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Utopia Versus Freedom (Thomas Sowell)
Jewish World Review ^
| August 4, 2009
| Thomas Sowell
Posted on 08/03/2009 8:12:08 PM PDT by jazusamo
"Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom." We have heard that many times. What is also the price of freedom is the toleration of imperfections. If everything that is wrong with the world becomes a reason to turn more power over to some political savior, then freedom is going to erode away, while we are mindlessly repeating the catchwords of the hour, whether "change," "universal health care" or "social justice."
If we can be so easily stampeded by rhetoric that neither the public nor the Congress can be bothered to read, much less analyze, bills making massive changes in medical care, then do not be surprised when life and death decisions about you or your family are taken out of your hands and out of the hands of your doctor and transferred to bureaucrats in Washington.
Let's go back to square one. The universe was not made to our specifications. Nor were human beings. So there is nothing surprising in the fact that we are dissatisfied with many things at many times. The big question is whether we are prepared to follow any politician who claims to be able to "solve" our "problem."
If we are, then there will be a never ending series of "solutions," each causing new problems calling for still more "solutions." That way lies a never-ending quest, costing ever increasing amounts of the taxpayers' money and more important ever greater losses of your freedom to live your own life as you see fit, rather than as presumptuous elites dictate.
Ultimately, our choice is to give up Utopian quests or give up our freedom. This has been recognized for centuries by some, but many others have not yet faced that reality, even today. If you think government should "do something"...
(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: 111th; america2point0; communismkills; healthcare; insurance; liberty; lping; obamacare; slavetothestate; socialistutopia; sowell; thomassowell
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1
posted on
08/03/2009 8:12:08 PM PDT
by
jazusamo
To: abigail2; Amalie; American Quilter; arthurus; awelliott; Bahbah; bamahead; Battle Axe; ...
2
posted on
08/03/2009 8:13:39 PM PDT
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
3
posted on
08/03/2009 8:14:27 PM PDT
by
nuconvert
( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
To: All
Please bump the Freepathon and donate if you havent done so!
4
posted on
08/03/2009 8:15:07 PM PDT
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: jazusamo
""Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom.""
Ain't that the truth? Once I got some driving glasses to restore my distance vision to youthful capability, I stopped getting speeding tickets.
5
posted on
08/03/2009 8:21:27 PM PDT
by
Paladin2
(Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
To: Paladin2
I imagine the savings in tickets paid for the specs in a hurry. :-)
6
posted on
08/03/2009 8:23:49 PM PDT
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: jazusamo
The money quote:
" If you cannot tolerate imperfections, be prepared to kiss your freedom goodbye. "
7
posted on
08/03/2009 8:24:23 PM PDT
by
Paladin2
(Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
To: Paladin2
8
posted on
08/03/2009 8:26:19 PM PDT
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: jazusamo
short, sweet, and spot-on.
9
posted on
08/03/2009 9:12:29 PM PDT
by
the invisib1e hand
(The revolution IS being televised.)
To: jazusamo
10
posted on
08/03/2009 9:17:29 PM PDT
by
rockinqsranch
(Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
To: jazusamo
11
posted on
08/03/2009 10:14:59 PM PDT
by
wjcsux
(Germany, 1933. America, 2009. History repeats itself again.)
To: jazusamo
12
posted on
08/03/2009 10:18:00 PM PDT
by
wjcsux
("If you cannot tolerate imperfections, be prepared to kiss your freedoms goodbye," Thomas Sowell)
To: jazusamo
13
posted on
08/03/2009 10:18:49 PM PDT
by
wjcsux
("If you cannot tolerate imperfections, be prepared to kiss your freedom goodbye," Thomas Sowell)
To: jazusamo
There are still some voices of sanity today, echoing what Edmund Burke said long ago. "The study of human institutions is always a search for the most tolerable imperfections," according to Prof. Richard Epstein of the University of Chicago. If you cannot tolerate imperfections, be prepared to kiss your freedom goodbye. Excellent point! And as Thomas Sowell points out, the thing they want to impose on you is always somebody else's idea of "perfection."
14
posted on
08/04/2009 1:58:28 AM PDT
by
livius
To: jazusamo
"Let's go back to square one. The universe was not made to our specifications. Nor were human beings. So there is nothing surprising in the fact that we are dissatisfied with many things at many times. The big question is whether we are prepared to follow any politician who claims to be able to 'solve' our 'problem.'"If we are, then there will be a never ending series of 'solutions,' each causing new problems calling for still more 'solutions.'"
This is the pickle we're in right now.
"...taxpayers' money and more important ever greater losses..."
One of the many reasons that I love this man, his correct English usage.
15
posted on
08/04/2009 5:50:42 AM PDT
by
TheOldLady
(I hate Freepathons! PLEASE DONATE NOW! Get it over with!)
To: jazusamo
16
posted on
08/04/2009 5:51:16 AM PDT
by
B Knotts
(Calvin Coolidge Republican)
To: jazusamo
“If you cannot tolerate imperfections, be prepared to kiss your freedom goodbye.”
No one wants to tolerate imperfections. They all want health care, a free lunch, a nice house, a few cars, and all the toys. If they can’t pay for it, they want the government to pay for it.
FREE LUNCH = BYE BYE FREEDOM.
Good post!
To: wjcsux
Bump to your new tagline, excellent!
18
posted on
08/04/2009 7:00:29 AM PDT
by
jazusamo
(But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
To: Abathar; Abcdefg; Abram; Abundy; akatel; albertp; AlexandriaDuke; Alexander Rubin; Allerious; ...
19
posted on
08/04/2009 7:29:09 AM PDT
by
bamahead
(Avoid self-righteousness like the devil- nothing is so self-blinding. -- B.H. Liddell Hart)
To: jazusamo; Revolting cat!; Slings and Arrows
There is a place you can go where you can read or watch television or paint all day.
Your meals are covered.
You have free use of exercise equipment.
You get your own room with a bed.
Medical procedures are covered too.
You don't even have to pay taxes for any of this, other people will pick up the tab.
Of course, your freedoms are somewhat limited...
20
posted on
08/04/2009 7:39:30 AM PDT
by
a fool in paradise
(There is no truth in the Pravda Media.)
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