I dream of living in ... a World Without Dictators! I'm a Libertarian Paternalist in Slovakia - Freedom with Responsibility - 10% of income into your own Pension; Tax Loans for education, health, housing; now supporting Employment Maximizing Companies!
Name: Tom Grey
Now a libertarian paternalist - progressive Conservative. I want lots of choices for people, with very responsible oriented defaults. Political, smaller gov't oriented, pro- Christian with tolerance and against changes reducing Christian influence.
Mo'nonymous on Real Life Business L...
Mo'nonymous on Real Life Business L...
3-d Analysis to Election Results
A family video - Grey Squirrels
Bush hate, Jew hate, Success hate
Fantasy Bush speech on Sudan as Genocide
Fantasy Condi speech at the NAACP
Harry Potter, Ender Wiggin, (no) Help for Iraqi People
Kerry's Lie -- the Moral Superiority War
Lessons to be learned from Abu Ghraib and Stanford
Money grubbing hate leads to Jew hate
NATO Human Rights Enforcement Group - HReg
Tax Loans
Tax Loans to Solve Immigration
Three Loves plus a New Heart
Will Iraq become a bloodbath?
zee AEI-Brookings papers on Libertarian Paternalism
today
April 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004
September 2004
August 2004
July 2004
June 2004
May 2004
April 2004
March 2004
February 2004
January 2004
December 2003
November 2003
October 2003
September 2003
un
abortion
africa
aid
blogs
cartoon war
christianity
corruption
darfur
democracy
economics
envy
europe
euston
free press
gas tax
gays
genocide
greys
harry potter
hearts and minds
human rights
immigration
innovation
iran
iraq
islamofascism
israel palestine
jobs
justice
katrina
leftist
maximum employment
media
military
moral hazard
morality
mortgages
music
pajamas media
peace
politics
poverty
property rights
reform
responsibility
secular
singularity ai
supreme court
tax loans
technology
terrorism
torture
troop withdrawal
unreal perfection
vietnam
world cop
wot
visited *loading* times
Fantastic discusion on shame by Neo-neocon.
I've long claimed that ENVY was the most destructive emotion, the desire to destroy the good that somebody else has. But haven't quite understood it.
I'm thinking now that shame is a more basic feeling, and the destructive envy, like Bolshevik commies, Pol Pot commies, or German Nazis, all grow from seeds of shame.
Funny how the individual-identity shame/envy can morph so dangerously into group-identity shame/envy. Funny sad.
2040? National Sovereignty is NOT going away.
But dictators on earth might well all be gone -- especially if the ChiComs go democratic (theirs won't be the last dictatorsip).
Imagine ... a World Without Dictators. (Imagine living in 1855 thinking about a World Without Slavery.) Though I suspect 2050...
Some kind of drug war will still be going on; too bad.
Monagamy will make a comeback; ONLY religions with strong hierarchy (Catholics, Mormons) will be growing.
I suspect that "Intellectual Property" Rights will be seen as the previously efficient market based "innovation subsidy/tax" that they have been -- but that costs of enforcement against sharing have gotten so high that they are replaced by honest gov't innovation subsidies (and boondoggles). See Q and O
(I always have good intentions; too bad so often less positive results than I'd hoped for!)
Dr. Sanity and Neo-Neocon are talking about Bush-hate, the irrational Bush Derangement Syndrome that so many Leftists feel. Dr. Sanity mentions displacement, which I'm sure is part of it. In a new post she talks about so many Leftists want Iraq to fail. She's right. Bush-hate is a terrible irrational state of mind.
But I'm missing one huge issue. The difference between intention and result. For Leftists "good intention" is usually enough to absolve them of any guilt, when their policy is followed yet there is a bad result.
Conversely, the Bush-hate Leftist assumption is that there is a bad intention by Bush--oil, lies, domination, revenge; whatever--"Bush is evil" means he has bad intentions.
Thus, irrespective of any good results, he remains evil to the Bush-haters. This is doubly terrible.
No falsifiability is possible; and they can only be happy if their wrong assumption is proven true. Thus, a BIG need for more therapy. (I'll bet far more folk in therapy are Leftists than voters.)
