tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84743014255907505202024-03-15T21:10:22.141-04:00Mike Anderson's Author BlogThis blog presents material from Mike Anderson's books or articles about politics, governments, and political systems.Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-6785935718439803042023-07-19T13:33:00.000-04:002023-07-19T13:33:03.282-04:00Aldous Huxley Revisited In 1932, Aldous Huxley published his dystopian novel, Brave
New World. Initially criticized, the book has gained great popularity over
time and, today, can be found on many lists of the most important books of the
20th Century.
Brave New World is set in the United Kingdom during the year 2540. A new
world order has come into being following civil wars between competing political
ideologiesMike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-77009544264366042392023-05-26T10:07:00.000-04:002023-05-26T10:07:05.912-04:00George Orwell’s Critique of SocialismAmerican
socialism must be the most diverse ideological movement in our country’s
history. Today, we can count Marxists, communists, classic socialists,
democratic socialists, social democrats, progressives, and postmodernists all operating
in its orbit. Is it any wonder many call themselves socialists without being
able to describe what they believe? History has shown changing political
systems Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-69949891668974411332023-01-08T09:08:00.070-05:002023-05-26T10:10:28.875-04:00Is Everyone on the Left a Marxist?Polls have shown the American political Left is made up of diverse
groups, including Marxists, socialists, progressives, and liberals. Is that
really the case or are all these groups just Marxists with different labels?Recent surveys paint a picture of the diversity of this group. A
2018 study from More in Common describes the Left as made up of three
groups: Progressive activists (23% of Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-70734457040667301712022-09-01T08:49:00.000-04:002022-09-01T08:49:35.927-04:00America's Climate Insanity On July 15th
2022, Senate Democrats announced Senator Joe Manchin had blocked portions
of the mini-Build Back Better bill. Those sections included new climate
initiatives. Reaction to Manchin’s objections was swift and vigorous. Evergreen
Action Executive Director Jamal Raad said Democrats should take away Manchin’s
Energy and Natural Resources chair position, referring to the West VirginiaMike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-29145942827175850262022-08-09T10:07:00.001-04:002022-08-09T10:07:58.624-04:00Guns, Guns, GunsWhile gun violence consumes the political air in Washington and around the United States, the tribalist atmosphere in America is negating the possibility of consensus on how to solve the problem. We know that unity is necessary to drive real change, but what would be the source of that unity? Lurking in the background, observing the controversy, is the NRA, exerting intense pressure on Congress Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-44394064819211217992022-05-24T07:06:00.004-04:002022-05-24T07:08:14.793-04:00Just published in QuilletteIs Moral Expertise Possible?Moral expertise refers to the ability to understand the morality of human beings. In this article, four writers, including myself, examine the subject. Can anyone really be an expert in morality or is it too complex and based on individual differences?Click above to read the article.Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-10372871207126106562021-10-21T17:11:00.001-04:002021-10-21T17:11:52.466-04:00 ELECTRUM MAGAZINE
REVIEWS
Michael Anderson’s The
Conservative Gene: A Review
September 30, 2021 9:19 PMViews: 26Alexander
Janet, 1858, Signing of the Declaration of Independence, copy of
Trumbull painting (image in public domain)By
P. F. Sommerfeldt –Admittedly, I’m a tough nut to crack in terms of political
theory – my castle has a hard and high wall and I’m Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-8557928542222219722021-03-25T15:56:00.008-04:002021-03-25T16:02:26.894-04:00A Rational Climate DiscussionIt’s time to organize a public climate discussion based on rational thinking as opposed to one derived from irrational and biased viewpoints. This approach would promote a unifying view, appeal to a wider audience, and accelerate interest in sustainability. Today, public information is largely generated from the ideological camps of skeptics and believers, who operate in their own echo chambers, Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-91891846578625257822021-02-15T09:58:00.001-05:002021-02-15T17:33:22.480-05:00The True Ideology of the Radical RightThe True Ideology of the Radical RightThe Radical Right has been all over the news recently because of its involvement in the attack on the US Capitol January 6th 2021. These groups were provoked by Trump and his manic refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election. They took action to disrupt the electoral vote count and possibly do harm to our elected officials. The most radical elements Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-81625146219879747142020-12-02T16:54:00.002-05:002020-12-02T17:14:36.665-05:00The Great COVID MysteryWhat is the great COVID
mystery, you’re wondering? Is it “Where did the disease come from?” Or “Why is
the infection rate so high?” Or perhaps you’re asking “When will the pandemic
end?” All good questions but none of them is the great COVID mystery.
The great COVID mystery
is “Why is government singularly focused on stopping the disease and ignoring
the impact of shutdowns on the American Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-68453639130289092202020-11-01T20:35:00.005-05:002020-11-01T20:43:04.028-05:00The 2020 Election – What will happen?Its two days before the election and time to look at what may
happen and why.
In normal times, Trump would be a shoe-in. He’s an incumbent
running for a second term, the economy recovering from the COVID shock, and 56%
of Americans are saying they are better off than they were four years ago.
Without taking any other factors into consideration, this one
resembles the 1972 election between NixonMike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-6912519867511392532020-08-07T15:11:00.005-04:002020-08-07T15:50:13.214-04:00Time for a Media Vacation?Time for a
Media Vacation?
I’ve been on
a media vacation recently and it’s a pleasant experience. You should try it. Good
for your mental health.
No matter
what your political stripe, you have to be tired of the hourly drumbeat of
depressing information. It’s not healthy!
