Signs Of Our Decline, cont...

April 23rd, 2012

Over at Forbes, Steven Salzberg notes a troubling development:

"The University of Florida announced this past week that it was dropping its computer science department, which will allow it to save about $1.7 million. The school is eliminating all funding for teaching assistants in computer science, cutting the graduate and research programs entirely, and moving the tattered remnants into other departments.

Let’s get this straight: in the midst of a technology revolution, with a shortage of engineers and computer scientists, UF decides to cut computer science completely?"

The short-sightedness of this decision would be bad enough on its own merits. But, as Salzberg notes, it gets worse:

"Meanwhile, the athletic budget for the current year is $99 million, an increase of more than $2 million from last year. The increase alone would more than offset the savings supposedly gained by cutting computer science."

If you're asking yourself how this could possibly make sense, you need look no further than the big media contracts such as this one between FU and such corporations as Fox Sports.

This is the current culture in microcosm. Investments with vast yet non-immediate returns are abandoned in favor of the quick buck.

If we truly find ourselves in a losing economic position opposite China or the EU a generation from now, we will need to look back no further than decisions like this one for explanation.

The View From Abroad - GOP Field Edition

Dec 3rd, 2011

Wow. And we thought it looked bad up close. Mark Pitzke writes for Der Spiegel:

"Africa is a country. In Libya, the Taliban reigns. Muslims are terrorists; most immigrants are criminal; all Occupy protesters are dirty. And women who feel sexually harassed -- well, they shouldn't make such a big deal about it.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the US Republicans. Or rather, to the twisted world of what they call their presidential campaigns. For months now, they've been traipsing around the country with their traveling circus, from one debate to the next, one scandal to another, putting themselves forward for what's still the most powerful job in the world.

As it turns out, there are no limits to how far they will stoop.

It's true that on the road to the White House all sorts of things can happen, and usually do. No campaign can avoid its share of slip-ups, blunders and embarrassments. Yet this time around, it's just not that funny anymore. In fact, it's utterly horrifying.

It's horrifying because these eight so-called, would-be candidates are eagerly ruining not only their own reputations and that of their party, the party of Lincoln lore. Worse: They're ruining the reputation of the United States."

That these folks are not just damaging their party's brand but the country's is an ominous sign. It would serve the GOP voters well to remember that the President's primary obligation is to lead internationally as our Commander in Chief.

Down The Rabbit Hole With The GOP, cont...

Oct 30th, 2011

A short time ago, one of our favorite sites, The Political Carnival, highlighted an astounding piece from Republican strategist Ed Rogers. Writing earlier this week for the WaPo's "Insiders" section, Rogers casually stated the following:

"Even though Cain won’t be the nominee, his candidacy tells us a lot about the psychology of GOP activists.

Our team wants someone authentic, creative, fresh, bold and likeable.

And we don’t have much tolerance for too many facts or too much information.

In politics, a bumper sticker always beats an essay. Cain’s 9-9-9 is a bumper sticker; Romney’s economic plan is an essay. Perry’s rationale for giving the children of undocumented workers in-state college tuition rates is an essay. No hand-outs for illegal aliens is an effective bumper sticker." EMPHASIS OURS

This is not merely anti-intellectualism. It's the idolatry of rank stupidity. And that sums it up. What the Republican elites are apparently seeking, during the most complex economic crises of the post-industrial era, is the stupidest human being they can possibly find to run for the Presidency of the United States.

Sleep tight.