Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
"It was inevitable that Mitt Romney’s career at Bain Capital would feature prominently in the presidential race, because both candidates need to exploit it in order to win." Here's how the issue is playing out politically
"An unprecedented infusion of money from America's monied elites underscores the radical transformation of the Republican Party, which has made defending the interests of the 0.0001% the basis of its platform." Meet the donors
"As it prepares to transfer authority to elected civilian leaders, the Egyptian military is still the most potent political force in the country. The struggle to assert civilian supremacy will take years and is by no means assured"
"The presidential elections are very far from being fair because the Military Council has set the rules in order to obtain the result that it wants. It is a decisive battle between the revolution and the Mubarak regime"
On the rhetoric of Greek political parties, as we approach new elections: "Suicide is the negation of a certain type of politics. Even as a rhetorical device, suicide remains an act rather than a word; and democracy needs words"
"In the interest of civility and electoral prudence, neither Obama nor Romney can initiate a conversation about what it means to be Mormon. The rest of us should, because the story is complicated, fascinating, and utterly American"
"Ironically, it seems that the Egyptians, having staged the first popular revolution in their history, are being asked not to choose the future but to choose between various versions of an imagined glorious past"
"Libertarians might be wrong about what helps and what hurts. Maybe we’re mistaken in our policy prescriptions. But those mistakes, if they exist, aren’t because we 'care' less than liberals"
"If proof were needed of the maxim that the road to hell is paved with good intentions, the economic crisis in Europe provides it." Short, sharp piece on how eurozone crisis is damaging notions of democracy and social justice
There may be no good options, but can history guide us to the least bad ones? Let's consider: German reunification, collapse of Austria-Hungary, Argentina's abandonment of dollar peg, 14th century Florence, 20th century Panama
Germany has done exceptionally well out of the euro project. And now with Greece in crisis they find themselves with much to lose. Syriza leader, Alexis Tsipras, clearly recognises this. And he's prepared to use it against them
"The sensible question is not whether China will replace the US, but whether it will start to acquire some of the attributes of a world power, particularly a sense of responsibility for global order." And this has no clear answer
Anonymous Former Intelligence Officer, on negotiation
"Know what you want - and remember that whatever your bottom line is, there's always another line below that"
