I'm an ex-Leftie who now works as a money man in the UK.
I'd like to rediscover Socialist philosophy and ideals. Problem: 10+ years of economic analysis of public spending and government fiscal policy has left me thinking that Socialism is unrealistic, ill thought out, and well, a bit...silly. Help me turn myself around before it's too late! ...much more inside....
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 21, 2013 -
14 answers
Never in my life has this happened before, but I keep finding myself in tears of grief over the looming death of Scottish writer
Iain M Banks, who is far and away my favourite writer and has terminal cancer. I'm looking for ways of helping to resolve this emotion, by using it as energy to fuel a meaningful response.
[more inside]
posted by Mistress
on May 20, 2013 -
21 answers
My boss has hired her unqualified problem child son to work in my workplace. I have no idea how to deal with him.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 9, 2013 -
32 answers
I'd like to learn more about how the Democratic and Republican parties function, concretely, at present.
Specifically: how establishment forces (influential donors, party officials, incumbents) influence the rise of candidates (at any level), and how these candidates integrated into the parties activities. I'm particularly interested in the role of
political consultants (in media, fundraising, messaging) - what dynamics are at play as they are hired by candidates, how do these consultants' careers develop, what pressures do they face from the establishment, and what role do they play in shaping the policy positions?
[more inside]
posted by phrontist
on May 8, 2013 -
3 answers
As a Progressive, aside from some stuff I hate read, the only conservative periodicals i read on any regular basis are First Things and the Economist (which, you know Cliche). Part of the problem is homophobia, but that's not enough of an excuse. So which blogs, websites, pod-casts, magazines, journals, tv shows, subreddits, zines, or mailers about neocons, fiscal cons, paelocons, libertarians, paleo-libertarians, social conservatives, or anything I have missed. I have read a lot of books, and I am more interested in a set of ongoing discussions, rather than something as solid as a monograph.
posted by PinkMoose
on May 7, 2013 -
18 answers
I have this friend, we've known each other since we were five and I see her every time I go home. She helped me deal with my abusive ex and recently attended my grandad's funeral which was a difficult time. It's all good until she writes offensive, provocative stuff on FB and I feel like I don't know this person. Do I brush it to one side or engage with it? How would you deal with this?
[more inside]
posted by everydayanewday
on May 1, 2013 -
35 answers
I am looking for examinations of the Internet and World Wide Web that use the structure and/or history of the city as a metaphor.
[more inside]
posted by 0bvious
on Apr 12, 2013 -
9 answers
I think the EnergyStar program could do more good, and may actually be doing harm in its current form. In what ways could I try to impact it?
[more inside]
posted by spbmp
on Apr 3, 2013 -
9 answers
I'm creating a database and corresponding web-app to assist a progressive "hyper-local" political action committee. The system will cover get-out-the-vote efforts and volunteer tracking. I'm looking for real-world (non-technical) advice on GOTV and fundraising systems. Have you used one? What did you like/hate about it?
[more inside]
posted by joe vrrr
on Apr 3, 2013 -
6 answers
Help me with my ten year old sons school project !
I'd like to find people - as well known as possible - to whom the adage "power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely" .
So an ideal example would be someone who started off with good intentions and then on gaining power started behaving poorly . Also ideally once they'd turned nasty their actions would not be so despicable that you wouldn't mind explaining them to a ten year old
Thanks
posted by southof40
on Mar 9, 2013 -
38 answers
For Camp NaNoWriMo, I am planning a sci-fi book in which labor politics play a significant role in the plot. I'd like to listen to music associated with the historical labor movement while I'm planning and writing. I only speak English, but will listen in any language. What have you got for me?
posted by gauche
on Mar 7, 2013 -
42 answers
I am interested in conducting some preliminary research on this topic and am looking for the key thinkers and arguments on either side of this debate.
[more inside]
posted by ageispolis
on Feb 10, 2013 -
7 answers
What have, and do, politically-motivated writers say about the drinking and drug use in important, nationally lauded works when a new political era is not as accepting as previous eras?
[more inside]
posted by slowlikemolasses
on Feb 3, 2013 -
1 answer
My favorite kinds of biographies have political/military figures from classical antiquity or America, with a focus on their intellectual development. I really enjoyed Dreams from My Father and Plutarch's Lives because they really delve into the intellectual development of their subjects. Biographies that span someone's entire lifespan are fine, as long as early life is well covered. Any recommendations?
posted by tomtheblackbear
on Jan 31, 2013 -
3 answers
Many years ago I recall watching a movie, where this southern state politician (supposedly based on a true character) was pulling dirty tricks during his campaign. IIRC, he for example accused his competitor of being a "humanist", along with several other carefully chosen praise words which, to his uneducated voters, sounded like insults. Does anyone know which movie I am referring to, or who this politician was?
posted by helion
on Jan 16, 2013 -
4 answers
Have any U.S. Senators been appointed to fill out a term of a previous Senator who had been of a different political party? If so, who?
