The Inner Monologue

Thinking Out Loud

Surplus Eggs and the Alienation of Reproduction

Marx argued that capitalism does not merely extract labor; it reorganizes life so that extraction appears natural. The most effective systems of exploitation are not enforced by violence, but by internalization—when the worker’s body, habits, and expectations align with the needs of production. The modern laying hen is a biological case study in this process.…
The Case for a Minimum Standard of Government:

Why the World Must Draw a Line Against Institutionalized Inhumanity There is a dangerous idea woven into the fabric of modern international relations—so embedded, so unquestioned, that we rarely bother to say it out loud: any entity that calls itself a government is entitled to be treated as one. It need only control territory, exert…
Two Visions of Progress: For the Greater Good, or for the Few

Every society carries a hidden dualism within its conception of “progress.” It is rarely spoken aloud, but it is always present—two competing visions that define how nations grow, what they value, and whom they ultimately serve. Progress can be imagined as a rising tide that lifts the entire community, or as an ever-higher pedestal for…
When Humanity Decided It Had Gone Far Enough

The modern world likes to tell a simple story about progress. It is linear. It is inevitable. It is self-justifying. Each generation inherits more technology, more knowledge, more power than the last, and any resistance to this trajectory is framed as ignorance, fear, or nostalgia. But history tells a messier, more honest story. Again and…
I Am Not Prolific. I Am Inconsistent.

One of the most common questions I get is some variation of:How do you write so much? It’s a fair question. By the numbers, it looks a little absurd. Over the past 261 days, I’ve published 759 posts. Do the math and you land just shy of three posts per day. To an outside observer,…
Trail Mix: The Delicate Art of Snack Socialism

Let’s talk about trail mix—the snack that’s less about sustenance and more about maintaining the fragile ecosystem of dried fruits, nuts, and whatever sad chocolate bits got thrown in as an afterthought. This isn’t just food; it’s a physics experiment in bulk packaging. Density: The Great Social Equalizer If the almonds were any denser, they’d…
The Only Real Fix Is the Hard One: Why Tapping Ultra-Wealth Without Expanding Government Is the Missing Strategy

When UBS talks about governments “mobilizing and encouraging” private wealth, it is describing something real — but incomplete. The mechanisms are familiar. Inflation. Regulation. Gentle coercion. All of it works well enough to dull the pain. But dulling pain is not healing. The uncomfortable reality is that there is only one path that actually fixes…
The 50% Lie That Uses True Numbers

There is a difference between economic success and economic storytelling. One is measured across full cycles, long charts, and uncomfortable context. The other is engineered with careful cropping, selective start dates, and a loud voice repeating the most flattering percentage available. If, in April 2026, the Trump administration declares that the stock market is “up…
The Arithmetic That Kills the “Sell Your Car and Uber Everywhere” Meme

There’s a tidy, seductive meme making the rounds again:Most Americans would be better off selling their car, using ride-sharing for commuting, and renting cars for longer trips. It feels modern. Efficient. Environmentally enlightened. The kind of advice that plays well in a tweet, a podcast clip, or a consultancy slide deck. It is also—outside of…
The Price of the Best Care in the World — And Why Americans Don’t Have It

Americans are routinely told a comforting myth about healthcare: that the reason we pay so much is because we have the best care in the world. The implication is moral as much as economic — excellence costs money, and if you want to live longer, healthier, better lives, you should expect to pay more. The…