So I was giving a lecture on Weber, discoursing on stuff that I think is kind of painfully obvious. 

To wit: that where you have a distribution of income (or wealth, or skills), by definition that means that you have some people with some resources and other people with fewer (or even no) resources.  And that means that those with resources have some liberty to take those resources to the market and exchange them for things that they want.  On the other hand, those without resources must bargain with those who do have them, in order to get things they want.  And that bargaining, of course, occurs primarily on terms set by those who have resources.

In other words, stratification = power, and to have money is to have power.  I should think that this is not so very obscure a point to make in a capitalist economy.

At this point, a voice piped up in the back of the room: “That’s not true.  I mean, I don’t agree.  The market is free, after all.”

To which my only response can be: I’m sorry, I missed your point.  What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?  Of course the market is free, but that doesn’t mean that poor people can declare themselves members of the country club, or live in rich neighborhoods, or drive Beemers.  Or, for that matter, declare themselves doctors or lawyers without having first obtained the requisite professional credentials.

I guess it just goes to show: it is true that talking about race makes people uncomfortable.  But try talking about class?  Sheesh.  That’s when people really put their fingers in their ears and start singing the “la-la-la” song.

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The latest antics in Manchester

One has to be impressed, though. When Americans try to make Christianity “relevant,” what do they do? Go see a homoerotic snuff film. Boycott stores that sell “holiday” greeting cards. Turn the New Testament into fecking Cosmo Girl or Skateboard Mag

The British, however, really try to meld the historic (a Passion Play) with the modern (rock music).

Thanks to Io for pointing this out.

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From my colleague BP, who saw the shirt in question:

“You better earn more money than I can spend”

Placed strategically, of course, over a young lady’s most marketable assets.

It never ends.  The craziness just keeps on piling up.

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On the academic side, I mean.

Apologies for the recent silence — I had my nose to the grindstone putting together a piece for this year’s ASAs. 

A piece that I’m actually kind of proud of: I did a cross-state analysis of voting returns at the county level on these marriage referenda, and I got to use some fun variables in the process (like # of same-sex households).  No big surprises on the findings, though I was able to show that when it comes to gay marriage, boy are Black people pissed.  And that Catholics might, at the end of the day, not be our enemies. And that, whatever else people might think about gay marriage, it’s really a partisan issue more than anything else (including religion).

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When you find yourself attending a meeting at church on a weeknight, and not just any meeting, but one about evangelism, and not only that, you find yourself writing to your pastor afterwards with suggestions.  Suggestions that include things like you leading an adult theology discussion group.

Yes, because the christabigot Baptists in this place have driven me that insane.

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One Dick

One Bush

Just as God intended.

(people think I’m joking when I talk about the daily terror of living in this place.  I’m not joking.  Not at all.).

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