I think I was premature in a recent blog when I quoted W.B. Yeats: “Things fall, apart, the centre cannot hold”. After watching TV and seeing the newspapers reporting the devastation of London and other major cities in Britain by the vicious mobs, I think the quotation is even more apt now. Scenes of total anarchy fill global television sets, I’m sure, by now. My wife and I are lucky enough to be in a smaller town on the southeast coast, Eastbourne, and so far we are unscathed.
It reminds me of the late sixties at the time of civil rights turmoil when major cities like Detroit and Los Angeles were beset by the mobs with fires and looting. Anarchy is never justified; revolution and protest, yes, under compelling circumstances---but never berserk frenzied mob rule. That is what Great Britain has been experiencing these last few nights.
The police are suffering from an image problem. So much emphasis in the last twenty-five years has been on stressing community relations, cultural and racial sensitivity and trying to seem like nice guys that in a trauma such as now they don’t have the respect for authority among the multi-cultural sections of London and the other big cities, who have only seen spasmodic acts of authority on the part of the police, especially the young.
Many factors contribute to this anarchy. Britain is in a period of increasing austerity with cost of living high, unemployment, as well, and a general paranoia that the system is against the disadvantaged. The Conservative government is trying to limit welfare expense and to undo a system that has frequently made it better to be unemployed and collect a benefit check than to look for a job. In tough times, the general resentment is aimed at anyone in charge.
Then add in another surefire ingredient to guarantee trouble: lack of familial authority. How many of these kids have only a single parent, who spends a good part of life, if she (or he) is lucky, working? Without or with a minimum of parental guidance, kids flock together and look for things to do, quite often involving trouble. Today, in an age of sophisticated digital communication with countless ways to stay in touch, to reach increased number of people, it is so easy to spark mass action. The word spread from one enclave of rioting and looting to many more pockets of discontent where new recruits could eagerly and quickly be recruited into action.
Somehow a respect for the authority of police has to be re-emphasized and restored. As one columnist put it, we have to have a police force, not a police service. Right now, the prime minister has told the police to get out there in maximum numbers, and 16,000 were on the streets of London last night. I don’t advocate in normal times the use of water cannons, but it is time for their use and a good blast of tear gas, as well.
The whole horror story is crystallized in the House of Reeves, a furniture business in the Clapton area of London where five generations of the Reeves family had earned a living since 1867. The Reeves had survived in three centuries, through two World Wars, the Great Depression, and the London Blitz. Rioters burned it to the ground two nights ago. They could not loot it because furniture is too big to carry any distance, so to hell with the Reeves, burn it down.
Sounds of the sixties---burn, baby, burn. It is not the answer. A new legion of youth needs to learn that fact.
P.S. After I wrote this blog, today I saw the headlines: an eleven year old boy, a well-educated young woman of nineteen and a thirty-one year old male teaching assistant were among those arraigned. Go figure!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
ELITISM---I'M ALL FOR IT!
The headmaster of Eton, the famed British public school, known to many Americans who are Ian Fleming fans or crossword puzzle devotees as the school attended by James Bond, 007, has made an interesting statement. Tony Little, the headmaster, caught the attention of the British world by defending “elitism”. This term has come to mean to most of the politically correct snobbery and class consciousness and therefore to be avoided.
Eton has certainly appeared to the politically correct as the bastion of class consciousness and snobbery. In the process, it has turned out countless prime ministers, prominent politicians and business leaders. William and Harry both attended there. It is safe to say the alumni they have turned out can certainly be classified as “elite”. Eton, Mr. Little points out, offers financial assistance to those academically gifted but in need of help and is looking into building endowments to help such students. He admires the way major American Universities have stressed such campaigns to augment endowment.
Mr. Little makes a valid point: the term elitist needs to be “reclaimed” as a measure of excellence in all walks of life, according to an article in "The Daily Telegraph". I agree totally with him. To me, and I’m sure to Mr. Little, elite should be a term of achievement. It has nothing to do with class or birth but with merit. Little points out elite is often applied to sportsmen of the highest caliber. “I would like the plumber I engage to be an elite plumber, and I want to see an elite doctor. It has to do with excellence,” Mr. Little stated.
