tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398797088391606752.post9204757638462707071..comments2023-09-06T07:13:58.715-07:00Comments on PLEKTIX: Peanut Allergies and the Future of DemocracyBen Allenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15594823641514744644noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398797088391606752.post-47079011091913884812011-10-05T11:35:21.971-07:002011-10-05T11:35:21.971-07:00I'm not sure the push-back in Wisconsin was a ...I'm not sure the push-back in Wisconsin was a failure. There were two state senators unseated in recall elections, after all. <br /><br />I'm probably a bit more optimistic about the prospects for collective action because I think we are seeing a media-amplified phenomenon here. Political currents change very quickly after long periods of apparent stasis.<br /><br />However, we can surely find time to talk about this next week when you visit us in Washington. I've already booked a time slot before your seminar. <br /><br />Nice insights on your blog. I look forward to meeting you.<br /><br />MMitch Daynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398797088391606752.post-71365851849208085852011-04-03T18:37:48.797-07:002011-04-03T18:37:48.797-07:00Timely! The school where i work just instigated a ...Timely! The school where i work just instigated a no peanut policy, since many of our kids (and many autistic kids in general) have a peanut allergy. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why, out of all things, this got people up in arms. Who cares if you can't eat peanuts at work? How is that more important than preventing a student from going into anaphylactic shock? And yet a lot of serious issues that do need to be examined get the opposite reaction...what is going on...Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429940640994781186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398797088391606752.post-67991708027862000762011-03-31T10:50:11.449-07:002011-03-31T10:50:11.449-07:00I feel like freedom has two spectrums; we have &qu...I feel like freedom has two spectrums; we have "freedom from" and "freedom to" in our country. I would like to know that when I attend a school, I should have the freedom from being harassed by my class-mates (like bullying, for example). I think too many people in this country think about only the "to" part.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09901706445535710869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398797088391606752.post-85760153237845333202011-03-30T08:15:23.986-07:002011-03-30T08:15:23.986-07:00Thanks for the comments!
@Martijn-That's inte...Thanks for the comments!<br /><br />@Martijn-That's interesting. I hadn't realized these attitudes had spread to Europe. But it makes a certain amount of sense in the Netherlands.<br /><br />@Kevin-Yes, there are aspects of the Republican agenda that are very supportive of certain government institutions. But I'm not referring to Republicans in general--just the new libertarian strain epitomized by the Tea Party. The Lilla article traces the philosophical lineage of this movement, and shows how they have taken ideas from both parties.<br /><br />@Gaythia-Good point. I completely agree<br /><br />@Daniel-Yes, this is something of a paradox. The protests themselves are collective action, but the goal is (I would argue) individual and family-based. There's no sense of "let's make things better for everyone," just "I don't want my kid to be inconvenienced."<br /><br />I'm planning a follow-up post to further clarify the issues of individual vs. collective priorities.Ben Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15594823641514744644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398797088391606752.post-85716970268847410782011-03-28T18:21:26.643-07:002011-03-28T18:21:26.643-07:00Is collective vs. individual action the right lens...Is collective vs. individual action the right lens through which to view this protest? The protesters are fighting to keep a public institution operating the way that they're used to -- without interference from doctors or the government. ("Keep your damn government hands off my kid's public school!" would be a fitting motto.)<br /><br />That certainly is collective action -- they've just excluded one poor kid from the collective.Dannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13665916699337499794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398797088391606752.post-5534544167500674002011-03-27T09:22:37.224-07:002011-03-27T09:22:37.224-07:00If it is true, as some reports say, that this clas...If it is true, as some reports say, that this classroom has 32 students then the real, but hidden, issue is that the student/teacher ratio is so high that none of the students can effectively be taught as individuals.<br /><br />Do the protesting parents really want a school that can be efficiently run in assembly line fashion by excluding those that are most obviously different? If so, whose child should be next?<br /><br />In the long run, this attitude will create a weakened society in which only the biggest bullies win.Gaythiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00452722350108290000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398797088391606752.post-88041859751143382422011-03-27T08:17:07.360-07:002011-03-27T08:17:07.360-07:00I agree that such impulses are bad, but:
What ab...I agree that such impulses are bad, but: <br /><br />What about aspects of Republican agenda that are super-organization friendly? The Patriot Act, andi-gay marriage, anti-drug, etc?Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16543598332225206511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8398797088391606752.post-53367032107099920702011-03-26T10:53:46.286-07:002011-03-26T10:53:46.286-07:00Thanks for the link to the Mark Lilla article. Bri...Thanks for the link to the Mark Lilla article. Brilliant analysis of the current problem with Western democracies. In the Netherlands we have exactly the same 'libertarian mob' problem.Martijnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14842198427615235274noreply@blogger.com