Abstract Humanitarianism

Nicholas D. Kristof is one of my favorite journalists - his column today is definitely worth a read:

In a thoughtful book published this year, “The Life You Can Save,” Professor Peter Singer of Princeton University offers the pond example and explores why we’re so willing to try to assist a stranger before us, while so unwilling to donate to try to save strangers from malaria half a world away.

You get it - a child is crying right in front of you and you'll ask what's wrong (or, if you're at brunch with Yvette, say, "Since when are children allowed in restaurants?"), but you avoid the Children International reps on 7th Avenue like the plague. Admittedly, those reps are super annoying.

The Science of Liberalism

Definitely check out Kristof's latest column. He explains that our tendency toward liberalism vs conservatism may actually be hard-wired, and that resulting everyday actions may align more consistently with one camp or the other. Or maybe that's not exactly what he's saying but I read it yesterday and I can't remember that far back.