Politics in the Third Dimension (P3D)

There's a song by the band Shriekback called "Everything that Rises Must Converge." That's why how ole' John McCain could get so makey-outey with Russ Feingold, intellectually speaking, of course. Lemme splain.

Traditionally, we're taught to envision the political arena as a spectrum that offers Left, Right, Center, and the various spots inbetween. That's politics in one dimension, and most people are pretty much stuck there.

Some people, YT included, argue that the spectrum is, in fact, a circle that connects at totalitarianism. In plain English, Communisism IS Fascism IS Monarchy IS Colonialism. It's all Tyranny. This is politics in two dimensions. Not really that great a leap.

(If you went to public school in the 70's, you may now flash on that math movie, "Flat Land" about the square that encounters a sphere. Oh, yeah, and did you see "Why Man Creates?" Pretty trippy.)

Politics in three dimensions adds a vertical axis to the equation, and our visualization takes a remarkable turn. While Left and Right remain unchanged, that point where Tyranny joined the ends of the political spectrum descends to become the south pole of a sphere.

Totalitarianism's opposite -- Democracy -- ascends to become the north pole. (Santa, chillin' with the 76ers.)

Policies, laws and, most importantly, outcomes, can be judged as taking us up a notch to greater democracy, or taking us down a notch to greater tyranny.

At the tactical level, the question of left or right is immaterial. If the Christers actually get low recidivism in their drug rehab programs, God bless 'em. I'd far prefer closing the door on a prosteletizer to getting robbed by a crackhead. No question.

Wonks, Cranks and The Unwashed Masses

Science And Politics: Wonks and Cranks

The post at the link above is way too long to re-post here. The basic discussion is about whether policy experts (wonks) or political tacticians (cranks) are more valuable to Left Blogistan. But the author gives us real value with his breakdown of political movements into strata of involvement.

So far so good, but when they get down to the people they really need on their side to get anything done -- The Unwashed Masses -- they instantly fall into that "if you don't agree with me you're an idiot" wanking that served the Democrats so well in 2004.

(Sarcasm doesn't translate very well in print, does it? I'll put it straight: just because somebody disagrees with you, they are not necessarily stupid. And saying again and again and again how stupid Bush supporters are doesn't seems to help, either.)

I give my $0.02 in a comment at the end, pointing out that all the wonkery or crankery in the world does nothing to motivate the 50% of the country that sits out presidential elections. This is where anybody who wants to move the political needle needs to focus their energy.

Own the State

Know how commies are all "Smash the State" and such? I'm not crazy about cleaning up all that broken glass, so I have a better idea: Own the State.

Either way, the workers end up owning the means of production. And, my way, the means of production won't be on fire.

The hard part is not becoming the bourgeoise in the process. Clearly, it can be done with companies like Ben & Jerry, Starbucks, Costco, etc. proving that businesses don't have to screw the workers to make a buck.

But it is, oh, so tempting to take that little bit extra for yourself. I mean, "that little two percent is just sitting there kinda lonely. It'd probably be happier over here with these other percents."

But we will show discipline and hold ranks. It doesn't take a tremendous amount of wealth to leverage some serious reform. The key is to concentrate the force in a specific area like a particular a market niche or set of interrelated issues.

The important initial goals are to prove the value of progressive ecomonics in a free-market environment. (What the hell does that mean? Somebody tell me.) Only demonstrated success will create the mindset where socially conscious reform is again an accepted mainstream idea.

Entrepreneurial Socialism

I very much enjoy getting into political conversations with people who don't know me. I think of these as intellectual ambushes. My favorite target is conservatives, particularly the economic ones, but most GWLs fall for the bait, too.

If I say the words "national healthcare" or "public schools" without derision, I unerringly find a conversation. It usually goes something like this:

"I think a national system like in the rest of the industrialized world might not be a bad idea."

"Oh, great, more taxes to pay more beauracracy. You pinkos just love to raise taxes 'cuz you're never the one payin' em."

"Oh, you're probably right. Hey, what's your experience rate?"

"My what?"

"Your experience rate. Most states calculate a business's unemployment tax based on their history, or experience, in hiring, firing and laying off. Mine is 2.25%, but I'm a new business. Hell, I don't even know if that's high or low. What's yours?"

"I dunno. My company pays it."

"What, you're not an employer? What the hell do you know about paying taxes. I pay enough taxes to whine like a Republican. But I don't whine. I pay my share and them pour myself a nice cup of STFU."

"Oh, I..."

"Frankly, I'm not so concerned about what I pay. I'm pissed about what we get in return. Overseas wars and trickle down..."

And so on.

Do yourself the favor: start a business, pay your taxes and then ambush unsuspecting losers. It's great.

TOTM Special -- Tyranny in Action

Professor Hubbard's commentary on NPR's Marketplace is all the proof you need that the US markets are not only manipulated, but manipulated by such moron's that any politicos to the left of and with a greater heart rate than Increase Mather should fire themselves immediately for general incompetence. (Not you, Governor Dean, please return to your seat.)

His (Dean of Columbia Business School Professor Glenn Hubbard's) thesis -- that workers pay the employer portion of Social Security and Medicare taxes in the form of lower wages -- is so boldly ridiculous that I scarcely heard his commentary for my laughter.

One problem with your dreamland scenario, Professor Hibbard. The capitalists never seem to raise the wages. Productivity in the US is at an all-time high. Wages, meanwhile, are dropping! Check it!

Nobody at Marketplace seems concerned with the fact that they're enabling a tyranny. (Note to Public Radio (Intl): Check facts on commentators!)

I hope nobody asked Santa for some TrickleDown(R) for Christmas...