We talk a lot, during revolutions, about the power of the people. In my view, the people compare to muscles. If coordinated, they work together and make change in the world; if this coordination is not backed by a clear and realistic goal, the muscles wreak havoc like a flailing limb. During the Arab spring [...]
Posts from ‘October, 2011’
Destroying the silent majority
Throughout American history, two principles have stood in balance: “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” and the Silent Majority. In a democracy, those who command the most attention — whether media, social, fashion, personal or otherwise — define the issues. This is why most of our political discourse focuses on symbols, usually those related to [...]
The new order
Postmodern theorists talk about the difference between text, or public meaning, and subtext, or private (and usually actual) meaning. In politics, this means we say one thing to flatter the people around us into thinking we’re doing what is in their best interests, or what they have commanded us to do; in actually, what we [...]
Revolution or evolution
We normally think of time in BC/AD, but we should probably think instead in terms of before and after 1789. In that august year, our ancestors decided to shift to liberalism, which is a philosophy based upon the equality of all individuals. In other words, it’s wishful thinking made into policy. The revolution brought us [...]
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