I posted my thought (Only one a day) on this excellent essay on my social media feeds. I thought I’d share it with you:
“Richard David Hames is a prolific writer who regularly contributes to SubStack. While his work is insightful and illuminating, it can also be difficult to read for someone who doesn't have PHD. For me, reading his prose is like drinking a fine wine... from a fire hose.
Still, much of what he offers is worth sharing. His latest work, The Cassandra Tax, is an example of his insight at its finest. (Cassandra, BTW, is a character in Greek Mythology who has the power to see the future, but is not believed by anyone.) Soooo..... over the next number of days, I will share tiny snippets of that essay to those (like me) who find this kind of work TLTR. (Too Long To read)
Richard David Hames:
"Those in formal office typically present themselves as custodians of a “rules-based” order, but the rules that truly matter – access, exemptions, equity, impunity – are curated in private, traded like rare spices, and defended with precisely the instruments from which the public is supposedly being protected: blackmail, coercion, force, embezzlement, and bribery."
Richard, I see you, and I am grateful that I do. I awoke this morning at 3:28 AM and began to listen for a voice that would provide some harmony to my own, instead of it being a lonely, weary, seemingly singular howl to a sliver of a moon. I wasn't sure the voice that would reply, if any, would be yours. As it turned out, the first call I heard in the early hours, that I will take as a reply to my own seeking the solace of something resembling kindred others, was Heather Cox Richardson. She is closer to the political fire associated with industrial economism than I tend to travel now that I am aging, but the strength in her howl brought me fully awake. Then there was a call from the enduring pack around Fritjof Capra, sending out calls of a place to be among others that howl at the moon that I sometimes sadly think only I can see. Then a stirring defense of the 9th Amendment by Christopher Armitage from another corner of my cyber-woods. And then, bringing tears to my eyes that my voice is part of a choir, hidden and spread wide across this dimly lit, maybe darkening forest, was Maria Popova - who echoed Bayo Akomolate's howls, then told the story of Kurt Vonnegut, a life's reflection pool for many, and me too. And finally, but with the most direct potency, the howl with the most poignant pierce to night turning to mourning (sic) was yours. I broadly conveyed one of the most relatable harmonic articulations of Cassandra and the tax in her name, imposed upon those who enter the show early, yet fear, maybe even know, that they still entered too late. Your howling voice, it means a great deal, and not just to me, but so, so many who got to the show early, have the best seats, but who's cheers and jeers and yowls and tears, are rarely given notice by the throngs now arriving. Thank you for connecting the dots...the notes...for this old and tiring wolf.
On Tuesday I’m writing from the same perspective in my way. So I’m with you on the ideation and also impressed by the writing. I’ve already restacked a good quote. But, I have a caveat. Or maybe it’s another idea. You are writing about how it is for people. How about changing all that to “I?”
I posted my thought (Only one a day) on this excellent essay on my social media feeds. I thought I’d share it with you:
“Richard David Hames is a prolific writer who regularly contributes to SubStack. While his work is insightful and illuminating, it can also be difficult to read for someone who doesn't have PHD. For me, reading his prose is like drinking a fine wine... from a fire hose.
Still, much of what he offers is worth sharing. His latest work, The Cassandra Tax, is an example of his insight at its finest. (Cassandra, BTW, is a character in Greek Mythology who has the power to see the future, but is not believed by anyone.) Soooo..... over the next number of days, I will share tiny snippets of that essay to those (like me) who find this kind of work TLTR. (Too Long To read)
Richard David Hames:
"Those in formal office typically present themselves as custodians of a “rules-based” order, but the rules that truly matter – access, exemptions, equity, impunity – are curated in private, traded like rare spices, and defended with precisely the instruments from which the public is supposedly being protected: blackmail, coercion, force, embezzlement, and bribery."
Me again: Uh-huh.”
Richard, I see you, and I am grateful that I do. I awoke this morning at 3:28 AM and began to listen for a voice that would provide some harmony to my own, instead of it being a lonely, weary, seemingly singular howl to a sliver of a moon. I wasn't sure the voice that would reply, if any, would be yours. As it turned out, the first call I heard in the early hours, that I will take as a reply to my own seeking the solace of something resembling kindred others, was Heather Cox Richardson. She is closer to the political fire associated with industrial economism than I tend to travel now that I am aging, but the strength in her howl brought me fully awake. Then there was a call from the enduring pack around Fritjof Capra, sending out calls of a place to be among others that howl at the moon that I sometimes sadly think only I can see. Then a stirring defense of the 9th Amendment by Christopher Armitage from another corner of my cyber-woods. And then, bringing tears to my eyes that my voice is part of a choir, hidden and spread wide across this dimly lit, maybe darkening forest, was Maria Popova - who echoed Bayo Akomolate's howls, then told the story of Kurt Vonnegut, a life's reflection pool for many, and me too. And finally, but with the most direct potency, the howl with the most poignant pierce to night turning to mourning (sic) was yours. I broadly conveyed one of the most relatable harmonic articulations of Cassandra and the tax in her name, imposed upon those who enter the show early, yet fear, maybe even know, that they still entered too late. Your howling voice, it means a great deal, and not just to me, but so, so many who got to the show early, have the best seats, but who's cheers and jeers and yowls and tears, are rarely given notice by the throngs now arriving. Thank you for connecting the dots...the notes...for this old and tiring wolf.
On Tuesday I’m writing from the same perspective in my way. So I’m with you on the ideation and also impressed by the writing. I’ve already restacked a good quote. But, I have a caveat. Or maybe it’s another idea. You are writing about how it is for people. How about changing all that to “I?”