1. I only have a moment this morning. But I couldn’t resist a title composed of two 20th century classics.
2. I expect Pete is right about Cain. He’s certainly right about his tax scheme with the 9s. But: The latest study shows that he’s the only Republican beating Romney. And his weekend talk-show defense of the scheme was surprisingly sophisticated. Plus it’s not like there’s another alternative to Romney in the wings. I’m unwilling to declare Herman toast (or pizza dough) at this point.
3. It’s great news that Flagg is blogging, of course. I have to admit that I don’t think the BRAVE NEW WORLD is coming, though. I’ll explain in detail later. But we can already see (with the impending implosion of the various welfare states) that the road to serfdom doesn’t ever get to serfdom. Plus, eugenics has gotten personal and highly self-conscious, being driven by individuals who want to stay around forever, resist mindless contentment, and refuse to be suckered by thinking of themselves as parts of wholes greater than themselves.
Dear Reader,
Can I be direct with you?
War abroad. Socialists on the rise. AI upending human life. Endless uproar online. The modern attention economy doesn’t want readers — it wants users enslaved to the tyranny of the present.
First Things is the antidote: literary excellence, timeless truths, and a fixed point of reference in a culture that has lost its bearings.
But we can’t do it without readers like you.
Our goal: Raise $150,000 by November 1 to sustain First Things in the year ahead.
Your gift anchors readers in the permanent things.
Make your Fall Campaign gift now using the button below.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Giovanni Del Piero, Director of the Editor’s Circle, at gdelpiero@firstthings.com or 212-627-1985.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
The Church in the Age of Therapy
In 1966, Philip Rieff wrote in The Triumph of the Therapeutic that “Religious man was born to…
Canada’s Deadliest Blind Spot
On September 20, the Daily Mail ran a story with the provocative headline, “Our 83-year-old Christian grandmother…
The Faithful Joy of Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen
Dolly Parton and Fulton Sheen seem to have had little in common. She favored rhinestones; he wore…
