WORK

AMARTYA SEN ~ THE IDEA OF JUSTICE ~ 2009

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~ MAON-ACB-PWAD ~ Many Acts Of Nastiness – Are Committed By – People Who Are Deluded

~ OOTMPIFO-R-ITIHUT-SI-A-BB ~ One Of The Main Points In Favour Of – Reason – Is That It Helps Us To – Scrutinize Ideology – And – Blind Belief

~ R-CBCW-TRWO-V-A-T-OP/OC/OC-A-W-EDGFRAT-WCARA-OOM-A-TTLNTRT ~ Reasoning – Can Be Concerned With – The Right Way Of – Viewing – And – Treating – Other People / Other Cultures / Other Claims – And – With – Examining Different Grounds For Respect And Tolerance – We Can Also Reason About – Our Own Mistakes – And – Try To Learn Not To Repeat Them

~ M-CD-F-CI-RF-UF-MAC-BO-R-A-CS ~ Millions – Can Die – From – Calamitous Inaction – Resulting From – Unreasoned Fatalism – Masquerading As Composure – Based On – Realism – And – Common Sense

~ T-N-A-D-OT-NE-AHSP ~ The – Neglect – And – Deterioration – Of The – Natural Environment – A Hugely Serious Problem

~ TPC-CB-H-N-O-CO-WN-CS-NJ-GWTO ~ To Prevent Catastrophes – Caused By – Human – Negligence – Or – Callous Obduracy – We Need – Critical Scrutiny – Not Just – Good Will Towards Others

~ NGO-UI-A-UFS ~ Not Giving Or – Unscrutinized Instincts – An – Unconditional Final Say

~ JAF-B-WIF?-ICBSAADFI ~ Justice As Fairness – But – What Is Fairness? – It Can Broadly Be Seen As A Demand For Impartiality

~ HTTNO-DATM-A-TAA-OSOPOJFTTEG ~ How To Take Note Of – Diversities Among The Members – And – To Arrive At – One Set Of Principles Of Justice Fair To The Entire Group

~ LCBRTBOAFTCOF ~ Liberty Cannot Be Reduced To Being Only A Facility That Complements Other Facilities

~ T-IR-O-AB ~ The – Inescapable Relevance – Of – Actual Behaviour

~ WRHTP-CBB-ACCOATOJ ~ What Really Happens To People – Cannot But Be – A Central Concern Of A Theory Of Justice

~ TROGP ~ The Relevance Of Global Perspectives

~ TCNOIC ~ The Contingent Nature Of Institutional Choice

~ TNIOUP-BB-IB-IVIFS-BA-B-PC ~ The Negative Influence Of Unchecked Power – Both Because – Institutional Balance – Is Very Important For Society – But Also – Because – Power Corrupts

~ IAF-ATOJ-HTGAIPTTROI-H-ITPJRTTTITMOJ-TBUONBCSTWAHITW-NMHETIATTB ~ Institutions As Foundations – Any Theory Of Justice – Has To Give An Important Place To The Role Of Institutions – However – Institutions That Promote Justice Rather Than Treating The Institutions Themselves Manifestations Of Justice – The Basic Unreliability Of Not Being Constantly Sensitive To What Actually Happens In The World – No Matter How Excellent The Institution Are Taken To Be

~ NOA-DAC-POTSMOTTOJ-IIATCT-TN-R-A-R-OTT-DOCF-DAD ~ Not Only Are – Dialogue And Communication – Part Of The Subject Matter Of The Theory Of Justice – It Is Also The Case That – The Nature – Robustness – And – Reach – Of The Theories – Depend On Contributions From – Discussion And Discourse

~ IIU-THADOTFOHB-TSSPWLM-FONTBIITFC ~ It Is Unsustainable – To Have A Defence Of The Freedom Of Human Beings – That Separates Some People Whose Liberties Matter – From Others Not To Be Included In That Favoured Category

~ JOJ-CBAEPA-TIUTO ~ Judgements Of Justice – Cannot Be An Entirely Private Affair – That Is Unfathomable To Others

~ TICAII-ITNOT-IAP-OTWANPTTSCOAP-B-WBSOTCODT ~ There Is Clearly An Important Issue – In The Neglect Of The – Interests And Perspectives – Of Those Who Are Not Parties To The Social Contract Of A Polity – But – Who Bear Some Of The Consequence Of Decisions Taken

~ TLRO-OP-ADTO-UAU-P-TBBIC-A-EUTBF-TITCF-DS-IS ~ The Liberating Role Of – Open Impartiality – Allows Different Types Of – Unprejudiced And Unbiased – Perspectives – To Be Brought Into Consideration – And – Encourages Us To Benefit From – The Insights That Come From – Differently Situated – Impartial Spectators

~ WWCS-I-NIOWWSIRTWWATTS ~ What We Can See – Is – Not Independent Of Where We Stand In Relation To What We Are Trying To See

~ WION?-TQOODTONHAHPITHOEIITW-WAIL-TAFN-NLITWT ~ Who Is Our Neighbour? – The Question Of One’s Duty To One’s Neighbours Has A Huge Place In The History Of Ethical Ideas In The World – We Are Increasingly Linked – There Are Few Non-Neighbours Left In The World Today

~ TAO-TCEHBHCTDMOMET-WMOTGPOTDHAETSDATVOTA-TDHN-H-ABPIE-TEAOEM-TEAAIPOUHB-TGEPIRIBRIS ~ The Assumption Of – The Completely Egoistic Human Being – Has Come To Dominate Much Of Mainstream Economic Theory – While Many Of The Great Practitioners Of The Discipline Have Also Expressed Their Serious Doubts About The Veracity Of That Assumption – This Dichotomy Has Not – However – Always Been Present In Economics – The Early Authors On Economic Matters – Took Ethics As An Important Part Of Understanding Human Behaviour – They Gave Ethical Principles Important Roles In Behavioural Relations In Society

~ BCOTDAPOO-NNBSAAVOR ~ Being Considerate Of The Desires And Pursuits Of Others – Need Not Be Seen As A Violation Of Rationality

~ TATGWOBATAO-MBTC-N-AC-TCBE-A-SN-TMWVITD ~ There Are Two Grand Ways Of Bringing About The Attainment Of – Mutual Benefits Through Cooperation – Namely – Agreed Contracts – That Can Be Enforced – And – Social Norms – That May Work Voluntarily In That Direction

~ PACD ~ Poverty As Capability Deprivation

~ MCBD-NOT-DTPOD-B-A-TRII ~ Much Can Be Done – Not Only To – Diminish The Penalty Of Disability – But – Also – To – Reduce Its Incidence

~ WHTCBT-FOA-A-TNOT-CAO-THAA-UOL ~ We Have To Consider Both The – Freedom Of Action – And – The Nature Of The – Consequences And Outcomes – To Have An Adequate – Understanding Of Liberty

~ COD-NMHVTMBITR-MFSWOATDAO-PG ~ Critics Of Democracy – No Matter How Vigorous They May Be In Their Rejection – Must Find Some Way Of Addressing The Deep Attraction Of – Participatory Governance

~ TVT-D-IBSA-‘GBD’-HG-WS ~ The View That – Democracy – Is Best Seen As – “Government By Discussion” – Has Gained – Widespread Support

~ WDNHTBBIACWALDH-T-CTPT ~ We Do Not Have To Be Born In A Country With A Long Democratic History – To – Choose That Path Today

~ IAU-FOV-R-O-O-CAA-T-FOTP-I-CTTP ~ Informed And Unregimented – Formation Of Values – Requires – Openness – Of – Communication And Argument – The – Freedom Of The Press – Is – Crucial To This Process

~ I-AMIRTS-TROM-AEO-DOD-I-T-LCBGWHTRMR ~ If – A Majority Is Ready To Support – The Rights Of Minorities – And Even Of – Dissenting Or Discordant – Individuals – Then – Liberty Can Be Guaranteed Without Having To Restrain Majority Rule

~ O-MEIPR-I-QCT-TPOJ ~ Open-Minded Engagement In Public Reasoning – Is – Quite Central To – The Pursuit Of Justice

~ JBSTBD ~ Justice Being Seen To Be Done

~ N-P-A-RFJ ~ Non-Parochialism – A – Requirement Or Justice

HENRIETTE KLAUSER ~ WITH PEN IN HAND ~ 2003

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~ THPOW ~ The Healing Power Of Writing

~ AWEODF-WR-I-P-A-P-WFTPOOW-BTDOSOTPFOH-A-RIWH ~ As We Expressed Our Deepest Feelings – Without Reserve – In – Poetry – And – Prose – We Felt The Power Of Our Words – Begin To Draw Out Some Of The Pain From Our Hearts – And – Replace It With Hope

~ AST-ATAOU:W ~ A Simple Tool – Available To All Of Us: Writing

~ R;GIAD ~ Rapidwriting: Get It All Down

~ TW:YCHTT ~ Twilight Writing: You Can Handle The Truth

~ RHM:WPWTS ~ Resistance Has Meaning: Write Past Wanting To Stop

~ LFYPS:IYB ~ Learn From Your Physical Self: Interview Your Body

~ OHWTP ~ Others Have Walked This Path

~ WH ~ Writing Heals

~ WPG-MCM-OO-A-U-T-PG ~ Writing Provides Grounding – Making Concrete Marks – Out Of – Abstract – Unarticulated – Thoughts – Provides Grounding

