From The Walrus, a review of books on the dictatorship of no alternatives: Progressive economists are rethinking markets. Don't believe no one saw the financial crisis coming — the authors of these three books did. After the crisis is before the crisis: An article on the political economy of debt relief; and more on saving the economy and the planet. With economic conditions deteriorating, the barter system makes a comeback. From Too Much, here's the 2008 Top Ten America's Greediest. Will the Mumbai terrorists get what they wanted? From Vanity Fair, a look at why Somalia matters (and from TAP, a look at how Bush failed Somalia); and when a tour-bus load of would-be Carries, Charlottes, and Samanthas (nope, no Mirandas) go chasing that " Sex and the City" dream, is it comedy, tragedy, or cultural delusion? The end of the hipster: Dragged into the daylight, the youth culture that would not be named has finally been named, branded, marketed, and sold — time to move on? Whatever. What the alleged misdeeds of Rod Blagojevich teach us about lawful politics. A look at how environmental progress is a cause for right-wing paranoia. Objectively wrong: How American journalism is forsaking truth for balance. Obama has made a point of appointing a diverse group of thinkers to his cabinet, but what about the diversity of opinion outside the White House?
