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Enough Whining!
It seems to me that there are only three kinds of posts that get any traction around here right now: election fall-out posts, posts about how TPM is overloaded with election fall-out posts, and posts about nothing at all. So, in an effort to add substance to the discussion, I am now composing a substance-free post.
I agree with the contingent that would enjoy a more diverse set of topics, but I, unfortunately, am not well-enough informed on any of the topics I can think of to write a post about them. Instead, I'm writing a list of topics that I'm intrigued by and would like to see someone else write about. Please feel free to add your own suggestions, and, if something comes up that you're able to write about, I, at least, would love to hear what you have to say. Also, Desidero, please say you're still planning to write "something controversial about outsourcing and jobs." I'm looking forward to that one! Anyway, here are some other topic ideas:
* Mental health care, in the context of our current system and the Democratic proposals
* What's going on in Myanmar, and whether there's anything the US can do (policy, relief, diplomatic relations, whatever)
* How effective is commercial recycling?
* Energy-efficient housing
* Anything to do with religion in politics, especially faith-based organizations
* The internet and copyright
Comments (31)
I was wondering if you could force a country to receive aid? Anyone have any ideas about that?
May 9, 2008 1:13 AM | Reply | Permalink
I guess the same way you could force a country (or anyone)to do anything. Violence, threats, bribery. Obviously, violence isn't the answer. I don't know what kind of leverage we have over there. I suppose we could just go there and give it to them, but it seems someone would have thought of that so there must be an obstacle.
May 9, 2008 1:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Someone else pointed out that "Western" agencies often leave a mark behind when they arrive to give aid to a country with a different social and governmental organization. So perhaps there's a way to work around that and send relief?
May 9, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thank you for posting this. I hope some people take you up on it. I am not sure I am qualified to write a really good post on any of those topics. I would love to hear more about what Obama's proposal has to say about mental health care. I happen to work in that field, and know how important it is.
I have been upset the last few days at how little the media has covered Myanmar. I wonder about all the reasons for this, as it seems the death toll is comperable to the tsunami, but this time there has been so little media and general attention.
May 9, 2008 1:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
The media has saturated coverage of Myanmar. There are lots and lots of places the media never gets to.
A favorite of Noam Chomsky is East Timor.
In fact, if you even hear of a place, that means there is loads of coverage.
May 9, 2008 2:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're making assumptions about AM's information here, ct. I don't think that's quite fair. Plus, I'm sure that most people had heard of Myanmar/Burma before a natural disaster came along and gobbled up whole villages. It just wasn't common knowledge that Myanmar had a military government. But don't you think that, when something major happens and brings a topic to everyone's attention, it's worth exploring what the foreign policy situation is that region?
May 9, 2008 11:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
See my response below. Check box reply malfunction!
May 9, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I had heard of Myanmar. And could even have picked it out on a map. Not sure clearthinking implied that I hadn't, but if that is true, I am insulted. Kidding. I am more than guilty of knowing painfully little about Myanmar. It's true that I should not rely on the media to bombard me with painful images in order to get me to learn about a place. On the other hand, so far I haven't felt the media response has been proportional to the event. Maybe that will change as more information becomes availabe. Beyond the media coverage, I haven't heard people talking about it in general. I do think a lot of people don't think about events that don't seem to effect Americans.
May 9, 2008 8:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
FWIW, AM, I am also guilty of knowing painfully little about Myanmar.
May 9, 2008 9:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
It was worth a try, anyway. My lesson on crowd psychology from the last few posts I've tried is that people aren't inspired to respond unless you've got concrete opinion to go with your observations. My little attempts to throw a collaborative, brainstorming style into the fray never quite seem to work.
As far as the mental health services question, I'm only even aware of it now because one of my childhood friends has now gone completely bankrupt over mental illness.
May 9, 2008 11:00 AM | Reply | Permalink
The biggest thing I think is missing from the media coverage of Myanmar, compared with the tsunami, is the "what can I do?" part, and coverage of relief efforts, in general. And, actually, with the tsunami, it wasn't just the traditional news media, either. Seemed like every commercial website also had a "what to help people in Asia? Donate!" button. Since this situation is different, and there isn't an easy way to contribute, it feels like much less media coverage.
May 9, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
CAPaige,
Recommended just to encourage you.
Here are some items that people should look at. Sometimes they will challenge you from the right...and sometimes from the left. There is plenty to think about here. So feel free to read or watch. You won't necessarily learn, but you will think!
As presents, consider these "wrapped" so you can simply explore and decide what the point of view is yourself. The books / DVDs are available on Amazon...
