Dan Lipka Web Log

Movie Review #1 – V is for Vendetta (4.7 Stars) I don’t get a chance to go to the movies very often, but for my birthday I had Lindy get a babysitter for Molly so we could see V is for Vendetta on IMAX. I had read a Time magazine article about the movie a few months ago and thought it was very really interesting. It was written by the Wachowski Brothers (who wrote the Matrix and may or may not exist in reality. There are no pictures of them and they don’t give interviews). The movie itself was a brilliant portrayal of a neo-fascist society and how government has to potential to get way out of hand (without the people ever realizing that something is wrong). The main character wears a mask throughout the whole movie because of injuries he suffered in a fire. However, the real reason for the mask, in my opinion, had nothing to do with that. The real reason is that “V” (as he is known) can be anyman. He could be me, he could be you. We all have the power, if dedicated enough, to

Perhaps my mind control devices are working. Or perhaps I was just right. Two front page articles on NYTimes.com this week are both talking about the growing support for two ideas that I have long been supporting. The National Popular Vote (the organization behind the movement) and talked with one of the Directors. We agreed on almost everything and when I mentioned my idea of that states of equal size, but differing political tendencies would both agree to switch to proportional electoral voting systems, thus keeping a balance of total votes. ( click here for my complete blog entry on this issue ). I was pleased to know that US Senator Chuck Schumer actually proposed this very idea. Although the idea didn’t gain much support, I believe that as voter turnout continues to decline and politicians only focus on swing state, the idea will become more and more popular. I have never donated money to an organization which I was not part of, but National Popular Vote is going to get som

I’m still reading “Team of Rivals” and it gives me some hope about the future of humanity (which I have been lacking lately). It took Americans 50 years to slowly build enough moral strength to oppose slavery (actually, I mean Americans in the North, which was only half the country). The point is that something horrible was going on and eventually the people responded (and were willing to fight for their cause). Today I can see (or hope I see) the beginning of another moral revolution. As horrible as slavery was in the 1800s, equally horrible atrocities are occurring all over the world. Most people recognize that this is true; however there are no solutions or solution-based platforms that people can support. As a pragmatist, it is unrealistic to expect a country like the United States to move rapidly towards action; however, a slow change can hopefully occur. Before the Civil War, the Whig party was similar to today’s Democratic Party and when the issue of slavery became the mo