Fouad Ajami wrote the opinion piece below for the Wall Street Journal back in June. It’s still timely a couple months later as Palestine seeks a declaration of statehood from the United Nations this week. While it’s high time that the Palestinian people join the international community and adopt the responsibilities of statehood, Ajami makes a crucial point that achieving statehood takes much more than declarations.
This is a brilliant information design project, and an astounding reminder of the scale of money we talk about in public finance.
>> Link: US debt problem visualized: Debt stacked in 100 dollar bills.
The United States–its citizens and lawmakers–need to pay careful attention to the effects of our near-term actions. The outcome of not raising the debt ceiling is uncertain–nobody really knows what will happen. But the press is ablaze with information:
From Information Aesthetics:
Visual Budget is a cutting-edge data-visualization web site. It explains all the complicated ins and outs of the US Federal Budget using interactive charts and motion graphics. It is a tool that lets citizens like you and me understand this important issue, armed with the latest most comprehensive facts and figures. It brings a new breadth of knowledge to our political disc
>> Link: Visual Budget – an Interactive Guide to the Federal Budget by Higher Media — Kickstarter
From Paul Krugman’s Op-Ed in the New York Times:
What we need now is an extension of those ground rules to the wider national debate.
Truth is stranger than fiction, and this is proof: a Meg Whitman staffer retweeted an endorsement link. Only Twitter’s 140 character limit cut off the last character of the URL, leading readers not to a message from a sheriff–but to a Japanese man in pink tutu and lingerie playing the bass. “Huh?” you ask. Me too. Let the video speak for itself.
>> Link: Whitman campaign typo underscores the dangers of tweeting| PolitiCal | Los Angeles Times
NPR’s Morning Edition concluded a series on the European Union this morning with a fantastic overview of the challenges facing the future of the EU: financial, political, and–most importantly–cultural.
I found Rob Gifford’s piece the most digestible, concise, and on-point summary of the issue I’ve heard in the media.
>> Listen to piece, and read more from NPR: In Europe, Obstacles To A More Perfect Union : NPR
In his weekly radio show “Le Show,” Harry Shearer (comedian/Spinal Tap bassist/voice of many characters on “The Simpsons”) takes on current affairs with a generous dose of sarcasm. Parts of the show feature fake skits about real topics in the news. On yesterday’s show, Harry took on Tea Party activists in a very clever segment.
Rather than explaining the skit, you should listen to it on Harry’s site:
“Up To Here” from “Le Show” – April 18, 2010 [HarryShearer.com]
Sometimes dry humor and sarcasm shed light on an issue better than a more serious argument. This is such a case.
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