The class system in Britain was much too powerful in the past. If you were born well-to-do or had the proper pedigree or background, “the old boy network” as it was known, in the old days you had a head start over less affluent or the middle and lower classes. The Old Boy Network is slowly but surely being pruned out of British life with a new emphasis on creating a meritocracy. It still has a long way to go, but the difference between now and fifty years ago is striking.
In the U.S.A. we have frequent instances also of the Old Boy Network: right family, right schools, right connections still are in evidence, although not even close to the extent of Britain. America has been, on the whole, a shining example to the rest of the world of opportunity unlimited for those who aim high, work and achieve the proverbial American Dream.
Now, unfortunately, in the last few years, we are witnessing an increasing emphasis on mediocrity. Don’t set the standards too high, or you might damage irreparably the psyches of the little darlings in school. Make the grade of "A" easier to get so that the kids can enjoy “achievement”. Such nonsense! What we need to do is put a new emphasis on challenging the students, making them strive for higher achievement and becoming the true elite. We need to create elite standards at which our students can aim.
Setting high standards gives meaning to achievement. Let’s start to build a new truly elite.
Eton has certainly appeared to the politically correct as the bastion of class consciousness and snobbery. In the process, it has turned out countless prime ministers, prominent politicians and business leaders. William and Harry both attended there. It is safe to say the alumni they have turned out can certainly be classified as “elite”. Eton, Mr. Little points out, offers financial assistance to those academically gifted but in need of help and is looking into building endowments to help such students. He admires the way major American Universities have stressed such campaigns to augment endowment.
Mr. Little makes a valid point: the term elitist needs to be “reclaimed” as a measure of excellence in all walks of life, according to an article in "The Daily Telegraph". I agree totally with him. To me, and I’m sure to Mr. Little, elite should be a term of achievement. It has nothing to do with class or birth but with merit. Little points out elite is often applied to sportsmen of the highest caliber. “I would like the plumber I engage to be an elite plumber, and I want to see an elite doctor. It has to do with excellence,” Mr. Little stated.
The class system in Britain was much too powerful in the past. If you were born well-to-do or had the proper pedigree or background, “the old boy network” as it was known, in the old days you had a head start over less affluent or the middle and lower classes. The Old Boy Network is slowly but surely being pruned out of British life with a new emphasis on creating a meritocracy. It still has a long way to go, but the difference between now and fifty years ago is striking.
In the U.S.A. we have frequent instances also of the Old Boy Network: right family, right schools, right connections still are in evidence, although not even close to the extent of Britain. America has been, on the whole, a shining example to the rest of the world of opportunity unlimited for those who aim high, work and achieve the proverbial American Dream.
Now, unfortunately, in the last few years, we are witnessing an increasing emphasis on mediocrity. Don’t set the standards too high, or you might damage irreparably the psyches of the little darlings in school. Make the grade of "A" easier to get so that the kids can enjoy “achievement”. Such nonsense! What we need to do is put a new emphasis on challenging the students, making them strive for higher achievement and becoming the true elite. We need to create elite standards at which our students can aim.
Setting high standards gives meaning to achievement. Let’s start to build a new truly elite.
Friday, August 5, 2011
ILLUSIONS AND REALITIES
“Pundits and political wise men have long dreamed of a “grand bargain”, which would arrest the growth of entitlement spending while raising tax revenue by closing loopholes. It is more or less the only formula that solves America’s budget woes while sharing political pain equally between the two parties. It is no coincidence that such a bargain lies at the heart of most recent bipartisan deficit-reduction schemes, including those put forward by the Senate’s “Gang of Six” and the president’s own fiscal commission. Both plans would have cut the deficit by roughly $4 trillion over the next decade, enough to put the debt on a downward path relative to GDP. Many hoped the debt-ceiling increase would be the vehicle to deliver it.”
