Big Think

Garrett A commented on What Drives the Fundamentalist? on March 21, 2008, 9:17 AM

It must be pointed out that she is mostly referring to the recent Gallup poll that has been conducted. She is using statistical data, not just making this stuff up.Very good point that violence can be done in the name of secular nationalism as well as religion.

Garrett A commented on Naomi Klein: Are markets taking on traditional government functions? on March 21, 2008, 9:09 AM

Government used to be separate from corporations, particularly post-Great Depression.One of the most devastating effects of the merger has been the adoption of economic neoclassical models of human behavior that has come to replace the concept of 'duty' or 'greater good' in public service.

Garrett A commented on Mitt Romney: If you were an Iraqi, how would you view America? on February 26, 2008, 4:05 PM

I can't believe Iraq hasn't sent us a "Thank You" card yet. We should invade a country who would be more grateful...like Iran.

Garrett A commented on Paul Krugman Untangles Iraq on February 26, 2008, 4:01 PM

The legacy is of the Iraq War has not been how much it would cost, Rumsfeld estimated $1.7 billion at the onset. The question is how much will it cost us to "stabilize" (i.e. keep the price of oil down) the region by shipping billions of USD to our Israeli and Saudi friends.As Krugman points out, the half trillion has been put onto the US "credit card bill," so we don't see its effects immediately. Great. Except if you are 21, like me. Oh, and no effects on the economy? Why are we entering a recession? Could it be because Asia has lost faith in the USD?I think the ultimate question was whether we could secure enough oil in Iraq and Afghanistan to keep the petrodollar strong and therefore still get loans.Of course, the Iraq War is a small % of the GDP compared to WWII. But back then WE WERE ACTUALLY PRODUCING GOODS instead of printing US bonds and money. True economic health cannot be measured with GDP alone.

Garrett A commented on What is the legacy of slavery in America? on February 26, 2008, 3:23 PM

As much as the electoral college is a bad system, the population of African Americans in the North increased from 11% to 40% since 1920. This is called the Great Migration.The TRUE legacy of slavery is less voting representation than the housing apartheid that was created by the FHA during the 1930s through 1960s. Today, communities are still residentially segregated due to white flight to the suburbs during the 1950s. This means worse education, public housing, and poorer black communities.Another problem was the economic system of sharecropping that replaced slavery. Many slaves did not stop working the cotton fields until the cotton gin. So until the 1940s and 1950s they remained uneducated and poor, until forced out of work by the cotton gin spurring the later half of the Great Migration.The true legacy of slavery is in the community. Poverty and lack of public housing and education are the most pressing problems, not just possible underrepresentation in electing a president, which between Democrat or Republican doesn't make a huge difference for the lower income black family. As Al Sharpton said, "We've been riding this Donkey [Democratic Party] for as long as it would take us."True change will not come from electoral reform. It must start with residential integration. Both middle income whites and lower income blacks sharing the same neighborhoods, housing, and educational systems. This would insure true equal opportunities and end the system of apartheid that has existed in America since the end of slavery.