Times.konradturski.com – Political and Economic Commentary by a Postgrad in London

When the Democrats took control of both legislative chambers in 2006, I was unpleasantly surprised by the rapidity with which they caved into the Bush administration’s successful push for an endless occupation of Iraq. I will not discuss that mistake at present, other than to say that it is disappointing to watch dozens of legitimately and democratically-elected peoples’ representatives shirk their mandate and their convictions as a result of a daylong testimony by a pre-emptively deified military man (Gen. Petraeus). What I will argue is that Obama is falling into a similar trap, a trap conveniently set by a national discourse that continues to value the appearance of strength more than the safety, security, and consistency that come from rationality and common sense.

It is  called the “Strong” fallacy, and it is what convinced Hillary Clinton to vote in support of the Iraq War five years ago. It was Obama’s common sense that allowed him to understand, back in 2003, the logical inconsistency of a “strong” national policy that leads your nation to war and ruin. To put it bluntly, Obama grasped the fact that it doesn’t matter how much you love your country, if you destroy it in the process.

Unfortunately, that stroke of common sense seems – like so many a college student this summer – to have gone on holiday. Consider these four recent examples:

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This was the title of a long-forgotten essay by Russian Nikolai Chernyshevsky in the latter 19th century. In its time, it was the most popular publication among Russia’s Liberal Elite (born 1848, died approx. 1904), and the title was in fact adapted by a self-aware Lenin in a 20th century pamphlet on Socialist Democracy. The contrast between the two pamphlets – whereas Chernyshevsky imagined a kind of unfeasible utopia, Lenin’s vision was immediate and approachable – is appropriate, given the contrasting Hegelian and Marxist milieus that inspired each writer. Whereas Hegel always emphasized the means of progress, Marx went further in identifying (incorrectly) its ends in the form of Proletarian Utopia. More importantly, Chernyshevsky, Marx, Lenin, Hegel, and all the others are dead, and the question remains: What is to be Done? We seem to live in a state of flux where the short term answer to that question is always clear, while the medium and long term answers are anything but. I guess Keynes had an answer. But he’s dead too.

No seriously, even married economists seem to exist in a perpetual state of Nash Equilibrium.

Jack Daniel’s fails at life and cannot graduate because he forgot to answer the question.

The question being, of course, why  anyone is London would ever, EVER want to go to Lynchburg, Tennessee.

R.E.M. released a new album three days ago. Those who know me well, know well that R.E.M. is far and above my favourite band, right alongside Red Hot Chile Peppers and, of course, Genesis.

But all is not well.

Their new album, Accelerate, may be rubbish.

More as the story develops.

No.