http://www.politicnow.com en-us N/A info@politicnow.com Sun, 05 Feb 2012 22:19:55 MST 20 http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1189/1/The-Rise-And-Decline-Of-The-American-Polity--I--A-Truth-Unspoken/Page1.html
-- John Maynard Keynes, 1945(1) --

Keynes was far ahead of his time.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1189/1/The-Rise-And-Decline-Of-The-American-Polity--I--A-Truth-Unspoken/Page1.html http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1187/1/The-Rise-And-Decline-Of-The-American-Polity--II--The-Great-American-Illusion/Page1.html
On the one hand, an open acknowledgement of an oligarchic component would have alienated a large portion of the American people who had just won a war for independence.

On the other hand, the Founding Fathers could not declare they were founding a democracy.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1187/1/The-Rise-And-Decline-Of-The-American-Polity--II--The-Great-American-Illusion/Page1.html http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1186/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--III--Hammers-Saws-And-Drills/Page1.html What is my annihilation?
compared to the stupor that awaits you?"

-- Arthur Rimbaud(1) --

We were taught in good faith that the American middle class is rock-solid, ever expanding. Indeed, security and growth characterized that class for over two centuries.

But times have changed.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1186/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--III--Hammers-Saws-And-Drills/Page1.html http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1182/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--V--Middle-Class-Destiny-Explored/Page1.html Remedy, where are you?
Economics, are you finally going to change?"

-- Rene Char, "Feuillets d'Hypnos"(1)--

Tocqueville feared the emergence of a despotic state in America -- an anti-utopia in which a quiet, titular state oversees a timid, hard-working population whose members are all alike and equal, fat, dumb, and happy.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1182/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--V--Middle-Class-Destiny-Explored/Page1.html http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1181/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--IV--The-Five-Fates/Page1.html
The first three of five fates:(1)

(1) A quiet, despotic state takes over the role of class reconciliation performed by the middle class. Other than working as bureaucrats, a meaningful middle class does not exist.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1181/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--IV--The-Five-Fates/Page1.html http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1180/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--I--The-Purpose-Of-The-Middle-Class/Page1.html
Biden created a task force "to get the middle class -- the backbone of this country -- up and running again."

Why is the middle class the "backbone" of America?

Since ancient Greece, the middle class has performed the indispensable role of moderating upper and lower classes.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1180/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--I--The-Purpose-Of-The-Middle-Class/Page1.html http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1179/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--II--He-That-Giveth-Can-Also-Taketh-Away/Page1.html
We agree. The middle class reconciles and moderates other classes.

Biden is in charge of a task force to get the middle class "up and running again."

We agree that the middle class is weakening. One indicator: its share of the national income pie fell from 52.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1179/1/Can-Americas-Middle-Class-Be-Saved--II--He-That-Giveth-Can-Also-Taketh-Away/Page1.html http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1151/1/Flipper-And-Feldspar--Barack-Obama-Defined/Page1.html
Here is his response after eight weeks in the White House:

"Asked if 'liberal' or 'progressive' better defined his philosophy, he said, 'I'm not going to engage in that.'"(1)

In refusing to be categorized, Obama categorically categorized himself.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1151/1/Flipper-And-Feldspar--Barack-Obama-Defined/Page1.html http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1145/1/From-Pontius-To-Pilate--The-Perils-Of-Bureau-Pathic-Thinking-About-Terrorism/Page1.html
1. Osama bin Laden.
2. Shimon Perez.
3. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
4. Harry Truman.

The envelope, please.

Answer: Harry Truman, 16 hours after the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, August 6, 1945.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1145/1/From-Pontius-To-Pilate--The-Perils-Of-Bureau-Pathic-Thinking-About-Terrorism/Page1.html http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1139/1/On-Momentum-I--Everybody-Wants-It----But-What-Is-It/Page1.html
So, how did Michael Jackson do it? In life and in death, so much -- both "good" and "bad" -- gravitated his way.

His 1983 album "Thriller" sold more than the populations of California and New York City combined.]]> no@spam.com (Thomas Belvedere) Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.politicnow.com/articles/1139/1/On-Momentum-I--Everybody-Wants-It----But-What-Is-It/Page1.html