The above is a quotation from one of the most respected magazines in the world, "The Economist", whose analytic style and skill are frequently “right on”. I am at a loss to understand why the President chose to ignore his own commission and the so-called Gang of Six, both of whom recommended reform of the tax structure and closing loopholes, as well as analysis for reform of entitlements. On too many occasions he plays the part of The Great Compromiser to our detriment.
The Republicans can spout from their soap boxes that increases in taxes will spell doom. The Democrats can climb on theirs and orate on the inviolability of entitlement programs. Somewhere, somehow, something’s gotta give, as the old song goes. Tax revenues have to increase by means of tax reform, and entitlement programs must be made more efficient and capped. There is no other way. One day reality has to sink in when serious and responsible congressmen, the President and assorted think tank pundits must get serious and down to work in dealing with the problem. Cut out the sound bites, the nonsense, and deal with the future of our nation.
I hope it’s not too long a wait. I’m getting really old, and I’d like to see it in my lifetime.
The above is a quotation from one of the most respected magazines in the world, "The Economist", whose analytic style and skill are frequently “right on”. I am at a loss to understand why the President chose to ignore his own commission and the so-called Gang of Six, both of whom recommended reform of the tax structure and closing loopholes, as well as analysis for reform of entitlements. On too many occasions he plays the part of The Great Compromiser to our detriment.
The Republicans can spout from their soap boxes that increases in taxes will spell doom. The Democrats can climb on theirs and orate on the inviolability of entitlement programs. Somewhere, somehow, something’s gotta give, as the old song goes. Tax revenues have to increase by means of tax reform, and entitlement programs must be made more efficient and capped. There is no other way. One day reality has to sink in when serious and responsible congressmen, the President and assorted think tank pundits must get serious and down to work in dealing with the problem. Cut out the sound bites, the nonsense, and deal with the future of our nation.
I hope it’s not too long a wait. I’m getting really old, and I’d like to see it in my lifetime.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
IT’S A RAINY DAY
It’s a rainy day in England after over a week of gorgeous sunny weather with the temperature ranging from 75F to 82F. It is reasonably rare to have over a week without rain here in Old Blighty, but now we’re getting a few days of miserable rainy and cool weather to teach us not to get complacent.
It’s a rainy day, a day to stay in and think about the miseries in the world.
Anywhere you go today, you are faced with malaise and pessimism about our lives. Ranging from Somalia and the Sudan suffering from severe famine and a mounting death toll, especially among the young, to the Arab spring-now-summer and the problems in Libya and Syria, to the usual standoff between Israel and the Palestinians, to the Eurozone debt crisis and the precarious state of the Euro and the possibility of more European nations in crisis, like Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland, to even the Chinese economy slowing down, to Japan’s radiation and clean-up problems to the recent soap opera in America with the battle of the debt limit increase---the world has the blues; it’s not just the U.S. A. hurting, it’s all over.
It's a rainy day. We are all so interrelated and interdependent today in this global village that if America coughs, Europe sneezes, Africa has a headache and Asia takes an aspirin. Headlines today in the Business section of The Daily Telegraph read: ”U.S. Recession Fears Hit Europe”. Stock markets around the world are nose diving at the news yesterday that the U.S. economy’s growth has slowed to a standstill.
It's a rainy day. I can’t tell you how many articles or radio/television comments I’ve heard during and after the debt standoff in America, shocked at the confrontation of the two parties and the inability to compromise and reach an agreement until the eleventh hour and fifty-nine minutes. Let me tell you, that display did not add stars to our crown. A few talking heads are wondering if this was the outward and visible sign of the beginning of the Decline of the American Empire. I must admit, the thought has entered my mind as I have witnessed from afar this ridiculous game of chicken.
it's a rainy day. So much constructive time to deal with our major problems has been wasted on this confrontation, time that should have been spent considering, analyzing and seeking solutions to our recession: time to study the Medicare and Health Insurance dilemma, the problems of our infastructure’s deterioration, the Income Tax reform, Social Security, unemployment---add your own pet peeve to the list. We seriously need to address the issues. This is doubtless a pipe dream as the extreme partisans of right and left want to slug it out some more in the 2012 elections.
