Nation Building - and weekend recap
As the great Lawrence Lessig once said "A time is marked not so much by ideas that are argued about as by ideas that are taken for granted. The character of an era hangs upon what needs no defense." Which has nothing to do with the following but is a great quote in it's own right - and we as Americans - and since it's getting to be my generation's turn - need to start owning up to what we were given and what we can do as a people.
On a lighter note - nation building at
www.nationstates.com is a pretty sweet site. You get to build a nation based on, what for the most part are pretty outlandish issues that arise from your constituents.
I am currently running an inoffensive centrist democracy:
The People's Republic of Scharfton It is difficult to tell where the omnipresent government stops and the rest of society begins, but it juggles the competing demands of Education, Law & Order, and Healthcare. The average income tax rate is 66%, and even higher for the wealthy. A small private sector is dominated by the Automobile Manufacturing industry.
Expensive lawyers are hired to defend citizens in court for public urination charges against their pets, political parties are banned from advertising and receiving private donations, citizens must pay to enjoy Scharfton's pristine beaches, and bicyclists are banned from major roads. Crime -- especially youth-related -- is totally unknown, thanks to the all-pervasive police force and progressive social policies in education and welfare. Scharfton's national animal is the dragon, which frolics freely in the nation's many lush forests, and its currency is the durrek.
Scharfton is ranked 1990th in the region and 42,044th in the world for Largest Welfare Programs (per capita).
My 4 day weekend carried over because, well, fun is fun. Hanging out with
this guy and 3 other guys from The Wire staff and
Steve Boone from the Lovin Spoonful (yeah...what?) was just a fun friggin night. I was destined to get the cast members back to my house - and after a while they accepted - and we ended up playing friggin Scrabble. Hilarious night! And the Patty's Day Parade festivites were just a little too much and anyone with pictures will have to reliquish such pictures immediately.
I would also like to thank those that chilled and treated me with care and love and made me laugh. It has been so long since I just laughed and relaxed with that care for me for a day.
