June 3rd, 2012 → 6:23 am
“His sword can never win
The honor that he loses.” – All’s Well That Ends Well
After four posts about Assad and what is happening in Syria I’ll probably lay off after this one. But Shakespeare just nails it with some of this stuff! Not only is violence, war, cruelty, and all that stuff bad, but it is also dishonorable. Doesn’t Assad care a wit about his honor?
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People
June 1st, 2012 → 7:47 am
“For this relief much thanks.” – Hamlet
I imagine John Edwards is feeling immensely relieved this week, after his trial ended with zero guilty verdicts. I know I’d be giving thanks if I were him.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People
May 26th, 2012 → 6:58 am
“Civil dissension is a viperous worm
That gnaws the bowels of the commonwealth.” – Henry VI
This quote seemed apt to the runoff elections that will now take place in Egypt, as well as to the U.S. presidential elections taking place this year. In both countries the campaigns seem particularly venomous, with really isn’t good for the body politic overall.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
May 22nd, 2012 → 7:01 am
“…suffer not dishonor to approach The imperial seat,
to virtue consecrate, To justice, continence and nobility;
…let desert in pure election shine,
And, [Egyptians], fight for freedom in your choice.” – Titus Andronicus
Egyptians go to the polls tomorrow to elect their first president since Mubarak. It should be interesting. Three cheers for freedom of choice!
(Note: I’ve altered the line breaks in the above quote from the original in Shakespeare. And also changed “Romans” to “Egyptians.” This is the first time I’ve taken such liberties with the quotes used in this blog, but I may do so again in the future if it helps with readability, clarity, and application.)
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
May 8th, 2012 → 7:09 am
“Done like a Frenchman: turn and turn again!” – Henry VI
Congratulations to Francois Hollande who defeated Nicolas Sarkozy in the French presidential election this past Sunday. Maybe it’s time for a new turn?
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
April 6th, 2012 → 6:14 am
“We shall see
If power change purpose, what our seemers be.” – Measure for Measure
For years the right has complained about judicial activism in the courts – that rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court, for example, have been wrong and an overuse of power. Now the U.S. Supreme Court is contemplating Obama’s health care law. If they rule to overturn it, by what possible measure can that be anything but the very judicial activism they claim so vociferously to dislike?
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
March 19th, 2012 → 6:32 am
“He…curses all Eve’s daughters – of what complexion soever.” – The Merry Wives of Windsor
There’s been a lot of commentary lately about the G.O.P.‘s apparent “war on women.” And it is true, that the increasing discussion and reappraisal of many issues and rights long thought decided is worrying. But as an economist I have to wonder if much of this isn’t recession related. When societies (like people) enter hard times, their worst tendencies tend to emerge. Yes, much of this is emerging from Republican lawmakers, but I think the reason it is coming out now is partly because of this darn recession. When times are good people are happy, forgiving, tolerant. When times are bad people are resentful, accusatory, and, sadly, surprisingly intolerant. I pray the effects of this recession end soon, so that we can return to being a relatively decent, tolerant society again.
Filed under: Blog & Economics/Money & Politics/Politicians
March 7th, 2012 → 7:32 am
“The task he undertakes
Is numbering sands…” – Richard II
It’s all a counting game now. Just a steady slog racking up the delegates until Romney (more than likely) hits the magic 1,144 that wins the nomination.
(Side note: finding counting/number related quotes in Shakespeare is hard! I can only assume he wasn’t that into math?!?)
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
February 28th, 2012 → 6:32 am
“When my love swears that she is made of truth
I do believe her, though I know she lies…
Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false speaking tongue:
On both sides thus is simple truth suppress’d….
Therefore I lie with her and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flatter’d be.” – Sonnet 138
I love that second to last line: “Therefore I lie with her and she with me.” (Wasn’t Shakespeare great at the double entendre?) Romney lies to his fans just to get elected; they lie to themselves in order to vote for him. It’s all so crazy, as pointed out in this guest post from Better Living Through Beowulf. Can’t wait to find out what happens in Michigan today!
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians
February 22nd, 2012 → 7:31 am
“There is pretty orders beginning, I can tell you. It is but heading and hanging.” – Measure for Measure
What is Egypt thinking? Putting non-profit workers on trial for…promoting democracy? Thomas Friedman’s op-ed today in the New York Times summed it up well – Egypt’s leaders really should be worrying about poverty, illiteracy, and the economy, not a few foreign non-profit organizations.
Filed under: Blog & Politics/Politicians & Stupid/Evil People