It’s a rainy day, and, as William Wordsworth said, “The world is too much with me./Getting and spending we lay waste our time.” I’m tired of the waste.
It’s a rainy day, a day to stay in and think about the miseries in the world.
Anywhere you go today, you are faced with malaise and pessimism about our lives. Ranging from Somalia and the Sudan suffering from severe famine and a mounting death toll, especially among the young, to the Arab spring-now-summer and the problems in Libya and Syria, to the usual standoff between Israel and the Palestinians, to the Eurozone debt crisis and the precarious state of the Euro and the possibility of more European nations in crisis, like Spain, Portugal, Italy and Ireland, to even the Chinese economy slowing down, to Japan’s radiation and clean-up problems to the recent soap opera in America with the battle of the debt limit increase---the world has the blues; it’s not just the U.S. A. hurting, it’s all over.
It's a rainy day. We are all so interrelated and interdependent today in this global village that if America coughs, Europe sneezes, Africa has a headache and Asia takes an aspirin. Headlines today in the Business section of The Daily Telegraph read: ”U.S. Recession Fears Hit Europe”. Stock markets around the world are nose diving at the news yesterday that the U.S. economy’s growth has slowed to a standstill.
It's a rainy day. I can’t tell you how many articles or radio/television comments I’ve heard during and after the debt standoff in America, shocked at the confrontation of the two parties and the inability to compromise and reach an agreement until the eleventh hour and fifty-nine minutes. Let me tell you, that display did not add stars to our crown. A few talking heads are wondering if this was the outward and visible sign of the beginning of the Decline of the American Empire. I must admit, the thought has entered my mind as I have witnessed from afar this ridiculous game of chicken.
it's a rainy day. So much constructive time to deal with our major problems has been wasted on this confrontation, time that should have been spent considering, analyzing and seeking solutions to our recession: time to study the Medicare and Health Insurance dilemma, the problems of our infastructure’s deterioration, the Income Tax reform, Social Security, unemployment---add your own pet peeve to the list. We seriously need to address the issues. This is doubtless a pipe dream as the extreme partisans of right and left want to slug it out some more in the 2012 elections.
It’s a rainy day, and, as William Wordsworth said, “The world is too much with me./Getting and spending we lay waste our time.” I’m tired of the waste.
Friday, July 29, 2011
MY NETWORK UNSOCIABILITY
If you have read my blog for any length of time, you are bound to be aware that I am not a fan of the social networks and refuse to join them. I get all kinds of “come-ons” on the net, imploring me to open their emails , such as I have three classmates from school just this month enquiring about me, or that I have been tagged for such and such’s birthday. I’m sorry, I know I am probably missing out on golden opportunities to expand my personal network, but, frankly, I don’t give a rats ass. I’ll just go on being an old misanthrope who likes the friends he got the old-fashioned way, even if many of them in my age bracket are gone now.
The potential and actual intrusions you frequently hear about always bother me. For example, I read in the newspaper of a case of a young woman in England, selected and serving on a jury, who then tried to contact the defendant on the internet. That’s just plain stupid. I’m sure British courts are similar to ours, since our legal system was based on Britain’s, and insist on never communicating with the defendant in view of the need for total impartiality and objectivity. This dingbat tried to contact the defendant on Facebook. It comes as no surprise that she is in a heap of trouble.
A whole litany of potential problems has been associated with social networks and the invasion of privacy. Now I don’t blame Facebook for this young woman’s stupidity or impulsive action, to be more charitable, but it is part of the danger which can occur with those who become almost addicted to the social network. I don’t like the potential problems and, especially, the loss of privacy. I know, you are supposed to be able to decide what you want known and enter only data you choose, but I think too many, like this British young woman, live on their social network and consider it an essential part of life and never consider the potential pitfalls.
That’s what I like about a blog . I can keep my anonymity, if I choose, and still write about things that concern me or experiences I’ve had. I probably don’t have a wide following, but I don’t really care, except to hear from those I care about or other bloggers I’ve come to appreciate.
