Red Blogule to the French language - No equivalent to "liberal"

Archives 20040901 (see blogules 2004)

(discussion : "neocon" a reaction to Bourdieu's "neoliberalism" concept)

There is a translation issue here. In French, a "liberal" person is in favor of unleashed capitalism and total deregulation. From an Hegelian point of view, one may think the French are so much enslaved in capitalism their language considers ultimate capitalism as ultimate freedom.

The thing is we frogs don't have a word that could match "liberal" as you mean it. We tend to stick to XIXth century references (capitalism vs socialism, progressivism...). Such adjectives as "pragmatic" fix some voids, and one could translate "centrism" with "how-the-heck-should-we-call-em-guys-that-don't-fit-in-ism".We badly need to change references, and economy remains a fairly exotic science to the bulk of my fellow citizens (the Bourdieu you quote is a philosopher). To sum it up I think we somehow dub "conservative" someone who didn't adapt to the first industrial revolution (the majority of the population doesn't even know such thing as an "industrial revolution" ever happened), "liberal" someone who'd like a longer leash for his attachment to our "omnipotent - ventripotent" state, and "socialist" someone who loves to consider himself generous but who'd never give up any of his privileges nor share his own wealth.

We're so much fond of "isms" that we're not likely to think "responsible economics" anytime soon.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to Power Outrages

Archives 20040816 (see blogules 2004)

(enough talking about his daughter's coming out - let's discuss about Cheney's military service records)
His military service : yet to be filled
His services to the military lobbies: filled her up and keeps on emptying the tanks

(discussion about fear keeping Bush in power)
The guy is addicted to power but has a knack for ending running on empty after overusing it. In the past, there was always someone to inject him some more fuel (ie his Harken Oil failure). The same guys keep on financing his campaign. When his toys went bankrupt, it didn't matter but now the Federal Budget and the lives of many are at stakes. It's time for a wake up call across America: this man is dangerous and should be kept away from power.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to Iraqi Inc

20040501 (see blogules 2004)

Rummy is delighted to notice a boom in consumer goods in Iraq. But the fact home appliances and cars are being bought doesn't necessarily mean the Iraqi people are enjoying them.

The truth is there is almost no electricity in the country, even in Baghdad (4 hours per day tops for the luckiest - what is the use of a fridge ?), and while thousands of gallons are being exported every day, people have to stay in line for hours to get some gas at a station. There is a surge in consumption for the people who actually can make money: thieves or corrupted officials. In the meanwhile, the US are protecting as much as they can the exports, making a priority the financing of the war and of SIGHs (Special Interest Groups, Halliburton & Co).

There is no reason why the US should recover the cost of their invasion before the Iraqi people recover their survival means. The priority should be given to the Iraqi people, and the bulk of the exports should first finance their administrations (education, security, first help) and companies. The handover to the Iraqi people is also a matter of wealth.

SM on a forum