Aaaahhh, yet another tie. I really shouldn't be surprised by this, but we'll go with it. Those receiving the dubious honor today? Former Vice President Al Gore, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. No, I never thought I would have to type those two names in the same sentence.
First, VP Gore. Together with former Goldman Sachs Asset Management CEO David Blood, Gore has recently spoken out about a newer (greener?) "sustainable capitalism." It sounds like kittens and sunshine when he opens with this: "we believe that capitalism is fundamentally superior to any other system for organizing economic activity." But then he continues to explain that the way to make capitalism sustainable is to "incorporate sufficient regard for its impact on people, society and the planet."
In other words, if we make capitalism nicer, then it will work. The problem is that if we regulate ourselves into a nicer capitalism, the end result won't be capitalism anymore, and is not likely to be sustainable either.
Now on to Governor Chris Christie. After the recent death of singer Whitney Houston, Christie announced that flags in New Jersey would be flown at half mast in her honor. The public immediately questioned the decision, outraged that a drug addict would be honored in that way regardless of her incredible talents. Christie defended the decision, saying that her problems did not take away from her status as an icon.
The problem? The American flag should be flown at half mast for people who have made a contribution to its honor. Presidents. Senators. Congressmen. Soldiers. Not entertainers. Granted, a few exceptions could be made for entertainers like Bob Hope or Gary Sinise who dedicated time and money and put themselves in harm's way to entertain soldiers on the front lines. But only a few. And not for singers who fell off the map prior to death by pharmacology.
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