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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. 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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