Words of Progress & Two Parties
Is our writing about progress an indicator of progress? Also, is having more than two parties a good thing?
Featured Articles
The Decline in Writing About Progress
What's New Under the Sun • 15 Aug 2024 • ~3500 words
This essay discusses the decline in language related to progress in literature, particularly since the 1950s. It examines the evidence for a shift in cultural attitudes, as reflected in changes in how language is used across literature, fiction, and non-fiction. It is by no means conclusive, but still an interesting read.
. . . there’s a school of thought that cultural attitudes towards progress are an important driver of innovation. The general idea is that societies which valorize innovation and progress get more of it: they inspire more people to become innovators, their governments place a higher priority on supporting innovation in regulation and education policy, and their affluent class are more willing to invest in the future.
More Than the Lesser of Two Evils
Progressive.org • 15 Aug 2024 • ~2500 words
Will the US ever leave its two-party system behind? This article explores how the American political landscape could benefit from greater diversity and competition among political parties, drawing insights from the multiparty democracies of other Western countries. For everyone else, this may be a reminder to appreciate representational diversity.
It is often said multiparty democracy creates confusion and complexity, and that can be the case. But it can also produce dynamic responses to challenges that mainstream parties fail even to grasp—let alone meet.
Recommended Articles
Polymarket and Nate Silver Want to Reshape Political Forecasting
Slate Magazine • 16 Aug 2024 • ~1500 words
This article explores how platforms like Polymarket attract a new generation of gamblers making big bets on election outcomes. This is changing the way we think about political predictions, blending financial incentives with electoral insights. If you're curious about the intersection of politics, gambling, and information, this piece is worth a read.
What also helps here is that people really like using Polymarket, especially for making guesses on the U.S. presidential election. To date, the site has registered hundreds of millions of dollars in bets on the 2024 result alone.
The Metamorphosis of the Mad Scientist
Atlas Obscura • 14 Aug 2024 • ~2100 words
The mad scientist has long been a staple of movies, starting with horror films, but the portrayal of this archetype has evolved over the decades. This article explores how the image of the mad scientist has transformed in American cinema, reflecting changing societal attitudes towards science and technology.
Back at the 2024 Oscars . . . the two films that took home the most Academy Awards were the atomic-bomb drama Oppenheimer and the comedy Poor Things, and both pictures rode to that ceremony on the backs of one of cinema’s most enduring characters: the mad scientist.
Trump’s Screw-the-Consumer Tariff Plan
The Atlantic • 16 Aug 2024 • ~3100 words
I try to steer clear of election-related coverage. I don’t think any of our subscribers are here because they want more content about that. This article, however, goes beyond that to examine how tariffs and protectionist trade policies can burden consumers, particularly those with low and moderate incomes.
A tariff is something worse than an ordinary tax to be paid once . . . many of the products made more expensive by tariffs are also inputs into other products further along the supply chain.
How Renaissance Art Found Its Way to American Museums
JSTOR Daily • 14 Aug 2024 • ~1900 words
Ever wonder how some of the most renowned European artworks ended up in American museums? This piece explores the complex web of art dealers, collectors, and shifting economic tides that led to a significant influx of Renaissance art in the U.S. It sheds light on the motivations behind these acquisitions and their lasting impact on American cultural institutions.
Berenson received payouts from the Duveens for referring and introducing collectors, while the Duveens sought to control the market. It was in their best mutual interest for the value of Renaissance works to remain high, so if a collector didn’t want a piece anymore, rather than allowing them to sell it privately, the Duveens bought it back at the same value it was sold to the collector, regardless of how the market valued the piece. This ensured the value of a particular artist or work never declined.
Britain’s asylum hotel tycoon Alex Langsam's holiday empire is shrouded in secrecy
UnHerd • 13 Aug 2024 • ~3800 words
Meet the mysterious British hotelier who has built a multi-million-pound empire, many of which are now being used to house asylum seekers. This in-depth profile explores the enigmatic life of Alex Langsam, the reclusive property tycoon behind the Britannia Hotels chain.
The scarcity of staff and ropey maintenance I witnessed at the Grand and the Adelphi might have suggested Britannia’s finances are struggling. In fact, Langsam simply loves to run the tightest of ships. Annual profits at the group’s largest company have climbed by 18% to £39.4 million over the past year.
Yellowknife’s Wildfire Evacuation Was Tailored for the Privileged
The Walrus • 16 Aug 2024 • ~2000 words
The 2023 Yellowknife wildfire evacuation was a harrowing experience for many residents and revealed inequalities in the city's emergency response plan between privileged and vulnerable residents. Read more for some powerful first-hand accounts of the event.
The evacuation of Yellowknife was, in many ways, tailored for the privileged. Thousands of residents drove 1,500 kilometres to Edmonton on the only highway out of the territory, with nothing more than some long days and minor inconveniences. Those who could not drive waited in lines with their families, for twelve hours or more, to board emergency flights to Manitoba, Alberta, and BC. Many evacuees ended up in an unfamiliar city with no family or money.
Better Call Barry
Baltimore Magazine • 24 Jul 2024 • ~3600 words
Meet Barry Glazer, the Baltimore lawyer known as much for his outrageous TV commercials as for his legal expertise. This profile takes you behind the scenes of his unique persona, revealing a man who blends humor, adventure, and a touch of controversy in his ads while navigating life as a father and local icon.
Some claim Glazer’s commercials may have inspired the *Better Call Saul* protagonist, a rumor he doesn’t discourage. In truth, lawyers making over-the-top commercials are not in short supply.
