Yes, I have a problem with Chris Hedges.

[cali]

I know that some on DU have great admiration for him. My problem with Hedges isn't so much his diagnosis- although I don't completely agree- it's his solution and his insistence that there is no meaningful difference between the parties.

His solution is to abandon our society completely and go live on communes. Quaint but not exactly achievable- or desirable for millions. And why does he prescribe this? Because he wants the entire system to go kaboom. He's what is known as a secular millenarian. He believe that the current order must be utterly destroyed in order to enable the rising of new age. Not really much different than other end timers.

He seems to me to be another facet of white male privilege. He is willing to sacrifice, the poor, the disabled, the elderly, minorities, LGBT folks and women in order to get to this new bright day.

I find that repugnant. Don't believe me? Read his articles at Truthdig.

http://www.truthdig.com/articles_by_author/chris_hedges/section/report/P10/

[MuhkRahker]

1. I like him!

The admiration he earns is a whole lot more deserved than someone like Nate Silver (A Romney voter, BTW) gets around here. Just cause people like his aggregate polling technique. Sheesh!

[Indykatie]

2. Silver is No Romney Voter BTW

[cali]

4. what do you agree with?

btw, it's kind of silly to compare a Silver who is a statistics guy- and a dem to Hedges who is a pundit.

[dixiegrrrrl]

31. He is "what is known as a secular millenarian"?????????

I've read all his books and have not seen him describe himself as those.

As far as being a pundit, your OP falls into that catagory:
"a person who makes comments or judgments, especially in an authoritative manner; critic or commentator. "

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/pundit

So apparently when you do it, it is good.
When he writes something in a column, it is bad?

[Cal Carpenter]

3. Your argument would be better served

if you reference things that Hedges actually says rather than your questionable interpretation of his words.

[cali]

5. go read his articles. He absolutely says that stuff.

I included the link.

[Cal Carpenter]

6. Absolutely?

I think you may need to revisit the definition of that word.

Chris Hedges 'absolutely' says we need to sacrifice the poor? LOL. Love to see that quote.

[cali]

9. No. He says that the system need to be destroyed

Who do you think gets sacrificed first, genius?

[Cal Carpenter]

18. You continue to misrepresent what he says

Look, I don't usually agree with the guy's bottom line, but you are totally misrepresenting him.

Your comments aren't 'analysis' as you say below, they are false extrapolation and hyperbole.

I always get irritated by Hedges' over-inflated use of hyperbole but you are putting him to shame here, LOL.

[99Forever]

7. Couldn't get enough bashing in...

... on that other thread?

Sheesh.

[cali]

8. How is this bashing? It's called analysis. You may not like it.

You may disagree with it, but it's certainly not bashing. sheeesh.

[99Forever]

11. Yeah, sure it is.

And you know squat about what "I like."


Sheesh.

[liberal_at_heart]

13. I see privileged is the new attack word

for those who have the slightest criticism of Obama or who dare to ever think about voting 3rd party. Being called anti-American, ungodly, and communist by the republicans has never changed my views. Being called privileged won't either.

[Romulox]

15. "Centrists" are searching for anything they can use to attack the Left. nt

[_ed_]

24. DLC has come full-circle

We're all Dick Morris now.

[Romulox]

14. Nobody was paying attention! So another thread was *needed*. nt

[99Forever]

25. So it seems. n/t

[Doctor_J]

26. Does that mean when this one sinks we'll get a third?

or even if it doesn't sink?

[GeorgeGist]

10. Like this? 'At the very end, it all will come down like a house of cards.'

The ideologues of rapacious capitalism, like members of a primitive cult, chant the false mantra that natural resources and expansion are infinite. They dismiss calls for equitable distribution as unnecessary. They say that all will soon share in the “expanding” wealth, which in fact is swiftly diminishing. And as the whole demented project unravels, the elites flee like roaches to their sanctuaries. At the very end, it all will come down like a house of cards.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/time_to_get_crazy_20120702/

[cali]

19. No. not like that.

The problem is that he considers that all democrats are enslaved to rapacious capitalism. All of them. And he despises liberals as well.

[Doctor_J]

27. No, he doesn't

considers that all democrats are enslaved to rapacious capitalism

He does say that the ruling class (R or D) are so enslaved. Do you contest this point?

[Romulox]

12. On another thread, the OP claims it's Chris' *writing style* she takes issue with.

[cali]

16. That too. It's ponderous, cliche ridden and reliant on

fury- rage is really not a good vehicle for ideas. they tend to get lost. Furthermore, it's all polemic all the time. It's canned revolutionary rhetoric. He was a good reporter. He wrote one good book. Too bad.

[Romulox]

20. LOL. You hate his politics, but your attempt to convince others have largely failed. So

you move on to critiquing his choice of phrase.

It's a transparent move, dear!*

*If anyone takes issue with this sexist dross (the condescending use of the word "dear",) please note that it is merely an echo of Cali's earlier response to me, found here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1700856

[Cal Carpenter]

23. pot meet kettle

"It's ponderous, cliche ridden and reliant on
fury"

[dixiegrrrrl]

34. ONE good book?

Let's see what Wiki offers up on the topic of ....one good book.

Hedges is also known as the best-selling author of several books including War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning (2002)—a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction—
I Don't Believe in Atheists (2008) and
Death of the Liberal Class (2010).

And there there is that Pulitzer........

[quinnox]

17. he recently showed up on my radar

I had heard his name in the past but didn't pay much attention. I read his essay on why he was voting Green and thought it was well written so I'm going to start checking out that site he writes for. At least occasionally anyway.

[cali]

21. Check out his newest column. It's even illustrated with a pic of Obama as a monster

devouring the statue of Liberty.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_sm_election_20121105/

[Romulox]

22. The image is a take on "Saturn Devouring his Son" by Goya.

Add art to the list, huh?

[banned from Kos]

28. So Obama is a sadistic monster?

You agree with Hedges?

[cali]

30. and that excuses it? LOL.

[snagglepuss]

32. May i recommend his book Empire of Illusion: end of literacy and the triumph of spectacle in America

His holding a Masters of Divinity from Harvard and being a war correspodent has I believe given a POV that is unmatched. Even though I agree with his analysis, I would like to ask him why, if Obama is no different than Rmoney, have so many billionaires poured so much money into the Rmoney campaign.

Here's a clip of him talking about Empire of Illusion

[nichomachus]

29. Poor Chris probably won't be able to eat lunch today

with all the words that are being stuffed into his mouth.

[KurtNYC]

33. Me too. He is right about many of the issues

and he does a great job of explaining how protestant churches went from being blue collar to being conservative. But his "solutions" are over the top and seem aimed at the hopelessly angry.

[LeftyMom]

35. I heard he kicks puppies.

[redgreenandblue]

36. Ah Hedges.

Hedges is simply Hedges. You can love him or hate him. Ultimately I think he is harmless. I think he has done little harm and at least some good in his life. He certainly has been through a lot. I don't share his visions of doom and I do think they are at least partially PTSD driven.

I'm glad there exist some edgy individuals like him. Life would be boring if everything was streamlined.

I doubt that many people will not vote because of him.

[JVS]

37. Is he saying that the system needs to be destroyed or is he saying that the system destroys itself?

Because the two things are different

[whatchamacallit]

38. Preemptive "Chris Hedges is a fucking moron!"

In hopes of deterring the cavalcade of authoritarian assholes from dumping this brain-dead sentiment all over the thread.