Maximum Advantage in all Things

How Desperate Are You?

2012-05-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

See Here (from my other Blog).

On Total War

2012-05-20T19:06:00.005-07:00

Technology demands total war. Blood disputes need not be so harmful. Feuding is less nauseating. Physically killing someone is far more personal than collateral damage. One must have the courage to face, even embrace, the destructive drives within the shadows.

College Debt Slavery

2012-05-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

As I've noted before, I was lucky in that I did not need to borrow for college or graduate school. I couldn't find a job after I was finished in 1993, but it did not really matter. For young adults attending college now, the story is quite different. They have been screwed hard. College has become so unaffordable that over 90% of students had to take on some form of debt to graduate. Unlike most other forms of debt, they cannot default as the government has created a system of usury that makes those who attend college a debt slave. College is not worth attending anymore unless one can pay these debts in a reasonable amount of time after leaving school. See A Generation Hobbled by the Soaring Cost of College via Colleges as Merchants of Debt, which points out:

I’ve never understood when (once in a while) someone (clearly young) shows up in comments and rails against Social Security and Medicare because of the burden it imposes on him. Now I get it. The student debt issue is deepening social fractures. If young people are asked to stand on their own, and given only unpalatable choices (forego a college degree, the entrance ticket to middle class life, or accept debt slavery at a tender age), no wonder they adopt a “devil take the hindmost” attitude. I hope some of these people who so cavalierly argue for loading up the next generation with debt realize that the young may not want to take care of them either, and they are far more at risk. The outcome of cutting social safety nets to the elderly ultimately means that old people will die faster.

Such is the price in shafting the young.

On Sanity

2012-05-12T09:23:00.001-07:00

Sanity is defined according to herd norms which necessarily vary according to the age, culture and society. Indeed many modern human would likely be judged insane by pre-industrial standards. Our obsession with time is a case in point. Yet by present precepts, those older notions might appear counter to apparent survival instincts. A driver in heavy, fast traffic cannot always wait to act. Horses will refuse drunken commands, but an automobile has no more intelligence than a rock. Constant attention is required. The maladaptive appears to be relative. Even extremes may vary. Yesterday's mystic or berserker is today's lunatic. Balance depends upon circumstances. The civilizing process stunts certain traits while promoting others. However, paradoxically, certain atavistic characteristics are occasionally called upon for survival or even the supposed benefit of society. A certain level of agitation is necessary to ensure these traits are not submerged too deeply. Unfortunately, the conflicting stimuli may drive some over the edge, resulting in simmering resentment and pointless violence. For those who feel the urge to snap, a certain hope may sustain them through the dark night. In its present form, our civilization is doomed. The time for revenge must wait. The official power structure must do everything in its power to convince us otherwise...

The Failed Science

2012-05-05T09:01:00.000-07:00

More on why economics is not a science:

Economics has failed us: but where are the fresh voices? There aren't any.

Why Paul Krugman is Full of Shit. And this joke (like all the rest) one a Nobel prize? It is telling when the bar is so low.

New jobs decline for second straight month. More on the fantasy of "recovery."

On Politics

2012-04-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

1. Politics is a disease inflicted on the stupid by the opportunistic.

2. Politically, If you get something you'll probably find you don't want it.

3. Politics undermines the state by making it look like a corrupt circus.

4. A crooked used-care salesman is someone too honest to succeed as a politician.

Fiction and Myth as Propaganda

2012-04-21T09:50:00.002-07:00

i. Except for the faithful, outright lies are not well received. Truth may be abused, but not shattered. Under the strain, the world may break. Ground must be prepared. Ignorance must be nurtured. The big lies are best told to the desperate. Even as the old lies are recycled, new concepts are required. Subtlety is longer lasting and more efficient than harassment.

ii. For the liar, fiction and myth are superior tools. Fiction is grand. Myths are sublime. The successful opportunist believes propaganda, and thereby becomes honest. History has always been re-written by the slanted premises of the ruling elite. In a wired age, they must actually believe. Hence, the elite are doomed to wade with everyone else.

iii. Fiction is beyond morality. Beliefs are suspended. How could it be any other way?

iv. For a decadent, confusing fact from fiction is an essential quality of leadership. Those believing otherwise wrongly believe they do not live in such a world. Their projections make their reality unreachable.

