One of the topics of fierce discussion (and disagreement) these days, both on this blog and in our country, centers around economic principles.  Specifically, the role of government in the economy when it comes to intangible goods from which everyone (is supposed) to benefit.  Think fire fighting, policing, schooling and, potentially, health insurance.

Ghandi said, "That economics is untrue which ignores or disregards moral values."

I suppose more than any other factor, what turns me off on radical/total free market-ism is its lack of morality...even its encouragement of amorality (as witnessed by economic disasters from Madoff to Enron to Goldman Sachs).

Do you believe there's a place for morality within economics? 
 
 
In my leisurely troll through past Oscar-winners, I ordered Kind Hearts and Coronets from Netflix a while back.  This week, with Dad and Sally up to care for me during chemo week, it seemed like a good time to play the Best Picture winner for 1949.  Sadly, it seems that the picture did NOT win an Oscar (as I'd been led to believe by Netflix) but a BAFTA.

Happily, it was a fine flick.

The plot concerns the son of a disinherited English woman and her son's growing obsession with regaining what he sees as his mother's birthright.  The role of the son, Louis, was played by Dennis Price.  Price had to more than hold his own against Alec Guinness (playing 8 members of the family D'Ascoyne) and against his two leading ladies, Valerie Hobson and Joan Greenwood.  Hobson plays the virtuous woman, Joan...not so much.

As expected for a film from 1949, KH&C has a different pace from today's films.  If one were to logline the movie these days to a potential producer, it would be Dexter meets The Pink Panther, and the film would be full of loud bangs, bloody spatter and at least a clever CSI agent or two.  Instead, we get a droll English lesson on envy and a delightful survey of Guinness's many skills as an actor.

Long story short, I'd recommend this BAFTA winner over Olivier's Hamlet any day.  Besides, I'd already seen that one. 
 
Humbling 11/17/2009
 
Under the topic of "Be Careful What You Wish For," I had a humbling experience yesterday.  Was Facebooking with a college chum and things turned to matters political.

I responded to a response, rather than to the article she'd posted and lo, there I was engaging the political.  Not the issue.

At the same time, I've been giving some thought to gossip lately (more on that at a later date) and it occurs to me that political tit-for-tatting shares a lot with gossip.  It's communication for putting the other person down/proving they're wrong and/or communication with the intent of aggrandizing yourself and your opinion.

So at least I've learned out of this how to parse my own communication better, especially on political issues.  Am I discussing the issue to grapple with solutions?  Or am I discussing it to show how right I am (in a left sort of way).

Good food for thought and, if I match my intentions and actions, it should improve my argumentation, too.
 
 
As a former Democratic political columnist, a liberal(ish) blogger and a fairly assertive woman--well, I get my share of forwarded emails and recycled Limbaugh/Fox News/Conservative Talk Radio opinions.

Mostly, I read them, point out factual errors and leave it at that.  I recently got one that I commented extensively on (apparently written as a guest blog for Glenn Beck and currently making its way around the internet as a forward).  My issues with the blog led me to do some thinking about what I want out of politicians, fellow citizens and myself when it comes to political thought and action.

So here's my list so far:

From Politicians I want:

--Proactive, problem solvers rather than obstructionists or mere party loyalists.
--Someone who's capable of looking beyond the next election cycle.
--Individuals who hold views that are consistent with their behavior (or who behave in a way that's internally consistent with their professed views).
--Someone who's more willing to work than posture.

From fellow citizens (and fellow discussers of matters political), I want:

-People who talk about problems and their solutions rather than politics.
--People who back up their arguments with facts and critical thinking.
--People who, when their arguments are challenged, discuss the challenge rather than change the subject.
--People who are willing to say, "I don't know."
--People who understand that someone can be perfectly intelligent and yet disagree with her or his take on an issue.
--People who do their homework.
--People who see the middle ground and the other side as worthy of both exploration and understanding.
--People who do more than get angry and write diatribes.

From myself, I want:

--All of what I asked above from fellow citiens.
--The ability to focus on the major issues, not the minor political tempests.
--To deal justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly.
 
 
Okay, I am ticked off about Maine.  There is no legitimate, governmental or cultural protection basis for denying same-sex marriage.

Other than that important issue, I find myself a bit flabbergasted by all the brouhaha on the left and the right about what the election of two Republican governors in Virginia and New Jersey.  As stated in an article in today's LA Times, this has some folks quite rattled.

Blue Dog (some call them moderate) Democrats are supposedly shaking in their boots over the idea that these two gubernatorial elections (quite different from congressional elections, imho) bode poorly for those who dare side with the "ultraliberal" Obama.

The problem with that argument is twofold:

1.  The Blue Dogs AREN'T siding with Obama.  Yet, anyway.
2.  At least one of the losing Democratic candidates in Tuesday's election distanced himself deliberately from Obama.  And lost.

I think the Blue Dogs will take more of a licking from independents if they continue to drag their feet and acquiesce to the party of "no" rather than the party that promised change and hope.

Just one chemo-soaked gal's opinion this fine Thursday.  (Somewhat bolstered by Anna Quindlen's recent Newsweek op-ed.)