POW: Naomi Wolf

The National Constitution Center podcast an excellent interview and discussion with Naomi Wolf about her newest book, Give Me Liberty. Wolf addresses the closing of American society and it's consequences squarely, and provides useful guidance on how to combat it. It's enough for me to head to the library...

Book Notes: Maxed Out

I finished reading Maxed Out the other day.  Extended thoughts are here.  I remember watching the documentary maybe a year ago and not thinking much of it, reading the book today has more (a lot more) salience.  Recommended reading for those who think the finance companies should not have been bailed out.

Walter Pincus Essay

Via DeLong, Here is an essay by Washington Post reporter Walter Pincus.  Much good stuff.  The nutshell thesis:  Modern journalists have shied away from the necessary and valid role they play in influencing the federal government.

Pincus attributes this phenomenon to the pursuit of objectivity, to the desire to stay above the conflict of ideas.  That may go a long way as explanation, but I'd throw in something else. 

It seems to me that people are extremely pessimistic about the capability and utility of the federal government.  There is a sense that the major social conflicts and tensions such as poverty, race relations, and terrorism cannot be solved or even improved by government.  The gospel of Reagan.  And if the government is going to get it wrong no matter what, then who cares what it does?  Maybe journalists trivialize politics because they cannot imagine it having more then trivial significance.