Plutocracy

"“Do the wealthy have disproportionate political influence in the United States?” then the answer is obviously 'yes', and that answer would qualify as one of the most unsurprising imaginable. . . . We mean not just rule by the rich, but rule by and for the rich. We mean, in other words, a state of affairs in which the rich influence government in such a way as to protect and expand their own wealth and influence, often at the expense of others." - Francis Fukuyama, "Left Out"

STTA

• Here is clearly one of the pressing questions of our day: Why as a whole we seem, in balance, protective of the wealth of, not just the wealthy, but the super-wealthy--people who net worth is measured in the billions? What are your thoughts on this controversial topic?

Slang

The great Samuel Johnson derided slang as "fugitive cant, which is always in state of increase or decay, cannot be regarded as any part of the durable materials of a language, and therefore must be suffered to perish with other things unworthy of preservation." - James Sharpe, "The Takeaway Language of Slang"

STTA

• The status of slang is always an issue -- especially, who can use it, and when. What is your definition of slang?
• Slang always seem to bubble up from edges of the social order. See if you can find some contemporary examples of the language of outsiders finding widespread currency?

The Power of One

"You hear it all the time: We humans are social animals. We need to spend time together to be happy and functional, and we extract a vast array of benefits from maintaining intimate relationships and associating with groups. Collaborating on projects at work makes us smarter and more creative. Hanging out with friends makes us more emotionally mature and better able to deal with grief and stress." -- Leon Neyfakh, "The Power of Lonely"
STTA

• Yes, we do hear a lot about the our social nature, but surely there is power in solitude. How would you describe that power? What is it that we learn from ourselves?
• It is also a commonplace -- and maybe true -- that it has become harder for us to be alone: Do you agree?

Luddites

"In an essay in 1984—at the dawn of the personal computer era—the novelist Thomas Pynchon wondered if it was “O.K. to be a Luddite,” meaning someone who opposes technological progress. A better question today is whether it’s even possible. Technology is everywhere, and a recent headline at an Internet humor site perfectly captured how difficult it is to resist: 'Luddite invents machine to destroy technology quicker.'" -- Richard Conniff, "What the Luddites Really Fought Against"

STTA

• What is your understanding of the term luddite? Do you agree that it has become largely a perjorative term?
• Do a bit a research including reading Conniff's article, and you will see that a key issue then (and maybe today) is jobs. Do you believe the commonplace notion that new technologies lead to more and better jobs for workers?