More specifically, I think the current Democrat-Republican split is about class not income, with education acting as the class marker. An adjunct may be much poorer than someone who has no degree, but owns a car dealership, but I think they are of a higher social class.
The Democrats support many foolhardy policies, but this has gone beyond policy now. The Republicans need to return to being a reasonable party to oppose the Democrats or they need to be destroyed to allow another party to rise in its place.
The only way I see that happening is for the Republicans to wallow in defeat. They won't change without a political incentive to change, nor will their followers abandon them so long as they can see victory in their grasp. That means the Republican party needs to suffer repeated, humiliating defeat. If that results in some bad policies being passed, that can be cleaned up later once balance is resorted, it's not like your country is a stranger to bad policy decisions.
You may fear what the Democrats can do unopposed, but none of that will matter unless sanity is restored to the American right. Because if the Republicans stay in their current state for very long, your Republic is doomed.
I share your scepticism, though for slightly different reasons. As research into the causes of innovation develops, it appears that one of the things that drives innovation is people meeting each other, often spontaneously. I don't think this is a function of cities that teleworking can supplant.
I thought the Thrawn solution was where they were going to go after The Last Jedi, but that would have required the director for Star Wars IX to not be a total hack.
You're right that Trump isn't easily replicable. You're wrong about incompetence being a required part of a Trump. New Zealand had a competent version of Trump for decades.
Plenty of other countries have career politicians without having these issues. Angela Merkel has been Chancellor of German for 15 years without them having this problem. And in this case we're talking about the one office in the Federal government that has term limits.
For what it's worth I think you're right about GRRM being stuck in his writing, I think that's why the last season is so choppy. Martin can't figure out how to get everything lined up for the end while maintaining the coherency of his setting an characters. Weiss and Benioff didn't care about that and didn't have time so they just forced it to fit.
I read the linked article and nowhere does it say what criteria they are going to be using instead of tests. My suspicion is that any criteria more subjective than testing will only create more scope for racism.
I think part of your frustration is that Martin never intended to pay those debts off. A Song of Ice and Fire isn't merely a subversion, it's a deconstruction. It's a (pointed) commentary on a particular kind of fantasy novel, and therefore deliberately isn't doing the things you expect from a normal fantasy story.
I admit I was sceptical when I first heard of the HBO adaptation. I liked the books a lot, but I didn't think it would do anything for anyone who wasn't really conversant in fantasy novels. When its popularity took off I figured I was wrong, but given some of the reactions to the ending (not that there weren't legitimate criticism) I realised that people liked it, but didn't understand what they were watching.
King Bran was the main thing in the ending I didn't like, it seemed like a punt to me. I had assumed Tyrion and Sansa would end up ruling Westeros between them, likely with little enthusiasm.
I feel like I was a bigger fan of the end of Game of Thrones than most, though it definitely wasn't without flaws. I'm interested to see your take on the books.
On “On Wealth and Politics”
More specifically, I think the current Democrat-Republican split is about class not income, with education acting as the class marker. An adjunct may be much poorer than someone who has no degree, but owns a car dealership, but I think they are of a higher social class.
On “Marjorie Taylor Greene and The Importance of the Fife Principle”
The Democrats support many foolhardy policies, but this has gone beyond policy now. The Republicans need to return to being a reasonable party to oppose the Democrats or they need to be destroyed to allow another party to rise in its place.
The only way I see that happening is for the Republicans to wallow in defeat. They won't change without a political incentive to change, nor will their followers abandon them so long as they can see victory in their grasp. That means the Republican party needs to suffer repeated, humiliating defeat. If that results in some bad policies being passed, that can be cleaned up later once balance is resorted, it's not like your country is a stranger to bad policy decisions.
You may fear what the Democrats can do unopposed, but none of that will matter unless sanity is restored to the American right. Because if the Republicans stay in their current state for very long, your Republic is doomed.
