Author Archives: stephenkmacksd

Before reading Bagehot’s utterly predictable attack on Political Apostate Jeremy Corbyn, read his, at times, illuminating essay here on the by-election in question, as political litmus test for Mr. Corbyn: http://www.economist.com/news/britain/21678227-oldhams-election-campaign-microcosm-social-democracys-woes-trouble-labourland A few highlights,like this bit of manufactured political nostalgia … Continue reading →

The fact that Mr. Stephens recites, with attention to a complex  set of ideas, almost all the cliches of the current iteration of bourgeois political orthodoxy, displays an enviable kind of talent, with the proviso that  any absent idea is … Continue reading →

Gideon Rachman’s November 16, 2015 essay titled ‘Do Paris terror attacks highlight a clash of civilisations?‘Subtitle ‘Multiculturalism is not a naive liberal aspiration — it is the reality of the modern world’ http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/96b9ed08-8c46-11e5-a549-b89a1dfede9b.html#axzz3rlN7BSax As much as Mr. Rachman denies the … Continue reading →

A November 15, 2015 editorial titled ‘Time for engagement, not fearful retreat‘ Subtitle ‘Solidarity and thoughtful action are the only means to defeat terrorism’ http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/2/fd4660a4-8b76-11e5-8be4-3506bf20cc2b.html#axzz3rYGds6En The rhetorical farming of this editorial : ‘civilised world’ vs ‘mindless barbarity’ and ‘Further co-ordinated … Continue reading →

The Financial  Times responded to the attacks in Paris with these three essay: Philip Stephens’ essay of November 14, 2015 titled ‘There is no hiding place from global disorder‘ Subtitle: ‘Syria’s civil war transfers almost casually to the heart of … Continue reading →

Roger Cohen at The New York Times engages in a measured even a well reasoned  Western indignation about the Paris attack, yet still expresses a newly invigorated War Fever, as a solution to the vexing problem of ISIS. Instead of … Continue reading →

The Oxbridgers here at The Economist have missed the most important point of the Paris attacks: The utter failure of the National Security State apparatus to detect and foil this terrorist attack. In the face of the anti-democratic imperatives and … Continue reading →

Not since Michael Moynihan’s January 29, 2014 obituary of Pete Seeger titled ‘The Death of ‘Stalin’s Songbird’ at The Daily Beast have I encountered such inquisitional hyperbole as Mr. Bunch’s review of Trumbo. Read the Moynihan obituary to acquaint yourself … Continue reading →

The real point of the evening was that the ‘Debates’ need to be put back in the full control of The League of Women Voters, instead of the hands of the greedy Networks/Cable channels! I’m sorry to say Mr. Luce … Continue reading →

GreedIsGood, Three well argued even elegantly written replies, but you’ve missed this revelatory essay: http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21677983-year-out-election-gop-looks-simultaneously-chaotic-and-enormously?spc=scode&spv=xm&ah=9d7f7ab945510a56fa6d37c30b6f1709 Title and subtitle explain much, but not all of this account, or better yet call it a long apology for The Republicans. The Oxbridgers employed … Continue reading →