| 5-12-98
On 5/12/98, Prager began his show discussing what creates status.
P speculated - fame and power.
P read from Sunday's Washington Post column by George Will.
Ruckus In San Francisco
By George F. Will
Sunday, May 10, 1998; Page C07
SAN FRANCISCO
Supporters of the new requirement say it recognizes "marginalized"
voices, and rebukes the unjust, such as Mark Twain, who allegedly
was disrespectful toward African Americans, and Chaucer, who sank
to portraying people based on their socioeconomic class. The board's
action was justified with reference to "diversity," as though diversity
would be lacking in a syllabus covering, say, Jane Austen, Mark
Twain and Thomas Mann. There also was much talk about the importance
of readings that "reflect the culture" of the students, as though
an Asian American teenager born and raised here finds his or her
culture reflected in a book written by an Asian in Asia.
When supporters of more color-conscious reading requirements explain
their support, certain phrases recur. School reading lists should
"validate who we are." "We are all here so we might as well have
a voice." The 87 percent of San Francisco students who are not white
"deserve recognition."
This is the language of identity politics, which defines individuals
by the groups into which they can be lumped. The premise of identity
politics is that most groups have been "marginalized" by whites
who are no longer demographically dominant.
The language of this city's curriculum skirmish supports a thesis
of a new book, "Speaking Respect, Respecting Speech." In it professor
Richard Abel of UCLA law school argues "the centrality of the struggle
for respect in contemporary political life."
But why has the competition for status become more intense, and
become focused more on cultural affirmations -- recognition -- than
on government-distributed material rewards? Abel suggests that the
political parties have become "indistinguishable on bread-and-butter
issues." Certainly the liberal party has turned from material redistribution
to status politics, promising a new hierarchy of respect through
the redistribution of esteem.
One of Abel's surmises seems exactly wrong. He suggests that as
economic growth slows, "frustrated ambitions are rechanneled into
status claims." But status politics -- the allocation by government
of honor and social standing -- is intensifying as (has Abel noticed?)
the economy soars. It is more likely that status anxieties are actually
sharpened by affluence, which blurs old status symbols.
Joseph Schumpeter said the invention of nylon reduced the social
distance, as measured by consumption, between the duchess who wore
silk and the shop clerk who wore cotton. Time was, the upper crust
rode in carriages, the lower orders walked. No such dramatic difference
distinguishes the driver of a Porsche from the driver of a Pontiac.
So "conspicuous consumption" has lost much saliency as a signal
of status. And public policies -- from San Francisco's affirmative
action reading requirements, to apologies and other propitiations
for various grievance groups -- become the signalers.
This makes for rancid politics because status competition is fueled
by envy, the only one of the seven deadly sins that does not give
the sinner even momentary pleasure. And what becomes of those whose
status anxiety is not assuaged by participation in group entitlements
to government-affirmed esteem? Some vent their resentments in road
rage.
As material abundance grows, society's relative scarcity of recognition
and prestige (ranging from mere victimhood to today's platinum bliss,
celebrity) becomes an intensifying ache. That imbecile in the BMW,
who just endangered his life and yours by running a red light in
order to get to the next one, has been deranged by a shattering
realization. He is not eligible for the recognition sweepstakes
that increasingly define politics. And as a conferrer of derivative
status, a BMW is not what it -- let alone what a carriage and six
horses -- used to be.
His driving is a cry for help, the poor thing. Of course individuals
craving esteem could stop waiting for someone or something to confer
it. They could try earning it. Just an idea.
© Copyright 1998 The Washington Post Company
P said happiness aka inner peace conveyed status. As well as spare
time, and quality of health care.
P says that his fancy stereo system adds to his happiness, as
well as his home and his fountain pens. P drives a fancy car.
From
Prager's Web Site:
Tuesday, May 12, 1998
Dennis began the show in reference to last Sunday's column by
George Will on what gives people prestige these days? According
to part of the column, George Will wrote that years ago you could
tell the prestige of the driver by the car he drove. This is not
true anymore. Most people in America drive nice cars and many wealthy
people these days are choosing to drive family cars such as mini-vans
and SUV's (sports utility vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Suburban).