~ WIT ~ Writing Is Therapeutic

~ TAOMTPATP-CBM-CACS ~ The Act Of Moving The Pen Across The Page – Can Be Meditative – Creating A Calming State

~ TINROWWTW ~ There Is No Right Or Wrong Way To Write

~ TT-I-CC-WW-A-IA ~ Taking Time – Is – Counter Culture – We Want – An – Instant Answer

~ SPW-T-BWTW ~ Some People Write – Then – Burn What They Wrote

~ UYPWAABOYP-LB-YWSHFYHC ~ Use Your Past Writing As A Benchmark Of Your Progress – Look Back – You Will See How Far You Have Come

~ WIPOTPTGYTTOS-YMNFLW-DIA ~ Writing Is Part Of The Process That Gets You To The Other Side – You May Not Feel Like Writing – Do It Anyway

~ RE-CTTS ~ Raw Emotions – Coming To The Surface

~ L-MI-C-A ~ Listing – Makes It – Concrete – Attainable

~ ASIP ~ A Shift In Perception

~ A-IO-A-ATD-EATSPUIFM-A-MLTAUB ~ Action – Is Often – An – Antidote To Depression – Even A Tiny Step Puts You In Forward Motion – And – May Lead To An Unpredictable Boon

~ OWTFYAOWIMIOY-I-TDAPOYH-A-PIOI-WYAFATPM ~ One Way To Focus Your Awareness On What Is Moving Inside Of You – Is – To Draw A Picture Of Your Heart – And – Pencil Inside Of It – Whatever You Are Feeling At This Precise Moment

~ KOW-A-LTPAFY ~ Keep On Writing – And – Let The Pen Answer For You

~ S-WMYS-HAMFY-IYWBPETLFI ~ Sometimes – What Makes You Sad – Has A Message For You – If You Will Be Patient Enough To Listen For It

~ WBAFTI-W-HTIOMA-WNA-B-WYWSD-ISBTY ~ Writing Brings A Fullness To Ideas – Which – Holding Them In Our Mind Alone – Will Never Accomplish – Because – When You Write Something Down – It Speaks Back To You

~ T-ATEOTD-WBYL-A-WMYS ~ Track – At The End Of The Day – What Brought You Light – And – What Made You Sad

~ LYWSBTY ~ Let Your Writing Speak Back To You

~ BGTBAN-WOSYAGW-A-SOI-PTPAAQ-A-DBFANKTA-LTQSIYC-FTINM-WUWCTM-DNBCINISIT-NTIOP-YBIWOI-YWBATTAWIPIDYD ~ Before Going To Bed At Night – Write Out Something You Are Grappling With – And – Sleep On It – Pose The Problem As A Question – And – Don’t Be Frantic About Not Knowing The Answer – Let The Question Seep Into Your Consciousness – First Thing In The Morning – Write Up Whatever Comes To Mind – Do Not Be Concerned If No Immediate Solution Is There – Now That It’s On Paper – Your Brain Is Working On It – You Will Be Alert To The Answer When It Presents Itself During Your Day

~ TIA-FAR-TCF-CWHBBUFY-T-P ~ There Is A – Freedom And Release – That Comes From – Consigning What Has Been Bottled Up For Years – To – Paper

~ WYHAROYW-IPAIIDP ~ When You Have A Record Of Your Whining – It Provides An Insight Into Destructive Patterns

~ LIP-FYP ~ Life Is Precious – Follow Your Passion

~ AJ-IAWTRI-ANH-S-TBTY-O-S-S ~ A Journal – Is A Way To Ramble Incessantly – And Not Have – Someone – Talk Back To You – Or – Say – Stop

~ WYH/GYT/PTP-O-SAV-AAII-YJ ~ Wring Your Hands / Gnash Your Teeth / Pound The Pillow – Or – Seethe And Vent – All About It In – Your Journal

~ APOA-CTD ~ A Pattern Of Abuse – Connecting The Dots

~ L-UAU-DV-E ~ Left – Unchecked And Unchallenged – Domestic Violence – Escalates

~ WGTTC ~ Writing Gets To The Core

~ CWAMAAIEIYL-NFP-B-FY-T-NWSY-A-P-TSWAFS-CF-A-F-BH-WCWWA-S/G-TMYW-TMYWR ~ Consider Writing A Memoir About An Important Event In Your Life – Not For Publication – But – For Yourself – To – Name What Shaped You – And – Perhaps – To Share With A Few Select – Close Friends – And – Family – Be Honest – Write Continuously Without Worrying About – Style / Grammar – The More You Write – The More You Will Remember

~ WAR ~ Writing And Ritual

~ BC-I-JW-WTCPI-IDHTBP ~ Be Creative – In – Journal Writing – Whatever That Creative Process Is – It Doesn’t Have To Be Perfect

~ T-A-ET ~ Thanks – And – Ever Thanks

TIM KASSER ~ THE HIGH PRICE OF MATERIALISM ~ 2002

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~ ATPI-HH-WH-EMR-T-F/C/S/E-ELIOE-TSREINMA-UF-IIA-R-AWTILSD-N-AQLAMAPOTWGTUJHFWAFAAOTG-I-T-HC-I-DIITDW:A-‘F’-FW-O/L/ME-A-A-‘T’-CB-D/PS ~ At This Point In – Human History – We Have – Enough Material Resources – To – Feed / Clothe /Shelter / Educate – Every Living Individual On Earth – That Such Resources Exist Is Not Merely A – Utopian Fantasy – It Is A – Reality – About Which There Is Little Serious Debate – Nonetheless – A Quick Look Around Most Any Part Of This Warming Globe Tells Us Just How Far We Are From Achieving Any Of These Goals – Instead – The – Human Community – Is – Dividing Itself Into Two Distinct Worlds: A – “First” – Filled With – Opulence / Luxury / Material Excess – And – A – “Third” – Characterized By – Deprivation / Poverty /Struggle

~ W-F-A-T-W-CFBDANB-I-A-IMC-OF-RIPOW-SB-EW-FOI ~ Whereas – First – And – Third – Worlds – Could Formerly Be Distinguished Along National Boundaries – Increasingly – And – In Most Countries – One Finds – Relatively Insulated Pockets Of Wealth – Surrounded By – Ever Widening – Fields Of Impoverishment

~ MOTWPINGUI-W-T-A-E-WTMGOIITGWTCFT-WT-EL-SAM-ANLBSA-MP-B-A-CG-T-GR-E-H-OB-P-EOOU-CSRBCTTRO-CAM ~ Most Of The World’s Population Is Now Growing Up In – Winner-Take-All – Economies – Where The Main Goal Of Individuals Is To Get Whatever They Can For Themselves – Within This – Economic Landscape – Selfishness And Materialism – Are No Longer Being Seen As – Moral Problems – But – As – Cardinal Goals – This – Global Reality – Exists – However – Only Because – People – Each One Of Us – Can So Readily Be Converted To The Religions Of – Consumerism And Materialism

~ WHAA-WV-IW-WAS-I-J-NB-AW/K/CC-B-I-T-R-‘S’

~ We Have Adopted A – World View – In Which – Worth And Success – Is– Judged – Not By – Apparent Wisdom / Kindness / Community Contributions – But – In – The – Right – “Stuff”

~ TBTMPOTHS ~ The Burdens That Materialism Places On The Human Soul

~ DTH-MAM-MG-DUIAEMFPOL-NOMW-WH-B-O-PTG-WHT-M/U/R/I-A-CM-A-E-H-L-SAS ~ Desires To Have – More And More – Material Goods – Drive Us Into An Ever More Frantic Pace Of Life – Not Only Must We – Work Harder – But – Once – Possessing The Goods – We Have To – Maintain / Upgrade / Replace / Insure – And – Constantly Manage – An – Ever-Heavier – Load – Strain And Stress

~ WIR?-WT-POMAP-BA-‘TGL’-O-ATPO-CS-F? ~ Who Is Right? – Will The – Pursuit Of Money And Possessions – Bring About – “The Good Life” – Or – Are The Promises Of – Consumer Society – False?

~ WHTO-IE-A-IR-WWATMO-CC-A-PB?-WHTT-QOOL-W-WV,? ~ What Happens To Our – Internal Experience – And – Interpersonal Relationships – When We Adopt The Messages Of – Consumer Culture – As – Personal Beliefs? – What Happens To The – Quality Of Our Lives – When – We Value Materialism?

