A Friday Hodgepodge

1. "Why 'Colorblindness' on Race Matters More than Ever," by Elan Journo (New Ideal):

The book has two goals: to dispel the caricatures and vilification of colorblindness and to demonstrate that by abandoning the ideal of colorblindness, self-styled "anti-racist" thinkers are actually peddling a form of racism. Rather than breaking new ground, the book's main value is as a trenchant corrective, and it is likely of greatest benefit to younger readers, especially students, and others marinating in today's "anti-racist" outlook.

The book being reviewed is The End of Race Politics, by Coleman Hughes.

2. "Sweatshops: A Means to Human Flourishing," by Jaana Woiceshyn (How to Be Profitable and Moral):

Typically, students grappling with the [factory collapse] case want [Canadian fashion brand] Joe Fresh to pull out of Bangladesh after the disaster, to demand doubling of worker wages, or even to improve working conditions by building their own factory there.

This recent class, however, was particularly thoughtful. The students unanimously agreed that Joe Fresh should continue to source from Bangladesh after the factory collapse -- but learn from the mistake of choosing an unscrupulous, corrupt supplier that ended in a tragedy for the workers, a prison sentence to the supplier, and reputational damage to Joe Fresh.

Despite this bad factory owner, or others like them, there is a moral case for sweatshops: they increase human flourishing through mutually beneficial, voluntary trade.

Following is a good discussion of how active-minded participants in a free market can easily avoid the kind of disasters that lend false credibility to popular negative tropes about sweatshops.

3. "Ramping Back Up After You've Been Off Your Routine," by Jean Moroney (Thinking Directions):

The problem with routines is that you get used to life functioning very smoothly. Then when you get sick or go on vacation or travel for work, some of the routines break. This adds complexity to everything. Suddenly you are behind on writing, out of organized cat food, and your sleep schedule is off. It seems like all of the routines need to be put back in place all at once. But that is the problem.

Moroney follows with a description of her own procedure for returning to normal after disruptions, but is clear that such procedures can be highly individual, depending on such things as the nature of one's work and which routines matter the most overall or underpin other routines.

4. "Trivia Contest," by Harry Binsawnger (Value for Value):

The Randsday Conference, which was a great success, featured my Objectivist trivia contest. Having used the questions before an audience of about 70, I know I can't use them again, so I post them here for your edification and amusement.

Answers are at the bottom.

These are good! For example: "What real person whom Ayn Rand had met was the springboard for Dr. Robert Stadler?"

-- CAV