The human mind is simply terrible at politics. Although we think we make political decisions based upon the facts, the reality is much more sordid. We are affiliation machines, editing the world to confirm our partisan ideologies.
Archives for May 2011
Pessimism/optimism
Posters by Alain de Botton and Anthony Burrill (on sale here).
The Patron Saint of Writers
I am heartened to learn there is a patron saint of writers, St. Francis de Sales. I suspect I am not the sort of writer St. Francis watches out for (atheist, lapsed Jew, author of wicked books). Nevertheless, in a pinch I may send up a prayer or two, just in case. No atheists in a foxhole.
Image: an 1867 medal of St. Francis de Sales (via).