Every day we
hear about how bad Trump is. Whatever support he has is drowned out by the sheer
volume of the attacks from Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-11998732301422420782020-07-02T09:21:00.000-04:002020-07-02T09:21:21.909-04:00Review of TribalismELECTRUM
MAGAZINE
Why The Ancient World Matters Today
Top of Form
REVIEWS
Michael Anderson’s 2nd Excellent Book: Tribalism will
Divide and Conquer Us
June 29, 2020 8:50 PMViews: 7Lionel
Royer, Vercingetorix Throws Down His Arms at the feet of Julius Caesar,
1899
P. F. Sommerfeldt –
Julius Caesar knew
that to destroy the fractured Gauls, his overarching task was to accentuate
theirMike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-49213893082482583732020-06-28T11:34:00.003-04:002020-06-28T21:49:15.585-04:00Anarchy in AmericaThe
protests over the death of George Floyd are continuing for a third week and by now
most of the looters and rioters have moved on to their next shiny object. Only
protesters and anarchists remain. The protesters are doing what Americans know
how to do; express frustration with government by peacefully demonstrating. They
want police violence against black people brought under control. The Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-53342268902441896372020-06-13T15:18:00.000-04:002020-06-13T15:18:32.126-04:00Bias Reporting on COVID and the Vaccine Paradox
One of many discussion topics about COVID is the apparent
rise in new cases across several states. The data is accurate, but the
reporting is biased. Another case of fake news.
Since the media represents the liberal establishment, they would
like to make the situation look worse than it is, so they can criticize early
red state openings. If they can make that narrative stick, it could hurt Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-62486312748709316542020-06-08T13:38:00.000-04:002020-06-08T13:38:59.693-04:00Twin Cities – Twin Problems
Problem 1
The death of George Floyd on May 25th brought to
the surface, once again, the problem of police brutality in America. It was a
case of murder on TV -- so egregious no one could ignore it.
The reaction in Minneapolis and across the nation was swift
and widespread. Protests were organized in all the major cities and launched
the same day. “Why does this keep happening, asked the Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-30496991345063994972020-05-30T14:45:00.001-04:002020-05-30T15:28:39.617-04:00Deconstructing Face Mask Politics
The face mask has now become the “shiny
object” of the Coronavirus pandemic – both a symbol and political statement.
Many on the Left believe all of
us should wear masks all the time. This may be due to the fact that twice as
many people on the Left are worried about getting the disease as those on the
Right. I can’t explain that one. The Right thinks masks are appropriate, but
fewer Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-74433202308156440462020-05-12T08:53:00.000-04:002020-05-12T08:53:10.717-04:00Censorship in the Time of Pandemic
Censorship has become an important issue in America over the
past two decades. It encompasses the news media, academia, and, lately, the Internet.
Censorship impacts what we hear, what we read, and how well we are able to
express our first amendment rights. Although it bears no relationship to the
pandemic, the disease has become weaponized for political purposes and, in this
election year, allMike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-25625167803758152152020-05-05T07:22:00.000-04:002020-05-05T07:22:30.546-04:00Red State Versus Blue State Reopening
Its interesting to observe the difference in the red state
and blue state opening’s, which are designed to carry the country back to full
operation. I’m defining red and blue not by typical voting pattern but by the
party of the state’s governor, who manages the response to the pandemic. Red
state behavior shows a determined effort to move forward, while blue state
efforts demonstrate a Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-73497427829854895332020-04-28T16:46:00.000-04:002020-04-28T17:30:35.320-04:00The Price of Fear
The country is now beginning to open up economically, and all
hope that things go well for the sake of the American people.
What will that future look like?
Before trying to answer that question, let’s focus on the
present for a moment. The mainstream media is all in to keep fear in the
forefront of our thinking. In the beginning, it was fear of a disease we didn’t
know anything about that Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-68743633053387704162020-04-24T03:24:00.000-04:002020-04-24T08:00:20.168-04:00The Electoral College
The debate over the Electoral College has been renewed again
recently. The Left wants to eliminate it and the Right wants to leave it alone.
What is the issue?
Like anything, this is about power. Because the Left lost
two recent elections on electoral votes when they won the popular vote, they
cry foul. They see the “antiquated” electoral college concept as preventing the
will of the people Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-2698608664857307422020-04-17T10:45:00.000-04:002020-04-17T10:45:07.349-04:00Too Much Democracy?
A democracy is a political system that engages citizens to
vote and elect others to represent them. Commonly, this involves majority rule,
so the candidate that receives the most votes is elected.
Democracies were invented by the Greeks who employed this
form successfully for over one hundred years during the Golden Age of Athens.
The Greek democracy included a citizen’s assembly which held Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-68729182633285151952020-04-12T12:11:00.000-04:002020-04-12T21:36:54.437-04:00Starting up the Economy
I read an article yesterday that got me thinking about how
we are getting information during the pandemic. The title was We Can’t
Shelter in place Forever, and it was published in the Los Angeles Times.
The following comments were made in the article by public health officials:
They caution that coronavirus cases are likely to rise
when stay-at-home orders are relaxed.
Public health Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-37023718036769267062020-04-09T09:08:00.001-04:002020-04-09T09:11:18.481-04:00The Coronavirus Pandemic – Political Attitudes
I read an interesting article the other day that characterized American's feelings about the pandemic and their response to it (Associated Press, April 6). The article
mentions we are being highly compliant with government guidelines, and 94%
are following social distancing rules. It also discusses people’s concerns over
job loss affecting their income and the impact of closed day care Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8474301425590750520.post-6363738187786275092020-04-03T13:20:00.001-04:002020-04-03T13:20:52.792-04:00The Coronavirus Pandemic
The current global pandemic is an unmatched in human history,
with respect to the human reaction and efforts to overcome it with science. There
have been pandemics before, as recently as 2009, when the HIN1 virus killed
12,000 Americans between April 2009 and April 2010. This virus is uniquely
different and that is part of the reason why the governmental and public
reaction has been Mike Andersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02072553719998549925noreply@blogger.com0