Websites:
http://www.chomsky.info/
http://www.theoildrum.com/
http://www.kunstler.com/
DVDs:
THE CORPORATION
http://www.amazon.com/Corporation-Ray-Anderson-II/dp/B0007DBJM8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1210313476&sr=8-1
WHY WE FIGHT
http://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Fight-John-McCain/dp/B000FBH3W2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1210313497&sr=1-1
THE FOG OF WAR
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001L3LUE/ref=pd_cp_d_2?pf_rd_p=316286001&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000FBH3W2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=163ZEGARJTH5FFP1106N
ENRON: SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001L3LUE/ref=pd_cp_d_2?pf_rd_p=316286001&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000FBH3W2&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=163ZEGARJTH5FFP1106N
NO END IN SIGHT
http://www.amazon.com/No-End-Sight-Campbell-Scott/dp/B000U6YJMO/ref=pd_sim_d_title_5
CONTROL ROOM
http://www.amazon.com/Control-Room-Samir-Khader/dp/B0002X8U4I/ref=pd_sim_d_title_1
OUTFOXED
http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/14920-outfoxed-part-1-of-14-parts
YOU CAN'T BE NEUTRAL ON A MOVING TRAIN
http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Zinn-Neutral-Moving-Train/dp/B0007TKOSC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1210314066&sr=1-1
MANUFACTURING OF CONSENT
http://www.amazon.com/Howard-Zinn-Neutral-Moving-Train/dp/B0007TKOSC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1210314066&sr=1-1
BOOKS
AMERICAN THEOCRACY - Kevin Phillips
BAD MONEY - Kevin Phillips
THE LONG EMERGENCY - James Kunstler
OVERSHOOT - Wiliam Catton
THE SELFISH GENE - Richard Dawkins
CONSILIENCE - E.O. Wilson
GENIUS - James Gleick
GUNS, GERMS, AND STEEL - Jared Diamond
May 9, 2008 2:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
More:
Books:
MASTER OF THE SENATE -- Robert Caro
PROMPT AND UTTER DESTRUCTION -- JS Walker
THE WARS OF WATERGATE -- Stanley I. Kutler
ABRAHAM LINCOLN: HIS SPEECHES AND WRITING -- Roy Basler
PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF US GRANT -- US Grant
PERSONAL MEMOIRS OF WILLIAM T SHERMAN -- William T. Sherman
WAR AS I KNEW IT -- George S. Patton
ART OF WAR -- Sun Tzu
BUCK UP AND SUCK UP -- James Carville and Paul Begala
CAR TALK -- Tom Magliozzi and Ray Magliozzi
THE MAN WHO RAN THE MOON -- Piers Bizony
LIES MY TEACHER TAUGHT ME -- James W. Loewen
NO ORDINARY GENIUS -- Richard Feynman
WHAT IS LIFE -- Erwin Schrodinger
IDEAS AND OPINIONS -- Albert Einstein
THIS IS ORSON WELLES -- Orson Welles
May 9, 2008 3:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
Funny. I was trying to start a general what-else-is-there-to-talk-about thread. Instead, I got the recommended reading list. Which is still cool. Goes to show you can't predict where you people will take a topic.
Makes me wonder, though, that sort of information would be more useful as (comparatively) static content. At least, it's not time-sensitive in the same way much of the cafe content is. So what if TPM added a wiki-type area? Recommended reading lists could link off to any discussions about the material, so as to minimize opinion.
Um, I don't think you're supposed to admit that that!
May 9, 2008 10:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
The first 4 books are relevant to today's issues. Although OVERSHOOT was written nearly 30 years ago, it sounds like it was written yesterday.
The videos nearly all represent current events.
The most of the rest of the books show you how to think about political events in historical contents. The old bit about "are condemned to repeat it." Many (most?) posts on TPM have little basis in historical context and therefore are either naive or wildly inaccurate.
As a for instance, THE MAN WHO RAN THE MOON shows what *really* went on in Project Apollo and how by May of 1963, JFK was ready to shut the space program down after we reached the moon. He wasn't the space enthusiast that mythology has made him out to be. And you will see that only a handful of people were able to keep the space program running to get us there -- and barely. That's why when people talk about "Project Apollo" style R&D to get us alternative energy sources, it's hopelessly naive. And without a real sense of what that means, the program for R&D -- and the policies based on that -- are doomed for failure.
But, your mileage may vary.
May 9, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
All I was saying is that, if someone's actually had the time to publish a book or produce a movie, there's an element of perspective that makes it a little broader-reaching, even if it does not necessarily reach historical perspective. And most TPM posts are a little more ephemeral than that.
