dagblog - Comments for "Era's End"

Imagine there's no

LisB — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:13:48 +0000

In reply to I have, as G might call it, a

Imagine there's no countries

It's easy if you try.....

I have, as G might call it, a

Orlando — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:02:13 +0000

In reply to Immigrants won't be the next

I have, as G might call it, a quibble. I think sometimes those of you who live in cities underestimate the conservative nature of the not-cities. It's not a criticism exactly. I used to do it too, when I lived in the city. And I'm still somewhat shocked when I identify someone as a liberal democrat and then find that they have what I would consider to be not-liberal ideas about immigration and the broader topic of race relations. I think it's natural to assume that everyone agrees with your point of view. People on the right are certainly guilty of it (a la Sarah Palin's "real America") but I think we're equally guilty.

I do believe, as I've said before, that as time marches on, society only gets more liberal. So I think we are on the way toward a country--and even someday a world--where race and culture and religion won't matter except as defining features like eye color. But I don't think we'll be seeing that world in our lifetime. And by the time it gets here, we'll have found sometime else to hate and fear each other for. We're the Sneetches.

Smart people will get that,

Michael Wolraich — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:09:02 +0000

In reply to Immigrants won't be the next

Smart people will get that, but don't underestimate the power of xenophobia. There are many examples of societies shooting their own feet by persecuting and ejecting productive minorities--Indians in Uganda, Chinese in Malaysia, whites in Zimbabwe, Jews pretty much everywhere. Illegal immigrants already play a big role in our economy, but that doesn't stop the xenophobia here. Europe and Japan suffer more severe labor shortages than the U.S., but the hostility towards immigrants is much higher in these places.

Have your children learn

Deadman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:34:38 +0000

In reply to 5. International relations.

Have your children learn Mandarin. There will be fits and starts along the way but at some point China will be THE world's superpower. My only hope is they are a democratic country by the time they get there (hopefully through a bloodless revolution)

Immigrants won't be the next

Deadman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:33:00 +0000

In reply to Racism decisively lost this

Immigrants won't be the next target - trust me on this one, within 5 to 10 years, the issue won't be 'how do we deal with illegal immigration' but 'how can we recruit enough new citizens to make up for our depleted work force'. Tough to see through the current prism of a recession and looming double digit unemployment, but the demographics are soon going to get quite ugly (and economically unsustainable without a renewed focus on immigration). if anything, the long-held bastion of white male power in this country will continue to be threatened, and i wouldn't be surprised if the drumbeat of reverse racism continues to rise.

couldnt agree more both in

Deadman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:22:47 +0000

In reply to 1. Government. Small

couldnt agree more both in terms that the wind is blowing in the direction of more government involvement and that the risk of government involvement leading to more problems is high. i still say we did not use government to control the excesses of the free market and we will be unable to use government to control the collateral damage from those excesses. It's hard to imagine with the current state of the economy, but I fear our attempts to spare us from pain will give us a bigger headache down the road.

Dagblog is the future for the

Donal — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:01:59 +0000

In reply to 12. News Media. Small town

Dagblog is the future for the affluent. I think small town newspapers, TV and radio will rebound and serve those who can no longer afford cable tv and internet bills.

Local TV is cutting back on highly-paid anchors. We had a very recognizable fellow let go from an Altoona radio station recently.

Censorship leads to

Orlando — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:02:00 +0000

In reply to Obviously you didn't read the

Censorship leads to rioting.

:-p

[deleted] (ed. This is a warning. I'm watching you.)

(I'm so not afraid of you.)

Obviously you didn't read the

Michael Wolraich — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:58:45 +0000

In reply to No. I don't agree to be

Obviously you didn't read the terms and conditions. One more :-p out of you, and I will block out everything that you write with a big black [deleted]. I love having admin power.

No. I don't agree to be

Orlando — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:15:00 +0000

In reply to Totally agree. My initial

No. I don't agree to be agreeable. It's way too shiny happy fun time around here. You suck.

:-p