Also most people today have TV's, VCR's, computers, etc. So, Dennis
asked the question, what gives people status today and do we need
it? One man called in to say that he makes over one million dollars
a year but chooses to drive a truck and rarely dresses up for work,
certainly he doesn't wear a tie. Another man called to say that
a man would gain prestige for having sex in the Lincoln bedroom
with a sexy actress. Dennis said that he could drop the Lincoln
bedroom from that, sleeping with the sexy actress would be enough
to gain prestige in our society. A woman called to say that children
are often used for prestige. She gave the example of bumper stickers
on cars that read "my child is an honor student at …." She
said that the name of the school is a form of status for the parents.
Dennis said that he knows that to be true and that he disagrees
with parents who use their children's achievements as bragging material
to raise their own prestige.
In the third hour Dennis brought up the situation in India where
they are conducting nuclear testing. Dennis said that he loves visiting
India and that he has been there several times. He has even lectured
there on happiness and he said that he loves the Indian people but
that nuclear testing relates to the show's first topic because this
is a way non-powerful countries gain their prestige, by flexing
their muscles. Dennis said that India is now in the hands of a militant
Hindu sect and this is their way of telling the world that they
are important. Dennis said now Pakistan will feel the need to flex
their nuclear muscle in response to India's action. On a side note,
Dennis said that for years Pakistan has oppressed its country's
Christians and yet the world Christian population has ignored the
persecution. During this past week a Bishop was murdered and a pogrom
took place where hundreds of Christian homes and businesses were
looted and burned, yet we hear no outcry from world Christianity.
Dennis said that he doesn't understand this. It reminds him of when
Reverend Billy Graham visited the Soviet Union and told the Christians
there to obey their government which was staunchly anti-Christian.
Dennis said that we knew of Jewish oppression in the Soviet Union
because world Jewry brought it to the world's attention. In actuality,
Dennis said, more Christians were oppressed than Jews. He does not
understand the silence from Christians.
Viagra Nation
By MARK STEYN
"Hi, I'm Walter, your waiter, and today's special is Linguine
Viagra."
"Mmmm," said my friend Earl appreciatively. "That's what I call
al dente."
I'm beginning to feel like that guy in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"
who was out of town the day the alien spores wafted in. You spend
a quiet month ice fishing in Queen Maud Gulf and return to find
the country changed beyond all recognition. Everywhere you turn,
the Viagrification of America proceeds apace. Even in the tiny portion
of the news that isn't devoted to Viagra, it seems implicitly present--the
surging Dow, El Niño, the rush to megamergers. I quote from
memory: "The First National Bank of Little Snake, Colo., announced
today that it is merging with New Mexico's Banco Flaccido to form
ViagraBank, the world's biggest financial institution ever. In other
news, Hurricane Viagra swept through a Florida trailer park, leaving
53 double-wides up-ended."
'One Too Many'
He's really 73
Forget Microsoft; Viagra now commands 98% of the metaphor market--and
Congress isn't doing a thing about it. Frank Luntz has poll data
showing that 83% of soccer moms want Republicans to use more Viagra
imagery ("education vouchers will be the Viagra of our nation's
SAT scores"). Al Gore's minders are already working up self-deprecating
Viagra jokes: "OK, Mr. Vice President, all you have to say is, 'Recently.
I was. Proud. To take. Viagra.' Then you simply stand there, completely
stiff from head to toe, same as always, and just say in your usual
monotone, 'Whoops. Guess I. Took one. Too Many.' "
As the only guy in the country not taking the tablets, I wasn't
sure I knew enough about the subject. So my pal Earl and I repaired
to Starbucks after lunch, where I told him I was writing an article
on Viagra.
