DALE: “The goal of ‘liberalism’ is to create totalitarian government.”
I’d argue that 99% of the time the goal of ANY government is to create a totalitarian government. It’s the nature of the beast.

DALE: “Nick, being a smart ass is not a sign of intelligence.”
Certainly not in and of itself, but at least it’s a giant step closer than your being a dumb ass. Also, I was being sincere. That really was one of the dumbest things I’ve read on the Internet. Learn to take a compliment.

DALE: “Apparently you fail to read your own posts.”
Absolutely. I have a weak stomach.

DALE: “which usually lack substance”
“Usually?” Dude, are you hitting on me?

DALE: “and use pop culture in its place.”
And why not? New York, London, Paris, Munich–everybody’s talking about it.

DALE: “You must be another fine example of public school outcome.”
Twelve years protecting my cornhole from priests at Catholic schools, four years at the nation’s oldest public university. Take your pick.

Neither governments seem to be able to do anything but screw up – but lord almighty, at least try to look at all the messes – and it has always been wars that bankrupt empires. How many billions of dollars have been wasted in the war with Iraq? And don’t think for one minute that Obama gets a pass for continuing, in fact increasing military engagement. He is already the failed messiah – but I kept telling people that would come to pass during the election period. I hated to be right, but what the hell, it was written in the history books.

In other words, it’s the same old, same old. Just stop blaming liberalism – that’s just a boogieman. Whatever is at fault, we sure as hell could use a new way of doing things.

Thanks for making my point YET again, you misogynistic, bloviating blowhard. You make my job easy.

And I’m done with this guy.

Starting with Rousseau, a new movement, which gradually became the antithesis of liberalism. In practice, it always leads to a dictatorial State in which the individual is severely repressed. This is known as modern liberalism. To me, using the word “liberal” to describe the likes of the Liar in Chief and his stooges (e.g. Pelosi and Reid) is deceptive.

Use government policy to create a banking/housing crisis, then take over the banks.
Use government policy to distort and corrupt our health care system, declare a crisis, then take over the entire industry (meds, equipment, providers, hospitals).
When liberal-loving labor unions drive car companies into bankruptcy, declare an emergency, take over the car industry.
When the American people clearly reject your attempt to take over the health care industry, force your Congress members to choose between their Party and their constituents.

How does this “value commerce and industry”?
What happened to “the rising middle class”?
Where is the “immense respect for the rights of property, especially when accumulated by the labors of the individual possessor”?
Isn’t ramming the corruption-laden unconstitutional Senate health care bill down our throat going to “lead to a dictatorial State in which the individual is severely repressed”?

Take your liberalism and shove it up your ass, Shy.

NIGEL: That’s, that’s nit-picking, isn’t it?

MARTY: ‘The Gospel According to Spinal Tap’: “This pretentious ponderous collection of religious rock psalms is
enough to prompt the question: “What day did the Lord create Spinal Tap and couldn’t he have rested on that
day too?”

DAVID: Never heard that one!

DEREK: That’s a good one. That’s a good one!

MARTY: The review you had on ‘Shark Sandwich’…which was merely a two word review – just said “shit sandwich.”
Umm….

DEREK: Where’d they print that, where’d they print that?

DAVID: Where did that appear?

NIGEL: That’s not real, is it?

DEREK: You can’t print that!

After tactfully trying to point out that you lump women with cars, guns, and food as something to “acquire,” as if we were on sale at Neiman’s or a tire store, I have to go with Nick on the intelligence of your posts, “Dale, that has to be one of the dumbest posts I’ve seen on the Internet. Well done.” If you have to pay for it, maybe you should develop some social skills.

Yes, Joel drew. Sometimes. He embraced physical exploits that blotted his thinking. “An inner conflict?” One would hope he’d be conflicted. After you not getting that you categorize women as commodities, I really don’t think you’re qualified to discuss Hop on Pop, let alone More and More unto the Perfect Day. Get a clue.

Thank you for dropping by.

Ray: please, please, please, do a blog on the term “liberalism” (when you have time). There is no place on either of my blogs for this kind a blog. Harper’s or Atlantic Monthly had something a few years ago. I will begin – most historians would argue that liberalism began with John Locke – and I quote: “the natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth.” Treatises of Government (1680) To read the entire 2 parts of Locke’s tome got to http://lonang.org/exlibris/locke/index.html

One of your favourites, Friedrich von Hayek is considered to be a liberal, right? – (well as it is now known, classical liberalism). It drives me crazy when people do this. I wish the world would find another word for it – maybe your blog’s readers can.

