The post-totalitarian system touches people at every step, but it does so with its ideological gloves on.

Jolín. At first, I was reading it in a hurry, thinking "oh, ok, just another Americano enumerating the dominant progressive zeitgeist here in the USA".
Then I let my eye wander for just a second, and saw the attribution, Vaclav Havel.

Posted by John A. Fleming at February 13, 2015 5:53 PM

I'd modify Mr. Havel's essay in one way: in the US at least, you are expected to believe the prog-nazi propaganda, not just behave as though you do. The Czechoslovakia of the 1960s and 70s where Havel wrote most of his plays had grown cynical, with apparatchiks simply protecting their perks and power. The US left seems to have retained a higher percentage of true believers.

Posted by waltj at February 13, 2015 8:41 PM

What is it about your site that attracts all the ugly spammers, Gerard?

Posted by Jewel at February 15, 2015 2:21 PM

I don't always know, Jewel, but this item seems to have attracted them. I've expunged them and then I'll turn off comment in a day or so.

I think that not having all of my items to spam they simply pick a reacent open one and let fly.

Posted by vanderleun at February 15, 2015 2:49 PM