US journalists in bed with military

"War Made Easy" was on German TV last night and I found it to be pretty good. Pretty convincing evidence of lack of journalistic independence from government and military, which I talked about in an earlier post.

Maybe the films is old hat in the States. I'd never heard of it. Michael Moore-style editing but no slapstick and way more focussed on one issue and its potential solutions.

Here's a clip with Senator Wayne Morse(a.k.a., KFC's Colonel Sanders). Seems like even back when TV was only black and white, most of Congress, like today, had the backbone of a pretzel when it came to checking the executive branch:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=JiLV-Xeh8bA

Sarko l'Américain

For anyone who thinks the French made their last great mistake with the conception of the Maginot Line, here's a short 60 Minutes interview with President Sarkozy. He has much to say about how socialism doesn't work. Also insists he's no silver-spooner and is instead a self-made man à l'américaine, but he's a bit too preoccupied with wiping the coke from his nose to be convincing.

At the end he walks out of the interview in a huff and insults his press secretary:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=2V7sxK-mUbQ&feature=related

Talking Point for Dealing with Uncle Love-It-Or-Leave-It This Easter

This Easter, as family reunions bring us to a table of people with whom we share a bloodline but not necessarily political and economic philosophies, we're probably bound to hear the old familiar "this country is a place where if you work hard, and pull yourself up by your bootstraps, you can succeed. Look at me--I worked hard to get what I have..."

Well, here's a little riposte I've just developed that I believe to be unassailable, both for its fear-mongering "think of the children" element and for its non-partisanship:

"Well, if it's the case that anyone can succeed so long as they're willing, I challenge you to refuse to pay for your kids' education and leave all your possessions and inheritance when you die to the cause of your choice, because you know your kids will do just fine starting from scratch with a little can-do spirit and determination."

Your feedback on how to make it a more potent oratorical weapon is welcome.

Union Density and Productivity Growth

Apparently there is no reason to think that high rates of unionization will suppress productivity growth.

Of course, by increasing the prevailing wage, high rates of unionization could theoretically lead to higher unemployment. But I have previously suggested my solution to that problem (#6 of the original 40).

"No wonder we are in a recession!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

(exclamation points mine)Uhhhgh, this is freakin' stupid. I'm sick of reading these stories every March. I don't have time to elaborate since I have to "get back to work."

Meat Eating

Mary sent me a good article about meat consumption.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/weekinreview/27bittman.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=hog%20farm&st=nyt&scp=4

Also see:

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=20772&Cr=global&Cr1=warming