~ AI ~ Aspiration Index

~ TM-MV-AATCOOL-TMO-QOL-ID ~ The More – Materialistic Values – Are At The Center Of Our Lives – The More Our – Quality Of Life – Is Diminished

~ MV-AAW-RL-W-B ~ Materialistic Values – Are Associated With – Relatively Low – Well-Being

~ PN ~ Psychological Needs

~ PACBWM-T-NCBSBHTRP-AOU-T-SE-TO-O-I-MV-TI-WI-TMOCS-I-OO-VABS-TVTBTOOL-BI-G/A/B ~ People Are Constantly Bombarded With Messages – That – Needs Can Be Satisfied By Having The Right Products – All Of Us – To – Some Extent –Take On – Or – Internalize – Materialistic Values – That Is – We Incorporate – The Messages Of Consumer Society – Into – Our Own – Value And Belief Systems – These Values Then Begin To Organize Our Lives – By Influencing – Goals / Attitudes / Behaviors

~ ASFOMV-IO-A-S-O-M-O-A-PH-CB-A-R-FINS ~ A Strong Focus On Materialistic Values – Is Often – A – Symptom – Or – Manifestation – Of – A – Personal History – Characterized By – A – Relative – Failure In Need Satisfaction

~ MVANJEOU-I-TLPTOTLIWTDAPJOSTN-AT-CEMT-M ~ Materialistic Values Are Not Just Expressions Of Unhappiness – Instead – They Lead People To Organize Their Lives In Ways That Do A Poor Job Of Satisfying Their Needs – And Thus – Contribute Even More To – Misery

~ TF-IOC-T-PSE-F-OEY-A-TEWHT-SDHMW-EF-SAS ~ The Family – Is Or Course The – Primary Socializing Environment – For – Our Early Years – And – The Experiences We Have There – Strongly Determine How Much We – Eventually Feel – Safe And Secure

~ TWPTTCSOTF-A-SC-IWCAR-H-IR-ITO-FN-O-S/S/S ~ The Ways Parents Treat Their Children – Stability Of The Family – And – Socioeconomic Circumstances – In Which Children Are Raised – Have – Important Ramifications – In Terms Of – Fulfilling Needs – Of – Safety / Sustenance / Security

~ A-MO-DWI-HE-EIC-T-FTSTNF-S/S/S ~ A – Materialistic Orientation – Develops When Individuals – Have Experiences – Especially In Childhood – That – Fail To Support Their Needs For – Security / Safety / Sustenance

~ MV-AB-ASOAUI-A-ACSTOIAAT-AP-A-SN-TPITMVARPCS ~ Materialistic Values – Are Both – A Symptom Of An Underlying Insecurity – And – A Coping Strategy Taken On In An Attempt To – Alleviate Problems – And – Satisfy Needs – The Problem Is That Materialistic Values Are Rather Poor Coping Strategies

~ ETSPOMI-EAU ~ Even The Successful Pursuit Of Materialistic Ideals – Typically Turns Out To Be – Empty And Unsatisfying

~ MPT-N-MG-SON-AT-I-W-B ~ Making Progress Toward – Non-Materialistic Goals – Satisfies One’s Needs – And Thus – Improves – Well-Being

~ N-ODAADA-LS-E ~ Narcissism – Often Develops As A Defense Agaisnt – Low Self-Esteem

~ P-ES-ALAFO-HFTAF-W/W/W-TIWLTB ~ People’s – Emotional States – Are Largely A Function Of – How Far They Are From – Who / What / Where – They Ideally Would Like To Be

~ OOTMRMIHUI-A-WAP-ITTFVSIITM ~ One Of The Main Reasons Materialistic Individuals Have Unrealistic Ideals – About – Wealth And Possessions – Is That They Frequently View Such Images In The Media

~ MIWALOT ~ Materialistic Individuals Watch A Lot Of Television

~ RB-LFTNNT-TWGT-RTF ~ Rising Baselines – Looking For The Next New Thing – That Will Give The – Temporary Fix

~ TSTIT-WPFTEOEMSOF-TOPITT-MWBB-AT-CTSFWWNMTH ~ The Sad Truth Is That – When People Feel The Emptiness Of Either Material Success Or Failure – They Often Persist In Thinking That – More Will Be Better – And Thus – Continue To Strive For What Will Never Make Them Happier

~ PWFOMA-ODSAT-‘E’-O-TR ~ People Who Focus On Materialistic Aims – Often Do So At The – “Expense” – Of – Their – Relationships

~ BVHBEOHB-TETWIFOMP-ATWTIWOP ~ Because Values Have Broad Effects On Human Behavior – The Extent To Which Individuals Focus On Materialistic Pursuits – Affect The Way They Interact With Other People

~ ‘MM’ ~ “Market Metaphors”

~ W-C/P/M-BO-PA-WBLCWFU-O-SE/F/D-I-OBO-AT-LVAP ~ When – Consumption / Possessions / Money – Become Our – Primary Aims – We Become Less Concerned With Fully Understanding – Others’ – Subjective Experience / Feelings / Desires – Instead – Others Become Objects – And Thus – Lose Value As People

~ ASFO-W/F/I-U-TSONF-AAA ~ A Strong Focus On – Wealth / Fame / Image – Undermines – The Satisfaction Of Needs For – Authenticity And Autonomy

~ IRAIMOB-GP-MOP-F-DSTE-CITM-OTOH-ICLP-TCMATRTTA-A-C-TE-L-I-A-E ~ If Rewards Are Important Motivators Of Behavior – Giving People – Money Or Praise – For – Doing Something They Enjoy – Could Increase Their Motivation – On The Other Hand – It Could Lead People To Care More About The Rewards Than The Activity – And – Consequently – To Experience – Less – Interest – And – Enjoyment

~ RT-PPT-FAA-PF-C/P/C-WT-FOMV ~ Rather Than – Providing Paths To – Freedom And Autonomy – People Feel – Chained / Pressured / Controlled – When They – Focus On Materialistic Values

~ WMVDOS-WM-FAFF-WMUC-WTEOILHW ~ When Materialistic Values Dominate Our Society – We Move – Farther And Farther From – What Makes Us Civilized – We Treat Each Other In Less Humane Ways

~ MV-UO-QOL ~ Materialistic Values – Undermine Our – Quality Of Life

~ AYWMVHAWFY-O-WTCTPYPI ~ Ask Yourself Whether Materialistic Values Have Actually Worked For You – Or – Whether They Continue To Perpetuate Your Problems Instead

~ TAGLAWYNRA ~ Take A Good Look At What Your Needs Really Are

~ A-F-Z ~ Advertising-Free-Zones

~ AATBDTPW-B ~ Advertisements Appear To Be Detrimental To Peoples Well-Being

~ MVBU-W-TAHIICWOV ~ Materialistic Values Become Unhealthy – When – They Are Highly Important In Comparison With Other Values

GERARD DUMENIL + DOMINIQUE LEVY ~ THE CRISIS OF NEOLIBERALISM ~ 2011

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~ N-NCO-TWTTBO-T-HIB/CO/UFOM-TGCOIIFOAPMWACAOTNSO ~ Neoliberalism – New Class Objectives – That Worked To The Benefit Of – The – Highest Income Brackets / Capitals Owners / Upper Fractions Of Management – The Greater Concentration Of Income In Favor Of A Privileged Minority Was A Crucial Achievement Of The New Social Order

~ TDSTRDN-WHBII-AAHNBMB-CAMC-IPTUF ~ The Dramatic Social Transformation Realized During Neoliberalism – Would Have Been Impossible If – An Alliance Had Not Been Made Between – Capitalist And Managerial Classes – In Particular Their Upper Fractions

~ N-IA-SO-AATGOIFTUIB-N-IIP-NEL-SP ~ Neoliberalism – Is A – Social Order – Aimed At The Generation Of Income For The Upper Income Brackets – Not – Investment In Production – Nor Even Less – Social Progress

~ TOBWTT-COTC-WGTTI-SE-SCANOAW-K/E/R-AC ~ The Original Bet Was That The – Countries Of The Center – Would Gradually Transform Themselves Into – Services Economies – Still Concentrating A Number Of Activities Where – Knowledge / Education / Research – Are Crucial

~ NSTCOA-FAU-FS-BO-QP-A-‘PTTPOFS’ ~ Neoliberalism Saw The Construction Of A – Fragile And Unwieldy – Financial Structure – Based On – Questionable Practices – A – “Propensity To The Production Of Fictitious Surplus”

~ T-FMOCI-IOP-MPIAGC ~ The – Free Mobility Of Capital Internationally – Impairs Or Prohibits – Macro Policies In A Given Country

~ TOST-FAG-GTI-PATNPFTDGO-HD-WTCO-FI-A-G-TTBOAPM ~ The Overall Shift Toward – Fictionalization And Globalization – Given Their Interconnectedness – Provided All The Necessary Prerequisites For The Dramatic Growth Of – Households’ Debt – With The Collaboration Of – Financial Institutions – And – Governments – To The Benefit Of A Privileged Minority

~ TWISR-ITCOTC-FE-TMADOWP ~ There Were Important Social Resistances – In The Countries Of The Center – For Example – To Maintain A Degree Of Welfare Protection

~ RTTDCBN ~ Reaction To The Devastation Caused By Neoliberalism

~ N:’FC’~ Neoliberalism: “Financialized Capitalism”

~ ‘FC’ ~ “Finance Capital”

