An article by the NY Times which suggests that the ability to contemplate the great stories of mankind and “come to grips with what living is for”, is, and will continue to be, “a great luxury that many cannot afford.”  Frightening correlations between class, education, and the economy.

In Tough Times, the Humanities Must Justify Their Worth – NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/books/25human.html

This morning, in my tent, near the Sangre De Cristo mountains in rural Colorado, I came across this Op-Ed article in the NY Times and sustained goosebumps on the back of my neck for the duration of the reading.  A campfire was already toasting pancakes outside and I emerged from my warm sleeping bag to read the article out loud to the rest of the camp.  We were all struck with a strong sense of encouragement coming from “the establishment” here, and moving conversations lasted well into the afternoon.

Roger Cohen is certainly a bridge between generations and an optimistic critic of American culture in this editorial.  The way he dances through pop references, economics, class conditioning, and great poetry here…   ahhh.

Enjoy!

If you’ve ever wondered how the Global Pool of Money relates to the Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis and how all this is related to the ensuing economic stumbling, This American Life summarizes everything beautifully in Episode #355. Captivating tales from bartenders-turned-brokers, skeptical economists, and homeowners in over their heads.

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Enjoy!

Benjamin

This American Life #355 The Giant Pool of Money (MP3)

This American Life #355 The Giant Pool of Money (Other formats)

A special program about the housing crisis. We explain it all to you. What does the housing crisis have to do with the collapse of the investment bank Bear Stearns? Why did banks make half-million dollar loans to people without jobs or income? And why is everyone talking so much about the 1930s? It all comes back to the Giant Pool of Money.