Sometimes it’s fun being a misanthropic old fart.
The potential and actual intrusions you frequently hear about always bother me. For example, I read in the newspaper of a case of a young woman in England, selected and serving on a jury, who then tried to contact the defendant on the internet. That’s just plain stupid. I’m sure British courts are similar to ours, since our legal system was based on Britain’s, and insist on never communicating with the defendant in view of the need for total impartiality and objectivity. This dingbat tried to contact the defendant on Facebook. It comes as no surprise that she is in a heap of trouble.
A whole litany of potential problems has been associated with social networks and the invasion of privacy. Now I don’t blame Facebook for this young woman’s stupidity or impulsive action, to be more charitable, but it is part of the danger which can occur with those who become almost addicted to the social network. I don’t like the potential problems and, especially, the loss of privacy. I know, you are supposed to be able to decide what you want known and enter only data you choose, but I think too many, like this British young woman, live on their social network and consider it an essential part of life and never consider the potential pitfalls.
That’s what I like about a blog . I can keep my anonymity, if I choose, and still write about things that concern me or experiences I’ve had. I probably don’t have a wide following, but I don’t really care, except to hear from those I care about or other bloggers I’ve come to appreciate.
Sometimes it’s fun being a misanthropic old fart.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE
One of my most respected economic thinkers here in U.K. is Jeremy Warner, who publishes a column in "The Daily Telegraph". He is obviously well educated in the fields of Economics and Commerce, plus he writes fluently, and frequently hits the bullseye in analyzing the economic problems of today.
Yesterday he did not have a column in "The Telegraph" but a full-fledged article entitled "AMERICA FACES A DECISION THAT WILL DEFINE ITS FUTURE---AND OURS". Let me quote some lines that will give you the essence of the article.
"Economic might is as much to do with confidence and perception as reality. The spectacle of a nation so lacking in credible political leadership that it cannot resolve its differences, threatens to default on its debts and would rather print money than face up to its underlying economic challenges, is already perilously close to breaking the spell. America needs to wake up before it's too late."
The spell he refers to is the perception of America as the land of economic miracles and leadership, setting a standard for the world. He feels the present deficit crisis is underminig that confidence in and perception of America.
Sometimes it helps to have an objective viewpoint in analyzing a crisis. Obama and Boehner, plus a host of others, please heed.
Another final quote from Mr.Warner: "For the U.S. to forsake the principles that have underpinned its economic success for more than two centuries would be a disaster, not just for the country, but for the world."
Yesterday he did not have a column in "The Telegraph" but a full-fledged article entitled "AMERICA FACES A DECISION THAT WILL DEFINE ITS FUTURE---AND OURS". Let me quote some lines that will give you the essence of the article.
"Economic might is as much to do with confidence and perception as reality. The spectacle of a nation so lacking in credible political leadership that it cannot resolve its differences, threatens to default on its debts and would rather print money than face up to its underlying economic challenges, is already perilously close to breaking the spell. America needs to wake up before it's too late."
The spell he refers to is the perception of America as the land of economic miracles and leadership, setting a standard for the world. He feels the present deficit crisis is underminig that confidence in and perception of America.
Sometimes it helps to have an objective viewpoint in analyzing a crisis. Obama and Boehner, plus a host of others, please heed.
Another final quote from Mr.Warner: "For the U.S. to forsake the principles that have underpinned its economic success for more than two centuries would be a disaster, not just for the country, but for the world."
Friday, July 22, 2011
THE BLAME GAME
Here in U.K., unless you are confined in a cave underground and never see the papers or watch the telly (as the Brits call it), you are saturated with the hacking scandal and the hearings in the House of Parliament where the M.P.s have had their shots at the Murdoch empire and the Prime Minister.
Rupert Murdoch showed the proper degree of contrition and even announced that “this was the most humbling day of his life”. He also appeared as a doddery old man. It really was embarrassing to have that idiot throw a plate of shaving cream at him. His younger wife, Wendy, looks like the Dragon Lady from the old comic book days of “Terry and the Pirates”, and this Chinese lady showed one potent right jab as she leaped up and swatted the man who dumped the cream on her husband.
