It has been a distinct privilege to be a contributor here, first as a semi-regular commenter during the high days of the (still) ongoing pandemic and then, at the gracious invitation of Yves Smith, a regular member of the most talented team I have ever been a part of. Last month marked four years as a regular for me. Time flies when you’re having fun! Thank you, all!
Why Naked Capitalism? This place is a community. Yes, it is virtual by reason of necessity, but a community, nevertheless. It is also a go-to source for what is happening in the world. If you believe me, the Tip Jar is to your right. Your support is welcome and necessary.
Why is Naked Capitalism that go-to source? Because the only requirement to be a member of this community is good faith, intelligence, and the ability to read, pay attention, and stay on topic without ad hominem. You cannot half-ass your way around Naked Capitalism. Drop-ins are welcome, while “fly-by trolls” are not. This is rare if not unique in the independent news media. So, if you value good sense and free speech, the Tip Jar is to your right. Your financial backing is appreciated and necessary to support independent media.
Why is Naked Capitalism that go-to source? Well, since February 28th, our weekdays have begun with a real time summary of the Ramadan War in East Asia, which was originally scheduled by the current administration to last about 96 hours. As of September 15th, we have exceeded that by 5,208 hours.
This overly dynamic situation has been wearing on the nerves and the intelligence, but Yves has never wavered (with high-caliber substitution by Nat when necessary). Just like Sherwin Williams covers the world, Yves has covered the Ramadan War, in all its ins and outs, with her original work and links to those who make the most sense of all the nonsense.
Herb Stein famously said, “If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.” The Ramadan War will stop. Until then NC is your first place to stop, every day, around the world for the latest. And after the war ceases, NC will be the place to read and understand its aftermath. The Tip Jar is to your right. Your financial backing is appreciated and necessary to support independent media.
Why is Naked Capitalism that go-to source? The archive is large! Nat Wilson Turner, with his uncanny ability to pierce the bubble and bring good sense to the doings in the real world. Curro Jimenez, whose take on Peter Thiel and his fellow conspirators, for example, sums it up. Haig Hovaness recently reminded us of the great Ted Postol and the futility of missile defense, along with most of the tropes the Pentagon lives by. Conor Gallagher, who recently covered how the Deep State is coming for all who dare to question them. Nick Corbishley on the decline of the USA as shown by our gambling jones that will destroy families all across the land so that the online gambling portals can make their owners total rich. One can only hope that Herb Stein’s statement comes true on this much sooner than later. And we must not forget Sunday Morning Movie brought to us by semper loquitir, which as one reader has pointed out can be Sunday Morning Semester. Without his work, I would never have seen Dame Diana Rigg in In this House of Brede or heard Bertrand Russell read his Why I Am Not a Christian. To support this irreplaceable journalism, your financial backing is appreciated and necessary. The Tip Jar is to your right.
Why is Naked Capitalism that go-to source? The commentariat. In this season in years past, I have written about our commentariat. If I started naming names, I would inevitably leave someone out, so I won’t do that. But we all know who they are. They are from every corner of the United States, Old Blighty, Ireland, Australia, Italy, Spain and everywhere in between. Their comments are essays, short and long, in understanding and enlightenment, every day. I challenge anyone, anywhere to find this elsewhere in the independent media. We have Yves to thank for her foresight and her seriousness that has enabled this community. Everyone here learns from this commentariat. To support their perspicacity, your financial backing is appreciated and necessary. The Tip Jar is to your right.
Why is Naked Capitalism that go-to source? Finally, a point of personal privilege if I may. As many of you know, in my day job I am a basic biomedical scientist and professor in a medical school who now also has administrative duties. My presence as a reader and a writer here has made me a much better teacher and administrator (we are not all bad). For example, you have heard me characterize health insurance as the category mistake it is. Later this year, I will explain this history to our preclinical medical students. Without Naked Capitalism, that would not have happened.
In my institution we do what we do one student at a time. More than a few of them will leave medical school with a deeper understanding of how the Great American Medical System has become the slough of despond it is. Your support will have a lasting impact on the practice of medicine in the United States and has already made a certain group of medical students aware of the snares that await them.
Christa McAuliffe famously said that teachers touch the future. To the teachers here, all of them, commenters certainly included, thank you! And yes, the Tip Jar is still over there on the right.
As always, thank you for reading. And remember, stay safe out there!
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