~ O-FAG-MTCOA-FAU-FS ~ Overall – Financialization And Globalization – Meant The Construction Of A – Fragile And Unwieldy – Financial Structure

~ IAWO-FT-A-FCM-IIDTC-IR/L/ER ~ In A World Of – Free Trade – And – Free Capital Mobility – It Is Difficult To Control – Interest Rates / Loans / Exchange Rates

~ TRFT-2001R-WOOATCO-TRORI-ABOTHS-W-PIRL ~ The Recovery From The – 2001 Recession – Was Obtained Only At The Cost Of – The Rise Of Residential Investment – A Boom Of The Hosing Sector – While – Productive Investment Remained Low

~ TCOIATT ~ The Concentration Of Income At The Top

~ TDB-WAM-I-TIT-S-A-C-M-WAOTSS-A-UMOTCS-A-M-IPI-UL-IGICT-SA-AIFOTSGWETTB ~ The Difference Between – Workers And Managers – Is – That In The – Stick-And-Carrot – Metaphor – Workers Are On The Stick Side – And – Upper Management On The Carrot Side – Actually – Management – In Particular Its – Upper Layers – Increased Gradually Its Capability To – Set Apart – An Increasing Fraction Of The Surplus Generated Within Enterprises To Their Benefit

~ N-I-T-UA-TEO-TROT-PAI-O-CC ~ Neoliberalism – Is – Thus – Understood As – The Expression Of – The Restoration Of The – Power And Income – Of – Capitalist Classes

~ TRPLOTFS ~ The Record Profitability Levels Of The Financial Sector

~ MSNBSA-MPA-ITDOT-COH-IN-T-MC-IPT-UF-AP-ITFOT-NST-EHR-A-WTGOEITRO-AO-IF-TION-WHBI-HNTNABSWTULOTSP-B-OAM ~ Mangers Should Not Be Seen As – Merely Passive Agents – In The Determination Of The – Course Of History – In Neoliberalism – The – Managerial Classes – In Particular Their – Upper Fractions – Actively Participated – In The Formation Of The – New Social Trends – Expecting High Remunerations – And – With The Goal Of Entering Into The Realm Of – Active Ownership – In Fact – The Imposition Of Neoliberalism – Would Have Been Impossible – Had Not The New Alliance Been Struck Within The Upper Layers Of The Social Pyramid – Between – Ownership And Management

~ WT-PP-OTBO-WE-W-S-UWIS-DTND ~ While The – Purchasing Power – Of The Bulk Of – Wage Earners – Was – Stagnating – Upper Wages – Increased Sharply – During The Neoliberal Decades

~ B-CM-SO-AAA-IC-OT-MG ~ Besides – Corporate Managers – State Officials – Are Also An – Important Component – Of The – Managerial Classes

~ T-TON-O-ESI-WG-PLOTFOB-PTROW-ITOHI-A-SO ~ The – Tenants Of Neoliberalism – Oppose – Excessive State Intervention – Whenever Governments – Place Limits On The Freedom Of Business – Protect The Rights Of Workers – Imposes Taxes On High Incomes – And – So On

~ NRTSOT-SDC-NTSIG ~ Neoliberalism Rejected The State Of The – Social Democratic Compromise – Not The State In General

~ PH ~ Prevailing Hegemonies

~ TSWSFAMC ~ The Stage Was Set For A Major Collapse

~ ACBE-N-A-NG-DA-TSAFOT-FS ~ As Could Be Expected – Neoliberalism – And – Neoliberal Globalization – Deeply Altered – The Structure And Function Of The – Financial Sector

~ TIOTFS-IA-NASP ~ The – Indebtedness Of The Financial Sector – Is A – New And Spectacular Phenomenon

~ TMAEO-TH-CBCIAA-NA ~ The Multiplication And Expansion Of – Tax Havens – Can Be Clearly Interpreted As A – Neoliberal Accomplishment

~ AM ~ Asset Management

~ CT ~ Carry Trade

~ EC ~ Exchanging Currencies

~ AFAUS ~ A Fragile And Unwieldy Structure

~ TIOT-UIB-IDDT-ND-TROPASVOFCFSG ~ The Income Of The – Upper Income Brackets – Increased Dramatically During The – Neoliberal Decades – The Rise Of Profits And Stock Values Of Financial Corporations Fed Skyrocketing Gains

~ THONAICIOOSTBRATL-WCBDAT-‘DOPAF’-WTPOTFSRP?-OWGWTTGOTUWBITSB?-BADTD ~ The History Of Neoliberalism At Its Climax Is One Of Subtle Transition Between Reaching And Trespassing Limits – What Could Be Denoted As The – “Dialectics Of Performance And Fictitiousness” – Were The Profits Of The Financial Sector Real Profits? – On What Grounds Were The Tremendous Gains Of The Upper Wage Brackets In The Sector Based? – Boundaries Are Difficult To Draw

~ OSFOT-FS-I-TCOVHW ~ One Specific Feature Of The – Financial Sector – Is – The Concentration Of Very High Wages

~ P-IW-A-RFE ~ Practices – Impossible Within – A – Regulated Financial Economy

~ TFWOD-WAIFI-TCO-BAT-I-1980/1990

ITL190SAE1990S ~ The First Wave Of Deregulation – Was An Important Factor In – The Crisis Of – Banking And Thrift – Institutions – In – 1980/1990

~ SL-BEAAROTEO-UC-AOTC-HIR-O-B-W-HCR ~ Subprime Loans – Became Easier As A Result Of The Elimination Of – Usury Controls – Allowing Originators To Charge – Higher Interest Rates – On – Borrowers – With – Higher Credit Risks

~ NG-LTLPBTAOT-IMOC-WHBC-BR ~ Neoliberal Globalization – Lifted The Limits Placed By The Agreements On The – International Movements Of Capital – Which Had Been Considered – Basic Requirements

~ F-IT-F-GS ~ Fundamentals – In The – Financial-Global Storm

~ DA-A-GD ~ Declining Accumulation – And – Growing Disequilibria

~ TMTDW-T-RDI-A-T-ROFF ~ The Most Threatening Developments Were – The – Rising Domestic Indebtedness – And – The – Reliance On Foreign Financing

~ TSOQMBP:WIB?-A-FWP?-A-WIL-A-TWI? ~ Two Sets Of Questions Must Be Posed: Who Is Borrowing? – And – For What Purpose? – And – Who Is Lending – And – Through Which Instruments?

~ MW ~ Mortgage Wave

~ F-T-MW ~ Feeding – The – Mortgage Wave

~ T-LO-O-CDO-AP-SI ~ The – Late Outburst – Of – Collateralized Debt Obligations – A Prominent – Speculative Instrument

~ RI-V-FS ~ Real Incomes – Versus – Fictitious Surplus

~ NINAPOI-B-ASOAATPAIOTUC ~ Neoliberalism Is Not About Principles Or Ideology – But – A Social Order Aiming At The Power And Income Of The Upper Classes

~ IN-TS-AWIFOTUC ~ In Neoliberalism – The State – Always Worked In Favor Of The Upper Classes

~ TGC ~ The Great Contraction

~ GFT ~ Global Financial Turmoil

~ COFH ~ Crises Of Financial Hegemony

~ A-DD-T-RAC ~ A – Deficient Determination – To – Regulate And Control

~ TLF-TD-WF ~ The Lessons From – The Depression – Were Forgotten

~ A-FS-ITSO-TRE ~ A – Financial Sector – In The Service Of – The Real Economy

~ BN ~ Beyond Neoliberalism

~ IWBNT-PSL-O-TTOLFOITTUFOIB ~ It Will Be Necessary To – Place Severe Limitations – On – The Transfer Of Large Flows Of Income Toward The Upper Fractions Of Income Brackets

~ NC-AA-TMLOOTCON-FTCD ~ Neomanagerial Capitalism – Appears As – The Most Likely Outcome Of The Crisis Of Neoliberalism – For The Coming Decades

EVGENY MOROZOV ~ THE NET DELUSION ~ 2011

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~ TDSOIF ~ The Dark Side Of Internet Freedom

~ CU:ANBITENOOCTROASRTAID ~ Cyber-Utopianism: A Naive Belief In The Emancipatory Nature Of Online Communication That Rests On A Stubborn Refusal To Acknowledge Its Downside

~ TDSOIF ~ The Dark Side Of Internet Freedom

~ EL-‘FR’-HBTBOOT-TTC-A-ET-PC ~ Expressions Like – “Freedom Recession” – Have Begun To Break Out Of The – Think-Tank Circuit – And – Enter The – Public Conversation

~ FTA-H-AG-WRTTI-C-U-DNPHUIWPFPP-HMDWLTUIFS-A-HS-MSOIC-WB ~ Failing To Anticipate How – Authoritarian Governments – Would Respond To The Internet – Cyber-Utopians – Did Not Predict How Useful It Would Prove For Propaganda Purposes – How Masterfully Dictators Would Learn To Use It For Surveillance – And – How Sophisticated – Modern Systems Of Internet Censorship – Would Become

