I Have a Crush on Naomi Klein

The missus and I occasionally play that game, "If you weren't married to me, who would you like to marry?" For the missus, it's been Ciaran Hines and Matthew MacFadyen and other British fads of the day. Right now, though, it's James McAvoy.

You see, he's Scottish and handsome and has been in a Jane Austen-related film. Plus he's about to be in the film adaptation of Atonement, which is just about the finest novel around. If one believes buzz, then the film should be quite a good one. And I'm sure that James' performance will be solid and attractive. Yes, he's a fine choice for the missus.

For my money (not that I'd ever pay for it!) if I weren't married to the missus, I'd go with Naomi Klein.

Naomi is smart and writes one hell of a Nation column. And look at that smile! You can get high from that charisma!

I don't know much about economics, but I've had a hunch that this free-market, Milton Friedman, globalized approach to the world's monetary system is immoral. If I were trapped in a room with a free-marketeer/economic rapist, he or she would almost certainly argue me down to a little nub. Because I don't know shit.

Fortunately, for me, I have Naomi Klein to explain the logic behind my uninformed hunches and offer a promising alternative to globalization, currently taking place in South America.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government subsidies feature prominently in Naomi's piece, and I offer this gem for your enjoyment:

Chávez's many critics have derided these initiatives as handouts and unfair subsidies, of course. Yet in an era when Halliburton treats the US government as its personal ATM for six years, withdraws upward of $20 billion in Iraq contracts alone, refuses to hire local workers either on the Gulf Coast or in Iraq, then expresses its gratitude to US taxpayers by moving its corporate headquarters to Dubai (with all the attendant tax and legal benefits), Chávez's direct subsidies to regular people look significantly less radical.

Oh, Naomi, you know just what to say...

The thing that I like about Naomi Klein as my answer is that it demonstrates a certain depth to my crushes. James McAvoy could be an idiot. Maybe he's not, but who the hell knows? The missus' crush on James is based on looks and maybe a little talent. My crush is based on intellectual fervor and flawless politics and a hell of a smile.

I mean sure, I could choose Salma Hayek or Keeley Hawes, but then I couldn't also be smug in my answer. And I do love feeling superior.

More than that, though, I do love the missus.