BettyCrow's Blog

No More Nitty Gritty

2008-02-12T05:34:02Z

Josh talks about the nitty gritty and he's right to do so. This is how our politics have played out historically. And that is how this messy system will play out today.

I think, however, that it's time to start thinking about how we can change that messy system. Call it political evolution. You could even call it political intelligent design.

These rules that our two party's follow are not enshrined in the Constitution. They are cobbled together compromises that a great many people over a long time have made.

It's an imperfect system.

I think this country has finally arrived at an endgame on representative democracy. The fact that I can write these words and - hopefully - you'll read them is proof of that. Technology, while imperfect, is leveling the playing field. It is giving people an opportunity to actually "know" stuff and have an opinion on it at a level unprecedented in our history.

The idea that we could let some small committee of people determine what the people actually want is becoming increasingly onerous.

We can follow the popular vote. We can almost do it in realtime (provided we actually get real totals). And, I think, most of us actually believe - and we're raised - with the idea that the popular vote should count.

While it's factual to report on the nitty gritty, it should also be said that the nitty gritty needs to change too.

Just saying.

Have you seen this?

2008-02-02T20:21:36Z

Yes We Can

This is a kind of unbelievable spur-of-the-moment mashup of a song that could be huge. In all kinds of ways. I can totally see this being viral all over the place.

The Left Does Snark Better

2006-02-05T05:32:39Z

Recent posts by Josh Marshall (Randy Duke Worksheet) and Kevin Drum (Bold. New. Look.) just illustrate a larger meme. The left is just better at snark.

Now snark is a contentiously defined thing, of course. Is it The Onion/John Stewart wing? Is it 'joking' nuke-em-all, let God sort 'em out jibes from Instawhoseewhatsit, et. al.? Is it ass-fucking remarks from Wonkette? Is it James Wolcott's carefully worded nuclear bombs? Is it Atrios' "preznit?"

Snark is really just satire in the modern age methinks. It's cyber-satire to be more precise. And I think the left (broadly defined, of course) is just better at it.

I imagine some clever sociologist could make hay out of the broader assumtions of what it means to be "right" or "left" in America. I also do not deny the comedic ability of folks on the "right" - personally, I think Larry, The Cable Guy is funny. But that just veers into "what's funny" territory.

No, snark is more of a community thing. It seems to have more to do with the ability to be on the "now" of things and poke holes in others arguments in a way that's both funny and incisive.

And I think the left blogosphere is just better at it. We may be a fractured bunch, but Sweet Jeebus, our non-monolithic message allows a certain comedic genius.

Just saying.

*Windows2000 has just decided that my ability to copy/paste should be dis-allowed. Hence no links to said snarkery.

Sigh.

Windows. Is there nothing it can't do?