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And now a word from the intellectual wing of the KKK...

Feb 28 2010 2:22pm

Ah...the dangers of examining race in a historical podcast.

I knew the latest Hardcore History (“Globalization Unto Death”) would ruffle some feathers. We did a number of “takes” trying to get the balance between all the various elements just right, and whether or not we succeeded is a debatable point it seems.

I remember asking myself several times: “Why even go there with the race stuff? Why enter that minefield if you don't have to?” The last time we really did anything like this was the “Apache Tears” episode, which made a lot of people mad at the time, but now is sort of an underdog cult favorite of a number of you.

In the end, as I wondered if we weren't just liable to anger a bunch of our listeners with our approach, I figured that we call the show “Hardcore History”, and we can do stuff that academics can't (like use a phrase like “white people”). Eventually I hope that we can be stimulating and provocative by exploring the stuff that is a bit edgy and controversial. Of course, you could always watch Monster Quest on the History channel instead (haha...but you get my point).

We have an ongoing discussion about this topic going on on the board right now. It is in the Hardcore History section of the board (here: http://www.dancarlin.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20641 )

Feel free to join in and let us know your thoughts.

And yes...work has already begun on HH episode #33. No surprise I am sure, but I am already behind schedule.

The Double Dute Date Whine

Feb 08 2010 6:40pm

So, if it has been nearly 60 days since the last Hardcore History show, it must be time for me to whine about deadlines.

I don't know how it happened, but the last few times we have had a Hardcore History show due, we have had a Common Sense show due on the same day. This time is no exception, and I am once again running around like a chicken with my head cut-off.

The mechanics of trying to organize the production of creative content is one of the most challenging aspects of podcasting (as any of you podcasters out there, I am sure, understand). When I was in radio, you were essentially improving all the time. If the show was sixty minutes long, that is how long it took to create the content.

A Hardcore History show though, is a different animal entirely. For us here, it is like doing a TV show (that's probably just the way we see it, being essentially radio folk around here. It looks like TV to us). It is a polished, researched and finished creative project that involves a lot of stuff that is definitely NOT improv. And when you break down the amount of time we have to devote to each Hardcore history episodes it boils down to about 14 days per show (yes...I know, everyone now wants to know why we don't get one out every 14 days! You know...it's all that OTHER stuff ya have to do in a podcasting business...the stuff "Ben" would probably be doing if he weren't so "busy").

Okay...whine session over. Thanks for listening. I have to get back to work. BOTH my podcasts are due....(soon to be overdue...)

Jan 27 2010 4:40pm

I am reporting this from a thread on the discussion Board. It is sort of my evolving ideas on the "Pledge" idea we discussed in CS episode #168.

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Okay...this is not yet the "Pledge" I promised in show #168. As I was writing it it turned into some sort of declaration (ending with the phrase we are using on one of our upcoming T-shirts).

But, I thought I would (In Churchill's words) "Fling it to the Public" in its current form and see what you thought of the first draft.

Here it is...

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Is our system of government broken?

That is a powerful and important question to ask. It has huge ramifications. It is also a bit upsetting to think that something we take so much pride in may be in so much trouble. But if we are ever going to make things better, we need to admit how bad things have become.

We all know that there is a big difference between an ideal government on paper and the way any government actually runs. A founding document may proclaim in high-minded Enlightenment era tones about the power of "We the People", but when all the other real-world narrow interests get through with our Washington D.C. elected officials, there is often precious little reason or incentive for government to concern itself with the broader good of all Americans.

Yet it is the broader good that is in need of massive attention right now. All the issues that people of different ideological stripes debate every day come second to the idea that the conduit between "The People" and our government has somehow, over time, become severed. It doesn't matter what your political viewpoints are, all Americans want a government that reflects the will of the People and one that can perceive and deal with the important major issues that affect us all, rather than voting against those broader interest because of the narrower concerns of some corporation or a powerful special interest group. Those elements play a legitimate role in our system, but they should not play the preeminent one.

Yet anyone watching must be dismayed by the obvious inability of Washington to cope with the big problems on the table. Bills to address major issues like heath care and government deficits and debt are diluted, whittled down and laden with pork by special interests until they become frighteningly expensive efforts sold as "reform" but which solve nothing (or maybe even compound the original problem). This is the warning sign of a systematic failing in our government.

And yet, as the problems become worse Americans turn on each other when they need to be joining forces. The partisan ire between Democrats and Republicans has never been more vicious, fanned in the media (for ratings and money) and exploited by the political parties. This is the equivalent of the real rulers of this country, The People, fiddling while Rome burns.

There will be plenty of time for us to all fight with each other over questions of political ideology and social and cultural issues. In the "arena of ideas" that our country is designed to be, that's part of the process. Yet victory in the Arena of Ideas means nothing if the government isn't crafting legislation and policy to reflect such realities. All our little political squabbles are just a game and "victory" is meaningless if the People are not really the ones calling the shots.

We are divided by many things. These divisions are being exploited by many outside interests for many reasons.
But Americans of all ideas and persuasions have certain issues and interests that unite us all.

We all want:

A Government that works. Good government is essential for a strong country. It makes the long-term decisions that set up the future prosperity of the nation so that this generation's children also have a strong, prosperous country in which to live and raise another generation.
If the government is so co-opted by narrow, segmented societal interests that it cannot address issues of broader impact and concern, then it cannot function and is an impediment to reform. Even if the citizens seek changes to the system the co-opted government can stifle such reform efforts to protect the current way of doing things.

The #1 issue facing the United States of America is a systematic one. No system is maintenance-free and ours is long overdue for reform. The longer it goes without maintenance, the more brittle and calcified it becomes. We need to repair the connection between the Government and the People who vote for it or none of our other concerns matter.

The issues facing the nation are bi-partisan problems. They will not be fixed by one party (and yet neither major political party has any incentive to work with its adversary). The two major political parties are actually more of a hindrance than a help, and they play a major role in perpetuating the current state of affairs. The systematic repairs that are needed will have to come in spite of the Democratic and Republican parties, not via them.

We Americans are an inventive people. When motivated we are capable of great things. No one has all the answers to address the issues we face. But if we will at least openly acknowledge the scope of the problem, and the need to unite and focus our ingenuity to deal with it, we will have taken the crucial first step that any reform effort starts with.

The Government is Broken. What are you going to do about it?

Okay...now I have to get back to the upcoming HH show...

The Wrath of the Independents

Jan 20 2010 12:45pm

Well, I can't say whether it is true or not, but in the wake of the stunning upset in the Massachusetts race to fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat "independents" are being touted as the group that played the decisive role.

While there may be no "independent" movement, it is interesting to see how they are morphing into the Kingmaker faction in our political system. Of course, the question then becomes: how can independents leverage this to get some of the reforms they might want? This of course assumes the (we) could agree on anything anyway...

The gap between ideas and action

Jan 13 2010 7:03pm

In the upcoming Common Sense episode (#168, but who's counting?) I get all "activist" on you about fostering some reform in our political system. Usually I can contain those impulses to DO SOMETHING, but every now and then they boil over despite my efforts.

Perhaps we aren't doing enough on this site to get some positive actions going. I mean, it wouldn't be hard to start implementing some small ideas...like spreading banners that people could put on their blogs or websites supporting an idea or effort. Or I would like to get a pledge or something like it going that could be circulated. I will be posting any ideas I have (or get) in the new "Do Something!" area on the discussion board. Between Facebook, Twitter (yes...I know I don't do it) and other social media outlets we ought to be able to accomplish a little. Another bite of the elephant down...

March 2010
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