But Bill Quick had a great run on reporting the CNN Cheney X, and the bias response issue, and the relation with Pajamas Media.
I would like PJM to be a BIG blog aggregator for important stories/ thoughts that the MSM is missing. The most insidious, if not biggest, bias in the MSM is the stories they do NOT cover.
Thanks for a fine reporter's job.
I am so happily thankful for having my wife; my three older kids and my new, 3 month old baby; for being healthy.
Joy to the world -- joy to you and to me. If you can't be happy with what you have, you can't be happy.
The BlogJam at Pajamas Media was a little interesting, but not too many real ideas for an hour of smart people commenting.
The biggest lack in the blogosphere is Editor Selection -- not content. Glenn of InstaPundit is so fantastic because his choice of links is so good. Almost everybody finds a link or two to follow.
The Scoop database engine, as used by Kuro5hin (and RedState? and Slashdot?) is attempting to do the organizing and content creation at the same time. I think their organizing is better, but PJM has better content. Whether Scoop is or is not used, Charles (& Magnus?) should put out ideas on what they're thinking about, technically.
There should be a contact us button or screen (with anti-spam letters?) to send feedback; perhaps like WSJ online, with only some reader responses printed. (Though THOSE readers should be told if their response is listed.) Inventing something new is nice -- re-inventing the wheel is not so needed. Where is the list of models looked at?
On global news -- GlobalVoices is already doing great stuff. Why isn't there a PJM editor reading GV, and linking to the best?
Finally, my suggestion. Have some (10?) P & J edit blogs, like my tiny Liberty Dad (one of the 300-70=230 unchosen), agree to read some 7 PJM blogs regularly, and link to the best (at least one) of the PJM blogger posts. (I'd like to read Michael Totten, Anchoress, Neo-Neocon, & Austin Bay; plus others). Yes, most of PJM should be fun, doing more of what has been.
But getting organized, and MAINTAINING some organization, is hard work, and often not so fun. That's where the money should be spent. NOT on reporters, but on human editor/ aggregators. To help decide what is good, better, the best -- especially what is not covered by MSM.
In America, the "coalitions" are made before the election; in parliamentary systems they are made afterwards, in a big coalition agreement. Like what Merkel in Germany has been working on with the SPD rival. Coalitions are more unstable -- I actually think this has been a strength for America. (see Roger Simon)Lincoln won against 3 other big candidates -- because slavery was such a divisive issue. Today there are 3 main issues, all of which I agree with Bush:
pro-Iraq war; pro-Tax Cuts; pro-life.
The Dems refuse to accept responsibility for SE Asian genocide, and have chosen to be essentially anti-war. Since Roe they have been busy exorcising pro-lifers out (including the Catholics, though Dems still got 48% of the Catholic vote, last time) -- the Reps can still, barely, claim some pro-choice Big Tent folk, like Arnie.
Dems hate tax cuts (especially for the rich! who invest their money to create jobs...). Unfortunately for small-gov't Libertarians, Bush is huge on spending -- and the Dems want even more! I don't like Bush's spending, but there's no real alternative.
Wallace in 68 split the Dems, made Humphrey lose to Nixon. Many S. Dems came back for Carter, once, but then over to Reagan; despite Jon Anderson in 1980 (or Ed Clark, the Lib). Ross Perot in 1992 split some Reps against "read my lips" lying Bush 41 (tax increases), so Clinton won. Nader in 2000 arguably split the Dems just enough to make Bush win, then.
John McCain could, possibly, create a third party to split the Reps and let the Dems win. But any third party needs name recognition at the top, and will get most of its votes from only one of the big two, making it most likely that the other of the two will win.
Sharon could split because the proportional system means he's likely to get to parliament even w/o a majority, so he'll have influence. In Slovakia they have a 5% minimum threshold to get in -- Israel should have something like that to reduce its fracturing.
Media bias is shown here: Rita Skeeter helped to kill Sirius Black!
Which, in the JKR Harry Potter world, I believe to be true. She shows a good example of media bias.
The Leftist media bias Woody knows about (Marc Cooper commenter), but can't demonstrate, is based more on what the media does NOT show:
where are the pictures of the 200 000 or so Jordanians demonstrating against terrorism?
