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Thomas Sowell: "Us" or "Them"
Creator's Syndicate ^
| October 25, 2005
| Dr. Thomas Sowell
Posted on 10/25/2005 2:24:39 AM PDT by RWR8189
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To: 7thson
I came to realize they care nothing for the country - past, present, or future. It is just about them!
Ding, ding, ding ... we have a winner!
41
posted on
10/25/2005 5:15:35 AM PDT
by
oh8eleven
(RVN '67-'68)
To: Pusterfuss
42
posted on
10/25/2005 5:20:10 AM PDT
by
USS Alaska
(Nuke the terrorist savages - In Honor of Standing Wolf)
To: oh8eleven; 7thson
Both of you touch on a quote that Thomas Sowell has cited not too long ago
Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm-- but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves.
-- T. S. Eliot3
43
posted on
10/25/2005 5:20:30 AM PDT
by
saveliberty
(I did not break the feed. I may have lost it, but I did not break the feed.)
To: Pusterfuss
Milton Friedman calls Professor Sowell a genius and I think he is right.
44
posted on
10/25/2005 5:27:08 AM PDT
by
saveliberty
(I did not break the feed. I may have lost it, but I did not break the feed.)
To: Junior
It would be interesting to reword this article to refer to the religious right (or left), disguise the author and see what kind of response it would get from the Left.
My guess is it would gain their support.
To: RWR8189
The causes of the Left are their religion. That's why they display the same fanaticism as the Islamists in defending their goal of ruling the earth and having everyone else do what they say. That's why both these fanatic religions attack Christianity.
To: Junior; longshadow; VadeRetro; RadioAstronomer; Doctor Stochastic; Condorman; King Prout; ...
Thanks for the ping to this. It's excellent.
47
posted on
10/25/2005 5:43:43 AM PDT
by
PatrickHenry
(Reality is a harsh mistress. No rationality, no mercy)
To: PatrickHenry
48
posted on
10/25/2005 7:07:42 AM PDT
by
Publius6961
(Liberal level playing field: If the Islamics win we are their slaves..if we win they are our equals.)
To: RWR8189
>In other words, it was not really about which policy would produce what results. It was about personal identification with lofty goals and kindred souls. The ostensible goal of peace was window-dressing. Ultimately it was not a question whether arming or disarming Britain was more likely to deter Hitler. It was a question of which policy would best establish the moral superiority of the anointed and solidify their identification with one another.<
Dr Sowell is one of the great conservative minds of our time.
49
posted on
10/25/2005 7:13:24 AM PDT
by
Darnright
(Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.)
To: LiberationIT
My guess is it would gain their support. Everyone sees themselves as enlightened and their opponents as rigid followers of doctrine.
The real difference is one of personality rather than ideology. Some folks just can't get inside a contrary opinion.
50
posted on
10/25/2005 7:13:37 AM PDT
by
js1138
(Great is the power of steady misrepresentation.)
To: RWR8189
He argued that, since oil was going to be drilled for somewhere in the world anyway, was it not better to drill where there were environmental laws to provide at least some kinds of safeguards, rather than in countries where there were none? So they broke up over a discussion of environmental policy? Sheesh.
51
posted on
10/25/2005 7:14:00 AM PDT
by
XJarhead
To: KMAJ2
52
posted on
10/25/2005 7:14:39 AM PDT
by
Cboldt
To: backhoe
I would love to take an Econ course from Dr Williams. He may possibly be the one prof who could make this subject fascinating.
To: backhoe
The thing I like about Williams is his style of explanation in his use of everyday examples that all can relate to when examining a particular topic.
Such as his oft repeated "living document" comparrison when talking about the Constitution.
"How would you like to play poker with me and have the rules be living? Maybe my pair of 7s beats your full house."
54
posted on
10/25/2005 7:23:29 AM PDT
by
Phantom Lord
(Fall on to your knees for the Phantom Lord)
To: backhoe
"...In other words, it was not really about which policy would produce what results. It was about personal identification with lofty goals and kindred souls.""
This sentence really resonated with me too - I'm tired of those 60's radicals who think they did something significant in protesting the VietNam war.
To: USS Alaska
WHat about Star Parker - another great mind and writer!
To: js1138
Good point, but I'm thinking more of a faith versus reason approach.
For example the left is using reality-based as a way to differentiate themselves from the religious right, all the while ignoring reality in areas such as health care, more spending on education, environmental concerns, etc.
I interpret Sowell's point also to be that there are people who have such a strong faith in their point of view that no amount of reason will shake it. I think his point also applies to some on the right as well. (Yes, I include myself.)
Re personality, some group recently did a personality profile versus political profile kind of categorization. I recall that some of it, but not all made sense to me. I certainly agree that there are personality types that are more difficult to persuade than others.
But, enough about my sister-in-law....
To: XJarhead
So they broke up over a discussion of environmental policy? Sheesh.Doesn't surprise me in the least. My former roommate is a major environmental whacko liberal. Our phone discussions during the campaign in 2000 over our support for the different candidates got so heated that we had to agree to let the matter drop, but it never stopped him from spouting the "Earth in the Balance" crap Algore was spewing. We haven't spoken since the Battle of Florida.
Environmentalists are the most zealous, and self-righteous of the left-wing coalition. They'll support abominations like abortion, but God Help You! if you want to drill an oilwell in the frozen wasteland of Alaska. It might inconvenience a caribou!
58
posted on
10/25/2005 7:36:14 AM PDT
by
ABG(anybody but Gore)
(This tagline is under remodeling, thank you for your patience...)
To: LiberationIT
The question is why are there people on both sides of any issue who are incapable of seeing the other's point of view.
I have always thought there was merit in the philosophy of school debates. You should be able to argue either side equally well. If you can't present your opponent's point of view, you can't argue rationally against it.
59
posted on
10/25/2005 7:38:09 AM PDT
by
js1138
(Great is the power of steady misrepresentation.)
To: PatrickHenry
Compromise and tolerance are not the hallmarks of true believers. What they believe in goes to the heart of what they are. As far as true believers are concerned, you are either one of Us or one of Them. Yes. Sowell discovers Holy Warrior Syndrome.
60
posted on
10/25/2005 7:38:53 AM PDT
by
VadeRetro
(Liberalism is a cancer on society. Creationism is a cancer on conservatism.)
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