This Story of State Surveillance and Control in East Germany Has Become Uncomfortably Resonant for the West

This Story of State Surveillance and Control in East Germany Has Become Uncomfortably Resonant for the West

In the 20 years between the Oscar-winning film and its new stage adaptation, The Lives of Others has become uncomfortably resonant.

Back in 2006, we still enjoyed the moral certainties of Cold War bipolarity. Market capitalism’s hiccup was still a few years away. Free societies had conclusively won the argument, and it didn’t occur to many of us that the winners had learned so little from their victory. But, in the shadow of the Covid psychosis and its residual frictions, what originally felt like a cosy retrospective on ‘the end of history’ now feels more like PTSD.

Share

Forced Realism

Forced Realism

The West has long cherished a consoling fiction: that history’s bloodier chapters closed with the twentieth century’s great catastrophes, leaving behind a socially matured civilization capable of resolving conflict through markets, dialogue, and the redistribution of resources. This conviction—equal parts progressive teleology and liberal complacency—treated human nature as an infinitely malleable artifact rather than a fixed and flawed constant.

Share

Carney has betrayed Canada

Carney has betrayed Canada

This summer, Mark Carney was confronted by dozens of cousins he never knew he had. The Canadian Prime Minister was visiting Aughagower, a small village in the west of Ireland. It was the home of his grandparents until 1925, when they decided to move to Canada to build a better life. “Welcome home Mark!” screamed hundreds of Irish admirers. To mark the bonds between Ireland and Canada, the prime minister planted an oak tree next to the graveyard where his relatives are buried.

Share

Bryan Adams panned for political ‘Lake Ontario’ song: ‘JUST PLAY MUSIC AND SHUT THE F*** UP’

Bryan Adams panned for political ‘Lake Ontario’ song: ‘JUST PLAY MUSIC AND SHUT THE F*** UP’

Are we in Heaven, or Hell?

His new single “Lake Ontario” — which will also be featured as a bonus track on his upcoming album, How’s It Goin’, scheduled for release next week — comes after Adams released the self-explanatory song “51st State” on Canada Day.

Share

Will we always have Paris?

Will we always have Paris?

Two worlds met in Paris last week. Thanks to the presence of Art Basel, some of the world’s most valuable art that wasn’t already in the city was shipped there. It arrived just in time for Paris to go up in flames. Most of the art fair went ahead as planned at the Grand Palais, but the final weekend was cancelled.

Parisian friends and those who were visiting the city described scenes of Dada-esque absurdity. They navigated streets filled with burning bins and rioting ‘youths’ in balaclavas, before slipping into champagne receptions. Some who attempted to get out of the city spoke of Mogadishu-like scenes at Gare du Nord, where the country’s newest net-contributors were busily assaulting any available police and stealing the luggage of any tourist they could find.

Share

GOLDSTEIN: Magic beans won’t fix the Canadian economy

GOLDSTEIN: Magic beans won’t fix the Canadian economy

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign to forge a closer economic alliance with the European Union is just the latest Liberal government magic bean to cure what ails our economy.

It’s not that increasing trade with the EU under what was originally described as Canada becoming an “associate member” but has now reportedly been reclassified as “ever closer association” — whatever that means — is a bad idea.

Share

When the Grid Goes Dark, AM Radio Is America’s Last Line of Defense

When the Grid Goes Dark, AM Radio Is America’s Last Line of Defense

When a hostile nation, a terrorist cell, or a solar storm takes down the power grid, Americans won’t find out what to do from a smartphone app. Cell towers will go dark within hours, and internet service will go with them. But one technology will still be talking: AM radio.

That is why the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act matters. On September 15, the House passed it with overwhelming bipartisan support. Its Senate companion has more than 60 cosponsors and has cleared committee. It is ready for passage today. Yet the bill still waits for Senate floor time. With a broad bipartisan majority ready to pass it, a lone procedural objection should not be enough to stand between the American people and the most resilient communications system the nation has. Now is the time for the Senate to act.

Share