ammonius

So I finally heard back from the Summer Program in Switzerland that I am trying to get into. I have to resend my application; so I will be working on revising that today as well as preparing the draft of my conference paper. I think I have enough info to talk about that for 10 mins, which is the length that I am expected to go. I am meeting with Dr. Wright latter this week to discuss what I am talking about. Basically I am arguing against Habermass strict distinctions between lifeworld and system and the concept of the Public Sphere as somehow part of and outside of both. Marxists tend to place the Public Sphere more or less in the Lifeworld (an overestimation of culture no doubt), while Free Market Capitalist confuse Democracy with the Market (and spending habits with voice). There is, I think, truth in both conceptions; what is interesting is that as soon as someone who is critical about the Free Market Capitalist model enters it in order to change it (Adbusters, Move-On) those same people that argue spending=voice get really pissed and cry foul. The right is full of such double standard cry babies, school yard bullies who after they are show to be nothing but windbags cry home to mommy, or tattle and try to get the rules changed (the universal rights that apply to EVERYONE) to simply apply to them. They act the same way in international law and politics as well Ok, that is the end of my rant today. Pamela is in Florida; I have yet to hear from her today, but it is still really early, and her host Jay is with her all day today. I am going to Columbus to see Outland, Melissa, and whoever else I may run into.