Of Libertarian Populism

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First, right-wing populism in America has always amounted to white identity politics, which is why the only notable libertarian-leaning politicians to generate real excitement among conservative voters have risen to prominence through alliances with racist and nativist movements. Ron Paul’s racist newsletters were not incidental to his later success, and it comes as little surprise that a man styling himself a “Southern Avenger” numbers among Rand Paul’s top aides. This is what actually-existing right-wing libertarian populism looks like, and that’s what it needs to look like if it is to remain popular, or right-wing. Second, political parties are coalitions of interests, and the Republican Party is the party of the rich, as well as the ideological champion of big business. A principled anti-corporatist, pro-working-class agenda stands as much chance in the GOP as a principled anti-public-sector-union stance in the Democratic Party. It simply makes no sense.

-- W. Wilkinson at The Economist

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Ellen Page and Freegans

Ellen Page gives us an interesting reaction to the rich living of the Hollywood class.

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“Every morning when I wake up and open my eyes I am unwillingly oppressing a lot of people and the environment to live in the privilege that I have — that we all have living in this area of the world. Not that everyone in this area of the world experiences that. And that’s a hard thing. I think that is something a lot of people are dealing with right now and it is hard to know if running away to the woods and becoming a freegan is the best choice, or do we stay in the infrastructure we’ve inherited and do our best to create positive change? I don’t necessarily know the answer. Maybe I’m just being a selfish jerk.”

-- Ellen Page

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How authentic can this be? “Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.” This is catching on in Hollywood? Hah!

Casanova: Lucie (Part 2)

We continue with the Lucie story. On the next morning, Monsieur Casanova gets a little bolder with the charming lass in order to try the waters.

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In the morning, the moment my eyes were opened, I rang the bell, and pretty Lucie came in, simple and natural as before, with her easy manners and wonderful remarks. Her candour, her innocence shone brilliantly all over her person. I could not conceive how, with her goodness, her virtue and her intelligence, she could run the risk of exciting me by coming into my room alone, and with so much familiarity. I fancied that she would not attach much importance to certain slight liberties, and would not prove over-scrupulous, and with that idea I made up my mind to shew her that I fully understood her. I felt no remorse of conscience on the score of her parents, who, in my estimation, were as careless as herself; I had no dread of being the first to give the alarm to her innocence, or to enlighten her mind with the gloomy light of malice, but, unwilling either to be the dupe of feeling or to act against it, I resolved to reconnoitre the ground. I extend a daring hand towards her person, and by an involuntary movement she withdraws, blushes, her cheerfulness disappears.

-- Giacomo Casanova, The Memoirs

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Casanova holds back No animal is he. He restores the bond of trust he has with Lucie and ventures another stratagem for the next morning.

Pop

Pop came back early. He then spends about the whole evening working on that ultra-long electrical cord that he got for the new weed-eater and blower. He tried his new lawn toys a couple of days ago, and he got the cord all tangled up, confirming my worst concerns about this new gear he got. If he still tries to use them, after all this trouble he is struggling through, I will be utterly impressed. I cannot imagine suffering that now, much less in my seventies. But he still has some vigor and determination. I wish I could have that in my seventies, in addition to the money to support myself without having to get a job.

Daily Fun

"Gravity - "I've Got You" [HD]" (Watch on YouTube)

ONTD

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