May 9, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
One last example: if you really want to find out how the Senate works and why Hillary Clinton is not fit for being Majority Leader for the Dems, look at MASTER OF THE SENATE.
Because of the Internet, we are presently in an Information Crisis. While people can access huge amounts of information, the types of information they access tend to be the fleeting political events of the day. What you label as "static knowledge" is should actually be labeled as "foundational". It allows you to make sense of those fleeting moments. However, until the equivalent of books are available on the Internet -- and not just pulp novels -- those old-fashioned information vessels will still be critical.
May 9, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
HIS EXCELLENCY -- Joseph J. Ellis
PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF THE US -- Howard Zinn
May 9, 2008 3:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
I am rather fond of
Joe Ellis'Founding Brothers
Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton
Garry Wills' Negro President
May 9, 2008 3:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Garry Wills books:
JOHN WAYNE'S AMERICA
LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG
May 9, 2008 3:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sun Tzu over Chuang Tzu?
May 9, 2008 3:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of Myanmar did you hear president Bush criticizing there government for not properly responding to the disaster and relief efforts.
Hmmm,... Maybe they were on vacation.
Damn I be snarky tonight.
May 9, 2008 2:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ouch!
May 9, 2008 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
That's a bold statement, CAPaige, which I don't believe is accurate because of things like this:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/six-out-of-10-young-americans-cannot-find-iraq-on-a-map-476580.html
I'm not even sure people know about Burma Shave, let alone the country.
Just this morning, I was listening to a radio show where the host was talking about how the Berlin Wall was up for nearly 50 years... being erected right at the end of WWII. Right.
May 9, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think more people have heard of the country than the ad campaign. (The only reason I even know what you're talking about is that the children's railroad at the San Diego Zoo includes Burma-shave knock-off signs.) Actually, come to think of it, you probably mean the product rather than the signs. And that I don't know about.
Also, I did not say that most people could find Myanmar on a map, or even knew much about it, just that they'd heard of it. Plus, the majority of the readership of this site probably can find both Myanmar and Iraq on a map. (At least, I hope so.)
May 9, 2008 12:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can find it on a map, but when I was a kid I sat and memorized every country in the world. Yes, this site is full of geeks.
My feeling about these events is that if the news doesn't totally focus on something, there are a lot of people who won't realize it has happened. The public response to the Tsunami, for a big example, was huge.... but people who like to go around with their head in the sand simply could not ignore what had happened. The way people are, it takes a LOT for them to notice something and look up something on a map.
May 9, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can find it on a map, but when I was a kid I sat and memorized every country in the world. Yes, this site is full of geeks.
My feeling about these events is that if the news doesn't totally focus on something, there are a lot of people who won't realize it has happened. The public response to the Tsunami, for a big example, was huge.... but people who like to go around with their head in the sand simply could not ignore what had happened. The way people are, it takes a LOT for them to notice something and look up something on a map.
May 9, 2008 8:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
PS AM, Are you familiar with "Burma Shave"? I think it was only luck that I caught that reference.
May 9, 2008 9:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I can find it on a map, but when I was a kid I sat and memorized every country in the world. Yes, this site is full of geeks.
My feeling about these events is that if the news doesn't totally focus on something, there are a lot of people who won't realize it has happened. The public response to the Tsunami, for a big example, was huge.... but people who like to go around with their head in the sand simply could not ignore what had happened. The way people are, it takes a LOT for them to notice something and look up something on a map.
May 9, 2008 8:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
OH NO!!!! Is there no way to erase two of the above three posts?????????
I am so embarassed. I don't know how that happened. (but I know a lot about Geography, does that make up for poor techinical skills?)
May 9, 2008 8:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ha! No way to erase the extra posts, but don't worry about it. It seems to happen to people all the time, so it's not just you.
I have to admit that, way too often, I'm a head-in-the-sand kind of person. Actually, some of that is good, in that the first rule of any rescue situation is "don't create another victim." But in general, I agree with you.
There is a big difference between media response and public response, but since the two have a complicated relationship, it still gets tricky. (That is, the media response influences the public response.) I stand by my point (upthread) that people, and the media, and companies are more likely to pay attention to something if they think there's something they can do about it. In the case of the tsunami, that was a donation to a relief organization.
What I would like to see, regarding media coverage in Southeast Asia, is some careful explorations of why the cyclone was so catastrophic, what the political history of Myanmar is (and why their government is structured the way it is), and what the US government policies in the region are (and how those influence the relief situation). I'm sure much of that reporting will be done, but it will come out later, and probably be quietly received.
May 9, 2008 9:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
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