We're never going to be able to micro-manage every bank's financial practices, and even if we could, the regulatory system would be dominated by insiders. If you cap the size of financial institutions, however, you can prevent bad business practices from bringing down the entire industry.
I will happily admit that the West is unique and, indeed, uniquely successful. My point is that European Ascendancy isn't the result of some magical intrinsic quality like the Protestant work ethic.
My intent is not to denigrate the achievements of exceptional individuals. Rather, my point was to highlight the conditions that gave rise to social changes we now associate with 'The West'.
RE: The lack of diversity. I plead guilty as charged - we spent half the podcast talking about how niche-oriented television has become and (surprise!) the conversation turned out to be very white male-centric because, well, that's our niche. Hopefully we can recruit Jamelle for the next podcast.
Come to think of it, we also completely forgot about The Chappelle Show, which is a pretty important program but may have gotten overlooked because of its niche demographic appeal.
In Virginia, at least, there were quite a few non-smoking options for customers before the ban was enacted:
"By February, when the legislature finally passed the ban after years of lobbying by anti-smoking advocates, about 66 percent of restaurants had already gone smoke-free in response to customer demand. A week ago, that proportion was about 75 percent."
On “The Best Cover of All Time, Volume V”
Good call. If you can find any renditions on YouTube, feel free to drop a link in comments. I'll post the best on the sidebar.
On “Sunday Poem Series”
Haters . . .
On ““The 700 billion dollar man””
Ha! Well said.
On “cart & buggy”
Word.
On ““When TV Became Art””
What can I say? I've belatedly realized that my talent as a blogger lies in linking to other people.
On “conservatives as self-parodies”
Oh c'mon - this is like shooting fish in a barrel.
On “Why gay marriage is (probably) still inevitable”
I think bans on interracial marriage were unambiguously unconstitutional. States not recognizing gay marriage, on the other hand . . .
On “The “Practical Christianity” of the Welfare State”
Very true. As I said, political considerations played a role in Bismarck's policies.
On “O Crucified Tree, O Crucified Tree”
What Kyle said. Some really interesting stuff in here, Dierkes.
On “You’re cordially invited to The League of Ordinary Gentlemen Café”
I think I speak for the League when I say we are always cool with Animal House references.
And of course, thanks to all of our returning customers.
On “O Crucified Tree, O Crucified Tree”
Yuletide contingency operations? That is effing brilliant.
On “Breaking up is hard to do”
We're never going to be able to micro-manage every bank's financial practices, and even if we could, the regulatory system would be dominated by insiders. If you cap the size of financial institutions, however, you can prevent bad business practices from bringing down the entire industry.
On “Harvard as Hogwarts?”
Did that lady really compare Skull and Bones to Dumbledore's Army? Kill me now.
On “War Is Politics By Other Means”
Post-cynical? Meta-discourse? What are you talking about, Dierkes? At the risk of sounding like a dunce, I really don't get some of this stuff.
On “I knew there was a reason I liked this movie so much”
Scott and Neil -
Read the post. If that doesn't do it, re-watch the movie. The parallels are pretty funny.
On “Liveblogging the World Cup Draw”
Nice work, Thompson.
On “Huckabee defends his decision to commute Clemmons’ sentence”
So if some petty thief gets mistakenly locked up for a life sentence, you think it's wrong to release him early? Come on.
On “Everyone knows that Presbyterians, not Lutherans, are the hard-working Protestants”
Hudson -
I will happily admit that the West is unique and, indeed, uniquely successful. My point is that European Ascendancy isn't the result of some magical intrinsic quality like the Protestant work ethic.
"
Damnit, I think you may be right.
"
My intent is not to denigrate the achievements of exceptional individuals. Rather, my point was to highlight the conditions that gave rise to social changes we now associate with 'The West'.
On “Late Night Question”
Hahahah stop debasing our culture, Dierkes.
On “Quote for the Day”
Oh come on, Dierkes. That's a lazy comparison.
On “Podcast: The Golden Age of Television”
Tyler -
RE: The lack of diversity. I plead guilty as charged - we spent half the podcast talking about how niche-oriented television has become and (surprise!) the conversation turned out to be very white male-centric because, well, that's our niche. Hopefully we can recruit Jamelle for the next podcast.
Come to think of it, we also completely forgot about The Chappelle Show, which is a pretty important program but may have gotten overlooked because of its niche demographic appeal.
On “It Can’t Happen Here”
Trumwill -
In Virginia, at least, there were quite a few non-smoking options for customers before the ban was enacted:
"By February, when the legislature finally passed the ban after years of lobbying by anti-smoking advocates, about 66 percent of restaurants had already gone smoke-free in response to customer demand. A week ago, that proportion was about 75 percent."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/30/AR2009113002282.html
"
A man after my own heart, Cheeks!
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.