John Maudlin, a great financial writer and consultant, recently wrote a piece about the “Bonfire of the Absurdities”. He was
Modern Day Bonfire of the Vanities
using it as a financial metaphor. The actual book he was referring to is Thomas Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities.” It was written several years ago about the financial markets. I think it was made into a movie. Nevertheless, that’s not the point of this post but it is a reference marker.
Back in 1490 in Florence there was a ruling family called the Medici family. These were all powerful people and they brought in a Dominican friar Girolamo Savonarola to serve them. In a few years, however, Girolamo was more or less ruling the city. Within 5 years, in 1495, during the pre-Lenten carnival, Girolamo began hosting a “bonfire of the vanities”. During this time people would burn objects that inspired the deadly sin of vanity. These included mirrors, cosmetics, musical instruments etc. This was Florence so they also destroyed tons of artworks, tapestries, books, furniture and other priceless treasures. The question is, did this make them any less vain?
Today, Maudlin goes on to tell us that in similar manner we routinely “burn” hard-won lessons (or at least remove them from our thoughts) because “someone with an ulterior motive convinces us they’re useless or harmful.” (Can you think of a few of those in power who do this today?) This is seldom true but we usually find out too late and then, of course, we have to learn the lesson all over again.
Maudlin suggest you think about this–especially before you vote again. How often do our central bankers, regulators, corporate leaders, lawyers and our politicians make the same mistakes over and over again? If we would stop burning our memories and invest in historical knowledge, we might make better progress. I am afraid we will have our bonfires again. We are being told now how good a new tax bill will be but we know there are absurdities written all through it. Anything rushed through and lopsided smells of fear and rush is always an example of fear.
Unbeknownst to those in power, the heavens will be releasing powerful transits all of next year with sudden surprises coming for the next 7 years. The rule of “unintended consequences” will play out as they did in Florence hundreds of years ago. Today, who are those who have ulterior motives and are trying to convince us that regulations and laws are useless or harmful. Pay attention, read underneath the headlines and don’t drink the Kool-aid.
I have been listening to Bonfire of The Vanities as it was recommended to me as a means of understanding the times. The novel depicts most of the current trends in the democratic party. I dare say the democratic party stole their slogans from good ole’ WASPy Thomas Wolfe. A rich, white guy who works in the financial industry is attacked for political gain. That is exactly what the left is doing right now in the United States. However…party lines are not as clear as one would think down here in Middleclassville. The most prescient line in the novel is, ” a liberal is a conservative who has been arrested.”
Your column asks us to think of the Bonfires before voting. I did exactly that. The person on the side of entrenched politics, who had been in a position of power of late, is the one we should distrust. Fortunately the deep state and their candidate lost. The memory hole opened and the commoners voted out the old and in with the new. Sa la vie
I believe women look for solutions and don’t let ego get in the way of problem solving!!
Excellent article, with plenty to speculate about. I love that expansive Jupiter in Scorpio has caused the sexual chickens to come home to roost. Seems like almost everyone is running for cover as closets are opened up and cleaned out. The spotlight is also being shined on the hypocrisy of the “moral and mighty” in Hollywood and elsewhere.
“Expect the unexpected” is what I am telling my clients. Looking forward to your visit March 4 in my neck of the woods!
Dear Gail,
Seeing the sexual harassment explosion, the buried truths coming to the surface, does this tie in with the age we are entering of powerful women, “who will not shut up.”?
Thanks
Dianne