The Rise of Socialism, Inc.less

Becky VanDyke
Advanced Journalism
Public Affairs Analysis
The Rise of Socialism, Inc.less
With the current chain of events that has taken place so far this month, The Fall of America, Inc. is a very timely article, full of insight from our past and into our present and future situation. This article, written by Francis Fukuyama, explores America’s capitalist ideals and influence on a world-wide scale. Most articles written over the past few weeks and months delve into great detail about our national financial crisis, local economic problems, and the candidate’s plans for the mix; but few articles have made the case that this article does. This article addresses the global nature of the problem at hand and the massive effect our meltdown in economics and foreign policy has had on the world’s view of America’s “brand”. The Republican brand has been discussed time and time again, yet America’s brand as a whole and the way the world now perceives it has rarely been a prominent topic of conversation. This article presents that very issue, an issue that should have been on the forefront of political discussions more often than it has been, and it presents it in a very clear, understandable manner.
First of all, this article’s headline is genius. It’s catchy, intelligent, funny, fitting, etc. The sub-title is a good insight to the rest of the article and sums up the thesis very directly. The wording in “a certain vision of capitalism has collapsed.” is a particularly good choice of words, the word “certain” helps explain the points he makes later that capitalism cannot be abolished all together, just the “certain” form it has been practiced in so far. This word, “certain”, ties into his pendulum references he later talks about when discussing the drastic changes that people tend to make when something isn’t working right.
I was reminded of my own writing style when I read the first paragraph. The events that have taken place over the last few weeks are listed by means of several fragmented sentences, a technique that I think is usually quite effective in an introduction. After the picture is painted of the current situation Fukuyama does an excellent job of citing his thesis point at the end of his lead and linking the previous fragments to the global perspective of the American “brand”. His introduction continues into the next two paragraphs, making the first three paragraphs to comprise a somewhat long but necessary introduction. The second and third paragraphs separately introduce the two areas that Fukuyama believes are the most affected areas of our “brand”, deregulation and democracy.
As the article continues, Fukuyama mixes stories of past issues in history such as European Socialism, more recent history of our own nation such as the Bush administration’s policies, and current events like the presidential election in order to give background, insight, and understanding to the situation we’ve come to find ourselves facing. The way he incorporates past, present, and future ideas with foreign and domestic matters is very effective in uncovering this multi-layered problem our nation is facing. History mixed with clear examples gives the reader a good understanding of the problem, the reason for the problem, and later, how the problem may be fixed.
Fukuyama also does a good job of not over using this year’s election throughout the piece. He doesn’t mention either of the candidates until the fifth paragraph and then only discusses them a few more times in the rest of the article. Though I am a political junkie, this technique is refreshing. The election is already going to be on the reader’s mind, and will be thought of through out the article without it actually being pushed in the readers face in every paragraph.
His article, for the most part, tries very hard to put forth a fair balance between the candidates when it does actually discuss them and also tries to be fair when it’s not discussing them. However fair the writer may be trying to be, the article still leans in Obama’s favor. The writer’s tone remains pretty fair, but the actual content is left-leaning and therefore, naturally seems to be more in support of Obama and Obama’s policies.
Aside from trying to be fair to the candidates, the article gives a very fair portrayal of opposing economic philosophies and unbiased views of different ideals. The article seems to be stating the downside of our past economic practices; and though some may say that it shows bias, I think it is simply stating the obvious. Just because the obvious is negative, doesn’t mean it isn’t fair.
One of Fukuyama’s writing techniques that stood out to me was his ability to effectively refer back to things previously stated in his article. Things such as Cheney’s statement of “deficits don’t matter” were stated and then later referred back to in order to make a point clearer and refresh the reader’s memory of past points and topics discussed. Sometimes it is helpful to the reader, as it was to me, to have a connection made apparent, a “brain break” as I like to call it.
The format of this article makes the connections easy for the reader to put together also. After the introduction, which is separated into three clear pieces, deregulation and democracy are discussed individually and at length. Once the reader has a clear understanding of the two problems America’s brand is facing, Fukuyama begins his conclusion with a change in tone, “if” paragraph, and solutions.
His tone changes at the fifth paragraph from the end. He starts talking about how America can and will recover. He proceeds to give what I like to call an “if” paragraph in which he has previously given the reader hope but then further explains that this positive and hopeful outcome can only come IF certain measures are taken and specific things are changed. He does this in the paragraph immediately following his tone change, beginning, “Still, another comeback rests on our ability to make some fundamental changes.” And finally he warns about problems to avoid and offers up solutions in the ending couple of paragraphs.
The actual conclusion does a great job of unifying the entire article which is key to making the whole piece work. Like the sub-title, the conclusion is able to sum up the main ideas of the article with just a few short sentences and, as I previously discussed, refers back to points previously addressed throughout the article. The conclusion is nothing innovative or risky as far as format; but it’s solid and unifying and considering the deep topics of the article it is also fitting.
The style of the article was straight forward and consistent, but the content of the article itself was very intelligent as well. Many profound points were made, cases presented, and ideas put forth. So not only was this a well written and laid out article, it was also full of valuable thought, ideas, insight, and conclusions.