~ P-ITRTSTDOTNDE-C-U-EUBTROTI-RTSTIPARAWOPL-NJTOCTD ~ Paradoxically – In Their Refusal To See The Downside Of The New Digital Environment – Cyber-Utopians – Ended Up Belittling The Role Of The Internet – Refusing To See That It Penetrates And Reshaped All Walks Of Political Life – Not Just The Ones Conducive To Democratization

~ IMWIW-C-U-UR ~ I Myself Was Intoxicated With – Cyber-Utopianism – Until Recently

~ ATITOAEGRITPOBAADS-TPTFTC-A-SWWTIAWOG ~ As The Internet Takes On An Even Greater Role In The Politics Of Both Authoritarian And Democratic States – The Pressure To Forget The Context – And – Start With What The Internet Allows Will Only Grow

~ TSAAITIOABTFWAVIH-EITHAUTPWTLFG ~ The Struggle Agaisnt Authoritarianism Is Too Important Of A Battle To Fight With A Voluntary Intellectual Handicap – Even If That Handicap Allows Us To Play With The Latest Fancy Gadgets

~ TUCOAIR ~ The Unimaginable Consequences Of An Imagined Revolution

~ TBB-C-U-A-C-NIABO ~ The Border Between – Cyber-Utopianism – And – Cyber-Naivete – Is A Blurry One

~ TRWSMPAJBITPOTIIBTHNGTSMT ~ The Reason Why So Many Politicians And Journalists Believe In The Power Of The Internet Is Because They Have Not Given This Subject Much Thought

~ TIHAETSPTSAP-O-AMAR ~ The Internet Has Also Empowered: The Secret Police / The Censors / The Propaganda

~ RTATTWCAS-RTU-AR-I-EI ~ Refusing To Acknowledge That The Web Can Actually Strengthen – Rather Than Undermine – Authoritarian Regimes – Is – Extremely Irresponsible

~ MAR-HLTFIAEMBTAOI ~ Modern Authoritarian Regimes – Have Learned To Function In An Environment Marked By The Abundance Of Information

~ OD-A-T-CI ~ Online Discontents – And – Their – Content Intellectuals

~ CPTEICADIAMB-FMET-24/7P-TIHMTEEOTLUA-A-TLIAD-MA ~ Controlling People Through Entertainment Is Cheaper And Doesn’t Involve As Much Brutality – Far More Effective Than – 24/7 Policing – The Internet Has Made The Entertainment Experiences Of Those Living Under Authoritarianism – And – Those Living In A Democracy – Much Alike

~ ACTUSTAFOUV ~ A Call To Use Strategies That Are Free Of Utopian Visions

~ C-A-S ~ Censors – And – Sensibilities

~ UO-ILT-IAP ~ Unwarranted Optimism – Inevitably Leads To – Inaction And Paralysis

~ CS-AA-DAF-T-TTI-NOTU-A-T-BA-WEED ~ Censorship-Systems – Are As – Detailed And Fine-Tuned – To – The Information-Needs Of Their Users – As – The – Behavioral Advertising – We Encounter Every Day

~ TTU ~ Time To Unfriend

~ TBTTIITBTCIDN ~ The Belief That The Internet Is Too Big To Censor Is Dangerously Naive

~ WDC;WO! ~ We Don’t Censor; We Outsource!

~ WC-UC ~ Wise Crowds – Unwise Causes

~ METI-DNBI-DSFAG ~ Mere Exposure To Information – Does Not By Itself – Decrease Support For Authoritarian Governments

~ TH-THHBAMEWTETPTAS-TT-BDAI ~ Throughout History – There Has Hardly Been A More Effective Way To Ensure That People Talk About Something – Than To – Ban Discussions About It

~ MP-DNDBP-EP-TM/CG/BP-A-MR-RT ~ Modern Propaganda – Does Not Discriminate Between Platforms – Easily Penetrating – Text Messages / Computer Games / Blog Posts – And – Most Recently – Ringback Tones

~ TUO-TM-F-PP-‘RT’ ~ The Use Of – Text Messaging – For – Propaganda Purposes – “Red-Texting”

~ TIINGTUTPFOMA ~ The Internet Is Not Going To Undermine The Propaganda Foundations Of Modern Authoritarianism

~ TIROT-B-IDOTAOUNV ~ The Internet Runs On Trust –But – Its Dependence On Trust Also Opens Up Numerous Vulnerabilities

~ TWIYTMADTCOIC ~ The World Is Yet To Meet A Database That Cried Over Its Contents

~ SS-TC-AAACOWIS ~ Surveillance Software – That Can – Automatically Annotate And Comment On What It Sees

~ BTAO-SM-ITALOEF-RG-T-LATP-DAAW ~ Before The Advent Of – Social Media – It Took A Lot Of Effort For – Repressive Governments – To – Learn About The People – Dissidents Are Associated With

~ TC-DTCIWMOTUO-WSUTCOGTW ~ Technology Companies – Utterly Disregard The Contexts In Which Many Of Their Users Operate – While Significantly Underestimating The Consequences Of Getting Things Wrong

~ T-IV-O-SE-INLO-T-IG-C-AG ~ The – Intelligence Value – Of – Search Engines – Is Not Lost On – The – Internet Gurus – Consulting – Authoritarian Governments

~ FAF-ACSDM-N-WTFIPE ~ First And Foremost – Authorities Can Shut Down Mobile-Networks – Whenever They Find It Politically Expedient

~ NOHY-TAAG-B-ATPOAC-A-CJATG ~ No One Has Yet – Toppled An Authoritarian Government – By – Assuming The Posture Of A Clown – And – Cracking Jokes About The Guillotine

~ P-H-N-ACBTUO-SN-A-N ~ Psychologists – Have – Noticed – A Correlation Between The Use Of – Social Networking – And – Narcissism

~ DWD ~ Dissidents Without Dissent

~ MO-DA-IMB-CI-WOO-KP ~ Much Of – Digital Activism – Is Mediated By – Commercial Intermediaries – Who Operate On – Kafkaesque Principles

~ DI ~ Dangerous Intermediaries

~ ‘IS’TIT-G-H-LC-OT-NAA-O-TWMTIM ~ “Information Sovereignty” – The Idea That – Governments – Have – Legitimate Concerns – Over The – Nationalities And Allegiances – Of – Those Who Mediate Their Information Markets

~ IF-A-TC ~ Internet Freedoms – And – Their Consequences

~ TOTWAAASIAFO ~ The Only Thing Worse Than An Authoritarian State Is A Failed One

~ NMT-PVAACA-FRC ~ Nothing More Than – Poorly Veiled Attempts At Creating A – Favorable Regulatory Climate

~ A-UT-ITHO-OP-I-ARFD ~ An – Unruly Tool – In The Hands Of – Overconfident People – Is – A Recipe For Disaster

~ H-C-W-SOL-P-EP-TWMUPAOHESTRA ~ Hidden-Costs – Will – Sooner Or Later – Produce – Environmental Problems – That Will Make Us Painfully Aware Of How Expensive Such Technologies Really Are

~ TFTWCYCATCOAGT-F/M/E-DNMTICF ~ The Fact That We Cannot Yet Calculate All The Costs Of A Given Technology – Financial / Moral / Environmental – Does Not Mean That It Comes Free

~ J-AOP-B-CT-TIWSIHA-I-ETKOCTSBST-MAP-NJ-T-S ~ Justifying – Assault On Privacy – By – Clamming That – This Is Where Society Is Heading Anyway – Is – Exactly The Kind Of Claim That Should Be Subject To – Moral And Political – Not Just – Technological – Scrutiny

~ WI-MD-A-ST-TD-ITIHOAO-TS-A-TP ~ What Is – Most Dangerous – About – Succumbing To – Technological Determinism – Is That It Hinders Our Awareness Of – The Social – And – The Political

~ TMWLA-T-TLIMSTFOIA-IIFOF ~ The More We Learn About – Technology – The Less It Makes Sense To Focus On It Alone – In Isolation From Other Factors

~ UNC-SWBGT-AFPOE ~ Under No Circumstances – Should We Be Giving Technologies – A Free Pass On Ethics

~ TWF ~ The Wicked Fix

~ E-WP-CBCASO-AH-LP-AT-SBTOTHPL ~ Every – Wicked Problem – Can Be Considered A Symptom Of – Another Higher-Level Problem – And Thus – Should Be Tackled On The Highest Possible Level

~ TUIOTMW-WIMDOTTE-IT-ATBEMII-P-A-S-L-LALAIP-TSAP-DOTI ~ The Ultimate Irony Of The Modern World – Which Is More Dependent On Technology Than Ever – Is That – As Technology Becomes Ever More Integrated Into – Political – And – Social – Life – Less And Less Attention Is Paid – To The – Social And Political – Dimensions Of Technology Itself

TORKEL KLINGBERG ~ THE OVERFLOWING BRAIN ~ 2009

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~ T-SAB-M-T-IF ~ The – Stone Age Brain – Meets – The – Information Flood

~ OBHLCFPI-AAIITACSUWIAAEAR-TLOOBBATMO ~ Our Brains Have Limited Capacity For Processing Information – As Advances In Information Technology And Communication Supply Us With Information At An Ever Accelerating Rate – The Limitations Of Our Brains Become All The More Obvious

~ WIIOBTDWWCCAITD? ~ What Is In Our Brains That Determines Whether We Can Concentrate And Ignore The Distractions?

