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Books
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Stay out of Libya: counterinsurgency doesn’t work
A moment of some significance in journalism perhaps, as the New York Times reviews the current talked about book, The Wrong War: Grit, Strategy, and the Way Out of Afghanistan by Bing West. The author is no bleeding heart but a former assistant Defense Secretary from the Reagan era who stomped his way round the Afghan [...] read our review »
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Titanic: was it all right when it left here?
Not according to metallurgists Tim Foecke and Jennifer Hooper McCarty whose research has suggested that dodgy Harland and Wolff rivets were at fault for allowing the Titanic’s hull to be ripped apart by the pressure of the iceberg impact. With six of the hull’s chambers exposed to the Atlantic waters, the “unsinkable” ship lasted less [...] read our review »
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The Imperfectionists (Tom Rachman) – an insight into a newspaper that’s maybe not so fictional
‘news’ is often a polite way of saying ‘editor’s whim’ Given the shift from print to online and e-ink, maybe Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists was a suitable first first book for me to finish reading on the Kindle. Considering the economic pressures on the newspaper industry, his novel perhaps captures the spirit and soul of [...] read our review »
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Comment on Talking to Occupy Belfast camp in Writer’s Square
on 24 October 2011 at 7:39 pm
Rory, yes I have. When I say “some kind of capitalism,” what I mean is some kind of capitalism…
People at the top, people at the bottom. People at the top have the spoils. People at the bottom do pretty much what the people at the top say in order to get some of them. People at the bottom try to get to the top, people at the top try to avoid ending up at the bottom.
That’s human nature. Capitalism, as a large scale working system, runs on the same principle but allows for democracy and that in turn makes room for vagaries. The societies you are on about were randomly tyrannical, brutal, cruel and much worse than what we have today.
What we have ain’t perfect, but it makes the best of the way we are as animals, and animals we are. Capitalism, for all its faults, has allowed the human race to flourish. As a philosophy, it has prevailed. It has grown out of hell. It’s not perfect, but, as you know I will say, it’s the best we have.
Best way forward is to work on the working model, work on the good, address the bad. Throwing it out is simply not gonna happen, and if it did I dread what’s next because it will be invariably based on a principle that is good in itself, but unworkable when taking human (ie: animalistic) nature into account.
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Comment on Talking to Occupy Belfast camp in Writer’s Square
on 24 October 2011 at 6:52 pm
Righto Rory. Families and societies – the comparisons get yet more bizarre.
I’m for the demo because I’m not opposed to demos. And I’m for taxing the rich good and hard.
But, as an ordinary Joe with little money and a settled opinion on how things work, I’m unconvinced that humankind societies can function with any longevity without some kind of capitalism. I think, by and large, that’s been proven repeatedly around the world.
Anyway, we’re talking about a dozen souls in wet tents in Belfast here. I salute their passion and courage and the fact they’ll have something in common to laugh about in years to come.
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Comment on Talking to Occupy Belfast camp in Writer’s Square
on 24 October 2011 at 5:39 pm
Cheers Rory. Capitalism and capital punishment, sure they’re always comparable.
In all seriousness, with no trace of a silly accent, walk or comparison, let me put it like this: capitalism is far from perfect but it’s the best we have.
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Comment on Talking to Occupy Belfast camp in Writer’s Square
on 24 October 2011 at 4:08 pm
Spotted this ‘camp’ earlier. Massively depressing, but only because of the monsoon.
They’re not likely to bring down capitalism and, face it, their alternative (whatever it is) might lack thought. Not least because it’s unlikely to raise all or any of the taxes they’re trying to get off the rich.
Capitalism is far from perfect but it’s the best we have. As is this protest, and this democracy. Do what ya gots to do guys. Good luck – and don’t forget the wellies
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