Why were all 13 of 13 first debate questions about/ against Bush?
What WAS Kerry's "plan" -- on anything?
Oops, yep -- Higher Taxes (on the rich!)(punish those suckers for hiring & exploiting so many folk in their successful businesses; we want a gov't that only supports failure!)
Where are the facts about men and women and 800 Math scores on the SAT?
Where are the facts about blacks and whites and the 2-4% average difference in IQ tests? (And what this means for policy?)
Where are the translations of speeches given by Muslim immams?
The main poll that matters is the election, but lies by Leftists about how Bush lied are bad for the country.
Walter Cronkite was against the Vietnam war -- meaning he wanted the US to leave; which resulted in N. Vietnamese commies winning. And killing hundreds of thousands of NON-FIGHTING civilians. (Cronkite favored commie victory at least as much as neo-cons favored terrorist fighting in Iraq. )
How much media coverage was there on the bloodbath aftermath?
Oh I remember; the media that was against imperfect America's fighting, totally ran away from the commies who, implicitly, they had supported in winning. Supporting the victory of a fear-culture is despicable.
The choice on Rwanda was war-intervention or genocide. Clinton chose (see no) genocide.
I'm enraged by the shallow lack of an examination of alternatives. All policies have good and bad points. Taking out Saddam was a great point of Bush's invasion. How often is that discussed? Not enough to even get to the question, was it worth it?
Stopping genocide is worth how many American lives? Stopping Saddam is worth how many? These difficult, deep questions should be the focus of any media; they're not though.
Happy B-day Woody.
In Harry Potter 4 (Goblet of Fire) we get introduced to Rita Skeeter. A viscious, half-truth peddling journalist writing usually bad things in such an unbalanced and destructive way that readers get the wrong feeling about what's going on.
Rita attacks Dumbledore, and weakens support for his reasonable positions.
Rita attacks half-giant Hagrid, and certainly makes Hagrid's life more miserable.
Rita attacks Hermione, even claiming that Harry's heart has been broken, despite Harry & Hermione being just friends. Ron Weasley's mother reacts to this by sending Hermione a very small valentine chocolate egg -- and many others send Howlers (screaming letters) to Hermione.
Rita attacks Harry, and undermines his credibility -- so when Harry reports on Voldemort's return, Minister Fudge doesn't believe him. At least partly because of Rita. With Fudge not believing Harry, the whole book 5 is about Harry suffering because so many believe he's a liar. The death of Sirius at the end of the book, in the big fight, can be partly blamed on Rita's book 4 attack.
Rita helped to kill Sirius.
In the same way, Leftist anti-Bush media bias is helping the terrorists continue to recruit, and weakening support for US victory.
Two more things the law should do on abortion:
Require the women to specify who the father was.
TAX THE FATHER -- like 5% of his above average income for 18 years. (Poor, below average income folk pay 0 -- but are still recorded.) Similar financial commitment as to raising a child.
Legal abortion is a requirement for women to enjoy the same level of irresponsible sex as college men have long been enjoying. The mistake of abortion feminists is a willingness to change their behavior (and kill unwanted human fetuses), rather than making the men more responsible.
DNA testing is now cheap enough to offer this for all.
garret had some nice ideas on the Ed Cone desire for a middle way.
First, read the fine post by The Anchoress on The Head Deatheater.
Please consider that much of the Secularist anti-Christian agenda is driven by the reality of an Imperfect Church -- full of imperfect human priests.With an allpowerful God who allows Evil: most secularists are sure that if THEY had the power, they would do a better job...
And of course, w/o God, the only meaning of life is ... will to Power.
A similar rejection of real imperfection occurs in the anti-Americanism, because US policies are also not perfect.
The lack of love is seen by too much Hollywood -- lust equals love. Hollywood is good at showing lust satisfied in 90 minutes; but love is more subtle, more patient. Lust is feeling; love is commitment and follow-thru. Even when not easy.
Especially when it's not easy.
Great DD line from the movie (trailer) is "the choice, to do the right thing, or the easy thing." (Like LoTR)
When HP 5 came out I wrote: Islamofascists are Deatheaters (but it's lost on a Blogged-up system).
