Running on the Republican party platform of small government, fewer intrusive regulations, and strict constitutional interpretations, he also believes that abortion clinics should have more regulations, that the government should spend hundreds of thousands of dollars overseeing science and persecuting....er prosecuting scientists whose work is threatening to business, and that the constitutional mandate to promote the general welfare means nothing.
How is it that someone who professes to believe in individual freedoms, can support laws such as the infamous Arizona immigration laws requiring every person to have proof of citizenship on them at all times? How can someone believing in small government say that personal sexual preferences should be monitored and regulated by the government? How can he justify forcing women to endure unwanted pregnancies? And does he really believe that elected politicians are best qualified to evaluate scientific research? The clear pattern is that government regulations and control of private lives are fine and even desirable as long as they support the "conservative" agenda. Doesn't he know that the founders were political liberals?
What a bloody hypocrite. If the second amendment means that no local government anywhere can regulate guns in any manner (despite the clear mandate for regulation in the introductory clause) then surely the preamble of the constitution means that the federal government CAN in fact collect taxes to promote the general welfare.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Ayn Rand capitalism in action
A man in Tennessee watched his house burn to the ground and his pets die while firefighters stood by refusing to act. Why? He hadn't paid his 75$ 'subscription fee'.
This is Ayn Rand capitalism exemplified. No body owes you nothin'. You can sink or swim, pay to play, it's all about the cash in hand. This is the world the tea-party wants to create.
Back when the Mafia was doing such things, we called it extortion and said it was bad.
This is Ayn Rand capitalism exemplified. No body owes you nothin'. You can sink or swim, pay to play, it's all about the cash in hand. This is the world the tea-party wants to create.
Back when the Mafia was doing such things, we called it extortion and said it was bad.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Collective intelligence
Collective intelligence, group think, cooperative learning - what ever you call it really does work. If we put our resources, and our brains together to solve problems, we all live better.
Unfortunately, under conditions of war and crisis, there are always a few people who can become fabulously well off in comparison to the rest of us. And studies show that we humans would rather be better off than our neighbors, even if it means doing less well in the long run. When those people get in positions of power, we end up with war and crises. (Yes Dick Cheney, this means you.)
Unfortunately, under conditions of war and crisis, there are always a few people who can become fabulously well off in comparison to the rest of us. And studies show that we humans would rather be better off than our neighbors, even if it means doing less well in the long run. When those people get in positions of power, we end up with war and crises. (Yes Dick Cheney, this means you.)
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Is it conservative to wait and see?
Conservatives are famous for disliking change. The slogan sent round on fb and twitter and other such progressive media went something along the lines of " you keep the change, I'll keep my guns". So why are they so comfortable with global climate change? Is it because these ideas arise from science? Science has a well-known liberal bias. It's all about learning new things, and different ways of thinking.
That must scare them even more than the prospect of destroying civilization with our unsustainable use of rapidly depleting fossil fuels.
How weird.
That must scare them even more than the prospect of destroying civilization with our unsustainable use of rapidly depleting fossil fuels.
How weird.
There but for the grace of God....
One important difference between conservatives and liberals is the recognition (or lack thereof) of randomness.
Conservatives have a need to feel in control, and therefore they believe that everything good that happens to them is a result of their actions, their virtue, and strength of character. They also believe that bad things happen to other people because those other people are lazy, shiftless, and choose their misfortune.
Liberals tend to have the attitude that bad things happen to anyone and we all may suffer from events beyond our control. So liberals are OK with the idea of helping others, and sharing the fruits of their own good fortune.
The evidence is strong that randomness plays a huge factor in our lives. None of us can control the kind of home into which we are born, the kind of parents we have, or the genetics we inherited.
Sure some people, by virtue of random good luck, can overcome difficulties to become enormously successful. But for every Oprah, there are millions of people who are just as hard-working as she who didn't get the lucky breaks she did.
This article about why Neanderthals went extinct illustrates this idea. We like to believe that modern humans outcompeted Neanderthal humans because we are naturally smarter and better suited to survive. Well, maybe so, but pure luck also played a huge role. It always does. Even Bill Gates acknowledges that he was fortunate in having rare access to computer technology when he was a young kid. The amazing success of Microsoft was due to his hard work, his intelligence, and quite a few lucky breaks.
We need to recognize that luck and randomness affect all of us. But one thing that can improve the odds for all of us is working together. Yes it means some people have to give up a part of the vast fortunes they might earn or inherit. But ultimately, the progressive motto " A rising tide floats all boats" is true. When more people have the opportunity to develop their gifts and talents, we all benefit.
Conservatives have a need to feel in control, and therefore they believe that everything good that happens to them is a result of their actions, their virtue, and strength of character. They also believe that bad things happen to other people because those other people are lazy, shiftless, and choose their misfortune.
Liberals tend to have the attitude that bad things happen to anyone and we all may suffer from events beyond our control. So liberals are OK with the idea of helping others, and sharing the fruits of their own good fortune.
The evidence is strong that randomness plays a huge factor in our lives. None of us can control the kind of home into which we are born, the kind of parents we have, or the genetics we inherited.
Sure some people, by virtue of random good luck, can overcome difficulties to become enormously successful. But for every Oprah, there are millions of people who are just as hard-working as she who didn't get the lucky breaks she did.
This article about why Neanderthals went extinct illustrates this idea. We like to believe that modern humans outcompeted Neanderthal humans because we are naturally smarter and better suited to survive. Well, maybe so, but pure luck also played a huge role. It always does. Even Bill Gates acknowledges that he was fortunate in having rare access to computer technology when he was a young kid. The amazing success of Microsoft was due to his hard work, his intelligence, and quite a few lucky breaks.
We need to recognize that luck and randomness affect all of us. But one thing that can improve the odds for all of us is working together. Yes it means some people have to give up a part of the vast fortunes they might earn or inherit. But ultimately, the progressive motto " A rising tide floats all boats" is true. When more people have the opportunity to develop their gifts and talents, we all benefit.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Government programs can be great or awful. Just like private programs.
The mantra from the right-wing is that government is always bad. Ronald Reagan was famous for saying that quote about the scariest words - I'm from the government and I'm here to help you.
That's a funny line. But it don't mean squat! Just because it's funny doesn't mean it's true!
When catastrophes hit people really do want the government to help. But no one wants to pay for it. And especially no one wants to pay if someone else is likely to benefit.
But government programs, if run by competent honest hard-working men and women are far far more efficient and effective than a for-profit program. And it turns out that President Obama's stimulus program is an example.
That's a funny line. But it don't mean squat! Just because it's funny doesn't mean it's true!
When catastrophes hit people really do want the government to help. But no one wants to pay for it. And especially no one wants to pay if someone else is likely to benefit.
But government programs, if run by competent honest hard-working men and women are far far more efficient and effective than a for-profit program. And it turns out that President Obama's stimulus program is an example.
Who's that funny man behind the curtain?
I wonder if teapartiers ever ask themselves why powerful interests like these are bankrolling the "movement". Do they think Fox "News" is really just reporting the news in a fair and balanced way? Doesn't it occur to the average Joe the Plumber type that he really isn't going to benefit from laws that allow him to keep an extra 2,000 dollars in taxes, yet take away his safety net in case he gets sick, old, injured, or can't find work? Would those people support the teaparty movement if they knew it was just another name for social Darwinism?
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