very good article. I didn't follow Mamdani's campaign but heard a bit, but new York city is as far away as Pluto to my existence and last time I paid much attention planes were crashing into towers I hadn't noticed existed (well I knew a lot of "towers" were there.).
On the other hand I dwell quite frequently in what happened 5000 years ago.
One thing you said about Calvin, well he didn't exactly say that, reminds me though of an online discussion I had with a presbyterian (calvinist) pastor. He was doing an on-line campaign to increase ministerial salaries to create a better inform ministry (fed?). He quote Corinthians where Paul states that he could ask for money for his work but doesn't because he thought he needed to labor as everyone else. This pastor-gentleman wrote that meant that since Paul said he could then pastors therefore could be supported by their parishioners.
I replied Pauil said he could, meaning some did, but that he didn't because he shouldn't implying (& following) a passage about teachers in the church leading others astray and asked could but don't does not mean Shouldn't rather than Should.
His reply was brief and said that If pastors are not well paid the church would be overrun with heretical pastors.
I didn't bother continuing the dialogue but I wonder how many of those paid pastors are preaching a gospel of political militancy; coercing wives and daughters into their beds; shredding Jesus' words about possessions; and telling everyone God wants this country to be a Christian nation.
And it seems to me, maybe, from your description of his policies, perhaps Mamdani might be a better pastor than the could-means-should guy.
But NYC? I'm still not going anywhere near there and won't shed to many tears when the islands turn upside down from the weight.
I hope that Mamdani directs the New York Police Department to protect city residents and visitors from predation by armored masked goons hired by the Trump administration. Otherwise his pledges to maintain police department staffing are taking money away from more effective use.
Why, oh why is he whispering in Jamie Dimon's ear? To me, that is a horrible look.
NYC residents are going to need to hold Mayor Mamdani's feet to the fire.
Part of the reason is biological; it's in us as a species. Chimps are more aggressive than bonobos, etc.
It's when the state emerged as a way to concentrate power — using access to grain as a hammer — that we went from local conflicts (like fights within families and tribes) to coerces and organized armies marching under orders to capture slaves and take over land.
I'm coming to believe that states should not exist. Consider Europe vs. the Americas in about 1400. Europe was full up with states and men "fit to be slaves" (in the Emperor Tiberius's terms) inside of them.
At the same time, there were far fewer states in the Americas — Aztec, etc. — and many more tribes, villages and loose confederations that did NOT rely on coercion for their cohesion. These confederations were like extended tribes.
The actual Americans at the time, when they met these Europeans, were shocked at their dependency and subservience to their "betters". It was, to them, such a different and uglier, undesireable way of life.
Long answer, but you can see where my thinking has gone, and where it has led me. Thanks for asking.
You're welcome. The 'grain' part matters, BTW, my answer above. We'll get there in the series on Scott's Against the Grain. If you're new to this site, check out the Book Club link at the top of the main page. And thank you for asking.
very good article. I didn't follow Mamdani's campaign but heard a bit, but new York city is as far away as Pluto to my existence and last time I paid much attention planes were crashing into towers I hadn't noticed existed (well I knew a lot of "towers" were there.).
On the other hand I dwell quite frequently in what happened 5000 years ago.
One thing you said about Calvin, well he didn't exactly say that, reminds me though of an online discussion I had with a presbyterian (calvinist) pastor. He was doing an on-line campaign to increase ministerial salaries to create a better inform ministry (fed?). He quote Corinthians where Paul states that he could ask for money for his work but doesn't because he thought he needed to labor as everyone else. This pastor-gentleman wrote that meant that since Paul said he could then pastors therefore could be supported by their parishioners.
I replied Pauil said he could, meaning some did, but that he didn't because he shouldn't implying (& following) a passage about teachers in the church leading others astray and asked could but don't does not mean Shouldn't rather than Should.
His reply was brief and said that If pastors are not well paid the church would be overrun with heretical pastors.
I didn't bother continuing the dialogue but I wonder how many of those paid pastors are preaching a gospel of political militancy; coercing wives and daughters into their beds; shredding Jesus' words about possessions; and telling everyone God wants this country to be a Christian nation.
And it seems to me, maybe, from your description of his policies, perhaps Mamdani might be a better pastor than the could-means-should guy.
But NYC? I'm still not going anywhere near there and won't shed to many tears when the islands turn upside down from the weight.
not that I am eagerly hoping for an ecological catastrophe, just expecting one.
I hope that Mamdani directs the New York Police Department to protect city residents and visitors from predation by armored masked goons hired by the Trump administration. Otherwise his pledges to maintain police department staffing are taking money away from more effective use.
Why, oh why is he whispering in Jamie Dimon's ear? To me, that is a horrible look.
NYC residents are going to need to hold Mayor Mamdani's feet to the fire.
So good! I think of Chomsky's phrase about "the threat of a good example."
Sincere (but perhaps really dumb) question: Why the drive for power in us?
Part of the reason is biological; it's in us as a species. Chimps are more aggressive than bonobos, etc.
It's when the state emerged as a way to concentrate power — using access to grain as a hammer — that we went from local conflicts (like fights within families and tribes) to coerces and organized armies marching under orders to capture slaves and take over land.
I'm coming to believe that states should not exist. Consider Europe vs. the Americas in about 1400. Europe was full up with states and men "fit to be slaves" (in the Emperor Tiberius's terms) inside of them.
At the same time, there were far fewer states in the Americas — Aztec, etc. — and many more tribes, villages and loose confederations that did NOT rely on coercion for their cohesion. These confederations were like extended tribes.
The actual Americans at the time, when they met these Europeans, were shocked at their dependency and subservience to their "betters". It was, to them, such a different and uglier, undesireable way of life.
Long answer, but you can see where my thinking has gone, and where it has led me. Thanks for asking.
Thanks so much. LOVE the long answer. :) Thanks for sharing your thinking.
You're welcome. The 'grain' part matters, BTW, my answer above. We'll get there in the series on Scott's Against the Grain. If you're new to this site, check out the Book Club link at the top of the main page. And thank you for asking.
Thomas