in government or the military.  Otherwise he combines racism, economic resentment, and anti-intellectualism  that is in no way unprecedented.  He is the best reaching the lowest common denominator.

On not using the word "folks" instead of people.  P. 3

Uniting thought and action.  P. 39

The author has a chapter on "blaming the 60's."  Some conservatives blame that decade for everything they find wrong today.  This is an exaggeration.  When we talk about the 60's we actually mean the latter half of the decade even after acknowledging the traumatic assassination of Kennedy in 1963.  Campus disruptions were not as pervasive as they seemed at the time, and the roots of a conservative revival are easily seen today.

Social Darwinism was a function of the late 19th Century intelligentsia with people like Sumner and Spencer.  It's hard for me to understand the influence of Herbert Spencer.  P. 62

Sumner advocated what we would now call trickle down economics.  P. 73

William Jennings Bryan is perhaps one of a kind in American history: anti-intellectual but liberal economically.  P. 83

The author seems to have a positive view of "middlebrow culture."  P. 105

We live ink a culture of distraction.  P. 244

Schlesinger on national stupidity.  P. 320