Some big political event going on in DC today has people all riled up. Me, I’ve got a more cynical take. We’re getting a new politician. And while he says some things that make people squee, my expectation is that just like almost anyone else who spends a significant amount of time in the fever swamps, he will not be spared by the corrupting influence.
And I think the cynicism is pretty justified. Look at Keith Ellison, our local savior who was going to make Washington a better place. He’s already being accused of being a sell-out. That’s not to say I completely agree with Ron Paul, either. Dr. Paul seems to believe in a non-violence principle. Me, I’m more for a zero aggression principle. Agression, or starting violence, is wrong. Finishing it, on the other hand…
- As Matt Ridley points out, we make technological advances because people trust each other (which makes specialization possible). And there are three classes of people who screw up that trust: Chiefs, Thieves, and Priests. The savior that people see heading triumphantly to Washington today wants to be a chief, and that makes him immediately suspect in my book.
- Joey posted about A Question Worth Pondering. My answer? Yes, I’m better off now. [accordionguy]
- The Buffalo Beast presents The Beast 50 Most Loathsome People In America, 2008. I don’t entirely agree with the list, but I can’t find a lot to argue about, either. [boing boing]
- In local (and somewhat stale) news, Star Tribune files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This coincided with someone sending me a note about Buy A Newspaper Day which I initially took to mean buying more than just a single issue. [sportsshooter]
- Finally, here’s a fine article on How the city hurts your brain. [scalzi].