The Trump administration has frozen regulations, announced its hope to defund essential departments and programs, and seems to be testing the waters in terms of how unconstitutional it can get as it consolidates power and ignores policymaking standards like interagency operational guidance, legal guidance, and review. The set of actions occurring now makes it clearContinue reading “On the dark path towards authoritarianism”
Author Archives: Scott Boutin
I’ve got the best new snake oil. Its just phenomenal folks.
Trump is a snake oil salesman. It’s not a new political strategy but it is surprising how well it works for him even after he openly reveals his tendency to flip-flop on slogans and values. One of the first glimpses we had into the nature of Trump as a slimy politician was a strange momentContinue reading “I’ve got the best new snake oil. Its just phenomenal folks.”
Ghost Ship
The day after the fire, as it was for many, the boundaries of chaotic concern and fearful apprehension began to dissolve into grief for me. At first I found myself making panicked deals with the universe, as we do in the worst of times. I promised it could take back all my positive experiences andContinue reading “Ghost Ship”
The responsibility of the media in Trumps US.
What better embodiment of Trump’s vast and seemingly pathological hypocrisy is there than his claim that the media (or any critical opposition) lies about him. Hypocrisy is a historically successful strategy for narcissistic demagogues but Trump has taken the false presentation of self to a new level as he projects his own dubious relationship withContinue reading “The responsibility of the media in Trumps US.”
The Alt-Right, American Nationalism, and the irony of self-illusion.
This text-altered classic comic image began circulating this week and while I agree with the intention of calling the “Alt-right” what they are, white supremacists or white nationalists, I think the viral image is not what we need right now. I recognize the incredulously angered perspective from which this comes but I’m critical of theContinue reading “The Alt-Right, American Nationalism, and the irony of self-illusion.”
Movements
I just felt the earthquake that happened about 500 miles away near Christchurch on the south island. The building slowly wobbled for a long while, perhaps 30 seconds, and it took me a second to figure out that I wasn’t dizzy or queasy, but in fact the room was moving. It reminded me of whenContinue reading “Movements”
Fawkesworks
Leaving on November 3rd, we crossed the international date line in the middle of the pacific during the 12 hour flight so the 4th didn’t exist as a day for us, but I’ll remember the 5th of November as the explosively colorful start to the new chapter. We flew in on Guy Fawkes Day soContinue reading “Fawkesworks”
Leaving SF
The hundreds of hours of logistics and preparation over the last few months has lead me here, to a transition, a crossing of a new bridge. The span is not over the Golden Gate, but across the pacific and to the southern hemisphere. It’s also a journey to another season, expanding days of summer, whichContinue reading “Leaving SF”
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