I remember a skit on some comedy show in the seventies where an old butler was constantly answering the bell in the pantry to take a tray of something upstairs and as soon as he had returned the bell rang again and off he went. He died and celestial music started and as his spirit rose from his collapsed body a wide staircase appeared leading up to clouds and the bright light of heaven. His spirit looked up and he muttered ‘more bleedin stairs’
I taught for twenty years in an inner city secondary school. Education today is obsessed with grades. If only teachers could be encouraged to teach wonder or at least really enthusiasm for their subjects. Real respect for their students is essential.
You are right as well - these short exchanges leave little room for the nuances that these issues demand. While you set out to stimulate wonder I wouldn't discount the value of the information that you provide as I for one have learned much about a world I was formerly quite ignorant and now feel relatively confident in talking to others about. The wonder did perhaps come first but as a convert I am always looking to learn more.
I am disappointed by the lack of “intellectual curiosity” exhibited by most of the population and mainstream media. There is a wish to see things in the world as simple and easy answers exist to complex problems.
To pinch the title of the Compass podcast “ It’s bloody complicated”
Your posts have contributed to my understanding of how the global economic system works ( badly for 99% of people!)
In the spirit of what you have said under the heading 'It makes me wonder' what do you think of the Japanese Government approving almost $3bn in emergency spending to support households facing rising electricity and gas bills? The amount will subsidize utility costs until September.
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced plans for a broader economic support package aimed at countering inflation. Tokyo is reportedly preparing an additional budget worth $19bn to address rising costs for essential goods, the measures will be funded through reserve allocations already included in the current fiscal year's budget.
I too wonder quite a lot. Not only about the content of Richard's posts, but how we got to the state we're in currently, why there seems to be no-one in power able or willing to remedy that and what ordinary people can do about it, apart from supporting Richard's work. I've tried writing to my MP but just got a very anodyne standard reply about how the government was trying to help ordinary folk (not that I've noticed anything)!
There is so much dissonance now that certainty has become a refuge for those who cannot manage the sheer volume of oppositional output. We should not forget that holding dissonance is often the preserve of those who have the practice and time to do so. Many have neither of these attributes and the world is so ordered that they rarely have the chance to acquire them.
Accepted, and yt history reveals there are always those who can hear the dissonance, whatever their circumstances. I would be cautious in assuming otherwise.
I remember a skit on some comedy show in the seventies where an old butler was constantly answering the bell in the pantry to take a tray of something upstairs and as soon as he had returned the bell rang again and off he went. He died and celestial music started and as his spirit rose from his collapsed body a wide staircase appeared leading up to clouds and the bright light of heaven. His spirit looked up and he muttered ‘more bleedin stairs’
I taught for twenty years in an inner city secondary school. Education today is obsessed with grades. If only teachers could be encouraged to teach wonder or at least really enthusiasm for their subjects. Real respect for their students is essential.
Ageed
You are right as well - these short exchanges leave little room for the nuances that these issues demand. While you set out to stimulate wonder I wouldn't discount the value of the information that you provide as I for one have learned much about a world I was formerly quite ignorant and now feel relatively confident in talking to others about. The wonder did perhaps come first but as a convert I am always looking to learn more.
Your posts always make me wonder.
I am disappointed by the lack of “intellectual curiosity” exhibited by most of the population and mainstream media. There is a wish to see things in the world as simple and easy answers exist to complex problems.
To pinch the title of the Compass podcast “ It’s bloody complicated”
Your posts have contributed to my understanding of how the global economic system works ( badly for 99% of people!)
Keep up the good work. Thanks.
Thank you
In the spirit of what you have said under the heading 'It makes me wonder' what do you think of the Japanese Government approving almost $3bn in emergency spending to support households facing rising electricity and gas bills? The amount will subsidize utility costs until September.
Yesterday the Prime Minister announced plans for a broader economic support package aimed at countering inflation. Tokyo is reportedly preparing an additional budget worth $19bn to address rising costs for essential goods, the measures will be funded through reserve allocations already included in the current fiscal year's budget.
Source - Al Mayadeen News .
I approve - if the excess profits of energy companies are taxed as well
I too wonder quite a lot. Not only about the content of Richard's posts, but how we got to the state we're in currently, why there seems to be no-one in power able or willing to remedy that and what ordinary people can do about it, apart from supporting Richard's work. I've tried writing to my MP but just got a very anodyne standard reply about how the government was trying to help ordinary folk (not that I've noticed anything)!
There is so much dissonance now that certainty has become a refuge for those who cannot manage the sheer volume of oppositional output. We should not forget that holding dissonance is often the preserve of those who have the practice and time to do so. Many have neither of these attributes and the world is so ordered that they rarely have the chance to acquire them.
Accepted, and yt history reveals there are always those who can hear the dissonance, whatever their circumstances. I would be cautious in assuming otherwise.