You Can’t Oppose Hate by “Opposing Hate”

What is the most effective way to “oppose hate”?  What should we do when someone makes a comment that we experience as racist, sexist, homophobic or ethnocentric?  Do we ignore it in order to get along?  Do we confront the person?  If so, how? When we ignore remarks we experience as bigoted, we enable them.  However, while confronting our opponents …

Visionaries – 11.28.16

“The Beginning of Infinity.” What are the sources of knowledge and science? In his brilliant book “The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World” the physicist and computer scientist, David Deutsch, shows that the Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution are unique moments coming from Explanations, and that humans have a unique role in the universe in the creation of knowledge.

Klaus Brinkbäumer – An Absurd and Dangerous President

Donald Trump called for a ban on Muslims entering into the United States, he described Mexicans as rapists and announced his intention to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. He boasted about sexually harassing women and, when women came forward to say that he did in fact harass them, he said: Oh no, not her. Just look …

Nika Knight – Bad Week for Exxon: Outlook Plunges as NY Court Says Climate Criminal Must Comply

ExxonMobil is having a very bad week. The oil giant was slammed Wednesday with a ruling against it from New York’s highest court in the ongoing climate fraud investigation, as well as a scathing report from a financial analysis firm that suggested the company’s fortunes may be in “irreversible decline.” The New York State Supreme Court ordered the oil behemoth …

Hedge Funds Cost N.Y. Pension Plan $3.8 Billion, Report Says

The New York state comptroller’s decision to stick with hedge funds despite their poor returns has cost the Common Retirement Fund $3.8 billion in fees and underperformance, according to a critical report by the Department of Financial Services. The state comptroller, who invests $181 billion for two systems covering local employees, police and fire personnel, “has over relied on so-called ‘active’ …

Tom Engelhardt – You Must Be Kidding! Adventures in an American World of Frustration

Recently, sorting through a pile of old children’s books, I came across a volume, That Makes Me Mad!, which brought back memories. Written by Steve Kroll, a long-dead friend, it focused on the eternally frustrating everyday adventures of Nina, a little girl whose life regularly meets commonplace roadblocks, at which point she always says… well, you can guess from the title!  Vivid …

Meditations and Molotovs – 08.22.16

AUGUST 22nd: On today’s program, Vince explores a wide-range of issues, from the ways in which media consolidation colors our collective culture, to the absurdity of nationalism and why he loathes the Olympics. This off-script show is sure to entertain.