As my undecided little sister would say... "What a fake ass bitch!"

I will fill this post with quotes from throughout the night which, I think, capture the essence of what has gone on the past couple of hours. What may not be captured is all of the pauses on the DVR to lend way to me or my sister's political bitching, the escape tricks of my kitty, or the bomb diggity food that was cooked prior to the debate. **All boxed wine, people, and principles are stated as realistic and are not altered to promote a certain belief, bias, or pattern.**

Quote 1: "All she [Sarah Palin] is, is a cute little one-liner"

Quote 2: "He [Biden] just gave her a look like he was going to jump her throat."

Quote 3: "I just stopped watching. She was annoying to look at."

Quote 4: "No, I really don't like her [Palin] at all! He's dominating! She's just ughhh..."

Quote 5: "Can you even imagine if something, dear God, did happen and she was our president?
Answer: "end of the world"

Quote 6: I'm going to need another box of wine to get throught this thing... yes, that's
right... BOX!!!

The debate was filled, as predicted, with her glittering generalities, her coy responses, and her "joe-six-pack" rhetoric. But if a six-pack is what's getting into our oval office, I'd like to nominate myself, because though it didn't take a six-pack for me to sit through this debate, it sure did take the equivalent in wine...

Biden showed knowledge, Palin showed excellent "anchor" skills. I'm sorry, but I'd rather have knowledge than a pandering puttsing puppet (there's my signature alliteration) as my vice-president.

Obamba/Biden 'O8... I'll bitch more in class ;)

Ooops... I didn't do my homework!

Soo... I could sell my Feature story to this place because it's based off of a sad subject that can have a very POSITIVE outcome in future years if awareness is raised...

YES! A Journal of Positive Futures - Each issue focuses on a theme, showing the possibilities and practical steps that can lead us all to a more positive future. Readers tell us that our consistent message of realistic hope clarifies their thinking and encourages their active engagement in change. (Added: 14-Jul-2003 Hits: 2429 Rating: 0 Votes: 0) Detail Visit Website Rate It

And... I could sell work to this place because... I LIKE TO MAKE THINGS UP... like cards?

P.S. Greetings Inc. - We manufacture Everyday greeting cards (including all major holidays) and have a very extensive Christmas program. Our line includes primarily traditional design work, with some new release or "alternative" designs annually. pop (Added: 11-Aug-2002 Hits: 8915 Rating: 6.33 Votes: 3) Detail Visit Website Rate It

Deadline Dilemma Demolished

Well now that I've been presented with a much sooner deadline, being tomorrow, I've suddenly had the epiphany I was looking for! WAHOOO!!!!! Thanks, Doc! I have weighed my options and concluded that my feature story will be a fine reporting job on an upcoming ALS walk. My feature story will include three different "blocks". One on the actual disease, one on the charity event itself, and one... drum role pleeeeeease... on the POLITICAL (Shocked, anyone?) aspects of finding a cure for the disease, a.k.a. Stem Cell Research. Look forward to this piece... it will be pure excellence!

