First there was the Death Star menacing humanity. Now, there is “the Death Panel.” Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin called President Barack Obama’s health plan “downright evil” on her Facebook page and warned American of Obama’s “death panel” that will hold the power of life or death over average Americans. Indeed, the Obama Death Panel appears to have their sights on little Trig. Presumably, the chair will be Palpatine (aka Darth Sidious), the Dark Lord of the Sith.
Palin states in her first statement after quitting her job as governor that “The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama’s ‘death panel’ so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their ‘level of productivity in society,’ whether they are worthy of health care . . .Such a system is downright evil.”
The following footage from one of the patient reviews of the Death Panel has been located:
The real news here is the disclosure that Palin’s page has 700,000 readers, making it the most popular comics page in the world.
For the full story, click here.
The ideas that IS is pushing about the wonders of unfettered capitalism rely on two myths. The first is the Randian concept of rational self-interest. Like all philosophers, and those who pretend to be, Rand postulated a system based upon an idealized society. But she didn’t understand human nature. Her society would fall apart for the same reason communism has collapsed. Both systems can only be sustained within a community of individuals strongly committed to a set of shared values, meaning a very small community. Reason plays only a minor role in individual decision making, particularly in decision making focused on self-interest.
The second myth is that monopolies cannot survive without government force. This statement is absurd on its face and is contradicted by the industrial history of this country. Has he never heard of trusts? The goal of any good capitalist is to dominate his market. Once only a couple of alpha dogs remain, they simply reach agreement on a means of protecting themselves against territorial claims by upstart pups. The antitrust laws are a monument to the success of the monopolizing instinct.
slart writes: GWLSM,
Intellectually, I agree with everything you said. Pragmatically, I’ve decided to be optimistic because life is more enjoyable that way.
I’ve just been watching too much political theater.
now the senate wants to demand 75 to 80 votes when the constitution says 51 is a majority.
where is lyndon johnson when you need him?
Mike S writes: I’m quite aware of and in control of what I’m doing and in writing this I’m not asking for understanding, only acknowledging that my attacks have been purposely aimed at wounding and I really wish I had someone better able to defend their positions. That they keep shoveling this crap does indeed piss me off, which might well be their intent, but I do not suffer fools gladly.
the only thing you could do to disappoint me is to let bigotry pass by unnoticed.
Gyges and Buddha,
You guys do not miss much. In my nonstandard ‘nglish mode, to write ‘Welp’ does not have the same effect as Whelp does, and I put the comma there for folks like y’all who know the disparaging meaning of whelp, outside of connoting a young pup.
Mike Spindell,
I am for reasonable regulation in all aspects of societal life—much less for obstruction of personal freedoms—but especially for regulating financial markets and controls to avoid business monopolies. I strongly disapproved of Ronald Reagan’s deregulation and his Reaganomic fiscal policies that both helped initiate the steps to our current debacle.
FFLEO,
I might not have been a hippie, but seeing as how I was conceived in the summer of ’68 and put up for adoption, I’d guess I was a child of hippies.
Gyges,
Good joke.
GWLSM,
Intellectually, I agree with everything you said. Pragmatically, I’ve decided to be optimistic because life is more enjoyable that way.
Let me say one last thing and then it’s off to TV and bed. I’m not happy that the only way I have to deal with IS and B Man is ridicule and name calling. I take no pleasure in trying to hurt people’s feelings, as good as I am at it. The people who know me think of me as funny and gentle and for the most part I am.
However, in both these instances I feel I need to respond the way I’ve been, for different reasons. In many posts going back months I was cordial to the two of them and tried to actually discuss issues.
In Bdaman’s case though of late he has been little different then BVM and has really taken to trolling. I called him on it and admittedly none to gently. However, beyond that I’m a Jew who believes strongly in “Never Again” and the use of “Christ Killer” to a Jew is an unforgivable slur, equivalent to the “Blood Libel” that claimed we sacrificed Christian children during Passover. Certainly it’s equivalent to the “N” word to a Black person.
