01) Waking Up with Sam Harris #99 – What Happened to Liberalism? (with Mark Lilla)
“In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Mark Lilla about the fate of political liberalism in the United States, the emergence of a new identity politics, the role of class in American society, wealth inequality, and other topics.
Mark Lilla is Professor of the Humanities at Columbia University and a prizewinning essayist for the New York Review of Books and other publications worldwide. His books include The Shipwrecked Mind: On Political Reaction; The Stillborn God: Religion, Politics, and the Modern West; The Reckless Mind: Intellectuals in Politics, and The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics.”
01) Bernie Sanders Wiped the Floor With Graham & Cassidy at CNN’s Healthcare Debate
“After learning that their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act had been dashed once Susan Collins announced her opposition to their bill, Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy had to go on national television to debate the merits of their failed bill. They faced off against Bernie Sanders and Amy Klobuchar and got absolutely annihilated. Since their own bill failed, they tried to debate the merits of Bernie Sanders’ ‘Medicare for All’ bill—thinking they’d have a leg up on the Vermont senator—but it couldn’t have gone worse for them.”
“Seth Andrews mixes frustration and food in this (unscripted) broadcast about life, religion, activism, faith, and yes…Funyuns. Enjoy!”
I didn’t realize Seth had reached this point…He’s a new personality to me, so I don’t know much about him. If he’s been doing this for seven years, yeah…people commonly reach a point, where it’s not fun, inspired or meaningful, anymore…on a personal level, anyway.
I’ve seen this happen to other atheists [podcasting atheist, even]…I’ve seen it happen with lots of MAPs…Heck, I’ve seen it happen with various “normal” YouTubers, who get tired of keeping up their channel projects.
In roughly a year, I’ll be marking my twenty year anniversary for being online…I’ve floated through various internet communities…And people arrive…they rise to prominence…they stay at the forefront for maybe a handful of years…and then they typically fade into the background…maybe they entirely leave…
I think it’s pretty much normal.
I’ve been active in some capacity, for almost twenty years…I’ve cycled through a lot of psychological states…over and over and over…I’ve had to step away, and leave for a time…I’ve had to shift gears, and remake myself…There have been times, where I’ve thought “I can’t go on”…
…I don’t even know how I’ve managed to still be around…nor how I’m garnering more attention today, than I ever have in the past 19 years…
…I guess I have a world class stubborn streak…And what I do, is a massive part of how I cope with this world around me…It’s stopped me from just losing it, and spiraling down…on well more than one occasion.
…I gain as much as I give…maybe more.
I think…the frustrations over not really seeing much concrete change, is very easy to get pulled down by…Which is why they always say…stay focused on your goals…Know why what you’re doing need to be done, and keep doing it for those reasons…
…It doesn’t matter how many people want to spit in my face…
…It’s the people whose faces are spit at, that I care about…And I already know, that I’ve made an impact on that front…over many, many years…and many people.
“Homosexual sex doesn’t lead to reproduction. So given that evolution by natural selection favours genes that increase an organism’s reproductive success, why does evolution not drive homosexuality to extinction?”
“You believe above all in the importance of wisdom, which is why you undoubtedly belong in Ravenclaw, but your sense of adventure means you may also have an affinity for Gryffindor house. You are a thrill-seeker – you love to travel and there’s nothing more exciting to you than new experiences – and believe that adventure is essential in the pursuit of knowledge. You are brave, but would never intentionally put yourself in danger, placing you firmly in Ravenclaw.
Your slight compatibility with Hufflepuff house suggests a deep love and appreciation for those close to you, which you may keep hidden for fear of being hurt.”
I’m most familiar with the movies…and I’m slowly moving my way through the books…Very slowly…
…So, I don’t really know a whole lot about the two, lesser featured houses…Though I do have this vague memory, of reading an official summary on each house…probably at Pottermore…
I do think Ravenclaw sounds really cool, at any rate…I could see myself under that title.
01) Waking Up with Sam Harris #99 – What Happened to Liberalism? (with Mark Lilla)