On Circular Arguments

2012-04-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Circular arguments are analogous to mathematical proof by example. A counter-example will logically disprove such claims, but it may not receive a balanced hearing. The dictates of logic are rarely followed by the human condition. People want to believe that which makes them comfortable with their place in the world. Very few intentionally agitate themselves by de-constructing society by mentally pulling it apart. A damaged machine seems to be preferable to one that is known to be broken. One can accommodate cultural fact, or pretend that logical appeals mean something to the majority.

Yet Another Example of Why Economics is Not a Science

2012-04-13T18:05:00.001-07:00

From Exponential Economist Meets Finite Physicist:

The evening’s after-dinner keynote speech began, so we had to shelve the conversation. Reflecting on it, I kept thinking, “This should not have happened. A prominent economist should not have to walk back statements about the fundamental nature of growth when talking to a scientist with no formal economics training.” But as the evening progressed, the original space in which the economist roamed got painted smaller and smaller.

First, he had to acknowledge that energy may see physical limits. I don’t think that was part of his initial virtual mansion.

Next, the efficiency argument had to shift away from straight-up improvements to transformational technologies. Virtual reality played a prominent role in this line of argument.

Finally, even having accepted the limits to energy growth, he initially believed this would prove to be of little consequence to the greater economy. But he had to ultimately admit to a floor on energy price and therefore an end to traditional growth in GDP—against a backdrop fixed energy.

I got the sense that this economist’s view on growth met some serious challenges during the course of the meal. Maybe he was not putting forth the most coherent arguments that he could have made. But he was very sharp and by all measures seemed to be at the top of his game. I choose to interpret the episode as illuminating a blind spot in traditional economic thinking. There is too little acknowledgement of physical limits, and even the non-compliant nature of humans, who may make choices we might think to be irrational—just to remain independent and unencumbered.

A failure to consider, or even acknowledge fundamental physical laws demonstrates that what passes for "mainstream" economics is not a science, but an ideology, at best, and a joke, at worst. (Neither is Marxist economics a science--predetermination was proven to be a fallacy long ago.)

Perhaps, economics could become a real science, as the author acknowledges later in the text, but it isn't there yet.

On Intellectual Product

2012-04-12T19:03:00.000-07:00

A creator need not be a producer, but may eventually become one. In the present social order the only apparent choices for dissemination are giving or selling. Although intellectual product may start out as a state of mind, once sold, it becomes a commodity. Merchandise is a thing. A product is owned. Anything past its originator reduces its brilliance. More importantly, it can be resold. Each transaction further reduces intellectual product to something solid. It may degrade but it never changes. By failing to grow, even if birthed by sublime genius, intellectual product stagnates. Anything building upon it is therefore erected on a rotten foundation. Since nothing is examined[1] by industrialization, mass production is even worse. The political spectrum is among the more glaring examples, but even subcultural works are susceptible. The mass mind has no insight.

Widespread dissemination necessitates a lower level of sophistication. Reflective contemplation is not necessary to get the point. The simplistic is understandable by the greatest number. Fleeting in nature, fashionable appeal is neither meaning nor significance. It will eventually return if someone can find a way to make money.

Some feed upon commodity. These vicarious sorts desire the mental stimulation but lack the ability to create their own works. Even bad art is better than sucking up.

Few even care to try creating their own vision. The greater society gives creativity beyond the economic sphere lip service, but no real support. If it cannot be sold, then imagination is viewed as a self-indulgent waste of time. The public education system certainly does nothing to oppose the commodification of intellectual life. Creativity for its own sake is either reserved for the elite, or the economic exploitation[2] of the naive.

A stupid population is easiest to pacify, if not control, through diversion. Questions mean nothing unless and until the appropriate question is asked. A critical, analytical eye sees much where others see little. No status quo could exist if the masses developed sight. Projected shadows would cease to appear so menacing. An opportunist depends upon blindness. General knowledge and the ability to apply it are not valued. Important bridges remain unappreciated. True intellectuals have started revolutions and felt their own strength. What passes for such these days are easily ignored mindless parrots. Occasionally, one will hear these idiots cry forth in despair that nobody is really listening or understands. It never occurs that perhaps no one should. Reason is unfathomable. Perhaps the fault lies with the communicator...

