The Hysterical Crowd on Georgia
by tdaxp ~ November 26th, 2008
Interesting that the same clique that was once saying that our only alternative to allying with Russia (supporting their military adventurism in Eurasia) as a “new Cold War” now claim that Russia’s humbling was inevitable, that oil prices would have collapsed anyway, that Russia is too small to matter, etc.
Trying to understand what things are inevitable is useful, I think. Asserting that whatever has happened is inevitable — and proves whatever you said in the first place — strikes me as more needy and childish.
The New York Times uses top 1% of income, not wealth. From the legend:...
November 26th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Dan
Even without a link, I think I know who you’re refering to, and it always struck me that the Russia/Georgia thing kind of threw him off his A-game.
Have you ever seen Warren Beatty’s excellent film “Reds”?[1] If you haven’t, you should, because its very good, but the situation you’re describing always reminds me of a scene towards the end of the film:
John Reed has spent the last several years spreading the Marxist gospel and extolling the possibilities of a proletariate revolution and now he has emmigrated to Russia to take part in, what he believes, is a true Marxist revolution. But the more he sees of the revolution the more doubts begin to build. Finally, he’s confronted by Emma Goldman (Maureen Stapleton), a fellow traveler who has lost complete faith in the Bolsheviks due to their violent, anti-democratic tactics. Reed responds by becoming enraged and answering her charges (and I’m paraphrasing)
“Of course there would be bloodshed, the bourgeois would never give up power willingly! Of course there must be dictatorship, people must be taught how communism works! This was never going to be easy – and anyone who thinks it should be is not a true revolutionary!”
For some reason, the type of thinking you’re describing always reminds me of that scene in the movie.
Happy Thanksgiving.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reds_(film)
November 26th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Dan-
On this topic I think our agreement is “Inevitable, and fine.”
S/F,
SE
November 26th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I hope the book can still be edited.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Reds is one of the best historical movies I have every seen.
November 26th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Heh.
Of course, my net worth really doesn’t depend on what a sovereign wealth fund thinks of what I blog, so there you go.
November 27th, 2008 at 6:03 am
I wish sovereign wealth funds were interested in my blog. Purplelog wants to go shopping!
November 29th, 2008 at 5:12 am
Heh. I can’t even sell sponsorship in a single chapter.
I agree with his recent post, btw. The new book is his best yet.