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Dominance Games: Gazelles on horseback

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on May 10, 2011 by B Schiff

All is fair in the world in which we live.  Governmental systems function as the trusting trust that the hammers of force and power will be wielded in a soothing and trusting way.  The hammers of force and power are trusted  hammers as long as the hammers of force and power have the ability to force and hammer away as they wish to force and hammer away.

The gentle gentry who, gently of de facto, gently cooperate with the gentle strains of enforcement, the gentle legitimacy of law do so gently and willingly as their gentle willing wills are gently coerced with willing tales and willing stories.  Gentle stasis is reached when the game gamed is the game  understood by all understanding boobs and all understanding boobs know their sullen little places.

Marvelous systems of imperial statehood operate marvelously upon the gentle principle of the honorable consent of the honorably governed.  There are many a type of many an honorable back alley consent.  A disproportionate amount of deviation from the accepted norm can be a bad thing for the general welfare.  In the highly adaptable and flexible images of the simple peasant villagers and serfs trotting off to market that which the simple governed can put up with is a simple barren thing.

Costs are paid by the bearer and the flouter, can easily defer to the toxic wastes of roving inequities and the bon fires of intimidation and self preservation.  Costs may blow up in pretty little flames when the rational for all cooperative cooperation gets to blow up in pretty little flames.

The eight by ten glossies of fire walls against chaos enhance stability.  Power and things and money and such need be good hammering hammers in order to a defacing ugly backlash from the suckers be.

Fair is fair when fair is skewed in a lovely prism, an accident of accepted motion.  The perceived mechanics of a gamed system by the non gamers who can be taken on… unwanted chaos theory.

Unhinge the scales of justice and strange brews brew.  All good cooperation comes from ennui.  Make the ennui go away and the unmoving may move.

Gazelles on horseback.

The Economist

http://www.economist.com/node/18652037?story_id=18652037

David Walker and Robert Bixby   Politico

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54369.html

http://bschiff.com/   the rancid bastards ….. the true…..the dumb ……  the honored creed…..

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Dominance Games: Democracy for lovers

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 8, 2011 by B Schiff

Goodness and mercy are not always goodness and mercy.  Hope and dreams are not always hope and dreams.  The goodly heroes are not always plaster saints.

On our terms things are not always on our terms.

Democracy……just the sound of the word…the texture of its artful arcane syllables cascading out of the mouth, over perched and parched lips….the breaths deepen, the body tremors, and there is a comforting sniffle to back up the hope and pride.

The grand and great religion of the non secular masses.  The grand and great religion of the sweet, lovely secular champions of honesty, honor and fair play.  the end point of all politics.  The fair shake for all mankind.  We get it.  We got it.  We import it.  We sell it.  We cherish it.  We mangle it.  We push it through hell to see if it is or is not a cardboard illusion.  Tis a strong thing this Democracy.  it mirrors many images.  It shows off many hues and colors.  it is purposeful and pure anything of care and caring.  Always to be improved.  Always to be made superior and worthy.

We love it dearly and cherish it completely.  And we understand it as well.

Ideas

Joe Klein in Time

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2068607,00.html

From  The Weekly Standard

http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/854xppnl.asp

http://bschiff.com/   the rancid bastards ….. the true…..the dumb ……  the honored creed…..the books I am pushing ….

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Lust Games: The pangs of past regret

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , on May 7, 2011 by B Schiff

And again the night comes and the day breaks and the story unfolds.  And again the parties interact and the trends trend and at the bottom of the pile is that long lamented world gone by.  It was different then.  In ways that were special.  In ways that were good and sincere, lovely and tenacious.  Charm rang us awake.  Hope put us to sleep.  Things were better then.

The sun was brighter then. The days drifted with the clouds then and there was a smile in the air.  Bonds were stronger then.  Fabrics were tougher, more prone to endure.  Thoughts were more thoughtful then, more rational.  Principles were more principled .  The honorable were more honorable.

The laments of past foolishness hurt much deeper, then.  The pangs of past regret ran stronger.  The path from then to now was much clearer then, much clearer.  The virtues were more virtuous then.  The then was not as good.

Two from Harper’s Index

Harpers Index Feb 2011

Harpers Index April 2011

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2011/04/page/0013

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2011/02/page/0013

http://bschiff.com/   the rancid bastards ….. the true…..the dumb ……  the honored creed…..

