My cable company hustled out to my home and fixed the cable. It was a lightning strike that killed the cable links and the cable box. That’s pretty minimal damage from that much voltage. It could have been much worse.
So, I’m back at full work load. I can teach my classes, grade papers, keep my blog up and just generally stay even.
Thank to everyone who kept on reading the blog, even when there was less than usual on it.
James Pilant
I believe that there are a great many problems with nuclear plants in the United States that we do not hear about. This posting supports my point of view.
Why, if reported at all, are these considered local stories? A nuclear disaster renders hundreds, possibly thousands of square mile uninhabitable for the forseeable future. How much of a disaster do you have to have for the American news media to give it priority over the dissolute royal family of England?
Good article. Thanks to Say It Ain’t So Already.
James Pilant
Excellent idea. Recall is fairly common in the Western states of the United States. However, there are problems. Not only can the public recall an unpopular politician but corporate interests and the wealthy are often more able to manipulate the process for their own ends.
I suspect that India may very well have more controls on who can contribute to a political campaign than we do here. (If I am incorrect, please let me know.)
Good luck with the idea.
James Pilant
via shsmani
This is disgusting. India is in the middle of an anti-corruption campaign that may well change the course of world history and the American press is dealing with the news of the strange. India has 1.4 billion people in it and CBS news publishes a story that has the distinct implication of a nation of bizarre beliefs and primitive conduct.
Compare the conduct of the millions of reformers who are saying, “Corruption is damaging our society, we have had enough.” And compare it to American passivity in response the disastrous 2008 financial crisis where not a single person has been brought to trial.
One key difference between a “primitive” society and a modern one might well be stated as a concern and committment to justice. Under that measurement, who is primitive and who is modern between the United States and India?
A press, a media, with a concern for human understanding and civility would not print this scandalous garbage and, perhaps, discuss the wikileaks revelations concerning the nuclear treaty between the United States and India, discuss anything that smacks of intelligence and human reason.
A little respect might be a policy that the press should consider.
James Pilant
There will be no link to this CBS News post on my web site. I want no one to read it anywhere on this planet.
jp
I really enjoyed the view of some of the “difficulties” in the life of a citizen of India during elections and, in particular, his assertiveness in defending his rights.
Good article – good story!
James Pilant
via Movid’s Weblog
Yes, it is.
The passivity generated by the modern media and its focus on a royal wedding of utter and complete insignificance, every kind of celebrity news down to shoes, and a deep and abiding concern for news of the strange, is damaging the fabric of our society.
The United States was founded at the very end of the Enlightenment. The basic ideas were that human reason and logic would enable human to make good decisions for the conduct of their lives, that humans were capable of self-improvement and were no longer locked into the roles of their parents or larger society.
Where is logic and reason now? How can we expect humans to self improve with these news-networks and their junk reporting? How can their be respect and usage of critical thinking in a society in which science is a punching bag for fools and industry financed front groups (organized fools)?
The simple, straight forward answer is, “It cannot.” We are either developing or are currently living in a thought free society focused on profit and a pathetic incoherence more expected of small children than of citizens in a democratic society.
I am not sure this can be remedied. There are many powerful interests whose purposes are well served by a non-thinking crown mentality. We live in the era of the mad billionaire, whose conduct is more that of one of the more unethical Bond villains than responsible citizens.
The supreme court’s bizarre respect for corporate persondom may well spell an end to any hope of a free people’s ability to govern themselves by elections.
There may well be no remedy except inevitable decline. The forces that are destroying our ability to think are happy with what they have accomplished living only for their own selfish interests and ever ready to abandon the United States once their economic greed has been satisfied and new pastures of exploitation beckon.
Nevertheless, I believe in struggle, in the good fight, and I will not walk away from it.
James Pilant
Moral Hazard is one of the more important concepts of our current economic situation. This is an intelligent, insightful article with a clear explanation of the phenomenon. I am a big believer in Christianity’s view of business ethics and here is a good one by a fine author. If you are an economics or business student, you will find useful material here.
James Pilant
via Ethical Houston
Great Stuff. Montaigne is a great writer. My favorite essay is the one about cannibals. (Yes, I have morbid interests.) I don’t recall whether or not I have read all of them but everything he says is in agreement with my own views.
I, myself, prefer Francis Bacon and I recommend him to the author. Start with On Studies. I believe that will get you started in the most elegant manner.
It is good to see someone arguing in favor of classical learning. The Great Books of the Western World still deserve attention!
James Pilant
I too have anger management issues. We live in a very difficult time where is a great deal of injustice, corruption, cruelty, economic decline, etc. it makes you mad. I promise you in 99% of cases of anger management, those factors that I listed are in the background. Anger managment is not just a personal problem, it’s a societal problem just like depression and manic behavior, each has strong roots in the larger afflictions of society.
This writer is fighting the good fight for himself and that is tough and wonderful. But always remember that a lot of the good fight is out here in the public sphere and we can always use some help.
I cannot praise enough a person able to manage self change. Great stuff. Please read it, particularly if you have a similar problem.
James Pilant
via Black Dogs
This is great stuff. We hear first hand from a researcher with a strong background in the field. He’s open, honest and informative. I strongly recommend you pay attention to what he has to say particularly about predatory lending.
This is the heart of the good fight, not just anger (although this is necessary), not just committment and time but the development of facts and action based on those facts.
I am delighted by this piece of work and hope to hear more.
James Pilant
Pilant's Business Ethics Blog 
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