Now I haven’t read all your blogs, so if you have already addressed this elsewhere, please feel to let me know.

It wasn’t elves. There’s never actually been a true laissez-faire society, though some have come close, and freedom is absolute in the sense that either exists or it doesn’t. But there is also a spectrum: societies can be more free or less free, even within police states. The real point is that the societies that are more free flourish in direct proportion to that freedom. And the opposite is true as well.

For more on the complicated subject of how middle-of-the-road gradually but inexorably leads to less free, see von Mises brief but brilliant essay on the subject.

Ever notice liberals decide what is “politically correct”, and that “political correctness” always requires adhering to liberal dogmas?

Shy, I think Joel was on a quest to resolve an inner conflict, which was in part the result of a flawed philosophy mindful of liberalism (he didn’t even realize he was doing wrong, he was so self-centered). He was actually quite talented, if you’ll recall, at drawing, and his strength of will gave him endurance in physical pursuits. The point of fast cars and such is an example of what gives some people the will to aspire and succeed: for the rewards one can earn in a free society. My point is that liberals demonize and seek to confiscate all wealth, except that obtained through politics and political corruption. Ever hear a liberal attack Nancy Pelosi for her wealth? And how did she get it, through talent? Guffaw!

Nick, being a smart ass is not a sign of intelligence. Apparently you fail to read your own posts, which usually lack substance and use pop culture in its place. You must be another fine example of public school outcome.

Marcus, Ray went to public schools. NOW do you see the horrors they produce?!

Dale, that has to be one of the dumbest posts I’ve seen on the Internet. Well done.

Ray, “relatively free?” Did you, of all people, really just write that? My god, someone has gotten to you!

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I saw in Joel tenacity and will. Some talent, not realized (yet), and an incredible ability to divorce himself from reality that manifested in illness and a necessity to self-discover for his own survival. And I think that was the point. His own survival. And I don’t dispute/argue with that necessity at all. But I don’t see “talent” in him or a political ideology, necessarily. Philosophy, yes.

I’m a liberal. I have talent. I see merit on the right and the left and the “non.” I pray to never speak as you do of people who do not agree with me, even if that is to a non-God. I hope never to lump people into a list with fast cars, big guns, and vacations. I don’t think like you, or even Ray. But I have sense enough to listen to an intelligent human with a different viewpoint, and to consider it. Perhaps that’s the greatest lesson I’ve learned. And I’m grateful.

I find this exchange particularly interesting: “Q: Is human talent innate? Harvey: No. It is willed. Q: Come, now. Harvey: Really. You decide, you act. Or not.”
Some of us aspire to enjoy the finer things in life: beautiful women, fast cars, big guns, epicurean meals, sailing on Lake Tahoe, etc. This motivates us to produce things others want: i.e. we act.
Those who have been demoralized by constant liberal indoctrination, pessimism, cynicism, and the endless claims of “only government”, succumb to this insidious denigration of the free spirit, fail to act, and thereby lack talent.
Liberals are weak of mind and will; they fill that void-that-should-be-talent and initiative with hollow-headed easily-digested liberal dogmas and tenets. Liberalism is rooted in deceptive rationales that ignore the lessons of history, always seeking to empower those who produce nothing, increase government power and control, increase taxes, and spend away our country’s future. They are a burden on the talented, and, if they get their way, talent will all be cease to exist, as the incentives-to-talent are demonized and taxed into oblivion.

I think the philosophy that talent is a function of will is a major facet of Joel Gasteneau’s personality, and it leads to some interesting – and surreal – situations.

You have revealed much yet told so little.
You continue to remain an fool wrapped in
a shroud of illogical logic. So if I may,
riddle me this. If the government shouldn’t
be in charge of education, as you have said,
how do we prevent our children from growing
into adults as foolish as you?

Best,

Marcus

But there’s nothing unique about time, in that respect, is there, Mr Harvey? I mean, one could simply say that humans invented the concept of *measurement*. Which, given that animals can’t count (certainly not past 23, anyway) shouldn’t surprise anyone.

So I may sleep soundly now, in the knowledge that the falling tree does indeed make a sound when there is no one around to observe it. But only if there is a tape recorder hidden close enough to record it. See? And you thought I didn’t get it.

Nighty-night.