on the ethics of work and passion

Only in America one use so many words pretending to describe human reality without mentioning the "S" word (society).
In Mr. Douthat's National Review world, Americans live in a country "where pragmatic anxieties — think of the children! think of the mortgage! ..." In America I know, the pragmatic anxieties start with fears of losing one's job (60-70 hours a week of exploitation, terror and abuse) and health care. Strangely, this part of American reality, which Mr Douthat missed for some reasons (what can it be? what can it be?) destroys not only personal health, but any existing or potential relationships.

Anna
New York




It's more than just love. We've created a generation of Americans who've eliminated all the joy from their lives -- who believe that their purpose on Earth is to work hard to earn money to raise children who will work hard to earn money to raise children who will... you get the picture. But even ants can do that much. Surely there's more to life.

Paul G
Mountain View

on the ongoing conversation about (single payer) healthcare reform

If the Democrats and the President can't move forward on a healthcare plan that 70+% of the people support and are willing to pay taxes to have we can only conclude that the democratic form of government is a waste of time.
J L Schrader
Salem,OR

Back in the early years of the Clinton presidency, I just figured a large portions of Americans were ignorant.

Now I feel that they are stupid.

Why is it that Americans argue whether the best shape for a wheel is a triangle or a square, when the rest of the developed world has long ago figured out that the wheel is best when round?
Otto Von
Madison, WI