“Overture, curtain, lights
Democracy & Elitism 2: performance elitism vs privilege elitism, and why the difference matters
Part 2 in a series. “Elite” hasn’t always been an epithet. In fact, if we consider what the dictionary has to say about it, it still signifies something potentially worthy. Potentially. For […]
Democracy & Elitism: an introduction to the American false consciousness
Part 1 in a series. Is there a more radioactive word in American politics today than elitist? Admit it – you saw the word and had an instinctive negative reaction, didn’t you? […]
Nota Bene #93: Linksgiving
Welcome to my home
Is your house haunted?
Horror of the “gothic” variety that occupied so much of the conversation between Byron and the Shelleys (these would be the conversations that ultimately gave rise to Frankenstein) has traditionally traded in […]
Why isn't Rush happy?: Limbaugh inadvertently illustrates democracy in action
America’s democratic ideal doesn’t work perfectly. Sometimes it doesn’t work at all, and in these cases it feeds our cynicism to the point where we’re tempted to conclude that the very possibility […]
Politico misquote of Perriello: sorry, but an apology just isn't enough
On September 22, Politico ran an article by Glenn Thrush that egregiously misrepresented the words of Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA). The subject was town hall meetings and racist comments that he had […]
Adjunct faculty: an unsustainable disgrace
by Joseph Domino There is perhaps no topic in America where we talk out of two sides of our mouths more than Education. Education is in crisis at all levels, but at […]
The Summer of Hate provides a watershed moment for "reasonable Republicans"
I’m not a Republican, but I know many people who are. I have GOP friends, co-workers and family members, and for that matter I used to be a Republican myself. A long […]
Michael Vick and the problem with forgiveness
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has conditionally reinstated former Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick, who was convicted of running a dogfighting ring in 2007. Vick served 23 months in federal prison, followed by two […]
Progressive Culture | Scholars & Rogues 