IS on the other hand is a different story. His game is not to attack personally, until attacked as he admittedly was by me, but to impugn the motives of a whole range of the political spectrum with outlandish blanket statements. When answered directly, he purposely pretends to misunderstand what is being said and changes his story to fit circumstances, rather than relaying his beliefs. He has for instance on this thread and on many others asked me why I think objectivism won’t work. I’ve taken pains to respond to him again and again. Each time his retorts like:
“Monopolies are only able to survive by government force.”
Which in fact has no historical basis as a blanket statement.
He might have said in an objectivist society what little government we’d have would ensure against monopolization. That would have at least been responsive and then I could present my argument in turn. He doesn’t do that though and after such numerous instances of such behavior I can only conclude that he has no real answer to the arguments except to repeate concepts by rote. If that is the depth of your understanding of an issue, than in fact you don’t understand it and the only way to deal with you then becomes ridicule.
I’m quite aware of and in control of what I’m doing and in writing this I’m not asking for understanding, only acknowledging that my attacks have been purposely aimed at wounding and I really wish I had someone better able to defend their positions. That they keep shoveling this crap does indeed piss me off, which might well be their intent, but I do not suffer fools gladly.
To preclude their throwing the “Golden Rule” at me in a lame attempt to hoist me on my own petard, I would preclude their rejoinder by saying the reverse of the Golden Rule is also true. What others do unto you, you may do unto them. You see in truth Confucius, the Buddha, Jesus, Mohamed and Hillel weren’t pushovers either.
What is never understood by non-Jews was that “an eye for an eye” did not mean that literally, it was a concept that one responds to an injury, in an equivalent manner. Usually, back in biblical days it was a means of judging monetary damages. My response to them is in my opinion, perhaps no one else’s, in equivalent terms to the games they play.
FF Leo writes: Whelp, IS and Bdaman do not stand much of a chance a’gin an outspoken, liberated, world-wise hippy chick and an educated old hippy dude. My money is on them hippies…
thanks doll. still I can’t help but think that our generation would never have considered taking guns to public venues. we took bubbles. and flowers. peace and love really did mean something. our kids know this. but then we were the educated ones… the ones who valued imagination and innovation and vision and courage to change the world. too bad we got busy making ourselves successful and rearing our children. we forgot that the small minded, the bigots and the haters can find there way from the fringes to the center with the help of AM talk radio and a poorly vetted candidate from alaska.
FFLEO,
Copy on Gyges. It got a giggle.
Mike,
Speaking of Fairy tales, and since I’m unable to resist promoting my favorite Sci-fi author, have you ever read Lem’s “The Cyberiad” or “Mortal Engines?”
GLSM,
A priest a rabbi and a politician walk into a bar, the bartender says “What is this some kind of joke?”
FFLEO,
I read that without the first comma. That made me laugh.
FFLEO,
As a good, longtime conservative does the idea that companies will try to become monopolies seem like rocket science? Damn, if I was a CEO that’s what I’d be trying to do, who wouldn’t if profit is the bottom line of a business. This isn’t about the morality of maximizing profit, because morality doesn’t enter into the equation. Earn those profits, raise the stock price and demolish the competition, that’s what business is about.
That’s also why William F. Buckley, the founder of the modern conservative movement thought Ayn Rand was nuts. He understood business and knew you had to have some controls. He probably wanted less controls, but he knew they were needed.
“What company wouldn’t try to limit competition as much as they possibly could? Monopolies are the logical end of the free market – in the absence of external constraints, the most efficient (or ruthless or innovative) company can drive their competitors out of business and become a monopoly (and consequently make boatload of money).”
Slart,
Not bad in the explaining end yourself. My question is if this is so obvious to you a Scientist/Mathematician and me a Social Worker/Psychotherapist, why does it pass so far over the head of a good Capitalist like IS? The only explanation I can come up with is he believes in fairy tales and has only a passing familiarity with even Conservative Economists.