~ T-MNS-TIAFCFTHATRI-A-TLLAASI ~ The – Magical Number Seven – There Is A Fixed Capacity For The Human Ability To Receive Information – And – This Limit Lies At Around Seven Items

~ ‘CC’ ~ “Channel Capacity”

~ IWDNFOAOS-WWNRI ~ If We Do Not Focus Our Attention On Something – We Will Not Remember It

~ MAIM ~ Measuring Attention In Milliseconds

~ WM:OATRIFALPOT-U-A-MOS ~ Working Memory: Our Ability To Remember Information For A Limited Period Of Time – Usually – A Matter Of Seconds

~ L-TM:WMEIWWHBI-WCARFUWASLO-SATMOAW ~ Long-Term Memory: We Memorize Events In Which We Have Been Involved – We Can Also Remember Facts Unassociated With A Specific Learning Occasion – Such As The Meaning Of A Word

~ WMC-CHW-RC ~ Working Memory Capacity – Correlates Highly With – Reading Comprehension

DAVID WIENBERGER ~ TOO BIG TO KNOW ~ 2011

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~ KIAT-KITDHA-O-SOK-ITBFTHTWMAODCTAALIP ~ Knowledge Is A Treasure – Knowing Is The Distinctively Human Activity –Our – System Of Knowledge – Is The Basis For The Hope That We Might All One Day Come To Agreement And Live In Peace

~ AIW-T-COK-IAITJOFPFAO ~ At Its Worst – This – Crisis Of Knowledge – Is Apparent In The Jumble Of Fears Put Forward As Obvious

~ T-I-IA-UM-O-R/G/L-I-SOA-A-STEO-F/L-F-T-EWASI-HAM-ABATO-E/T-P-WF-‘EC’-O-A-AEFCTOTTWDDTBE ~ The – Internet – Is An – Unedited Mash – Of – Rumor / Gossips / Lies – It – Splinters Our Attention – And – Spells The End Of – Reflective / Long-Form – Thought – Everyone With Any Stupid Idea – Has A Megaphone – As Big As That Of – Educated / Trained – People – We Form – “Echo Chambers” – Online – And – Actually Encounter Fewer Challenges To Our Thinking Than We Did During The Broadcast Era

~ TI-L-F-C-D-A-A-D-P-OOB ~ The Internet – Loves – Fervid – Cult-Driven – Amateurs – And – Drives – Professionals – Out Of Business

~ TI-R-TAOADA-IB-G-E-CM-W-JT-B-TNOTU-WBTNOV-A-KBWITMFTB ~ The Internet – Represents – The Ascension Of A Dark Ages – Inhabited By – Glassy-Eyed – Chronic Masturbators – Who – Judge Truth – By – The Number Of Thumbs Up – Wisdom By The Number Of Views – And – Knowledge By Whatever Is The Most Fun To Believe

~ S-WAIA-COK-ATSTTWAIA-E-EOK ~ So – We Are In A – Crisis Of Knowledge – At The Same Time That We Are In An – Epochal – Exaltation Of Knowledge

~ IO-SN-AO-NF-T-AIS-F-EIFO-T-TNOPW-K/L/R ~ If Our – Social Networks – Are Our – New Filters – Then – Authority Is Shifting – From – Experts In Faraway Offices – To – The Network Of People We – Know / Like / Respect

~ ILTOTI ~ I Learned That On The Internet

~ EI-TSPITRITRI-TRDNMMAWEIS ~ Even If – The Smartest Person In The Room Is The Room Itself – The Room Does Not Magically Make All Who Enter It Smart

~ TEOC ~ The Expertise Of Clouds

~ I-1970-TWATD-TT-T-TAO-3,500-W-ATIOTTOGPI-T-COE-STECOOC ~ In – 1970 – There Were About Two Dozen – Think Tanks – Today – There Are Over – 3,500 – Worldwide – As The Influence Of Think Tanks On Government Policy Increased – The – Cult Of Expertise – Spread To Every Corner Of Our Culture

~ TFAMOFATI-IT-ITBCAHES ~ The First And Most Obvious Fact About The Internet – Is That – It’s The Biggest Crowd Anyone Has Ever Seen

~ TWOC-PC-UW-CDBTE-IDO:ADOO-I-D-A-AWTDA-CD ~ The Wisdom Of Crowds – Precise Conditions – Under Which – Crowds Do Better Than Experts – It Depends On: A Diversity Of Opinion – Independence – Decentralization – And – A Way To Derive A – Collective Decision

~ MOTEO-CNTIE-DNIM ~ Most Of The Examples Of – Crowds Networking Themselves Into Expertise – Do Not Involve Money

~ AMOE? ~ A Marketplace Of Echoes?

~ ITNICM-EC-TBLWBD-FTCWBP-A-TBLATCTA-A-TCWIC ~ If The Net Is Creating More – Echo Chambers – The Biggest Loser Will Be Democracy – For The Citizenry Will Be Polarized – And – Thus Be Less Able To Come To Agreement – And – To Compromise When It Cannot

~ SHS-T-WPSOWTWWTA-TNOBMCOTOV-TTTAMEVOTV ~ Studies Have Shown – That – When People Speak Only With Those With Whom They Agree – They Not Only Become More Convinced Of Their Own Views – They Tend To Adopt More Extreme Versions Of Those Views

~ SWNTK:-I-TN-IF-COM-A-MUTMEV? ~ So We Need To Know: Is – The Net – In Fact – Closing Our Minds – And – Moving Us Toward More Extreme Views?

~ ‘C’-IW-ABRGMBBIIBPATNAT ~ “Cybercascades” – In Which – A Belief Rapidly Gains Many Believers Because It Is Being Passed Around The Net As True

~ TWT-TAK-IT-R-A-O-EATWD ~ The Way To – Truth And Knowledge – Is Through – Reasonable – And – Open – Encounters Among Those Who Disagree

~ WNTBOGATPT-EC-P-CU-TOBA-‘O’-T-A-NUTMEVOT ~ We Need To Be On Guard Agaisnt The – Psychological Tricks – Echo Chambers – Play – Convincing Us – That Our Beliefs Are – “Obviously” – True – And – Nudging Us Toward More Extreme Versions Of Them

~ WW-IS-HA-C-ECM-RTTSCTCOO ~ We Were – In Short – Having A – Classic – Echo Camber Moment – Refusing To Take Seriously Claims That Challenged Our Own

~ PT ~ Public Thinking

~ TI-HNETNF-CPS-N-HICE-TLBPAA ~ The Internet – Has Not Eliminated The Need For – Credentialed Professional Scientists – Nor – Has It Completely Erased – The Line Between Professionals And Amateurs

~ We Are In This Together – We Need To Continue To Assert He Truths That Come From Methods More Likely To Reveal Them

ELLEN MEIKSINS WOOD ~ THE ORIGIN OF CAPITALISM ~ 1999

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~ ITP-C-HAPOOI-RC-B-NWLAFF-N-A-EW-O ~ In The Past – Capitalism – Has Always Pulled Out Of Its – Recurrent Crises – But – Never Without Laying A Foundation For – New – And – Even Worse – Ones

~ AAIIASIWTBOSWIDB-PL-WAOTSTL-PIEFAW-IOTGATTMOLAOLI ~ Above All It Is A System In Which The Bulk Of Society’s Work Is Done By – Propertyless Labourers – Who Are Obliged To Sell Their Labour-Power In Exchange For A Wage – In Order To Gain Access To The Means Of Life And Of Labour Itself

~ TBOOT-CS-ITPAS-EOC-TDWOSTMNOHB-SVDFAPWO-OML-A-SR-HEFAVST-BAFOHEOE-ETWMEIO-TSRIHN-A-INCWA-OHP-WNCTIREB-TEMP-A-TOI-WE ~ The Basic Objective Of The – Capitalist System – Is The Production And Self-Expansion Of Capital – This Distinctive Way Of Supplying The Material Needs Of Human Beings – So Very Different From All Preceding Ways Of – Organizing Material Life – And – Social Reproduction – Has Existed For A Very Short Time – Barely A Fraction Of Humanity’s Existence On Earth – Even Those Who Most Emphatically Insist On – The System’s Roots In Human Nature – And – Its Natural Continuity With Age-Old Human Practices – Would Not Claim That It Really Existed Before – The Early Modern Period – And – Then Only In – Western Europe

