European Tribune - Comments - Why is the "West" so bad at strategy?

Why is the "West" so bad at strategy? | 33 comments (33 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

My point being that you have it backwards: we're idiots about energy because our ruling value system is fucked up. Cause and effect.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 at 10:22:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

That's exactly the discussion I hope to have (none / 1)

I did note that there were two distinct strands there: energy and "winner-take-all."

I'm genuinely uncertain as to which one drives the other, if at all.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 at 10:39:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: That's exactly the discussion I hope to have (none / 1)

"Winner take all" is a primal power motivator that has been around for thousands of years. Energy is just a more recent focus for the application of that motivation.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 at 12:24:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: That's exactly the discussion I hope to have (4.00 / 3)

"Winner take all" is a strategy, really appropriate only to circumstances where you won't have to deal with the loser again.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 at 01:02:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Which one drives the other? Yes. (none / 0)

Its a dynamic system ... its not self-reproducing unless the different drivers reproduce each other.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Thu Aug 21st, 2008 at 02:31:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Which one drives the other? Yes. (none / 1)

You're assuming that energy policy is as important a driver as the underlying ideology, which does not seem true: a sane energy policy is not possible in the current environment, so we have an insane one.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 at 05:49:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Which one drives the other? Yes. (none / 1)

No, I'm not assuming that. I'm saying that the pursuit of their perceived interests by powerful actors reinforces the set of institutions which serve to reproduce what you reify as "the underlying ideology", that that set of institutions reinforces the power of those actors, and that under those institutions, their self interest leads them to demand government actions which appear incoherent as a policy response to a problem.

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.

by BruceMcF (agila61 at netscape dot net) on Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 at 10:28:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Bah. (none / 1)

"... our ruling value system is fucked up."

Interesting phrase. I wonder how the ET citizens would respond to the question, "Please describe THE GOOD LIFE as you see it, not that you are necessarily currently living it. Or, please describe THE HEALTHY HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY or PERSONALITY." Answers to either could prove enlightening.

The reason I post this is because the people who ascribe to "our ruling value system" are those that run things and, I suspect, in their opinion, anyone NOT buying into their definition of WINNING are simply disgruntled losers. In their mind, anyone not like them are the fucked up ones. So who's right?

Now where's the fun in that! - Megatron

by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Fri Aug 22nd, 2008 at 09:41:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Why is the "West" so bad at strategy? | 33 comments (33 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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