| Practicalist |
Jim Hlavac |
| Someone had to make a simplified explanation of the way the world works. |
| Current affairs are those things which fill the newspapers. And even they seperate different aspects of current affairs. That's why there's sections for local news, national news, politics, opinion, arts, sports, etc. When someone says they are interested in "current affairs" it is an insufficient explanation of the thing. I don't think I ever met the person who is equally interested in every section of the newspaper. Anyone will tell you that they go to this or that section first. Plus, there are sections they might never look at. Of course, one of the hallmarks of current affairs is that no deep philosophical underpinings are presented. What is discussed is "Current." History is glossed over. The meaning of the affairs is not discussed -- only the actions of today. The person who is into a certain aspect of current affairs might not even realize where the "affairs" started or to what they are related. The history might be totally irrelevant to the person. Does someone who follows baseball need to know about the rules of the game of the 1880's? Or the equipment used in football of the 1920's? No. The current is what is of interest. In many ways, current affairs and the discussion of them is mere entertainment. Coupled, of course, with some serious affects on a persons current live. The vast majority of people live in the current time. They are dimly aware of the past. They might not remember, nor want to know, what happened just 20 years ago. Though those aspects affect the current affair, they are unimportant to the person who is dealing with the current time. So when someone says they are into current affairs, be wary of what they mean. |
What I hope to do in this section is explain a lot of
different ideas, theories and facts about Domestic
Affairs. There's lots to cover. Far more than one
might think at first. And it is just as confuisng as
anythign else. It is only through the constant
seperation of issues that we can begin to discuss
any of it.
For instance, mention "Drug Policy" to an elderly
person, and they think about prescriptions.
Mention "Drug Policy" to a hippie and he thinks
about drugs.
Talk about "farm policy" brings out the family farm,
organic farming, economics, corporate farming and
fderal price supports. What is a person's "farm
policy" depends on from what angle he views it. I
endeavor to deal with each aspect of farm policy.
You can't have a singular farm policy.
And what about taxes? Which taxes? The
statement "we should lower taxes" means nothing --
which taxes? Sales? Excise? Gasoline? School?
Income? Corporate? There are so many taxes that
to talk about a "tax policy" is absurd. Yet the
politicians will spout their platitudes about "taxes" as
if it is one thing.
And of course, they all talk about taxes as if they
are wholly unrelated to "spending." And that is
impossible.
different ideas, theories and facts about Domestic
Affairs. There's lots to cover. Far more than one
might think at first. And it is just as confuisng as
anythign else. It is only through the constant
seperation of issues that we can begin to discuss
any of it.
For instance, mention "Drug Policy" to an elderly
person, and they think about prescriptions.
Mention "Drug Policy" to a hippie and he thinks
about drugs.
Talk about "farm policy" brings out the family farm,
organic farming, economics, corporate farming and
fderal price supports. What is a person's "farm
policy" depends on from what angle he views it. I
endeavor to deal with each aspect of farm policy.
You can't have a singular farm policy.
And what about taxes? Which taxes? The
statement "we should lower taxes" means nothing --
which taxes? Sales? Excise? Gasoline? School?
Income? Corporate? There are so many taxes that
to talk about a "tax policy" is absurd. Yet the
politicians will spout their platitudes about "taxes" as
if it is one thing.
And of course, they all talk about taxes as if they
are wholly unrelated to "spending." And that is
impossible.