On “From Vox: The GameStop stock frenzy, explained”
The prejudice against short-sellers may be the most pure example of shooting the messenger I can imagine.
On “Telework Will Change Our Cities, and (Maybe) Our Politics”
I share your scepticism, though for slightly different reasons. As research into the causes of innovation develops, it appears that one of the things that drives innovation is people meeting each other, often spontaneously. I don't think this is a function of cities that teleworking can supplant.
On “Buy American: President Biden’s Executive Order”
Or Smith, or Hecksher and Ohlin.
On “Rebuilding from Ashes”
That is the rub yes, what President wants to make their job harder or less pleasant?
On “Game of Thrones: Little People, Big World”
I thought the Thrawn solution was where they were going to go after The Last Jedi, but that would have required the director for Star Wars IX to not be a total hack.
On “Songs About John Henry”
The only reason I'm familiar with John Henry is that he gets mentioned in passing in Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.
On “The Destructive High Water Mark of MAGA”
Abolishing Presidential primaries would be good. Abolishing Presidential elections would be better.
On “Saturday Morning Gaming: Crying Suns”
It's also on Steam.
On “The Destructive High Water Mark of MAGA”
You're right that Trump isn't easily replicable. You're wrong about incompetence being a required part of a Trump. New Zealand had a competent version of Trump for decades.
"
Plenty of other countries have career politicians without having these issues. Angela Merkel has been Chancellor of German for 15 years without them having this problem. And in this case we're talking about the one office in the Federal government that has term limits.
On “Trump Concedes, Kind of”
I think its because it lacks his normal extemporisations. As if someone handed him that speech and made him read it verbatim.
On “Game of Thrones: The Cool is Not Enough”
For what it's worth I think you're right about GRRM being stuck in his writing, I think that's why the last season is so choppy. Martin can't figure out how to get everything lined up for the end while maintaining the coherency of his setting an characters. Weiss and Benioff didn't care about that and didn't have time so they just forced it to fit.
On “Saturday Morning Gaming: Cyberpunk 2077’s Full Review”
I decided to give Fallout New Vegas another run, what can I say, it's a classic.
On “Opinion Piece from The Hechinger Report: New York City’s new middle school admissions will test white parents”
I read the linked article and nowhere does it say what criteria they are going to be using instead of tests. My suspicion is that any criteria more subjective than testing will only create more scope for racism.
On “Weekend Plans Post: ‘Twas the night before Christmas”
I've flown up to Auckland to spend a few days with my parents. My sister hosted Christmas this year, so we went to Hamilton today for Christmas Lunch.
On “Winter is Here”
No, by "not pay down the debt" I mean that he expected to finish the books, but not in a way that was conventionally narratively satisfying
"
I think part of your frustration is that Martin never intended to pay those debts off. A Song of Ice and Fire isn't merely a subversion, it's a deconstruction. It's a (pointed) commentary on a particular kind of fantasy novel, and therefore deliberately isn't doing the things you expect from a normal fantasy story.
I admit I was sceptical when I first heard of the HBO adaptation. I liked the books a lot, but I didn't think it would do anything for anyone who wasn't really conversant in fantasy novels. When its popularity took off I figured I was wrong, but given some of the reactions to the ending (not that there weren't legitimate criticism) I realised that people liked it, but didn't understand what they were watching.
"
King Bran was the main thing in the ending I didn't like, it seemed like a punt to me. I had assumed Tyrion and Sansa would end up ruling Westeros between them, likely with little enthusiasm.
"
I feel like I was a bigger fan of the end of Game of Thrones than most, though it definitely wasn't without flaws. I'm interested to see your take on the books.
On “Weekend Plans Post: Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in”
Yeah, when I first heard about it, it occurred to me that it's the most American thing I could imagine.
On “Up The Union”
Well said Andrew.
On “Things in Solitude”
"The ties that bind" is a phrase that can be taken two different ways.
On “Weekend Plans Post: It’s Out”
That happened more while I was packing.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.