James Murdoch, the C.E.O. of European operations and second son of Rupert, came off as the archetypal M.B.A., filled with smooth corpspeak. He was polite, evasive---and came off as a slime ball to me.
Rebekah Brooks, under that incredible umbrella of red Medusian curls was another portrait of slick evasiveness, phony sincerity and incredible memory lapses.
In fact, they all must suffer from some sort of Alzheimer’s Disease. Of course Rudolph is old enough to qualify, but the other two must have premature Alzheimer’s. It’s sad in those so young.
Seriously, it’s the old corporate game played at the highest level. What you don’t know won’t hurt you. You can just hear these high-powered executives, titans of industry, telling their key subordinates: “Just get the job done, whatever it takes. Just don’t involve me and put nothing in writing.” This game has been played forever in the corporate stratosphere (and on the lower levels, too) so that layers of insulating fog cushion the top echelon from the muck and sweat below. It’s obviously taken to a new level in the communications world of television and newspapers.
James Cameron, the P.M., also found out what hits the fan in his time before his fellow M.P.s. He struck, I thought, a good balance between contrition and dignified defense. He admitted his mistake in hiring Andy Coulson, the man in the eye of this political and economic hurricane. Even the royal family is pissed off at the P.M. because he hired Coulson, the man who had been editor of “News of the World” when two reporters hacked the phones of aides in Clarence House and even William’s phone. David Cameron’s political stock has taken a swift and deep fall. He is going to have to work extra-hard to restore it.
It continues to get messier, involving not only the Murdochs,their people and the P.M, but the Metropolitan Police whose two top men have resigned. The blame game will look like a badminton match with the shuttlecock flying all over the place.
Then we get our turn in the U.S. of A---hooray!
Rupert Murdoch showed the proper degree of contrition and even announced that “this was the most humbling day of his life”. He also appeared as a doddery old man. It really was embarrassing to have that idiot throw a plate of shaving cream at him. His younger wife, Wendy, looks like the Dragon Lady from the old comic book days of “Terry and the Pirates”, and this Chinese lady showed one potent right jab as she leaped up and swatted the man who dumped the cream on her husband.
James Murdoch, the C.E.O. of European operations and second son of Rupert, came off as the archetypal M.B.A., filled with smooth corpspeak. He was polite, evasive---and came off as a slime ball to me.
Rebekah Brooks, under that incredible umbrella of red Medusian curls was another portrait of slick evasiveness, phony sincerity and incredible memory lapses.
In fact, they all must suffer from some sort of Alzheimer’s Disease. Of course Rudolph is old enough to qualify, but the other two must have premature Alzheimer’s. It’s sad in those so young.
Seriously, it’s the old corporate game played at the highest level. What you don’t know won’t hurt you. You can just hear these high-powered executives, titans of industry, telling their key subordinates: “Just get the job done, whatever it takes. Just don’t involve me and put nothing in writing.” This game has been played forever in the corporate stratosphere (and on the lower levels, too) so that layers of insulating fog cushion the top echelon from the muck and sweat below. It’s obviously taken to a new level in the communications world of television and newspapers.
James Cameron, the P.M., also found out what hits the fan in his time before his fellow M.P.s. He struck, I thought, a good balance between contrition and dignified defense. He admitted his mistake in hiring Andy Coulson, the man in the eye of this political and economic hurricane. Even the royal family is pissed off at the P.M. because he hired Coulson, the man who had been editor of “News of the World” when two reporters hacked the phones of aides in Clarence House and even William’s phone. David Cameron’s political stock has taken a swift and deep fall. He is going to have to work extra-hard to restore it.
It continues to get messier, involving not only the Murdochs,their people and the P.M, but the Metropolitan Police whose two top men have resigned. The blame game will look like a badminton match with the shuttlecock flying all over the place.
Then we get our turn in the U.S. of A---hooray!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)