"the thing I'd want done with this didn't happen"

You're right. The thing I wanted done didn't happen. And it will happen more and more as newspapers cut reporters. We need watchdogs to alert the public when we're getting fucked. And we're losing those watchdogs because apparently they don't fit into our new economy. When a government official or a corporation avoids all scrutity, they get greedy. When they get greedy, the public gets fucked.

Look, when the finance industry avoided scrutiny, they got greedy, and the public got fucked.

Before Upton Sinclair's book, the meatpacking industry avoided scrutiny. They got greedy, and the public got fucked.

Without investigative journalists you have no Watergate. No Abu-Grahib, etc..

I think Garrison is saying that good ol fashioned corruption stories can scare up desperately needed newspaper sales. And these stories double as a public good, by informing us exactly how we're getting fucked. Don't you wanna know?

I'm standing in my office, clapping for Andrew Leonard's latest post on How the World Works.

Dude. Keep it up. Actually, turn the volume up if you can.

Awesome.

But you totally sound insincere. Just look at your last sentence.

At least that’s what I try to remind myself before I clean the bathroom and change the diaper genie.

It's the 'try' that derails you. If you drop the 'try' I think the article works. Essentially you're saying this is how you trick yourself in believing what you think you should believe (for whatever reason). As for now, you've just incentivized me to work harder in corporate America so I won't have to try to convince myself of anything.

Best wishes to you and your family.

Great article.

It would be intersting to know the average age American women of different races have children. And the total number of children they have.

And then break that down to those with college degrees and those without.

And then chart those trends into the future.

I bet those curves could prove to the GOP that they must appeal to more than just white people if they ever want to hold any power. If that means changing their 'core values' then it is a change they need to make to stay competitive.

anyone see today's NYT op-ed about affirmative action and the future? if not, go read it.

You know those people who stand on the corner handing out coupons for discount haircuts and mens suits? I knew something was up when those same people were flicking through their i-phones.

I’ve been very frustrated with special interests for a long time. Almost every social problem isn’t being fixed because some lobby is fighting tooth and nail to prevent it. All in the name of profit. And politicians are in the business of getting elected and reelected --- and the price to do that business has never been higher.

So what we're left with is simple. Either you must be obscenely wealthy to get elected (and you probably are out of touch with average americans)... or you need to sell your soul to special interests for the cash required to get elected. Then, once elected, you will have to scratch the special interests' back to make sure they will give you money down the road to get reelected. It's a cycle of despair.

And it seems like Paulson and the others are avoiding any scrutiny becuase they're just throwing up their hands and saying, "you can't question what we did, we saved the universe from collapse, so be happy and quit asking questions. Believe us, what we did was in everyone's interest, just don't ask for the details."

to only choose to have white male cops speak. Not smart. Not smart at all. Downright stupid.

and....

Still, there is a dangerous way this case is playing into our increasingly grim dialogue about race in post-Obama America. From the unfair attacks on Sonia Sotomoyor to the paranoia of the "Birthers," to the false claims of increasing white disadvantage...

So, it's downright stupid to have only white guys speak at a press conference. And it's also false to claim that white men are increasingly at a disadvantage.

You're poking a nerve with those comments Joan. What if those white cops are the ranking leaders on the force, and the most eloquent? I believe preventing them from speaking would put them at a disadvantage (not to mention the Cambridge police force).

You're essentially saying that white men are not increasingly at a disadvantage - but nevertheless, in a post-Obama world, they should zip it and let others speak up. Grim indeed.

After reading the Bloomberg piece, it's difficult to see Republican and Blue Dog Democratic resistance to significant health care reform as anything other than ruinously irresponsible.

Congressmen are in the business of getting re-elected - which doesn't always square with looking out for the national good. To get re-elected you need cash. To get cash you have to ask for it from special interests groups - who ask you to support them in return.

So.... do what's right, lose money, lose elections. Or do what's wrong, earn money, buy elections. The choices are clear.. and both choices contain some level of irrationality.

We won't fix anything until we: 1.)reconfigure the way campaigns are financed and 2. effectively silence special interests for the sake of National interest.

mind blowing to think about. Thanks for the look Andrew.