UPDATE - December 10, 2009

It is with great pride that I can announce my cover essay on altruism and economics for the May 2009 issue of Ode Magazine was given a Silver Medal in the best article category as part of Folio Magazine's prestigious annual 'Eddie' (Editorial) awards.

I am even prouder to be associated with Ode, a champion of goodness in this oft-blighted world. The fact that a progressive and intellectual magazine can win a respected place on the crowded & corporate media landscape is best demonstrated by those who found themselves on the podium for this award category. The Gold Medal went to an article that appeared in Fortune Magazine while the Bronze Medal went to an article from Time Magazine. Considering the relative budgets, Ode's accomplishment here is truly wondrous.

If you haven't read the article yet, you can find it here: *here*.

And, if you are searching for last minute holiday gifts, nothing would be better than a subscription to Ode. Sign up *here*

(Finally, I must say I appreciate the medal system when it comes to prizes. Having missed out on the three other major prizes I have been nominated for in my career, it feels good to win a Silver Medal instead of a pathetic email telling me I lost.)

* Original Posting *

Remember that scene from the The Wizard of Oz when Toto parts the drapes and instead of an all-powerful wizard we find a pathetic, manipulative old man? This is the exact moment we’re at with the international economy.

As it turns out, most of the accepted economic theory from the past half-century – wizardry such as supply-side economics, trickle down theory, homo economicus, and the rest – is based upon slanderous half-truths peddled by ideologues such as Ayn Rand, Milton Freidman, and Alan Greenspan. These distorted theories have created a cycle of corruption where economic students learn that base greed and self interest are both human nature and best for society, and then these students go on to become the economists who organize our financial policies. It is a recipe for disaster and, not surprisingly, we’re now all sitting at the table with a hot steaming plate of economic disaster before us.

Read my entire feature essay on this travesty in the latest issue of Ode Magazine *here*.

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