We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Saturday, January 29, 2011

For Manhattan’s Rich, It’s Too Cold to Party

by Jamie Johnson from Vanity Fair

Once again Jamie keeps us in touch with our fellow Americans among the "one percent". Today he reports that they, during the current series of snow storms in the northeastern part of the US, have rediscovered the simple pleasures of playing in the snow--something that most of us take for granted. They, in their warped pursuit of status display played out during the endless and boring rounds of opulent, alcohol fueled parties, had lost touch with the simple, but real pleasures that life has to offer. Hooray for them! Sometimes, we ordinary working people forget how advantaged we are.
...you’re never too old to have fun sledding, so the desire to bomb down hills—even stunted urban hills—isn’t surprising. What’s uncommon is to hear these discussions among affluent hipsters. In all fairness, many of these outings, I’m told, are whiskey-fueled, but that they happen at all is still remarkable. People accustomed to spending most of their free time at glamorous parties and ultra-chic bars don’t normally veer from that routine, especially in Manhattan.