Constitutional crises threaten when a single authority can direct all three branches of U.S. government. At present, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell can prevent or promote an appointment to the Supreme Court, stop any legislation, and enforce a party loyalty system that blindly follows the President. Continue reading
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Blog 145. The Backyard Fence
In those neighborhoods where single-family houses still exist, back yards are usually fenced. So are some front yards. Why is this? What motivates us to put up fences when a once-popular western song was Don’t Fence Me In? Continue reading
Blog 143. Blaming the consequences of climate
We experience events, not the global situation, but the world seems simpler if we can trace each event to a cause. However, within a complex system, an event cannot be ascribed to a unique “cause.” Birds flock and fish school and the stock market tumbles due to the many interactions among the participating individuals. Continue reading
Blog 139. American Angst Part 7 of 7: Synopsis
The main function of government is to protect the commons—those things that maintain and benefit society as a whole. That’s law and order. Continue reading
Blog 138. American Angst Part 6 of 7: Relieving angst in a complex system
The daily TV news sustains the angst in America,* but unlike the repetitive TV news, the situation isn’t hopeless.
The known science of complex systems indicates the route to remedy: alter the rules of interaction among the players. Continue reading
Blog 136. American Angst Part 4 of 7: Sliding into Fascism
America is split many ways: the divide between rich and poor,(1) educated versus uneducated, the elite versus the common person. We’re beset by a self-perpetuating crime and poverty in the bottom economic class because those individuals justifiably feel hopeless. It’s the middle classes that should be hopeful, Continue reading
Blog 135. American Angst Part 3 of 7: Engineered Inequality
America has greater inequality than any other advanced country.[1]
Among the advanced countries of the world, America has the greatest wealth, but also the greatest inequality in wealth. The U.S. ranks 27th out of 27 high-income countries in median wealth per adult. The top 1% took home 22% of all income in 2015. Continue reading
Blog 126. The uncommon commons
We have commonly-held assumptions regarding common people, the common good, and especially the common ground. These ideas are drifting away. Even common-law marriage has morphed into being “hooked up.” Continue reading