I brought this up because of a bar bet between some political junky friends of mine. I guess this would have to be post-17th amendment, but if you have any relevant pre-17th amendment Senate succession stories, I'd love to hear that too.
posted by Weebot
on Jan 15, 2013 -
6 answers
I got a new job and have, in record winning pace, managed to be the outsider weirdo of my team (yay!) Details below and advice on both practical and professional ways to deal welcomed.
[more inside]
posted by hillabeans
on Jan 15, 2013 -
30 answers
Which books and articles are the most important for understanding transgender issues?
posted by morninj
on Jan 7, 2013 -
19 answers
How do you deal with someone who doesn't seem to fight fair? My mother and I often have intellectual discussions about politics, religion and ethical questions, where we often have different or even contradictory views to one another. They wind up as arguments despite my best intentions - please help me to do better!
[more inside]
posted by EatMyHat
on Jan 3, 2013 -
30 answers
Should I pursue a casual FWB relationship with this narcissistic but very intellectually interesting and sexy jerk?
[more inside]
posted by tamagogirl
on Dec 27, 2012 -
109 answers
Canadian politics question. Screwing the environment and shutting down science - what's in it for Harper?
[more inside]
posted by Meatbomb
on Dec 25, 2012 -
10 answers
Why is John Boehner such an ineffective Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives? I can't remember there ever being a speaker so unable to deliver votes and negotiate on behalf of his caucus. I'm used to the speaker being a powerful figure. How did this happen? Is he lacking certain traits?
posted by Area Man
on Dec 21, 2012 -
34 answers
What are some examples of industries that successfully regulated themselves, and examples of those that failed?
[more inside]
posted by matt_arnold
on Dec 12, 2012 -
18 answers
I am British. I have recently acquired American in-laws. They are a traditionally Republican family. I, like many Europeans, consider the current iteration of the Republican Party has passed so far beyond the pale as to no longer be a rational organisation.
So I saw a post-election graphic on Facebook I would normally have shared, but...I'm wondering how this new branch of family will perceive that.
[more inside]
posted by glasseyes
on Nov 16, 2012 -
46 answers
Help me win an argument with a libertarian: my friends are smart and libertarian and I am smart and a bleeding heart liberal (for example, I believe that if a government has the ability to provide health care to its citizens, it should do so). Give me short reads to help my arguments.
[more inside]
posted by craven_morhead
on Nov 12, 2012 -
52 answers
Is there a science of division? (i.e. Models of the phenomenon that communities often split into two blocs with some degree of mutual antagonism. And/or empirical data that such models could be compared against.)
[more inside]
posted by philipy
on Nov 9, 2012 -
7 answers
I'm in the mood for some good political postmortems. Big races, little races, recent news, ancient history, whatever. Probably U.S. though.
[more inside]
posted by 2bucksplus
on Nov 8, 2012 -
6 answers
Does anyone know where to obtain a copy of Pat Buchanan's memo to Richard Nixon, "Dividing the Democrats"?
[more inside]
posted by dhartung
on Nov 7, 2012 -
3 answers
Some friends who supported Romney are so displeased with the election results that they are now threatening to move to Canada or Australia for the next four years. Okay. Would their experiences living as American citizens in those countries in reality align more closely with their conservative ideals? How 'bout if they became citizens? What's the best response to these people?
[more inside]
posted by mochapickle
on Nov 7, 2012 -
76 answers
What are some examples of new, interesting, funny, and/or powerful ways in which social media have been used during the current 2012 U.S. election season? What's caught your eye? Who's doing it right, who's doing it very wrong, where are the notable gaps?
[more inside]
posted by Superplin
on Nov 6, 2012 -
9 answers
I'll be on a work trip with my boss and some coworkers during the election tonight, and it was suggested that we all watch the results unfold at a bar somewhere. I usually avoid politics talk at work for the sake of sanity and career, and because my views may not easily fit within the big corporation I'm part of. How do I best navigate this night without anything going wrong (keeping in mind alcohol is involved)?
posted by naju
on Nov 6, 2012 -
16 answers
Please help me
not find it dismissive when people ask me for sources to back up my information during an argument/discussion.
[more inside]
posted by thisjax
on Nov 6, 2012 -
44 answers
BookFilter: Can you recommend books that connect what happened in the 60's to the current American political culture?
[more inside]
posted by dry white toast
on Nov 3, 2012 -
6 answers
Do you know of a master list of active political domain names being used in the current American election? I need it so I can block all ads pointing to those sites.
[more inside]
posted by Mo Nickels
on Oct 30, 2012 -
2 answers
What changed about Florida's GOTV laws this year?
A story at Slate called
The Fraud That Failed says that a new law restricted the time within which "churches [could] turn out the early vote."
[more inside]
posted by yclipse
on Oct 27, 2012 -
7 answers
Is it ethical for a graphic design company to do advertising work for opposing political candidates at the same time?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Oct 25, 2012 -
21 answers
Where can I find summaries of historical developments, technological breakthroughs, political and social changes etc. in a similar style as the Afterword in Charles Stross's anthology Toast
(free download here)? I am interested in stuff that has happened in the last 30 or 40 years.
posted by fullerenedream
on Oct 22, 2012 -
0 answers