[1] Analysis is not necessarily examination.

[2] The tech industry has certainly proven this observation true.

On Culture and Commodification

2012-04-09T09:54:00.001-07:00

i. Culture manifests and imprints itself across all segments of society. The past contains many shared perceptions which may be built upon for Maximum Advantage. A common example is evoking Hitler to justify foreign intervention, even when few parallels exist, to successfully quiet opposition.

ii. Intellectual and material achievements are often unearthed from a nostalgic past to rationalize reactionary policies and movements. Things were so much better in the past. The single largest mistake was probably leaving the trees, but only a few bring sentiment so far by espousing all civilization a lie. The herd needs a reason to believe getting up for work is worth it. Hopes should not be too specific. Sacrifice must seem worthwhile. War dead is probably one of the most powerful tools to this end. Horror has to mean something... Values need to be defined and require common acceptance. The system will grind to a halt if the herd was encouraged to mindlessly mill about. Nothing must appear to be something. Propaganda has its limits. The irrational is difficult to harness, but represents true power by those that manage to do so. Backlash sentiments are easiest to invoke and exploit among opponents.

iii. Commodification is a social weapon. Consumerism is a faith. Material objects bring fulfillment. The glittering new malaise is preferable to the old malaise. The opportunist should never underestimate public stupidity. Conformity can even become rebellion. Official positions are shown in the best light. Major media outlets know who butters their bread. Well paid journalists are players in the economic order. Anyone heavily invested will necessarily support the entire economic order. Their money is their only freedom (whatever that means). Economic clout represents the path of least resistance. Money does not mean everything. "Maximum" may always be redefined....

(From a work in progress...)

Re: Sociopaths

2012-04-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

From Sociopaths, closed minds and a bit of Mayan cosmology:

Yes, and more. There was an article in the EU Observer this week (April 3, 2012) – EU ‘surprised’ by Portugal’s unemployment rate – which I had to re-read a few times to check that I was actually reading the words correctly. The dialogue presented was so shocking that it raises fundamental questions about how one is [to] interact with the economics debate. Then I read some more articles this week which investigated why mainstream economics retains its dominance in the face of its catastrophic failure to explain anything of importance to humanity. Closed minds are very resistant to change especially when socio-pathological dimensions are present.

Sociopaths just don't make for good science (which is why economics is not a science), but they are good for business (assuming you don't actually follow their advice). The inmates are running the asylum.

Philosophy and Social Knowledge

2012-04-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

Read Philosophy and social knowledge:

The philosophy of social science is a group of research traditions that are intended to shed light on various aspects of the intellectual effort of understanding and explaining social phenomena. In brief, it is the study of the social sciences from the point of view of the quality of knowledge they offer, the types of explanations they advance, and the important conceptual problems that are raised in the course of social science research. Core questions include: What are the scope and limits of scientific knowledge of society? What is involved in arriving at a scientific understanding of society? What are the most appropriate standards for judging proposed social explanations? Is there such a thing as social causation? How are social theories and assertions to be empirically tested? How do social facts relate to facts about individuals?

Interesting.

On Unstable Equilibrium 3.2

2012-04-07T10:26:00.002-07:00

A push can be gradual or excessive. Hard landings are painful.

On Unstable Equilibrium 3.1

2012-03-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

Stability is a trough that can lead to stagnation. Sometimes instability is the only thing that can push it beyond.

The Baffler is back!

2012-03-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

After several years, a new Baffler has finally found its way to my mail box. Thomas Frank is back to his old style with Too Smart to Fail: Notes on an Age of Folly:

But what rankles now is our failure, after each of these disasters, to come to terms with how we were played. Each separate catastrophe should have been followed by a wave of apologies and resignations; taken together— and given that a good percentage of the pundit corps signed on to two or even three of these idiotic storylines—themy mandated mass firings in the newsrooms and op-ed pages of the nation. Quicker than you could say “Ahmed Chalabi,” an entire generation of newsroom fools should have lost their jobs.