"Grrrrrreattt!!" he said, slapping my back. "I write all my articles
on Viagra. Guess you've finally figured it out, amigo: The milquetoast
pantywaist Andy Williams Prozac era is over. I used to be like you,
cranking out reasonable on-the-one-hand-on-the-other-hand wimpsville
stuff for Harper's. Now, thanks to the little blue diamonds, I'm
a ferocious right-winger with my own column in The American Spectator!
That'll put the lead back in your pencil, buddy boy." He glanced
at the menu. "Hey, what's the flavor of the day?"
"Viagraccino," said Kelli. "One cup and you'll be up all night."
Earl is, of course, not his real name. His real name is Chuck.
He just called up to make sure I mention it. Chuck Malmquist, 57
Elm Street, apartment B. Second left after the Citgo station. Chuck
says it saves a whole lot of time if the chicks already know you're
on Viagra.
Presumably that's why every medical correspondent on every American
magazine has no problem lining up on-the-record testimonials from
"Tom Cannata, a 43-year-old accountant from Springfield. Mass.,"
and "Ronald Marrocco, a 55-year-old diabetic from St. Petersburg,
Fla." My favorite to date--I mean my favorite so far, not my favorite
to go to dinner and a movie with--is Irving Mesher, described by
Time as "a 73-year-old retired New York City firefighter, who currently
lives at a family-owned nudist resort in Pennsylvania's Pocono mountains."
Mr. Mesher, according to the newsmagazine, has sex "three or four
times a week with several girlfriends in their 20s." He is planning
"a Viagra party."
I suppose it was too much to expect American men to take an impotence
pill without advertising the fact. After all, the U.S. not only
has more women with breast implants than any other country on the
planet, but also more women happy to tell you they have breast implants--see
Pamela Lee, Jenny McCarthy, Jane Fonda. This is in the same fine
tradition of full disclosure as the cereal packet: "Grandma's Country
Kitchen Old-Time Vermont Maple Oatmeal. Made in Wisconsin entirely
from artificial ingredients." But, contemplating a society in which
artificially aroused men pursue artificially enhanced women, I wonder
if we haven't unnecessarily complicated the whole business.
Besides, I can't see that America needs more 73-year-old nude
firemen. It's bad enough with the old coot down the street standing
under our window with his ukulele every night serenading my wife
with "Viagra Con Dios."
Mr. Steyn is the theater critic of The New Criterion and the film
critic of The Spectator in London.
Status is sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom in the White House,
said a caller. Happiness would be sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom
with Claudia Schiffer.
P says that he has never bragged about his sexual conquests. It
seemed wrong to him.
Does goodness bring prestige?
A caller said that children are often symbols of prestige. Where
they go to school, or what they do, etc…
In his third hour, Prager discussed India's explosion of three
nuclear bombs. P also discussed Pakhistan's discrimination against
Christians. P says he has long been puzzled how little concern Christians
in America and the West have for Christians elsewhere.
WSJ:
U.S. Is Poised to Slap Sanctions
On India Over Nuclear Testing
By JONATHAN KARP and ROBERT S. GREENBERGER
Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
The Clinton administration, responding quickly to India's provocative
nuclear tests, is expected to announce, perhaps as soon as Wednesday,
that it will impose economic and trade sanctions on New Delhi, according
to a senior official.
U.S. and Japanese threats of sanctions on India could hurt U.S.
investors there and set back New Delhi's efforts to shake an economic
slowdown.
Clinton's Response
The president called on India to sign the comprehensive test ban
treaty.
As world condemnation of India spread Tuesday, a day after it
detonated three nuclear weapons, India's leaders basked in the domestic
euphoria over their decision to test the weapons and predicted that
the diplomatic storm would pass quickly. But President Clinton vowed
to implement a law that would cut off aid and U.S. credit to India,
while Japan, Germany and other countries said they were considering
halting development assistance that the impoverished country desperately
needs.
India's nuclear chest-thumping has sent everyone from U.S. executives
to President Clinton scurrying to lawyers to understand the ramifications
of a 1994 U.S. law that has never been invoked, the Nuclear Proliferation
Prevention Act.
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