Whelp, IS and Bdaman do not stand much of a chance a’gin an outspoken, liberated, world-wise hippy chick and an educated old hippy dude. My money is on them hippies…
slart writes: After sparring with IS, I need a good laugh… and while your analysis of why some people find liberalism so scary makes sense, it’s also depressing.
everyday wake up and wonder when the end will come. we now have unleashed a private army in the world. people carry guns everywhere they go to prove they can.
is this the failure of public education?
have we seen the results of acceptance of mediocrity of thought at last? people who know just enough to be dangerous? to place their superstitions and bias before learning and acceptance?
or is this just the end product of the internet as the ultimate tool for communication for the great unwashed masses yearning to act out in violence?
I mean, when people can’t find their town on map, or know what their state capitol is or who their congress person is it is laughable because stupidity is a joke. but then when they take that ignorance to the hardware store and buy 500 lbs of ammonium nitrate and 100 pounds of nails and 10 pounds of rat poison and hunker down in the basement surrounded by nazi memorabilia and pictures of timothy mcveigh….
quick — someone make a joke.
Mike S,
There you go doing a better job of explaining something than I was again…
IS,
You said: “Monopolies are only able to survive by government force.” This is a totally ridiculous statement – monopolies are extremely profitable, companies exist to make money, therefore companies desire monopolies. In lieu of government regulation preventing monopolies or the government breaking up monopolies by force, any intelligent person who is running a company will do what they can to achieve a monopoly. What company wouldn’t try to limit competition as much as they possibly could? Monopolies are the logical end of the free market – in the absence of external constraints, the most efficient (or ruthless or innovative) company can drive their competitors out of business and become a monopoly (and consequently make boatload of money). This scenario has been played out time and time again and the only way to even slow it down is by governmental regulation. Our economy would be much better off if the concept of ‘too big to fail’ was replaced by ‘too big to exist’ – if we were sane and company that needed to take bailout money should be split into smaller pieces. It is demonstrably true that smaller companies are more efficient and that many small companies competing is better for everyone (except the monopolists). The only way to maintain this is for governments to fight against monopolies… Where are Teddy Roosevelt and the trust busters when you need them?
GWLSM,
After sparring with IS, I need a good laugh… and while your analysis of why some people find liberalism so scary makes sense, it’s also depressing.
IS writes: I merely was jesting because of Slarti’s post.
And no we typically dont care much for IQ or test scores, we care about how much money we make, and loads of it.
me: except for this: you were not joking. admit it. you were deadly serious. the thing is, people like you are not especially well-educated. you don’t care for people who are. smart people upset you. they are quicker and sharper and funnier. they have prettier wives and more ambitious children. when women are smarter than you it really really gets to you. because they don’t need men to feel good about themselves and make way more money than you. you may care how much money you make
and you may want to have carloads of it. but you don’t tend to be very philanthropic. you don’t give and that makes you miserly and unattractive to others.
you are not very imaginative. you don’t recognize bigotry when you see it in front of your face in black and white.
so. have fun at the club. which ever one it is.
I just know that it is one I certainly would not care to be a member of.
“Monopolies are only able to survive by government force.”
Unproven statement with no historical backup and don’t Dutch East India Company me, because I’ll “Seven Sisters” you back. You have it the wrong way around: Monopolies buy governments, who then protect them. See history of United Fruit and Dole
“The publics choice is what prevents what you say will happen.”
The public doesn’t get a choice. There are only 6 private Health Insurance Companies left, some State have only two, others have one. Left unchecked, with no Government Health Care there will only be one.
“You assume that too much power will end up in individual hands, it cant because of competition.”
You assume that CEO’s want competition, when the reverse is true. The object is always to control the market.
“If someone sells something for 100 bucks there is always someone willing to sell it for 75 bucks.”
