Posted on 04/13/2007 7:18:36 AM PDT by Tolik
I believe trust is the primary ingredient in civil society. It's hard to create and easy to destroy. Nationalism, religion, and ethnicity all pale when compared to the cohesive social force of trust. Without honest citizens, community trust erodes. Eventually all social contracts aren't worth the paper they’re written on. America works because American mothers teach their children to stand up for what they believe in, no matter what. It's that kind of faith in the truth that can build a diverse nation of people who can disagree, yet still trust each other.
Great post
So, it's your position that higher taxes, more social welfare and protectionist trade policies are the wisest economic course?
Sure. It works great for Europe, doesn't it?
Have you noticed that America has the highest standard of living in the whole world? ...and that it's increasing? I'd say that the proof is in the pudding. American capitalism and free trade work.
And what's with the "we're losing the war" crap? By what standard are we losing? How are you keeping score, that you conclude we're losing? You can't just throw out B.S. like that without something to back it up.
BTTT
Who is calling Bahbah a dunderhead????
If all Democrats were like Orson Scott Card, this world would be a much better place. There’d be a lot less hate between the parties, and America would be a much stronger nation.
I wouldn't say that - it's just that he recognizes the Republicans are just as hopelessly corrupt as the Democrats, so why bother changing at this late date?
Wow. Card at his best.
A few pings.
Wow.
That is actually a great idea. Then print out some more and take them over to the Senate. Have Harry Reid pass them out.
I’m going to hit the CWII ping list on this one, as I believe Card identifies one of the key differences between the two sides, in this essay. A great read.
“And what’s with the “we’re losing the war” crap? By what standard are we losing? How are you keeping score, that you conclude we’re losing? You can’t just throw out B.S. like that without something to back it up.”
Watch the news. Look at the election results. Watch the next election results looming. Watch the American will to continue the weariness evaporate. Watch the “surge” unable to protect even the Iraqi Parliament. Watch the British, even, having withdrawn substantial forces, even as the country is no closer to stability, and the Baghdad Bob cheering squad STILL says there’s no Iraqi civil war.
The American will to stay in Iraq is flagging, and nothing is restoring it. The Army is having to press Navy men into service to fill the gaps, and pay $150,000 bonuses to keep special forces experts in the field.
We are losing the war. It is plain as the nose on our faces, and has been for sometime. When Rumsfeld left, Bush gave a speech detailing all of the errors to date. Since, we’ve launched the new strategy...with about a quarter of the troops needed to actually pacify the country. The military brass know this. It’s not a secret. Our current strategy is a holding action. We cannot stabilize the country.
The only way to win the war, still, is to choose sides in the civil war, arm them, and let them kill off a lot of their opponents. And this is the one thing that has been consistently ruled out by the Administration.
So there we are: losing the war. By the time it’s over, we will have spent 5000 American lives, 20,000 American limbs, and $1.5 trillion dollars, and we will be retreating in disgrace as the political will to continue the effort collapses in America and the troops come home. It has been utterly predictable since the moment Bush chose NOT to ask Congress to declare war and call for a general mobilization to win it.
THAT would have meant a tax hike, a massive tax hike, and lots of “national unity” measures.
We didn’t get the tax hike. Instead, we’re just getting $1.5 trillion more in debt, to fund a war we’re LOSING.
But I’m not going to fight with you about this. I have told you the truth. Telling ourselves pretty lies isn’t going to save our ass here. The headlines will drone on towards the monotonous and thoroughly predictable end, UNLESS we decide to do something evil and pick the side we want to win the civil war. This Administration won’t.
My name is Aloysius88 and I am a Dunderhead
Someone way more educated than us, obviously! :-D
Being made aware of insightful articles like these - and reading the intelligent comments that are made about them - is why I value Free Republic, and why I wade through all the bot-n-basher threads.
Grat essay, I have always been a fan of Card.
Half the nation is too stupid to figure it out.
I wonder if he was intentionally paraphrasing Sir Winston:
"If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case: you may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."
“My name is sionnsar and I am a dunderhead”
Well, as one dunderhead to another......
BUMP!
“My name is sionnsar and I am a dunderhead.
My name is Slings and Arrows, and I am a dunderhead.
My name is StarCMC and I am a dunderhead, too.
Well, now that we are out of the closet : )
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