S
slecky
Guest
I find it interesting to see how different industries have their own
politics (Hollywood = liberal; techie = libertarian; finance =
conservative).
Mr. Cypress, T.J. Rogers, is a self-avowed Libertarian, as are some posters
here.
I read an interesting article in Salon recently about downsizing, and how
previous libertarian/conservative programmers are now seriously considering
unionizing to protect their jobs. It is so easy to be "Darwinian" and
"hardcore" and "free-market" when times are good and your life is good. When
the chips are down, though, neighbors become more than just a nuisance. They
can help you to survive. I would wager that a lot of today's conservatives'
ancestors were saved by FDR's New Deal.
It is also interesting how emotional issues, like "abortion" and "gun
control" get top billing in politics, as opposed to what is the best
economic-policy situation for one's family. That is why it always surprises
me when blue-collar types go hardcore Republican, only to have their wages
stagnate, their health insurance rise, and their jobs shipped out of
country. Then we get "From the Heartland with John Kasich" on Fox News,
while family farms dropping like flies thanks to Big Business.
The way I see it, both political parties are on the take. We are the pawns.
Just as Henry VIII pitted the Catholics and Lutherans against each other to
sway the populace whichever way he chose, then crushed them both when they
lost their usefulness, so too do GE and Citibank pit Democrats v.
Republicans, and we argue about guns and abortion and "family values", while
Bush and Cohen meet up with Albright and Gingrich to share a Cognac on the
French Riviera.
The joke is on us.
P.S. Would you hire me now?
politics (Hollywood = liberal; techie = libertarian; finance =
conservative).
Mr. Cypress, T.J. Rogers, is a self-avowed Libertarian, as are some posters
here.
I read an interesting article in Salon recently about downsizing, and how
previous libertarian/conservative programmers are now seriously considering
unionizing to protect their jobs. It is so easy to be "Darwinian" and
"hardcore" and "free-market" when times are good and your life is good. When
the chips are down, though, neighbors become more than just a nuisance. They
can help you to survive. I would wager that a lot of today's conservatives'
ancestors were saved by FDR's New Deal.
It is also interesting how emotional issues, like "abortion" and "gun
control" get top billing in politics, as opposed to what is the best
economic-policy situation for one's family. That is why it always surprises
me when blue-collar types go hardcore Republican, only to have their wages
stagnate, their health insurance rise, and their jobs shipped out of
country. Then we get "From the Heartland with John Kasich" on Fox News,
while family farms dropping like flies thanks to Big Business.
The way I see it, both political parties are on the take. We are the pawns.
Just as Henry VIII pitted the Catholics and Lutherans against each other to
sway the populace whichever way he chose, then crushed them both when they
lost their usefulness, so too do GE and Citibank pit Democrats v.
Republicans, and we argue about guns and abortion and "family values", while
Bush and Cohen meet up with Albright and Gingrich to share a Cognac on the
French Riviera.
The joke is on us.
P.S. Would you hire me now?