Confession time

I have a dark confession to make: I really like both John Stewart and Jim Cramer. That I enjoy Stewart should come as no surprise to anyone who's read my blog and knows my politics. As for Cramer, I've always enjoyed his brand of nutty info-tainment, and when I learned that the guy was a life-long Democrat I let myself go. To me there's something tremendously reassuring about learning of sucessful businessmen who are left-of-center in their politics. It seems to hold out promise for a society that is both productive and compassionate. I am not a proponent of centrally planned economies (is there anyone left who is?). Like most American liberals (whether they realize it or not) I broadly agree with the sentiments and goals that John Rawls laid out in his Theory of Justice: that ecomonic inequalities are justifiable in somuch as the poor would be worse off without them, and that a regulated market economy is the most likely mechanism for acheiving economic prosperity that is in keeping with this ideal.

So watching the recent on-air brawl between John Stewart and Jim Cramer has been a bit like watching mommy and daddy fighting. Kinda painful. It's heartening, then to learn that Stewart is something of a hero to Cramer. I have a sneaking suspicion that tonight's on air cage match is going to turn into something more of a kiss and make up. At least I hope so. I'd hate to learn that daddy is moving into an apartment on the other side of town and I'll mostly be seeing him on weekends from now on.