the paper of record

the writers at the n y times are certainly fine stenographers...subtle ( mostly) reasonably accurate (when they're not making stuff up) and in line with the editorial boards directives...one of the headers for today's on line edition says "climate change seen as a threat to u.s. security"...well...policy wonks are notorious for rationalizing the elite's desires and needs, so they take an issue that faces all humans as a species everywhere on the planet and bring an "us or them" siege mentality to it...which is probably a pretty accurate reflection of the elite's viewpoint....but it precludes reaching out and evolving responses that would help everyone...that wouldn't be butressing the elite's favored position, would it? it would, in fact, be compromising that freedom of action they so cherish ( and promise, but do not deliver to,us...unless you count a choice of rotgut fast food or anti-persperants as freedom)...so they turn the political scientists losse on it, and it becomes a "security" issue that has to be taken into account in a overall "global strategy"...risk management in the 21st century is a complex business...it could be simplified if they would pay attention to what my old friend george orwell had to say...he remarked that if we wanted to enjoy our christmas dinner in peace we would do well to insure everyone else had one too...meanwhile barbra ehrnreich is bemoaning the "criminalization" of the poor...when was the last time she actually talked to a "poor" person ( "poor" because those who lack material wealth can be remarkably rich in things that matter) and listened? they know that being "poor" makes them the "other" in the consumerist utopia...always a target for law enforcement or whatever other government racketeers come along...nothing new in this...the poverty of immigrants, women, people of color, white trash, and the young has always made them pariahs..old babs is airing her liberal guilt a bit late in the game