Good gracious, I hope I'm not a Republican

I am pretty sure I am not a socialist. In my conception of things, the whole "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" idea calls for a degree of altruism that just doesn't exist out there. If you tell me that I have a choice of working either 4, 6 or 8 hours a day, whichever I think I'm able to do, and you tell me that I then have a choice of getting paid either $100, $200 or $300 a day, whichever I think I need, well, then, hmm... Let me think about that for a minute. A very altruistic person would be more likely to work to work longer hours for less pay, if it was for the good of society at large. Someone less concerned about the welfare of others might choose shorter hours and longer pay. And I think that creates a big problem, namely that virtue gets punished and selfishness gets rewarded.
At the other extreme (in my conception of things) is laissez-faire capitalism. In this system (at least conceptually) my rewards are commensurate with my efforts. If I work harder, if I take the risks, if I have sharper ideas and take the necessary steps to see them through, well, then, the sky is the limit. Of course, there are big problems with this, too. Maybe the biggest problem is the tendency for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer, which naturally occurs as those in positions of power and influence weild their power and influence to maintain their positions.
Anyway, if I were forced to choose between unfettered capitalism on the one hand, and unfettered socialism (which may be an oxymoron) on the other hand, I would have to go with capitalism. If for no other reason, I think that capitalism is more in synch with people's natural tendency to act in their own self-interest. But I also believe in enlightened self-interest, and deferred gratification, and Adam Smith's "invisible hand". And I think we are ready for some new "-isms", like radical centrism or communitarianism. Unfortunately, in today's sound-bite dumbspeak political discourse, "radical centrism and communitarianism" are likely to be conflated into "radical communism". So, I wonder sometimes if Bill Maher is right about us being too dumb to be governed. I look forward to the campaign season being over a week from today.

Basestroker

Just coined a new word, basestroker (vulgarity intended) to refer to a political figure who writes not to persuade or elucidate, but just to give strokes to his/her supporters. As an example, I recently wrote this letter to the Richmond Times-Dispatch about their retired but still active editor (but am not holding my breath awaiting its publication):
"I was not surprised to see Ross Mackenzie's piece in support of Governor Palin. It is interesting that, contrary to opinion polls following the debate, Mackenzie picked Palin as a clear winner. Interesting, but not surprising. Palin and Mackenzie are similar in style and content: prejudicial, one-sided and abrasive. Ross Mackenzie's "preaching to the choir" brand of editorial opinion does not convince, it repels. It is written not to persuade persons of different opinion to change their minds, but only to solidify his standing with his conservative base. Because my opinions are so far at variance with his, I read what he writes only with effort and a certain amount of repugnance. But please don't stop printing his pieces. His obnoxious style cannot bring in new recruits, it can only alienate those with more centrist leanings."
Stroke that!
On other fronts, I found this item to be both encouraging and disturbing. Encouraging, because apparently no last-minute Swift-Boat style attacks are on the way, but disturbing to think that this is how our political system operates.

What, me blog?

I think it is time for me to dust off the old blog and get back with it. I know in my heart of hearts that I fundamentally suck at blogging, and yet with my family so widely spread across the landscape, and with plane fares being what they are, it makes eminent sense to scatter these electrons hither and yon, rather than shag my arse around the countryside. So, I'm back.