~ IMAOCAIO-TRINO-CSATBT-S-AIONTBRFIC-FIFTFOF-TBATGAM-TTFAP:TPPOLOTROAAS-STACOI:PTWR-TEOTEITSTCBN-CACS-A-TDOD-TSOC-CTTCAOHACA-EOI-A-HN-A-AHHBWBIOGTC ~ In Most Accounts Of Capitalism And Its Origin – There Really Is No Origin – Capitalism Seems Always To Be There – Somewhere – And It Only Needs To Be Released From Its Chains – For Instance From The Fetters Of Feudalism – To Be Allowed To Grow And Mature – Typically These Fetters Are Political: The Parasitic Power Of Lordship Or The Restriction Of An Autocratic State – Sometimes They Are Cultural Or Ideological: Perhaps The Wrong Religion – The Effect Of These Explanation Is To Stress The Continuity Between Non-Capitalist And Capitalist Societies – And – To Deny Or Disguise – The Specificity Of Capitalism – Central To These Conventional Accounts Of History Are Certain Assumptions – Explicit Or Implicit – About – Human Nature – And – About How Human Beings Will Behave If Only Given The Chance

~ I-CI-TMI-NCBF-B-WMNABSC-ITTDADCOTCM-INOOC-B-OTC-C-AIM-IOWOA-EI-MR-IOTGATT-MOL-TUSO-M-D-MTTDOTCM-IIO-C/A/P-M-A-I-L-P-R-NOA-ET-B-SR-IG ~ In – Capitalist Ideology – The Market Implies – Not Compulsion But Freedom – But – What May Not Always Be So Clear – Is That The Distinctive And Dominant Characteristic Of The Capitalist Market – Is Not Opportunity Or Choice – But – On The Contrary – Compulsion – All Individuals Must – In One Way Or Another – Enter Into – Market Relations – In Order To Gain Access To The – Means Of Life – This Unique System Of – Market-Dependence – Means That The Dictates Of The Capitalist Market – Its Imperatives Of – Competition / Accumulation / Profit-Maximization – And – Increasing – Labour-Productivity – Regulate – Not Only All – Economic Transactions – But – Social Relations – In General

~ C-RA-HS-SF-A-A-HR-W-EF-TNOC-WDI-S-A-TLAPHPTBIIB-LOUOTP-ATST-IROHAEFTF ~ Capitalism – Represents A – Historically Specific – Social Form – And – A – Historic Rupture – With – Earlier Forms – The – Naturalization Of Capitalism – Which Denies Its – Specificity – And – The Long And Painful Historical Processes That Brought It Into Being – Limits Our Understanding Of The Past – At The Same Time – It Restricts Our Hopes And Expectations For The Future

~ TQO-TOOC-MSA-B-IGTTHOA-DRIOC-WAD-I-AT-S-C-‘F-M’A-IBTH-ICW-D-SJ-A-ES ~ The Question Of – The Origin Of Capitalism – May Seem Arcane – But – It Goes To The Heart Of Assumptions – Deeply Rooted In Our Culture – Widespread And Dangerous – Illusions – About The – So-Called – “Free Market” – And – Its Benefits To Humanity – Its Compatibility With – Democracy – Social Justice – And – Ecological Sustainability

~ TMCWOETOOC-ITPTIDI-TNOOHPAAOATSI-WROTROEOTHIR-FFRTTMBCWIBC-TASTCEWTMWLFA-OC ~ The Most Common Way Of Explaining The Origin Of Capitalism – Is To Presuppose That Its Development Is – The Natural Outcome Of Human Practices Almost As Old As The Species Itself – Which Required Only The Removal Of External Obstacles That Hindered Its Realization – Far From Recognizing That The Market Became Capitalist When It Became Compulsory – These Accounts Suggest That Capitalism Emerged When The Market Was Liberated From Age-Old Constraints

~ T-NOTM-A-IL-INRQ ~ The – Nature Of The Market – And – Its Laws – Is Never Really Questioned

~ I-A-ES-‘E’-R-A-P-W-‘E’-O-S-I-N-E-K/C/R/P-R-THBOMDEAT-TP-‘E’-M-O-PAMG-SA-TAOSAP-O-TMOCS-THBOWOOELTTTMO-ME-IP-‘R’-A-‘R’-IG-C-W-DE-BITTDT ~ In – All – Earlier Societies – “Economic’ – Relations – And – Practices – Were – “Embedded” – Or – Submerged – In – Non-Economic – Kinship / Communal / Religious / Political – Relationships – There Have Been Other Motives Driving Economic Activity Than – The Purely – “Economic” – Motives – Of – Profit And Material Gain – Such As – The Achievement Of Status And Prestige – Or – The Maintenance Of Communal Solidarity – There Have Been Other Ways Of Organizing Economic Life Than Through The Mechanisms Of – Market Exchange – In Particular – “Reciprocity” – And – “Redistribution” – In General – Competition – Was – Deliberately Eliminated – Because It Tended To Disorganize Trade

~ T-IR-R-SI-T-PTSF ~ The – Industrial Revolution – Required – State Intervention – To – Preserve The Social Fabric

~ WCAT-CAC-AOATS-O-TOPITOBASPOG ~ We Cannot Assume That – Commerce And Capitalism – Are One And The Same – Or – That One Passed Into The Other By A Simple Process Of Growth

~ TDOFHMTOO ~ The Dissolution Of Feudalism Had More Than One Outcome

~ TDDOC-CIP-WPBM-D-A-T-STTIOC ~ The Distinctive Dynamics Of Capitalism – Come Into Play – When Producers Become Market-Dependent – And – Therefore – Subject To The Imperatives Of Competition

~ TNIO-PE-I-NCOP-A-TEOP-WIEB-SR-CBTS-WRTI-TCOTM ~ The New Ideology Of – Political Economy – Including – New Conceptions Of Property – And – The Ethic Of Profit – Was Increasingly Enforced By – State Repression – Coercion By The State – Was Required To Impose – The Coercion Of The Market

~ TDB-TMAO-A-TMAAI ~ The Difference Between – The Market As Opportunity – And – The Market As An Imperative

~ F-W-D-A-IPSDO-OOOWWC ~ Feudalism – Was – Diverse – And – It Produced Several Different Outcomes – Only One Of Which Was Capitalism

~ TCFITDOCFAOFO-CS-WTDOC-S-PR-TG-MI-A-C-‘LOM’-WITOP ~ The Critical Factor In The Divergence Of Capitalism From All Other Forms Of – Commercial Society – Was The Development Of Certain – Social Property Relationships – That Generated – Market Imperatives – And – Capitalist – “Laws Of Motion” – Which Imposed Themselves On Production

~ ELTT-SC-MOTW-W-FOMI-TDPOTE-WN-SVDFP-B-‘BCASD’ ~ Even Later Than The – Seventeenth Century – Most Of The World – Was – Free Of Market Imperatives – The Dominant Principle Of Trade Everywhere – Was Not – Surplus Value Derived From Production – But – “Buying Cheap And Selling Dear

~ C-R-NA-SEOE-O-BAE-B-ACTIT-MB-H-RAP-A-RIA-OP-O-HIWN ~ Capitalism – Required – Not A – Simple Extension Or Expansion – Of – Barter And Exchange – But – A Complete Transformation In The – Most Basic – Human – Relations And Practices – And – Rupture In Age-Old Patterns – Of – Human Interaction With Nature

~ VEICSIAC-PRTM ~ Virtually Everything In Capitalist Society Is A Commodity – Produced For The Market

~ TUSOMDHSSRACSBNOMOP:TIO:C/A/P-M-A-H-A-C-SN-T-A/SONM/III ~ This Unique System Of Market Dependence Has Specific Systemic Requirements And Compulsions Shared By No Other Mode Of Production: The Imperatives Of: Competition / Accumulation / Profit-Maximization – And – Hence – A – Constant – Systemic Need – To – Accumulate / Search Out New Markets / Impose Its Imperatives

~ EP-I-BARF-EOR ~ Enhancing Productivity – Itself – Became A Reason For – Excluding Other Rights

~ NDOCHEOWSKOVHR ~ No Development Of Capitalism Has Ever Occurred Without Some Kind Of Violent Historic Rupture

~ TVSLTDTSF-MIIST-EI-WR-C-‘E-E’-I-TCFTDE ~ The Very Same Logic That Drives The System Forward – Makes It Inevitably Susceptible To – Economic Instabilities – Which Require – Constant – “Extra-Economic” – Interventions – To Compensate For Their Destructive Effects

~ HOAA-H-TD-A-ES-C-IB-TU ~ Hope Of Achieving A – Humane – Truly Democratic – And – Ecologically Sustainable – Capitalism – Is Becoming – Transparently Unrealistic

CATHY O’NEIL ~ WEAPONS OF MATH DESTRUCTION ~ 2016

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~ TC-MIATCT-M-WNODEITWP-BAFMOT-THC-TCOMFI/TROU-AHBAAAB-MWMF ~ The Crash – Made It All Too Clear That – Mathematics – Was Not Only Deeply Entangled In The World’s Problems – But Also Fueling Many Of Them – The Housing Crisis / The Collapse Of Major Financial Institutions / The Rise Of Unemployment – All Had Been Aided And Abetted By – Mathematicians Wielding Magic Formulas