Senioritis to the MAX

I'm not going to debate whether or not you told us the assignment wrong or that just none of us read what we were supposed to... all I'm going to say is that I'm not blogging about Murray's "suprise" because nothing this weekend was skimmed but milk. :)

Help you, Help me... a young journalist's helpful textbook findings...

Please be aware the following blog content will be formatted in a "Quote" then "Genius Comment" sort of way... look forward to the latter of the two parts. (Is that the correct spelling of "latter"?)

1. "I developed the journalist's belief that people made events more than events made people."

Why in the world is reporting and journalism set up in this fashion? What does some guy have to say that's so life-changing that he now defines the event? I think we've lost focus on what the real newsworthy story is, and begun focusing on the absurdity of mixing a feature story with an informational news article. Now, some sources/individual interviews are vital to a story and prove to be quite relevent, however, this idea that the person makes the event is a major problem with a lot of reporting today. In this instance, my suggestion to beginner reporters is disregard the book.

2. "Reporters are grown-ups who never stop asking why. And each answer leads to another question."

If reporters are supposed to write at a 6th grade level, I feel the book is dead-on by suggesting we need to think at a 2nd grade level.

3. "The reader needed a line that ran through the story that the reader could hold onto."

I reflect now on a class I took my sophomore year in which an oh-so-wise professor stated, "Tell 'em what you're going to tell 'em, tell 'em, then tell what you told 'em."

Wilco may be "Walken"... but I'm walken AND talken.

When presented with an assignment of this magnitude, I was left no choice but to pull on all of the knowledge I've recieved from my extensive studies, years of hard work, and mounds of research and information provided to me in the time I've spent working in my journalism classes.
I worked hard to have this "how to" manual live up to the examples of leadership and excellence set before me from reporters in the field. By following the models given to me, reflecting on the work presented in the cut-throat journalist arena, and looking deep within my soul, I was able to find the means to conquer the great task placed before me... In other words, I bullshit the whole thing.

In order to complete the ever-so-easy act of inhaling and exhaling air as well as placing one foot in front of the other, at the same time, one must use his or her brain, prior knowledge of bodily functions, and common sense. This task, commonly known as walking and breathing simultaneously, is easily completed by most, considering one has legs and lungs.
First, one’s brain must decide whether to start walking or breathing first or to do both at the same time. I suggest breathing first.
Let’s start with breathing. Double check nothing in your mouth could possibly block your air pipes. Things such as gum, soda, chips, cigarettes, and marbles should be removed from the mouth area. After this important precaution, slowly inhale the air around you, pulling it deep into your lungs. Hold this fresh wad of carbon dioxide and oxygen in your lungs for a moment. A second or two will do just fine.
Your chest cavity should be aiming towards heaven, which is upwards for those of you Atheists. At this time you may relax your heaven-aimed chest cavity, allowing the now old and dirty air to escape quickly from your lungs.
Now that you’ve got the breathing part down, let’s focus on feet. Once again, the brain must be enacted, and yes, that means multi-tasking, since now we are breathing, thinking, and soon will be walking… all at the same time! It has worked well for most to begin with the right foot if you are right-handed or the left foot if you happen to be one of those creepy lefties. Place your favorite food in front of you, 6-9 inches or so. Then, using extreme caution, lift the other foot and place it 6-9 inches or so ahead of the first foot. Now repeat… over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over… And guess what?? YOU’RE WALKING AND BREATHING SIMULTANIOUSLY!!!!!!! (Now try walking and not breathing and see how far you can go.)