But that’s not what happened. Plenty of journalists have been pushed out of late, but the ones responsible for deluding the public are not among them. Neocon extraordinaire Bill Kristol won a berth at the New York Times (before losing it again), Charles Krauthammer is still the thinking conservative’s favorite, George Will drones crankily on, Thomas Friedman remains our leading dispenser of nonsense neologisms, and Niall Ferguson wipes his feet on a welcome mat that will never wear out. The day Larry Kudlow apologizes for slagging bubble-doubters as part of a sinister left-wing trick is the day the world will start spinning in reverse. Standard & Poor’s first leads the parade of folly (triple-A’s for everyone!), then decides to downgrade U.S. government debt, and is taken seriously in both endeavors. And the prospect of Fox News or CNBC apologizing for their role in puffing war bubbles and financial bubbles is no better than a punch line: what they do is the opposite, launching new movements that stamp their crumbled fables “true” by popular demand.

The real mistake was my own. I believed that our public intelligentsia had succumbed to an amazing series of cognitive failures; that time after time they had gotten the facts wrong, ignored the clanging bullshit detector, made the sort of mistakes that would disqualify them from publishing in The Baffler, let alone the Washington Post.

It's not too shocking that he can't publish something like this in a book, since that particular industry is responsible for these hacks. The Age of Mediocrity is still chugging along just fine.

Anyway, as a reader since 1995, I highly recommend this journal. Bashing business culture is lots of fun.

On Unstable Equilibrium 2.2

2012-03-18T08:52:00.002-07:00

A bounce is twice the hit.

On Unstable Equilibrium 2.1

2012-03-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

A system may be in a state of unstable equilibrium, but this says nothing about the potential of its fall.

Democracy?

2012-03-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

The West claims to be democratic, but the reality is far different as discussed Here. It's all about money, which is the definition of a Plutocracy. A system with the trappings of democracy do not make it one. (Note that Pluto was the Greek god of death, which is very apropos considering the present state of Europe. Foreshadowing?) Perhaps it is impossible to sustain a large scale democratic republic as it is destined to degenerate into a plutocracy. Maybe it only works in small scale, where it is easier to hold those in power accountable. In the US, this would generally imply that nothing larger than a county government could be democratic.

On Unstable Equilibrium 1.2

2012-03-07T17:22:00.000-08:00

Prediction is generally impossible for most complex situations, but patterns may be discerned. Thus, at certain periods the path forward is all too clear. In societal affairs, vested interests will throw a great deal of resources into maintaining the status quo. The amount required is proportional to the level of systemic instability. Hence crisis provides the opportunity for discerning such.

On Unstable Equilibrium 1.1

2012-03-05T22:22:00.002-08:00

Unstable equilibrium may exist in a perfectly balanced state. It is ready to roll. The question is direction. If the situation is analyzed it may be possible to influence the ultimate path; then again, it might not. If the latter, unless the potential for sufficient impulse exists, one should move out of the way.

On Unstable Equilibrium 1.0

2012-03-03T00:35:00.001-08:00

1.0 Unstable equilibrium is a precarious balance. A small push can send the unstable object falling one way or another. Like physical objects, social systems, cultures, economies, religions, governments and other human constructs may exist in such as state. Unlike the boulder balanced upon a pebble, the critical point is difficult to identify until after the fact of its collapse. Its boundaries are unknowable, yet graspable with insight, intuition and observation. Absent such, false interfaces are much more likely to take hold. Most cannot get high enough to see far; others all too easily. Boosts do not leave an appreciation for the climb. In the end, all problems seem too easy--yet still overwhelming. The view is not much help. Details matter.

Inflated Egos

2012-02-22T18:25:00.000-08:00

Inflated egos beg to be popped.

Austerity

2012-02-21T08:30:00.002-08:00

Austerity is only good for someone else.

Looking Over

2012-02-20T16:57:00.000-08:00

Looking over ones shoulder whilst running increases the risk of tripping or running into something. Why is abstract thought less likely to remember this caution?