Hyper Malaise and Indifference

I just began reading C. Wright Mills book The Sociological Imagination.  Despite barely scratching the surface of this book, I have found a short passage quite interesting:

"Neither leisure not its debilitating uses can be understood as problems without recognition of the extent to which malaise and indifference now form the social and personal climate of contemporary American society."

 What makes this passage, written in 1959, so interesting is that it really describes the way I see American society today.  I would even amplify this by stating that American society is suffering from hyper malaise and indifference.

Two other articles I have read this week really help influenced me in my thought of American society as suffering from this hyper malaise and indifference.

First I was pointed to the an article titled "With Little Notice, Globalization Reduced Poverty."  This sounds fantastic, poverty has been reduced, not only reduced, but according to the article it was likely halved three years ago.  On the surface this is great news, why have I never heard about this in the press?  The likely answer is a bit complicated, which means Americans would not stay interested in the news long enough to have made it much of a headline.

Yes, poverty has been significantly reduced, and that is a great thing.  The rub, of the flaw, in the sensational headline is that this poverty reduction came from China, where 500 million people came out of poverty recently.  However, on a global scale, during the same time period, an increase of 100 million into poverty occurred.

In any event, poverty, especially outside the U.S., would have most American's feeling indifferent at best.

The second article, the one that really prompted me to write some thoughts down, is titled "Somehow, the Unemployed Became Invisible."  In this article is one particular gem that got me thinking:

"[U]nless you're one of those unhappy 14 million, you might not even notice the problem."

Unlike many countries in Europe, especially Greece, which are rioting and protesting drastic cuts of social programs for the working class, the United States seems to ignore it.  Aside from some heated protests in Madison Wisconsin; I just haven't heard a great deal many protests about the loss of social programs.  As a matter-of-fact, the bulk of the United States put Republican Tea Party candidates in office.  Further evidence to me of hyper malaise and indifference.  Though it could be construed with blatant ignorance considering the Tea Party agenda harms all but the rich.

Has anyone else noticed this hyper malaise and indifference or would you call it something else?

Stars and Stripped Shirts, Freedom, and July 4th

Every year on the Fourth of July, I am reminded of April 12, 1989.  I am reminded even more of the May 1989 cover of People magazine.  On it is a photo of Abbie Hoffman wearing a button down, collared shirt that resembles the flag of the United States.  The inset photo is of a much older Abbie Hoffman wearing a sweater that is of similar design.  The headline is "Death of a Radical."

Today we don't think anything of someone wearing a Stars and Stripes shirt.  In October 1968, Abbie Hoffman was arrested for being so rebellious as to wear a shirt that resembled the flag of the United States.

What stands out to me most, on a day like today, is how extremely right wing conservatives, wearing their Stars and Stripped shirts, espouse their wish that people remember those that died for the freedoms they enjoy.  It is the plea, the rally cry, used to justify social inequality, the cutting of social programs.  It is about the freedoms that those that came before us sacrificed.

While Abbie Hoffman did not die in some foreign conflict, he did die because of the sacrifices he had made in the support of the very freedom that permits people today, to pontificate about the sacrifices that have been made for them, and the Stars and Stripped shirts they are wearing.  Perhaps we can remember all of the martyrs and the causes for which they died today in the name of freedom.

Things that make us change

I finished reading Everything is Obvious: *Once You Know the Answer by Duncan Watts yesterday. It's a fabulous read that really gets you to examine everything you once thought was simple common sense.

Happy with my experience, I quickly posted it to Twitter. Then came one of those posts that has you rethink everything.

While I had considered writing a review on Goodreads, which is where I keep track of what I read, I don't think that is what @SocProf (I only know this person by their twitter handle, though I read this persons blog religiously and learn a great deal for the experience) was asking.

This one innocent question made me think all night.  I should be writing reviews on all the books I read.  I should do this for several reasons.

1. It is simple good practice at writing.
2. I will get more out of the books I read.
3. I will have the review to look back on to refresh my memory of what I have read.

Reading critically with the purpose of writing a review afterward is different than why I read normally.  Several years ago, before I started my goal of studying the discipline of Sociology, I had realized that I had just stopped reading books.  I don't recall making a conscious decision to stop reading books, I just did.  So I made the decision to start reading again and began to track my reading.  The goal each year is to read more books than the previous year.  So far I have been meeting this goal. Just and fyi, I don't count textbooks as part of my reading goal.  Yes, I have several other quirks on this subject too, but I will save them for another post.

Along comes the simple question - "Are you going to write a book review?"

So I have resurrected this blog, which I had basically abandoned, and will now take up the new challenge of writing book reviews on the books I read.

Thanks, @SocProf.  I feel like I should be paying tuition every time I read your blog.

Inequality Article Roundup for week ending 3/26/2011

Americans actually live in Russia, although they think they live in Sweden

G.E.’s Strategies Let It Avoid Taxes Altogether

Why we can't ignore growing income inequality.

Rich vs Poor countries after natural disaster

Living Beyond Your Means When You're Not Rich

Want to earn more? Move to a larger city.

According to this article by Richard Florida, your income rises based on the size of the city you live.  All cities are not equal though.  If you want to earn more move to a city that is in dark blue on this map (Like San Jose or Houston).

Wealth Distribution in the US

It seems easy to see the problem to me, but I guess it's not that obvious to everyone.

More charts on the topic see The Global Sociology Blog.

Leading cause of death - Poverty

According to this study, the leading cause of death is poverty.  Increased access to education and reduction of the gap between rich and poor would be money better spent than a public service campaign to get people to exercise.