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Dominance Games: The pangs of past regret

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , on May 7, 2011 by B Schiff

And again the night comes and the day breaks and the story unfolds.  And again the parties interact and the trends trend and at the bottom of the pile is that long lamented world gone by.  It was different then.  In ways that were special.  In ways that were good and sincere, lovely and tenacious.  Charm rang us awake.  Hope put us to sleep.  Things were better then.

The sun was brighter then. The days drifted with the clouds then and there was a smile in the air.  Bonds were stronger then.  Fabrics were tougher, more prone to endure.  Thoughts were more thoughtful then, more rational.  Principles were more principled .  The honorable were more honorable.

The laments of past foolishness hurt much deeper, then.  The pangs of past regret ran stronger.  The path from then to now was much clearer then, much clearer.  The virtues were more virtuous then.  The then was not as good.

Two from Harper’s Index

Harpers Index Feb 2011

Harpers Index April 2011

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2011/04/page/0013

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2011/02/page/0013

http://bschiff.com/   the rancid bastards ….. the true…..the dumb ……  the honored creed…..

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Dominance Games: Yesterday's toys

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , on May 3, 2011 by B Schiff

So.  Now we have a moment in time.  It is a fine and great moment…a moment that can be a magic springboard and springboard us back to the very best versions of our very best selves.  It can be a springboard to the very best selves that we hold dear and deep in our hearts, the ones we think of when we day dream and are heroic.

We are teary eyed wonders saluting our flags of strength and it is not by accident that we brave many things in order to envision the best of natures noblemen and women.  Honor fulfilled, large injustices not metastasized, as one we cherish our common suffering and our common courage and valor.  Oh but were that my exploits could be chivalrous and true.  Oh but were I a standard bearer for the sure and true.  My heart would sing forever.

We tell our selves.  We tell our selves again and again.  Oh, but were that me, the soldier of soldiers, the brave stoic soldier of soldiers.  Oh that the moment in time to be good is here again.   Oh that it is a moment of no frustration, of no foolishness, of no ass backwards behavior.  Oh, if only.

As have been many that have come before, so often, so hard charging, so eminently luminous…..the past is prologue.  It sets that which must come next.  Our past was yesterday.  It will not bear on tomorrow.   Our reactions harsh and fearful and weak.  Our past small, narrow and petty.

We come from hard times and look through many prisms.  There has been frustration and false premise.  There has been false horizons and false dawns.  Actors act.  They wonder.  They cannot see yesterday.  They cannot see tomorrow.

Yesterday’s toys.

David Frum…The Week

http://theweek.com/article/index/214436/life-in-the-real-world

Roger Simon…Politico

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53477.html

The dumb …… the honored creed. The rancid bastards …… the true.

http://bschiff.com/

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Lust Games: Yesterday’s toys

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , on May 3, 2011 by B Schiff

So.  Now we have a moment in time.  It is a fine and great moment…a moment that can be a magic springboard and springboard us back to the very best versions of our very best selves.  It can be a springboard to the very best selves that we hold dear and deep in our hearts, the ones we think of when we day dream and are heroic.

We are teary eyed wonders saluting our flags of strength and it is not by accident that we brave many things in order to envision the best of natures noblemen and women.  Honor fulfilled, large injustices not metastasized, as one we cherish our common suffering and our common courage and valor.  Oh but were that my exploits could be chivalrous and true.  Oh but were I a standard bearer for the sure and true.  My heart would sing forever.

We tell our selves.  We tell our selves again and again.  Oh, but were that me, the soldier of soldiers, the brave stoic soldier of soldiers.  Oh that the moment in time to be good is here again.   Oh that it is a moment of no frustration, of no foolishness, of no ass backwards behavior.  Oh, if only.

As have been many that have come before, so often, so hard charging, so eminently luminous…..the past is prologue.  It sets that which must come next.  Our past was yesterday.  It will not bear on tomorrow.   Our reactions harsh and fearful and weak.  Our past small, narrow and petty.

We come from hard times and look through many prisms.  There has been frustration and false premise.  There has been false horizons and false dawns.  Actors act.  They wonder.  They cannot see yesterday.  They cannot see tomorrow.

Yesterday’s toys.

David Frum…The Week

http://theweek.com/article/index/214436/life-in-the-real-world

Roger Simon…Politico

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53477.html

The dumb …… the honored creed. The rancid bastards …… the true.

http://bschiff.com/

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Dominance Games: Yesterday’s toys

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , on May 3, 2011 by B Schiff

So.  Now we have a moment in time.  It is a fine and great moment…a moment that can be a magic springboard and springboard us back to the very best versions of our very best selves.  It can be a springboard to the very best selves that we hold dear and deep in our hearts, the ones we think of when we day dream and are heroic.