Tell that to the makers of Wordperfect, Lotus 123 and the Netscape Browser. Superior products pushed out of the market by MS control of OS. You may be successful in your line of work, but God knows why, because you don’t understand the fundamentals of business. Push the little guy out as much as you can and then set the prices. For instance gasoline, whose prices have nothing to do with supply or demand. That was
AR’s basic flaw: She believed a fairy tale of how economics works and I see so do you. All of this is so elementary that it is almost scary that you don’t see it and you certainly don’t have any sophisticated arguments to counter mine. “Let’s
Pretend” is a child’s game that is not reflected in the real world. If you do have money you must have inherited it, because you wouldn’t last a week in the corporate Big Leagues, without some aristo cachet. Being an heir would explain it all, born on third base and thinking you’ve hit a triple. However, if you’re just some poor wage slave or small business owner hanging on by his fingernails, I pity you for suffering the Stockholm Syndrome.
IS,
Being an ethical, honest and moral person I’ve never licked anyone’s behind. I might have been much wealthier the other way around, but then money never rang my chimes. I’ll tell you this though, without knowing you I’ve lived a more interesting and happier life then you by far. You sum your whole self up below in your own well chosen words:
“But I can assure you this schmuck licks only the hind end that puts money in his pocket.”
Difference between you and me is that everyone knew you could be bought, so price was the only thing to be decided. My price was always too high for anyone to pay.
B Man
“By the way if Charlie Cook says the dems are done, your done”
Just like he predicted a Republican victory in the 2006 election. But for the desperate, unable to accept the fact that their time has ebbed, any port in the storm. I do want to make one positive comment about you though and that is your more honest now that you’ve dropped any pretense of non-partisanship. Did they teach you to come on that way, non-partisan, at troll school?
“Instead of responding in a negative way”
Don’t you mean “after exposing myself as a bigot to one and all, I’m pretending to take the high road to redeem myself.”
bigoted troll=bigoted troll, no way around it. So besides Jews you also don’t like those “little brown people,” the Filipino’s. Google “Huk” if you want to learn about cojones.
As I said before your mixed race story too is beginning to look a little lame.
Somehow though, you think that your lame sort of apology should have cooled me off. You just don’t get the fact that the people who don’t accept your views are every bit as tough and just as non-forgiving for blatant bigotry, too much reliance on Rovian talking points.
slart writes: I guess I just don’t understand why learning and understanding are bad things – it’s probably all the brainwashing. And you get my vote for funniest comment on the thread for the SAT scores and IQ’s remark (sorry Bob).
I don’t think its so hard to connect those dots. knowledge, questioning, imagination, discovery are the necessary components of freedom of thought, of inquiry. With this comes change and if there is something to fear well it is change. add independence and it is harder to control the lives and minds of those you seek to control.
this is why liberal thought is so terrifying. look what has come from liberalism: abolition, suffrage, civil rights, equality in hiring, a woman’s right to choose her own reproductive destiny. women in the workplace changed who we are as a people more than the A-bomb. women ceo’s. female managers and supervisors. men having to take orders from women. now there is a revolution right there and what does an angry guy do with his juice after 40 hours a week of answering to a high and mighty bitch? he joins a militia. he buys bigger guns.
when the status quo is turned upside down, by a black president…. well …. there is something to really react against. it isn’t enough that these guys have jews and women who take what should have been his…. what’s next? a jew woman behind the plate at the world series?
I didn’t mean to be funny. still, glad you liked it.
MikeS:
now whose behind have you been licking? I would not have thought you would go for that type of thing.
Well anyway to answer your post, I believe competition takes care of it. Monopolies are only able to survive by government force. I know that is not something you are able to wrap your mind around.
The publics choice is what prevents what you say will happen. You assume that too much power will end up in individual hands, it cant because of competition. If someone sells something for 100 bucks there is always someone willing to sell it for 75 bucks.
I disagree with your analysis and you disagree with mine. But I can assure you this schmuck licks only the hind end that puts money in his pocket.
“the hind end you want to kiss is much better than the hind end you have to kiss”
In my life there have been very few I have had to kiss, can you say the same?