I’ve long argued that what we call racism in America masks the deeper, darker, evil of classim; that we simply don’t care about those whose class status is benetah our own. Joan Walsh makes her case: We still don’t know how much police are culpable for failing to find Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight. [...]

Roldo Bartimole writes: Add them up: The Imperial Avenue atrocity of 11 women raped and murdered by Anthony Sowell; The gunning down of Timothy Russell and Melissa Williams by out-of-control Cleveland police; and now the revelation that three young women have been held captive for years in a home on the city’s near West Side [...]

Over the past few centuries, Western cultures have been very good at creating general prosperity for themselves. Historian Niall Ferguson asks: Why the West, and less so the rest? He suggests half a dozen big ideas from Western culture — call them the 6 killer apps — that promote wealth, stability and innovation. And in this new century, he says, these apps are all shareable.

History is a curious thing, and Niall Ferguson investigates not only what happened but why. (Hint: Politics and money explain a lot.)

But the First Noble Truth suggest that we should stay and acknowledge our suffering. If we don’t understand suffering, we can’t understand happiness. p. 28 From Good Citizens: Creating Enlightened Society by Thich Nhat Hanh Previously… Found in my electronic chapbook.

Happy Earth Day…

Roldo Bartimole writes: It was good to see three school board members voted against the fire sale of the Cleveland schools downtown administration building. But wait. Unfortunately, the majority voted to sell the historic building to Drury Hotels of St. Louis. The deal: more than $4 million below the appraised price. Who’s counting the pennies? [...]

We can very well make friends with our suffering as part of our effort to transform it. If we recognize it and call it by its true name, then we can make peace with it and not suffer as much. When we see the pain in the world caused by all the suffering, we want [...]

Roldo Bartimole writes: I had to chuckle reading Steve Litt’s lead on his umpteenth piece ballyhooing a revamp of Public Square. “Cleveland’s drab and gray Public Square…” Litt starts the latest propaganda push for more downtown public dollars. Public Square is an essential property for the city. Is that why we put a gambling joint [...]

I don’t think Allen offers any new information, but, like all purveyors of productivity porn, repackages basic truths discovered so far back in History that we have no way of assigning proper credit. This is not to suggest that Allen is a hack or in any way misappropriating others’ ideas. Basic truths must be reinterpreted [...]

From Ian Welsh’s Golden Laws of Prosperity 1. Implement policy which is as good for as many people as possible. 6. Enforce the doctrine of first sale. 10. Do not allow the private sector to pillage the social sector. 25. Enforce accountability on decision makers, especially corporate decision-makers. 31. Reduce barriers to entry in new [...]

Roldo Bartimole writes: As I reach the age of 80 it is hard for me to believe that my life has taken roads that I would never have foreseen. It has been an unexpected life journey. So I take liberty now to speak of it. Never would I have believed as a youngster that I [...]

This morning I intended to delete Post Secret from my current blogroll. At the bottom of today’s posting, I found the above. I like to think this final postcard is a farewell message from the Post Secret universe.

NED WHELAN – HE COULD TELL THE TRUTH By Roldo Bartimole How do you do aggressive, honest reporting? Ned Whelan, who died Wednesday, days after an accidental fall, showed exactly how. He died in Phoenix, visiting his daughter. He was 70. As a Plain Dealer reporter in 1970, Whelan covered a meeting of the Bluecoats, [...]

Roldo Bartimole writes: Okay Plain Dealer reporters: the outlook is dark and tragic. No easy way to put it. So take advantage of the Newhouse family’s bad situation of caring more about making money than serving the public. If they’re going to go to three days start now producing some hard hitting stuff that tests [...]

This morning I decided that Facebook and Twitter are distractions in my life. I’ve deleted both. I invited all of my Facebook friends to an event as a way of announcing my departure and I’ve uploaded this post to Twitter to let my followers there know as well. I’m undecided about Have Coffee Will Write [...]

Driving between students yesterday I pulled up behiund a white van with this bumper sticker. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a visceral response in my life. If I had had a bumper sticker with an arrow that said “Racist Bigot On Board” I would have chased down the van and pasted my opinion [...]

Roldo Bartimole writes: We have a No Fault Cleveland City Hall. – A No Fault Mayor Frank Jackson. – A No Fault Police Chief Frank McGrath. – A No Fault Safety Director Marty Flask. – A No Fault Cleveland Police Force. HELL, nobody’s responsible for Anything in Cleveland. What a wonderful world where no one [...]

People are naturally terrified when the economy is not growing. Technical change becomes the great evil, and gives people something concrete to blame for their economic woes. It also provides a handy scare tactic for those want to squeeze wages and workers, and a cover for politicians who push austerity policies and object to government [...]

We see ourselves everywhere because every moment we produce thoughts, speech and actions that continue us in the world. p. 25 From Good Citizens: Creating Enlightened Society by Thich Nhat Hanh Previously… Found in my electronic chapbook.

Roldo Bartimole writes: There was one time I felt sorry for Art Modell. It was in a court room. I’ll get to that. What bothers me now of the attacks on Modell by our sports writers and fans are that they for so long kissed his ass. He was the Big Dog. Just as they [...]