Prometheus 6

Presenting the first segment of Lawrence Mead's presentation on The Politics of Poverty. My notes thereupon, plus the video of the relevant section, so no one can accuse me of misrepresentation. All below the fold in case you're not interested...but you really should check it.

One part per day is coming...I should be done by Sunday.

First the video

Then the notes.

Defining Poverty and The End of History

Poverty

• Uses the federal definition, which is far below what anyone can realistically be expected to live on.

• “Somewhere between five and ten percent of the population, it's not a large group”

  • Lack of precision is intentional

  • With a population of 300 million, this “small group” would be “somewhere between” 15 and 30 MILLION people.

The End of History

• Francis Fukuyama's argument that “fundamental arguments over political principles have largely ended in the west

  • “The End of History” is a euphemism for “we are no longer willing to change.”

  • Unfortunately true...

• Market economy best serves individual's need for prosperity and also self-respect

  • Assumes self respect depends on wealth, therefore those who ar epoor can have no self respect

• Capitalism “somewhat regulated and humanized by government”

  • Therefore deregulation dehumanizes our society...apparently seen as a desirable goal

• Conflates “equalize opportunities” with “equalize social outcomes.”

  • This is significant because of the current arguments that attempts to equalize social outcomes is damaging to society.

• Conflates the regulation of capitalism with “the welfare state”

  • Significant because “the welfare state” is Conservative rhetoric for the social safety net.

• “In America, another dimension of history was the race question”

  • Wimpy, suck-ass euphemism for slavery and the active efforts to maintain White Supremacy that continue to this very day, and hence would be one of the things that continue indefinitely (history having ended with the fundamental agreement on political issues across western society).

  • “Historically, racial minorities had been denied equal rights, but over time that came seem indefensible.”

    • Note the choice of wording...not wrong, indefensible.

  • “So there was a stead progress toward equal rights, and even preferences for these groups; a process that culminated in the 60s and 70s. But since the 70s, this sense of an inevitable change, more or less toward more ambitious government has faded away.”

    • Exactly when “all deliberate speed” was being pushed toward “what are to waiting for NOW?”

    • More wimpy, suck-ass euphemisms

  • “We've lost the sense of history, of development over time”

• Political differences are now driven by partisan and personal rivalries between leaders...no prospect of a fundamentally different society than we have today

  • The most honest statement made in this segment.

  • The scariest statement made in this segment

• The important differences are between “society as a whole and groups on the periphery.”

  • Here he conflates the poor with illegal immigrants and terrorists

• No conflict between “the end of history” and “the clash of civilizations.”