The great switch

The talk of the day is the new book by Douthat and Salam. There are at least two reasons why it is getting attention: first because the political right-wing is desperate for new ideas. More importantly because the book reflects the big, dramatic, unimaginable (only a generation ago) 'change of seats' that has been taking place in American politics. The Democratic party, which used to represent the (largely "ethnic" and Catholic) working classes, has become the party of the more ideological, affluent liberal bourgeoisie. Conversely, the authors argue, the Republican party (traditionally regarded as the party of the moneyed elites) is bound to become the party of the "socially conservative" working classes, while keeping its allegiance to the principles of limited state intervention in society and in the economy. Obviously, this shift is extremely relevant to the Catholic presence in the US, which for many decades identified itself politically with the Democratic party. It is not by chance that several of the young new writers mentioned by David Brooks are Catholic (e.g. Douthat and Ponnuru).

Pyramid scheme

The paradox is that by abolishing vocational training and forcing everybody to go to college, "educational ideologues" have also made it hard to get a higher education, since most affordable colleges are now run like, well... vocational schools!

Who is this man?

This points to a larger concern that many people "feel" about Barak Obama and that may still keep him from the presidency. That deep down he is completely shaped by the mainstream liberal post-marxist ideology of the academic and media elites. Which many people in the US perceive, perhaps unconsciously, as a threat to their way of life.

True to what?

Peggy Noonan also grasps well what Tim Russert represented, and how different US culture has become.

Where you come from

A colleague remembers Tim Russert.

Orphaned

Staggering statistics on children without fathers.

Elite ideology

A nice essay on the way in which feminism has ended up helping economic expansion rather that human development.

Old vs. new

Peggy Noonan's list is interesting.

Freedom to offend

When people are certain about their identity, they are not easily offended, nor are they willing to give the state the power to "protect" them, since a healthy society has many ways to "tar and feather" outrageus doctrines. Unfortunately we are witnessing a double trend in which, while the cultural fabric of society weakens, the power of the state becomes more absolute.
David Warren has a good column on the subject.

Rapture for nerds

Some supposedly intelligent people are putting their faith in the singularity.

Philantropy

Is aid bad for Africa?

Pilgrimage to the mall

Apparently, modern pilgrims are very brand conscious.

"Believe me, ladies, we’re not worth it"

A classic Antony Lane review. There is a perverse irony in the way feminism, by ideologically affirming women as "independendent" beings, seems to have really made them much less free...

Wait and see...

Is the XXth century faith in the state really dying?
Or is it British society that is dying and is no longer able to sustain freedom?

Green Leninism

Charles Krauthammer on what environmentalism" represents for a certain type of people.