Snape has long been the most curiously interesting character -- a "bad" person, unfair, ugly, mean and mean-spirited; yet on the "good" side. Or is he? (He loved Lilly-95%; he helped her be so good in potions?) He's likely to betray Harry, and Voldemort too, and possibly both in the end.
Yes, Harry is likely to risk (certain death!) to kill Voldemort (to save his friends? Snape?). Snape and Wormtail will be involved (and Wormtail's Voldy-given arm?). ... HP 4 movie in Slovkia isn't for another week. Can't wait.
Marc Cooper is at least a half-true Leftist. 1/2 truth: "Bushies sifted, re-arranged, highlighted, distorted, and purposefully misconstrued what intelligence was available in order for it to jibe with a pre-determined decision”
and 1/2 lie: "to go to war. "
Bush was determined to force Saddam to PROVE HE HAD NO WMDS. Like most of the 17 UN SC resolutions required of Saddam, and all were violated (Why no mention of THIS history, Marc?). Any history of Iraq since 1990 must include each of them to demonstrate bad faith by Bush -- so the Bush-haters just ignore it. The burden of proof was on Saddam -- and if he had proven he had no WMDs, which is very different than inspectors finding them, Bush would NOT have gone to war. (Only 1% chance of Saddam doing this -- had France told him the Texas Ranger would attack so he better take the Exile option, I guess he would have. France told him W wouldn't send in the marines. France knew Clinton -- not W.)
The fact that there have already been two elections in Iraq, with a third coming, and so many moonbats here keep repeating "no progress" should be embarassing to Marc C.
What would progress look like?
In Chile, yeah, Pinochet was a dictator -- but claiming Allende's socialism was going to be better than Fidel's in some way is mere wishfill thinking. State-Socialism fails. Post Pinochet Chile keeps doing lots better than the other South American countries (OK, little Central America Costa Rica, no army, is also doing almost as well.)
Why not look at where the Leftist "socialists" took over, not long after 1973? Vietnam and Cambodia. From 1974 - 1978: genocide. Before Reagan. Genocide -- the unintended result of the policy Marc Cooper favored.
Michael Turner's comments do a good job popping the Marc idea-bubble of doing inspections AND active destabilization. Plus I don't see any links to any folk actually advocating that policy, specifically, rather than war. I remember "anything but war" kind of comments. Like Clinton's acceptance of Rwanda genocide rather than war, or even being honest about it at the UN.
At least Bush calls Darfur genocide -- which is failing (or passing?) Kerry's Global Test. Not genocide; more words is enough action; it's a legal issue; use the Int'l Criminal Court; NO WAR -- let thousands be murdered.
I also remember how the anti-American folk had been calling for an END to sanctions in Iraq, since it was sanctions, not Saddam's stealing and palace building, that was killing Iraqi kids.
The sanctions were NOT sustainable.
Finally, Marc, the real problem in America is the lack of a debate about Leaving Vietnam. Was it the right thing to do? We're still in Germany -- why not just stay in Vietnam?
How many Vietnamese and Cambodian unarmed civilians must be murdered before leaving is worse than staying and winning? -- by staying. No genocide with American troops there.
THAT debate has still not been had -- because folk (Lennin's Useful Idiots), like you, want their "out now" policy to be followed, without being responsible for the genocide results.
I flew out from Vie to Wash DC; visited my old Stanford roommate Andy and his great wife Chris; then on to LAX. My sisters Margaret and Gloria picked me up. Drove 3 hours up to the Newberry Springs suburb of Barstow and my other sisters Karen and Marnie.
Fine Memorial service; have some on video but my 500 MB ran out when taking many little 2 minute movies.
We found out she died on 29 Oct, our 11th wedding anniversary. Good thing I had already gotten the eleven yellow-orange roses the day before. I sure do love my wife; but there's not enough time for everything.
Now I'm back home with wife and kids and payments and needing money and missing my blog fix.
Hmm, that last one is easy to fix, with a few hours in front of the computer.
Template by Splinder.com | header image credit: Markus Gann © www.begann.de