How Democrats Can Learn Populism

[Oexmelin]

I grew up on Pippi Longstocking (which might explain a lot 

Certainly explains that cock in your mouth.

Seriously, you should read the books to your nieces rather than letting them be submitted to the nausea-inducing über-vapid-girly pink crap that now seem to dominate the market. 

[Oexmelin]

I'm not sure I'd want to base my understanding of society on Pippi Longstocking, whether her monkey was named  George, Mr. Neilson, or M. Dupont. 

Don't worry. I am much more sophisticated now: I've read Tintin to understand foreign affairs, and Astérix for a grounding in history.

[Jacob]

Don't worry. I am much more sophisticated now: I've read Tintin to understand foreign affairs, and Astérix for a grounding in history.

You shouldn't be afraid to delve into specialized sources as well.

I recommend Lucky Luke to understand America and Gaston La Gaffe for a comprehensive understanding of modern office workers. If you want to gain insight into women's issues, you can't go much wrong with the works of Milo Manara.

[mongers]

I grew up on Pippi Longstocking (which might explain a lot 

Certainly explains that cock in your mouth.

Seriously, you should read the books to your nieces rather than letting them be submitted to the nausea-inducing über-vapid-girly pink crap that now seem to dominate the market. 

Oexy, Languish is beginning to rub off on you isn't it. 

[Sheilbh]

I grew up on Pippi Longstocking (which might explain a lot  - she's known in French as Fifi Brindacier) and it didn't seem toned down to me.  All the vilains in the show were figures of authority, and the neighboring kids were being reined in by their conformist parents. (The monkey was actually called Mr. Neilson / M. Dupont).

I'll take your word on it.  It's just something the Economist mentioned in passing on the subject.  The paper's actually called 'Pippi Longstocking: The Autonomous Child and the Moral Logic of the Swedish Welfare State' and sees her as a Nordic archetype.  And I got my cartoon monkeys mixed up

The problem with Todd is that he infuses a lot of rigidity to his model (which is usually a problem with French sociologists ) by ascribing causal logic to what was initially descriptive. That being said, the idea that redistributive structures within societies (which in many cases depend upon patronage, itself dependant upon kinship) is not terribly new. What most Western societies have succeeded in doing is to mask, for a long time, such redistributive patterns under all sorts of processes, and in turn allowing such processes to be eventually (but only so very recently) decoupled from their origins. The research of political scientist Sawicki is on that regard really interesting.

I took a lot of what he said with a pinch of salt.  He was projecting that Russia would become the dominant democratic power in the 21st century based on a small rise in child mortality rates in the late 90s

But his ideas were interesting and quite thought provoking, which is enough.

Seriously, you should read the books to your nieces rather than letting them be submitted to the nausea-inducing über-vapid-girly pink crap that now seem to dominate the market. 

This is true.  I've got my nieces some books that are for girls but aspire to something more than becoming a princess and wearing pink.

[CountDeMoney]

Seriously, you should read the books to your nieces rather than letting them be submitted to the nausea-inducing über-vapid-girly pink crap that now seem to dominate the market. 

Thing is, at least that pink pap allows children to be children for a while;  I realize Eurotype concepts towards children requires them to be exposed to the harsh brutality of the absurdism of life at an early age, which is they're forced to read The Diary of Anne Frank and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by the time they're 7.  I'd rather not crush their little spirits til they're at least 11.

[Jacob]

Seriously, you should read the books to your nieces rather than letting them be submitted to the nausea-inducing über-vapid-girly pink crap that now seem to dominate the market. 

Thing is, at least that pink pap allows children to be children for a while;  I realize Eurotype concepts towards children requires them to be exposed to the harsh brutality of the absurdism of life at an early age, which is they're forced to read The Diary of Anne Frank and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by the time they're 7.  I'd rather not crush their little spirits til they're at least 11.

You are obviously not familiar with Pippi Longstocking at all, then.

To be serious for a moment here - you should check out some of the classic Scandinavian children's literature out there. It's really quite good.

My recommendations would Ronia the Robber's Daughter by Astrid Lindgren, as well as Pippi Longstocking (both available on Amazon). The various Moomin books by Tove Jansson are also really good. I think you'd sympathize with Moomin pappa a fair bit; he's an aspiring writer, you see.

[CountDeMoney]

Seriously, you should read the books to your nieces rather than letting them be submitted to the nausea-inducing über-vapid-girly pink crap that now seem to dominate the market. 

Thing is, at least that pink pap allows children to be children for a while;  I realize Eurotype concepts towards children requires them to be exposed to the harsh brutality of the absurdism of life at an early age, which is they're forced to read The Diary of Anne Frank and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by the time they're 7.  I'd rather not crush their little spirits til they're at least 11.

You are obviously not familiar with Pippi Longstocking at all, then.

How many Jews did she kill?

[Sheilbh]

The various Moomin books by Tove Jansson are also really good. I think you'd sympathize with Moomin pappa a fair bit; he's an aspiring writer, you see.

I loved the Moomins.  I always thought they were Polish though

[Oexmelin]

They are Finnish.

[Ed Anger]

Seriously, you should read the books to your nieces rather than letting them be submitted to the nausea-inducing über-vapid-girly pink crap that now seem to dominate the market. 

Thing is, at least that pink pap allows children to be children for a while;  I realize Eurotype concepts towards children requires them to be exposed to the harsh brutality of the absurdism of life at an early age, which is they're forced to read The Diary of Anne Frank and One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by the time they're 7.  I'd rather not crush their little spirits til they're at least 11.

Hell, when I bought a lot of children's books on Ebay (500 books for 5 dollars! +20 shipping.  ), I tossed out the HEATHER HAS TWO MOMMIES type shit. I deal with that bridge when I have to.

or damn Bambi. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO BAMBI'S MOM.

[Jacob]

They are Finnish.

Swedo-Finnish, for those who keep track of such things. I.e. the original language is Swedish.

[CountDeMoney]

or damn Bambi. I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO BAMBI'S MOM.

Man...is in the forest.  LEAVING FUCKING BEER CANS

[Eddie Teach]

Bambi's mom is in heaven of course.

[CountDeMoney]

Bambi's mom is in heaven of course.

Bullshit.  She's in someone's freezer.

edit: probably 11B's.