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The Complicater

Mostly personal blog where I mostly complicate things. Submissions welcome.

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Politics

Ben Raker in The Complicater

May 21, 2017

Thinking Like A Lawyer

There may be ways that thinking like a lawyer could actually be a good thing.

Ben Raker in The Complicater

Apr 14, 2017

On Convictions, the strength of them, and capture

Why we shouldn’t be surprised by Trump’s u-turns.

Ben Raker in The Complicater

Mar 2, 2017

The Struggle of Being a Conservative Person in Tennessee

Last spring the University of Tennessee in Knoxville was briefly in the national news because of an action by the Tennessee legislature. Republican lawmakers had voted to defund the University’s diversity office. That office had…

Ben Raker in The Complicater

Mar 1, 2017

On Hillbillies, Jew Jokes, and Criticism

In Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, a national bestseller in the new media category of “Trump Supporter Apologies,” and one that is quite good and worth reading, the author describes a 2009 ABC news report about “Appalachian America” and its reception. The…

Ben Raker in The Complicater

Feb 25, 2017

Why Are “Liberals” So Terrible?

A thought experiment: an alien being with median levels of political awareness and a decent command of…

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Ben Raker in The Complicater

Feb 24, 2017

Like A Moth To Flame, I Too Have Decided to Write About Punching Nazis

I advocate something of a swipe-thrice-then-read policy. While you are scrolling through your social-media qua RSS feed of your choice, ignore a seemingly random story when you first see it. Once you have…

Ben Raker in The Complicater

Jan 14, 2017

Are “the Deplorables” so bad, once you get to know them?

A response to Lou Weiss’ Opinion Piece in the Wall Street Journal

My conservative, Trump supporting uncle (I know, it sounds like a straw man) sent me an article today. It is an opinion piece in the Wall…

Ben Raker in The Complicater

Jan 16, 2017

Does Being Colorblind Help You Win Elections?

And At What Cost?

In “Which Martin Luther King Are We Celebrating Today?” Jason Sokol accurately describes the ways in which “we” — mainstream American society, politics, media — have whitewashed Mr. King himself and his…

Ben Raker in The Complicater

Jan 20, 2017

Happy Inauguration Day

This morning I replied to an email and signed off with: “happy inauguration day.” It was admittedly tongue-in-cheek…