~ IWHBC-H-WAWHTASBATPTFOHMHBM-A-HWC-PASCITF-B-I-ITWOTC-NMT-WHTE-A-EISMD-MAS-W-SO-D/M/SP-TWPOT-A-COPA-S/W/L/C ~ If We Had Been Clear-Headed – We All Would Have Taken A Step Back At This Point To Figure Out How Math Had Been Misused – And – How We Could – Prevent A Similar Catastrophe In The Future – But – Instead – In The Wake Of The Crisis – New Mathematical Techniques – Were Hotter Than Ever – And – Expanding Into Still More Domains – Mathematicians And Statisticians – Were – Studying Our – Desires / Movements / Spending Power – They Were Predicting Our Trustworthiness – And –Calculating Our Potential As – Students / Workers / Lovers / Criminals

~ T-T-M-PA-PTDE-WBO-CMBFHB-SOTCWNDMWTBI-N-MOTME-H-P/M/B-IT-SS-TIMOL ~ Trouble – The – Math-Powered Applications – Powering The Data Economy – Were Based On – Choices Made By Fallible Human Beings – Some Of These Choices Were No Doubt Made With The Best Intentions – Nevertheless – Many Of These Models Encoded – Human – Prejudice / Misunderstanding / Bias – Into The – Software Systems – That Increasingly Managed Our Lives

LG-T-MM-W-O-TWITABTHPITD-TV-EW-WOH-W-BDOA-A-TTTPTPATOIOS-WMTRR ~ Like Gods – These – Mathematical Models – Were – Opaque – Their Workings Invisible To All But The Highest Priests In Their Domain – Their Verdicts – Even When – Wrong Or Harmful – Were – Beyond Dispute Or Appeal – And – They Tended To Punish The Poor And The Oppressed In Our Society – While Making The Rich Richer

~ ATR-H-B/P/P-T-A-I-NEJ Attempting To Reduce – Human – Behaviour / Performance / Potential – To – Algorithms – Is – No Easy Job

~ A-BD-C-R-RCT-MTOV ~ At – Big Data – Companies – Researchers – Run Constant Tests – And – Monitor Thousands Of Variables

~ WF-A-SE-CCSOFADA-WNLFIM ~ Without Feedback – A – Statistical Engine – Can Continue Spinning Out Faulty And Damaging Analysis – While Never Learning From Its Mistakes

~ DTOR-A-UITJTR-TTOM-I-S-P-HD-A-VC ~ Define Their Own Reality – And – Use It To Justify Their Results – This Type Of Model – Is – Self-Perpetuating – Highly Destructive – And – Very Common

~ P-DIAS-WCTSLUD-A-T-HV-AHTAFHSOETTAT ~ Probability – Distilled Into A Score – Which Can Turn Someone’s Life Upside Down – And – The – Human Victims – Are Held To A Far Higher Standard Of Evidence Than The Algorithms Themselves

~ TTIT-PEUSAA-SI-O-P-F-T-WSTDCCUAAA-THB-DS-ATOLSOTFOTREOTT ~ The Trouble Is That – Profits End Up Serving As A – Stand-In – Or – Proxy – For – Truth – We’ll See This Dangerous Confusion Crop Up Again And Again – This Happens Because – Data Scientists – All Too Often Lose Sight Of The Folks On The Receiving End Of The Transaction

~ BD-HPOE ~ Big Data – Has Plenty Of Evangelists

~ TCAM-WMCAWIETI-STWIA-TV-TCBEU-A-FWWCI-I-FAA ~ To Create A Model – We Make Choices About What’s Important Enough To Include – Simplifying The World Into A – Toy Version – That Can Be Easily Understood – And – From Which We Can Infer – Important – Facts And Actions

~ AM-BS-RT-JAP-OI-C ~ A Model’s – Blind Spots – Reflect The – Judgments And Priorities – Of Its – Creators

~ AMBFT-WWABWT-IWGSIINCU ~ A Model Built For Today – Will Work A Bit Worse Tomorrow – It Will Grow Stale If It’s Not Constantly Updated

~ R-I-TMSOPM-IIPB-HDG-A-SC-RB-II-A-PB-CB ~ Racism – Is – The Most Slovenly Of Predictive Models – It Is Powered By – Haphazard Data Gathering – And – Spurious Correlations – Reinforced By – Institutional Inequities – And – Polluted By – Confirmation Bias

~ T-PFL-T-DL-GRAR-A-ITP-TMBMAMU ~ The – Pernicious Feedback Loop – This – Destructive Loop – Goes Round And Round – And – In The Process – The Model Becomes More And More Unfair

~ B-TPINW-SPB-IT-SMS-TMPBA-SDITFOMOP-OFTFOR-A-ONA-TU ~ But – The Point Is Not Whether – Some People Benefit – It’s That – So Many Suffer – These Models Powered By Algorithms – Slam Doors In The Face Of Millions Of People – Often For The Flimsiest Of Reasons – And – Offer No Appeal – They’re Unfair

~ A-HOMTAA:TCL-FOFTTN-A-TOD ~ And – Here’s One More Thing About Algorithms: They Can Leap – From One Field To The Next – And – They Often Do

~ BA-TVSS-TTSTC ~ Bet Against – The Very Same Securities – That They’d Sold To Customers

~ TBWMAPWRWABS-UC-EA-U-TWTC ~ The Bonds Were Marketed As Products Whose Risk Was Assessed By Specialists – Using Cutting-Edge Algorithms – Unfortunately – This Wasn’t The Case

~ TMWDATCAASS ~ The Math Was Directed Against The Consumer As A Smoke Screen

~ B-O-T-O-U-IOU ~ Billions – Or – Trillions – Of – Unpayable – IOUs

~ VFPHT-EATIR-TKWWAGOS-A-MOTPWD-LTITSU ~ Very Few People Had The – Expertise And The Information Required – To Know What Was Actually Going On – And – Most Of The People Who Did – Lacked The Integrity To Speak Up

~ T-F-A-NMPWDATST-WBOT-T-STBD-T-DWL-RAU

~ The – False – Assumption – Not Many People Would Default At The Same Time – Was Based On The – Theory – Soon To Be Disproven – That – Defaults Were Largely – Random And Unrelated

~ TPO-MC-FF-AASUIH ~ The Power Of – Modern Computing – Fueled Fraud – At A Scale Unequalled In History

~ TWE-FSTPOTOSOTA ~ That’s When Everyone – Finally Saw The People On The Other Side Of The Algorithms

~ B-2009-IWCTTLOTMCHBNNDTTWOFAHINNV-TLS-FTMP-A-TGRTS:TRIDM-EFAFRTAAFHTJT ~ By – 2009 – It Was Clear That The Lessons Of The Market Collapse Had Brought No New Direction To The World Of Finance And Had Instilled No New Values – The Lobbyists Succeed – For The Most Part – And – *The Game Remained The Same: To Rope In Dumb Money – Except For A Few Regulations That Added A Few Hoops To Jump Through

~ TRTAR-RDIF ~ The Refusal To Acknowledge Risk – Runs Deep In – Finance

~ TAWMST-TD-L-WRTW ~ The Algorithms Would Make Sure That – Those Deemed – Losers – Would Remain That Way

~ ALM-WGEMCOT-DE-TI-OF-A-CTATW-TTDI ~ A Lucky Minority – Would Gain Ever More Control Over The – Data Economy – Taking In – Outrageous Fortunes – And – Convincing Themselves All The While – That They Deserved It

~ H-WUCAMFP-IIFST-GI-B-PAETMTTCRTR ~ However – When You Create A Model From Proxies – It Is Far Simpler To – Game It – Because – Proxies Are Easier To Manipulate Than The Complicated Reality They Represent

~ W-CP-BATW-TO-T-ANO-S-B-F ~ We – Criminalize Poverty – Believing All The While – That Our – Tools – Are Not Only – Scientific – But – Fair

~ J-CJBSTOPOSIUTO ~ Justice – Cannot Just Be Something That One Part Of Society Inflicts Upon The Other

~ OR ~ Operations Research

~ B-ITWFI ~ Bogus – Is The Word For It

~ C-GT ~ Computer-Generated Terrorism

~ B-AOTATP-HOMOP-F-TODS-IGTGALOTFW ~ But – Any Operation That Attempts To Profile – Hundreds Of Millions Of People – From – Thousands Of Different Sources – Is Going To Get A Lot Of The Facts Wrong

~ M-A-LO-ALA-TSRFOTE ~ Mistakes – Are – Learning Opportunities – As Long As – The System Receives Feedback On The Error

~ R-ISWU-TI-FMSF ~ Redlining – Is Still With Us – Though In – Far More Subtle Forms

~ IWGTB-EBTL-O-TEAV-WCSF-STDUIDC-A-TUD ~ If We’re Going To Be – Equal Before The Law – Or – Treated Equally As Voters – We Cannot Stand For – Systems That Drop Us Into Different Castes – And – Treat Us Differently

~ TG-OC-HAP-RR-TP ~ The Government – Of Course – Has A Powerful – Regulatory Role – To Play

~ MAC-NFD-B-FTCWM-A-WDTPAT-A-WTLO-TCANJA-L/P/E-TA-FM ~ Models Are Constructed – Not Just From Data – But – From The Choices We Make – About – Which Data To Pay Attention To – And – Which To Leave Out – Those Choices Are Not Just About – Logistics / Profits / Efficiency – They Are – Fundamentally Moral