Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Not Much to Say

I know I haven't posted much the last few weeks. I really haven't had anything to say. One thing I have been wondering about is corruption. When I saw that tape of Fergie selling access to Prince Andrew - as I almost simultaneously watched crude oil fill up the Gulf of Mexico and learn that this "accident" was a product of pure greed - I'm speechless. In the words of Elaine Benis, "I am without speech."
Oh well. By the way, I do hope you're following Glen Greenwald on President Obama's shameless hypocrisy. Obama's relentless cover up of Bush era criminality - our government is now sending the second whistleblower to prison who exposed severe government wrongdoing - not national security information. Obama's relentless pursuit of unchecked dictatorial power to seize individuals far away from any recognized "battlefield" and incarcerate them without any judicial oversight, forever - Obama can now do that only if he transports them to Afghanistan, the D.C. Court of Appeals recently ruled. It goes on and on.
You have to remember that Obama denounced these policies repeatedly, vociferously, and eloquently, when he was a candidate. I believed him.
I guess in my horror, I also feel like a complete fool.
That's all for now.

Joe H.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Glen Beck has Nazi Tourretts

This is really funny!  And wow, look at me...I can embed a video!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Comparaitive Religion

I thought this clip by Bill Maher was hilarious and insightful. Enjoy.

Joe H.

Taxes and Tea Bags

This is as good an example of "epistemic closure" as can be found anywhere. We have a "T.E.A. Party" movement staging rallies all over the country last April 15, protesting the Obama Administration and the crushing federal tax burden, despite the fact that the Obama Administration has lowered the tax burden on 90% of American tax payers - and I mean lowered it from Bush Administration levels.

Only tribalistic loyalty coupled with epistemic closure could prevent those opposed to taxes from noticing - and appreciating - this fact.

Joe H.

"I Want my Country Back"

"I want My Country Back" is a phrase I heard often in the media coverage of last Summer's health care legislation town hall meetings. I've also seen and heard the T.E.A. party speakers utter this declaration.

I had given the slogan somce cursory thought. But had I not been practicing law with such ferocity over the last several months, I like to think I would have indulged the philosophical and (hopefully) generated as thoughtful an analysis as this article, by David Sirota, provides.

But hey, what with being my own boss now - aside from Arlene, of course - things will be changing around here.

Joe H.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Epistemic Closure - How to Avoid it.

I stumbled upon this article by William Saletan yesterday and thought it contained excellent advice on how to avoid epistemic closure - and the inevitable ensuing delusions that epistemic closure fosters.

One of the interesting arguments Saletan mentioned went something like "when you're in a war, you don't have the luxury to listen with an open mind to those who disagree with you. You certainly don’t need to intentionally expose yourself to their ideas and/or evidence." That argument reminded me of an earlier post where I noted that several prominent conservative politicians and spokespersons had openly admitted that they wanted President Obama’s policies to fail.

Not President Obama, mind you, but his policies.

The temptation to set up a closed informational/argumentative feedback loop arises from feelings of certainty. That’s what enables people who are defending or attacking those who disagree with them to think they are at war.

I pledge to never be at war. My ideas and ideological soul mates are dear to me, but the truth is dearer still.

Note: I copped that from Aristotle, who said that about Plato right before he refuted Plato’s theory of the Forms.

Joe H

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

New Law Firm - Solo practice

For those of you who have noticed my dearth of posts, I've been busy setting up a solo-practice.

Bottom Line - firm life is not for me. I've got a few clients - and. crucially, someone who needs help with their practice 20-25 hours a week. I'm open for business baby!

I'll be posting more going forward. I still need to finish my website.

Joe H.