Schadenfreude is a natural reaction

      According to a Jesuit theologian writing in today's NYT, although schadenfreude or the tendency to feel good when told of others' misfortune is a natural human reaction, it is not healthy.   He was referring to some people's rejoicing or at least celebrating the deaths of anti vaxxers in the midst of the Covid pandemic.

      Personally, I feel pity for the average Joe or Joan among us who dies because they believed a media celebrity who advised against getting the shot.   Many of these unfortunates get their information from compromised sources who either have a political axe to grind or who are grifting on the pandemic.  While they may be guilty of bad judgement, in most cases the truly believe vaccine conspiracy theories.

      However, I positively gloat when a public figure who peddles these wack job theories as truth dies of Covid.  If RFK jr. was rushed to an ER and choked out his last breath in agony, I would light a candle at the nearest Catholic church in celebration.   Hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths during the pandemic can be laid at the feet of men like RFK jr.   If i had an immortal soul to worry about, I would probably be upset at that reaction.  As it is, schadenfreude is less than what these amoral a..holes deserve.

Justice Breyer and the new normal

       It looks like Supreme Court Justices are establishing the new normal when it comes to retiring.   Absent death as a cause, it looks like retirement during the presidency of someone of their own party will become the expectation of partisans on both sides.   Breyer finally succumbed to the pleas of Democrats to retire so president Biden can fulfil a campaign promise and appoint a black woman to the bench.

      As recently as the 60s and 70s, Supreme Court vacancies were filled by presidents of both parties with less fear or favor than is now the case.   Gradually, the Court has become embroiled in the culture war separating Democrats and Republicans.   It reached its zenith with majority leader Mitch McConnell refusing to let then president Obama nominate Merrick Garland to fill the vacancy left by Antonin Scalia's death.  McConnell then reversed course and rushed through the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett 45 days before the election of 2020.   This resulted in a 6-3 conservative majority.   Absent the wholesale deaths or retirements of this majority, it looks like we are locked into a scenario where 5 or 6 white republican men will decide what laws are constitutional despite or because of their popularity with most Americans.   This situation cannot stand.

Icons, old and new

        After a sleepy regular season which led to stories of the sport's decline, the past weekend's playoff games kindled new interest among casual fans, including myself.   It also showcased rising stars and two fading icons, Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady.

       Rogers' Green Bay Packers lost to the San Fransisco 49's on a last second field goal.  Once again, Rogers fell short in a big game and is probably headed to another team as a hired gun in the waning days of his career.

       Tom Brady on the other hand is probably headed to retirement after more than 20 NFL seasons.  Unarguably the greatest QB in the league's history, Brady's furious comeback against the LA Rams came up short.    He may come back, but I doubt it.

      Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen of the KC Chiefs and Buffalo Bills, respectively played a final 2 minutes for the ages.   They combined for 25 points in the last 2 minutes.   They ended in a tie and KC, getting the nod for first possession scored a touchdown.  The arcane NFL rules regarding ties gave the win to KC.   As my future son-in law posted on Facebook, it was a shame someone had to lose the game.

      Mahomes, Allen and Cincinatti's Joe Burrow showcased their talents and provided a glimpse of the league's future.   I am actually  looking forward to next weekend and the Conference championships.

The Banality of tRump

          If  you follow the liberal side of cable news, it would seem the sky is falling in on the disgraced , twice impeached failed former president.  Everyone from New York's attorney general to the Fulton County prosecutor in Atlanta seems to have the goods on tRump and it's only a matter of time before he does the perp walk.

       I'm betting virtually the opposite is being spouted by conservative media outlets.   In the classic he said, she said, Faux News, OAN and Newsmax are probably painting a picture of a smiling, avuncular man who is being persecuted with a false narrative.

      The truth of the matter is incidental.  The larger picture is the erosion of belief in government, the rule of law and election integrity.   According to Hannah Arendt, that is exactly what happened in Germany as the Nazis rose to power.   She called it the Banality of Evil.   We, on the other hand have the personification of the evil she spoke of.   

Focusing on the ephemeral

       Focusing on a 2 hour press conference instead of the many problems facing the country is probably not the best use of a person's time, but it is the nature of the political circus we now refer  to as government in this country.   If the presser was supposed to be a test of Joe Biden's mental state ( and many of the reporters who attended obviously thought it was), he passed it with flying colors.   

      Biden handled tough and ridiculous questions with a dignity his predecessor never displayed and for the most part came out on top of the exchanges with a mostly hostile media.    Picture yourself at a podium for nearly 2 hours with  questioners trying to make you fail.   I certainly wouldn't have done so well.  

     However, if you were looking for clarity and accountability I doubt you would have found it in last night's spectacle.   

Sunshine and lollipops

       It seems the whole roster of Beltway pundits have soured on the Biden administration.   Of course, any Republican who ever said a kind word about the president is counted as a "staunch" ally.   Therefore, any criticism by them is taken as wholesale abandonment.

      As the stock market sinks, the Russians apply pressure on Ukraine and the drumbeat of inflation fears continue along with the omicron avalanche sweeping the country, Biden has little good news on the horizon to keep the wolves at bay.   Dwelling on the successes of the past year is fruitless in a "what have you done for me lately" world.   Meanwhile, Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have torpedoed any chance at voting rights legislation and the BBB bill.   It's getting ugly out there.   It's time to start promising sunshine, lollipops and ponies for the midterms.

Weather and climate change

       Usually by mid January most North Country residents are either looking to go south somewhere for a respite from winter or are anticipating a thaw from the relentless cold.  Since November and December were relatively mild, we are experiencing our first real cold snap of the winter and it doesn't want to let go.   By Thursday our high for the day will be 3 degrees, descending to around minus 17 for a low.

       There has been virtual silence from the media regarding climate change since it looks like the administration's Build Back Better legislation is all but dead.   Of course, we are still pumping gigatons of carbon into the atmosphere and for much of the planet, the result is higher and higher temperatures.   Like the proverbial frog in the kettle, we are rapidly approaching the point of no return.

Time to Blog

      Well, it has been a while since I last put finger to key and blogged.   The rigors of a total knee reconstruction and its aftermath kept me away from my desk.   However, I'm back to annoy my small coterie of readers!

       Since it is MLK day, let's talk about racism in the United States of America in the 21st century.   To the casual observer, America looks like the prototypical multiracial democracy.   Black and brown people are represented in public life, sports, the arts and even politics.   After all, country's major cities have POC as mayors.   It is when you look at the economics of race, the real disparities become evident.  Starting with a largely defacto segregated school system, blacks and brown people start the race for economic independence with one hand tied behind their back and their feet shackled.   By virtually every measure they do worse on standardized tests than their white counterparts.   Instead of spending to fix the system, most people just respond to the dog whistle of white racial supremacy and write off generation after generation of blacks except for those who by dint of spectacular performance earn a grudging nod from whites.

      Change will come, but it does not have to be glacial.  In the 53 years since MLK's murder, progress toward racial equality has not only stopped, it has in some areas been reversed.   We need to do better.