The Stigmata of Oedipus
by David Meagher
photos by c. smith
How do we speak of the proper management of “bedbugs”, the notorious pest which has captured so much media attention, especially since plaguing some more up-scale hotels in New York City, this pest which appears to have become a key concern of the Toronto Board of Health, [...]

by David Meagher
In March’s essay, Dave reflects back upon his essays for PeacockPoverty. Not surprisingly, he finds several themes and common positions, including reinterpreting texts of well known authors based on their having had an intimate knowledge of poverty, and revaluing the political economy of poverty and wealth.

by Dave Meagher
In February’s essay, Dave discusses the problem, as discussed by Sarte and Gramsci, of the universal vs. the specific intellectual, the former being an academic who comments outside his or her area of expertise and the later one who does not.

By Dave Meagher
In his first essay of the new decade, Dave discusses Georges Bataille’s La Part Maudite, and the similarities between ‘the poor’ in Capitalist socities, the Aristocracy in pre-Capitalist society, and the Aztec’s as described by Bataille.

by David Meagher
In the December edition of “Streams of Consciousness” Dave writes about Rousseau and the “appropriate” form of the state. In relation to this, Dave discusses poverty, currency, and state provision of necessities, arguing, as he has before, for the direct provision of means to the poor.

by David Meagher
“Streams of Consciousness” is a regular series of articles written by David Meagher. In the November edition Dave discusses his idea of a “bias of distance,” which occurs when decisions are made from a distance by people not directly affected by the policy they are making.

by David Meagher
In the October edition of “Streams of Consciousness” Dave discusses a debate between Levy, Gluksmann, and Foucault, ultimately leading to some insights into the ‘chronically destitute’ as a (sub) class, and anarchistic ideas about power and the possibility of authentic (i.e. non-hierarchical) action.

by David Meagher
In the September edition of “Streams of Consciousness” Dave ponders the significance of the fact that Socrates, one of the West’s greatest thinkers, lived in poverty through much of his life. Indeed, in Plato’s “Apology” Socrates actually discusses his own poverty, which situates him along side the contributors of this website, namely those with lived experience with poverty.

by David Meagher
In this article, A Revaluation of Poverty, David turns his philosophical and political lens to Friedrich Nietzsche, and wonders, among other things, whether Nietzsche requires an ability to endure poverty and hardship as part of achieving true strength, power, and success.

By David Meagher
Streams of Consciousness is a regular series of articles written by David Meagher. In this article, Dave looks into Freud, and the psychology of failure.