February 28, 2012

An excellent article on B of A's woes

This is from last October, but we're still seeing the ramifications today.

http://www.neweconomicperspectives.org/2011/10/not-with-bang-but-whimper-bank-of.html

The blog site is a hangout for post-Keynesian economists.

BAC’s request to transfer the problem derivatives to B of A was a no brainer – unfortunately, it was apparently addressed to officials at the Fed who meet that description. Any competent regulator would have said: “No, Hell NO!” Indeed, any competent regulator would have developed two related, acute concerns immediately upon receiving the request. First, the holding company’s controlling managers are a severe problem because they are seeking to exploit the insured institution. Second, the senior managers of B of A acceded to the transfer, apparently without protest, even though the transfer poses a severe threat to B of A’s survival. Their failure to act to prevent the transfer contravenes both their fiduciary duties of loyalty and care and should lead to their resignations.

February 21, 2012

I think the "homophobic people are closetted gays" thing is wearing pretty thin

Authoritarian followers like simple things, simple thinking. Authoritarian leaders know how to deliver those. Authoritarian followers fear "the other" and complexity. Authoritarian leaders know how to prey on those fears. Hence, they rely upon the easy, time-worn scapegoats;

• gays
  
• women
  
• intelligent people
  
• people who look or behave differently
  
• people who believe other things or follow other traditions
  

There has been much talk of Steve Jobs "reality distortion field". While he was no conservative by any stretch of the imagination, he did share that one characteristic, the ability to create an alternatively reality out of thin air, then do everything in his power to make this so.

I grew up in a "conservative" household with all the trappings including the white fence (it was ranch-style, not picket). I was expected to believe and act on things that were demonstrably not true. Slogans, old-wives-tales and urban myths trumped reality. I was not allowed to believe the evidence of my own eyes. When I finally got out of that household, I had no tools with which to confront the real world, because up until that point, it didn't exist.

For authoritarian followers, it's simply safer to live in "the box", mumble the scripts dictated to them by their leaders, believe what they're told to believe and lash out at anything that could possibly make that change.

January 20, 2012

Don't you get it? Authoritarian followers don't care about Gingrich's hypocrisy

The Authoritarians

First off, authoritarians don't do Cognitive dissonance.

Anne: I'm not a violent person.
Anne: *throws tantrum ending with chair through window*
Bob: Wasn't that a violent action?
Anne: Yes, but that doesn't make me a violent person.
Bob: OK, define "violent person".
Anne: "Violent people perform violent actions".
Bob: You just performed a violent action.
Anne: So?

That would make a reality-based person's head hurt. They seem to be immune.

Authoritarian followers believe that their authoritarian leaders may do anything it takes to become a more powerful leader, even (and especially) if it violates the exact principals they are espousing. Hence they will see Newt dumping a wife because "she's not pretty enough to be a President's wife" as a good thing. In fact, it's probably a dog whistle to the Republican base that he's got the ambition/greed/whatever to pursue American imperialism/dominionism to its bitter end.

Also, authoritarian followers will support anyone who spouts the right rhetoric/dog whistles even if neither one of them follows those values. Everything in the authoritarian world is about appearances, not actual values or reality. I grew up with this in the 50's. You could be starving your kids, beating your wife and cheating on your taxes, but as long as your white picket fence was painted, you were good to go.

I'm betting on Gingrich as the Republican candidate. The Evangelicals will never vote for a Mormon. Santorum is too wimpy and Kennedy already broke the Catholic barrier.