Einherjar86
Active Member
I don't think he's saying that Trump is going to be the source of these "big awakenings." But then, it's often difficult to know exactly what Žižek is saying.
Dakryn's Batshit Theory of the Week
- Thread starter Ender Rises
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Dak
mentat
Yeah he's pretty clear that he thinks Trump has his own issues (which he does). I think the point is that if Trump wins - if he's not being put up there himself - this will instigate some major changes in how politics/consensus making works in the US. The various wings of the Cathedral if you will, will have to re-evaluate how they operate.
Dak
mentat
I guess this goes here: I have such a broad range of response to the Trump win depending on the angle. I think the most positive response is to the fucking meltdown I knew would occur - mostly amongst those vocal liberal women - but also amongst populations I happen to be immersed in in general. This election has revealed a lot of underlying truths about the irrationality of humanity, and has been totally amazing for my own personal ongoing education in observing humanity. My cynicism grows exponentially yet somehow I still care about humanity. It's more than I can say for all of the liberals I encounter. They have an inverse correlation between their cynicism and care.
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Einherjar86
Active Member
Dak
mentat
Einherjar86
Active Member
That is what I figured. 
I'm not sure of which liberals you're speaking so generally, but I think you might be mistaking theoretical motivations or concerns for a lack of care. Abstracted methodologies can sometimes appear cold and uninterested in the lives of individuals.
I'm not sure of which liberals you're speaking so generally, but I think you might be mistaking theoretical motivations or concerns for a lack of care. Abstracted methodologies can sometimes appear cold and uninterested in the lives of individuals.
Dak
mentat
That is what I figured.
I'm not sure of which liberals you're speaking so generally, but I think you might be mistaking theoretical motivations or concerns for a lack of care. Abstracted methodologies can sometimes appear cold and uninterested in the lives of individuals.
Not any liberal intellectuals. I mean your average Democrat etc personal emotional orientations.
Dak
mentat
rms
Active Member
Einherjar86
Active Member
Haha, that's actually one part of it that I remember definitely agreeing with. I mean, not in any ethical sense, just an economic one. It's the same for student loans. I agree that student loans are an outrageous amount and a tremendous burden to pay off, but they're tremendous because a growing number of students aren't getting the high-paying jobs to pay off those loans.
I'm against privatizing education, but my reasons are different than those discussed in the SSC post or the original article. As far as the piece goes, it is very good I think; but both authors seem to be assuming that "efficiency" is an agreed-upon objective, and that it's easily measurable. The problem with addressing the growing education crisis via the market is that educational efficiency (whatever it is, or whatever it looks like) isn't easily measurable in economic terms.
I'm against privatizing education, but my reasons are different than those discussed in the SSC post or the original article. As far as the piece goes, it is very good I think; but both authors seem to be assuming that "efficiency" is an agreed-upon objective, and that it's easily measurable. The problem with addressing the growing education crisis via the market is that educational efficiency (whatever it is, or whatever it looks like) isn't easily measurable in economic terms.
Dak
mentat
I don't understand disagreeing with the payday lender issue. The profit margin is the proof. You can argue that they "take advantage of poor people" because these people shouldn't be loaned money, but then that sort of orientation towards poor people has it's own issues.
rms
Active Member
like the article suggests though, Starbucks is 9% profit and they are obviously doing damn fine. There's a surplus of those piece of shit loaning agencies near poor areas, I don't believe they are 'struggling' to stay afloat
Dak
mentat
The profit margin averaged across 7 publically traded payday lending companies which included pawn shops were nearly 50% less and "pure" payday lenders were roughly 75% less profitable than "real" lenders, who have have an average of 13.04%. The payday lending companies may not be "hurting for business", but they aren't nearly as profitable as the "non-predatory" lenders. For every sobstory you hear about someone trying to pay back all this interest, you have a ton who don't pay it back.
Edit: Obviously the piece of that writeup I liked the most was talking about the opportunity for "small business home schools" through such a voucher program as he discussed.
Dak
mentat
Jimmy... Dead.
contemplative curmudgeon
zabu of nΩd
Free Insultation
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Dak
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Dak
mentat
https://curryja.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/curry-senate-testimony-2015.pdf
Senate testimony by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Curry
Skeptics have a right.
Senate testimony by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Curry
Skeptics have a right.
Dak
mentat
