For over two decades of this horrible century, Naked Capitalism has been a daily read for me.
In 2000, I was an indescribably naive liberal dipshit.
Starting with Bush v. Gore – for which disaster I had a unique perspective working directly for key insiders in both campaigns – and crescendoing with GW Bush’s Global War on Terror™, I gave up on corporate media because what they were saying bore no relationship to what I was seeing.
The first wave of blogs I turned to was the partisan “Netroots” sites, which at least put me in touch with other people who were opposed to the Bush-Cheney administration.
I became deeply involved in what I hoped was a movement, only to see it reduced to a spasm within months of Obama’s election.
The “Netroots” failed because we had no ideological underpinnings other than opposition to Bush and a desire to restore the 1990s status quo.
We also had only the most superficial understanding of events, trapped eternally in reaction to cable news and the NY Times.
Somewhere in that period, I discovered Naked Capitalism. Yves Smith’s work had actual explanatory value and predictive power.
The community she built thought critically, argued productively, shared experiences and vital, insightful reports from their communities or area of expertise.
A very few blogs had led me in this direction: Matt Stoller’s BOPNews, Sean Paul Kelly’s The Agonist, Ian Welsh’s work at Firedoglake, Stirling Newberry.
But of all those only the Naked Capitalism community survives That’s no accident.
This thing we’ve got under Yves’ stewardship is precious and important so give generously. Please go to the donation page to support this community.
Because I was a Naked Capitalism reader, the crisis that led to the Great Recession came as no surprise.
Because I was a NakedCapitalism reader, the true nature of the Obama administration was immediately apparent.
Because I was a Naked Capitalism reader, I never felt entirely alone despite being seen as a crank by the vast majority of family and friends.
Because I was a Naked Capitalism reader, I never felt insane even as I watched many of my former political allies accept and endorse Obama’s continuation and expansion of the most evil policies of the Bush years.
Because I was a Naked Capitalism reader, I knew from 2014 on that U.S. involvement in Ukraine was headed for disaster.
Because I was a Naked Capitalism reader, I knew the dreadful implications of the MSNBC Democrats’ turn toward McCarthyism immediately and wasn’t addled by RussiaGate.
Because I was a Naked Capitalism reader, I was warned early about COVID and never fell for the gaslighting that surrounded Biden’s push to pretend the pandemic was over in 2021.
Because I was a Naked Capitalism reader, I wasn’t swamped by the incredible wave of propaganda that accompanied Biden’s successful provocation of Russia into invading Ukraine.
The 2000s and 2010s were bad, but the 2020s have been even worse. We seem to be heading into the teeth of a generational crisis.
And Naked Capitalism not only endures but continues to inform and enlighten with recent pieces like Conor Gallagher’s Social Murder as a Necropolitical Governance Technology that draw out the awful implications of what we’re up against.
Naked Capitalism is more needed than ever. Please go to the donation page to support this community. Now.
I feel like dropping a comment ala Office Space and a case of the Mondays…\sarc.
All right you all are continuing to drive the point into my stubborn head, and I will contribute to this venerable site and all the varied contributors and newest column specialists. If I only have time in a work week to check one site and that day’s compilation of headlines and news worthy articles it is 99.9% the Links every morning. Keep the hits coming.
We appreciate it griffen, I hope we can help with your case of the Mondays!
Nat, your pieces have been great and it’s wonderful to have a new perspective here. I donated in support this morning. I wish I could give more! Haven’t had a raise in 3 years and counting. It’s tough out here.
thank you so much, Bugs!
I look forward to reading your articles, Nat.
Naked Capitalism is my first and most-trusted source of news/views. As I am financially secure at this time unlike many others, I am giving a second donation.
Much appreciated, Mike!
I finally have a decent job that allows me to donate.
My journey was similar to yours, Nat, although I started reading mid-Obama years.
Keep up the good work!
thanks Farvana!
Your work, KLG’s, and the other new contributors, along with Yves’ plea, have inspired me to double my contribution.
I’m really happy to have you here, your voice is appreciated.
I feel this blog must continue. As you note, so many important voices are gone.
Thanks, Rick! Honored to hear that.
Good rundown. I didn’t wise up about the Dems until after actually voting for Hills the Terrible, which I will always regret. I was worried about Trump and he has proven it was wise, but she would have been even worse.
I was able to increase last year’s donation by 2.5x, I’m happy to report.
Thanks so much, LI!
Across the entire Internet there are only 3 sites I visit for information now and nakedcapitalism is of course #1. Technically it could be just 1 except that I get impatient waiting for NC to excerpt the other two.
I was going to give this fundraiser a pass because, true story!, we decided to shut-out 100% of all information sources since March as an experiment — experiment is probably a cowardly euphemism; it was more like an attempt at therapy or self-medicating.
Despite the blackout it was impossible not to hear about some podcaster guy getting shot and nothing anyone said made any sense at all. So we waded back in and basically, well, … fine.
So we’re all caught up again, just in time to catch Nat’s pitch-perfect replacement for Water Cooler and stronger than ever Links. So there’s no way we’re not contributing before wishing you all Season’s Greetings as we slink back to our info-blackout terrarium and soothing heat lamp.
Sorry, not sorry you got dragged back in. Thank you!