We are teary eyed wonders saluting our flags of strength and it is not by accident that we brave many things in order to envision the best of natures noblemen and women.  Honor fulfilled, large injustices not metastasized, as one we cherish our common suffering and our common courage and valor.  Oh but were that my exploits could be chivalrous and true.  Oh but were I a standard bearer for the sure and true.  My heart would sing forever.

We tell our selves.  We tell our selves again and again.  Oh, but were that me, the soldier of soldiers, the brave stoic soldier of soldiers.  Oh that the moment in time to be good is here again.   Oh that it is a moment of no frustration, of no foolishness, of no ass backwards behavior.  Oh, if only.

As have been many that have come before, so often, so hard charging, so eminently luminous…..the past is prologue.  It sets that which must come next.  Our past was yesterday.  It will not bear on tomorrow.   Our reactions harsh and fearful and weak.  Our past small, narrow and petty.

We come from hard times and look through many prisms.  There has been frustration and false premise.  There has been false horizons and false dawns.  Actors act.  They wonder.  They cannot see yesterday.  They cannot see tomorrow.

Yesterday’s toys.

David Frum…The Week

http://theweek.com/article/index/214436/life-in-the-real-world

Roger Simon…Politico

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53477.html

The dumb …… the honored creed. The rancid bastards …… the true.

http://bschiff.com/

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Glory in the morning

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 30, 2011 by B Schiff

Power corrupts.  It corrupts mightily and famously.  It corrupts hedonisticlaly, morally, severely. It turns virtue on its head and relegates expression to a game.  Power fuels the laundered images of fear and the abject lack of restraint.  Power goads and practices, flails and takes what it takes.  It can be a serene thing  it can be a strong thing, a mocking thing, a self satisfied thing.  Power can shine like a beacon, drop like a stone, crush like a runaway truck.  It lures.  It calls.  It wants.  It produces sweet songs to calm the ear, sweet reason to sack the instincts.  It may turn away from its prey and seem to be something else, a trivial thing that hides itself  from challenges and flies sweetly from inspection.  Power knows.  It sweats.  It works very very hard. It knows itself.  It knows its dupes.  It glorifies all.

From The New York Review of Books

http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/apr/28/wall-street-leviathan/

From The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/standardized-tests-prove-im-better-than-michael-jordan/2011/03/29/AF4sdL4C_story.html

http://bschiff.com/   the rancid bastards ….. the true…..the dumb ……  the honored creed…..the books I am pushing .

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Cold warm water

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on April 28, 2011 by B Schiff

Sick questions are here to stay.   Sick questions are here today, tomorrow, forever and a day.  The weepers, the shouters, the deadly droll.  Paper our hearts with flimsy tears.   Paper our pockets with dew.  The streets of  mulch turn fallow and dry. The seeds of doubt are ever planted.

The worry.  The grumble.  The game of the lame   The worry.  The predicament.    In sickness and in health .   Beyond reproach the dead bargain away our time.  The dear seal our longings with the kiss.   The true kiss our longings with a seal.  Futures to go.  To have and to have not.  To will and to will not.

Simple colds and dead stress.  Cold warm water.  To live and die too damned well.

New Yorker…Bitter Pill

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2011/05/02/110502ta_talk_surowiecki

Fortune Magazine   Allan Sloan

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/15/paul-ryan-medicare-reform-hocus-pocus/

The dumb …… the honored creed. The rancid bastards …… the true.

http://bschiff.com/

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Kings and things

Posted in Commentary, News, Politics, Uncategorized, writing with tags , , , , , , , , , on April 24, 2011 by B Schiff

So what’s what?  So we know the issues, the stories, the problems.  We know the fears, the contradictions, the prejudices, the tall tales told by the tale tellers.  We get the flack.  We all know that the damned bastards are to blame, that the damned bastards don’t give a rat’s behind for the good of anyone but themselves.  If I were only king of the damned world, we say.  If I were only king of the damned world.  Then things would ge better, we say.  Then things would be a damned sight better.

Sun beams and moon beams frolic together on a merry mist as the bunnies and squirrels dance around the may pole and the little chipmunks do cartwheels 9in the park of our imaginations.

If only I were king of the world, we say,  Then candy canes and marshmallows would be floating in the sky.

If only.

Two for simple answers.

From The Atlantic

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/04/should-big-banks-be-regulated-as-utilities/237342/

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/12/us-education-is-much-better-than-you-think/68635/

The dumb …… the honored creed. The rancid bastards …… the true. http://bschiff.com/

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