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Random Thoughts (Thomas Sowell)
Townhall.com ^ | December 1, 2009 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 11/30/2009 9:02:27 PM PST by jazusamo

Random thoughts on the passing scene:

Sometimes we seem like people on a pleasure boat drifting down the Niagara river, unaware that there are waterfalls up ahead. I don't know what people think is going to happen when a nation that already sponsors international terrorism has nuclear bombs to give to terrorists around the world.

Since this is an era when many people are concerned about "fairness" and "social justice," what is your "fair share" of what someone else has worked for?

Here is a math problem for you: Assume that the legislation establishing government control of medical care is passed and that it "brings down the cost of medical care." You pay $500 a year less for your medical care, but the new costs put on employers is passed on to consumers, so that you pay $300 a year more for groceries and $200 a year more for gasoline, while the new mandates put on insurance companies raise your premiums by $300 a year, how much money have you saved?

I seldom read fiction-- and I tend to regard autobiographies as fiction.

In response to news of President Obama receiving the Nobel Prize for peace, an e-mail from a reader recalled a black classmate's comments upon graduating from high school many years ago. When asked to list the advantages and disadvantages of being black, the black student facetiously listed as an advantage "being praised for infinitesimal accomplishments."

Many colleges claim that they develop "leaders." All too often, that means turning out graduates who cannot feel fulfilled unless they are telling other people what to do. There are already too many people like that, and they are a menace to everyone else's freedom.

Some people are so busy being clever that they don't have time enough to be wise.

No one likes to admit having been played for a fool. So it will probably take a mushroom cloud over some American city before some Obama supporters wake up. Even so, the true believers among the survivors will probably say that this was all George Bush's fault.

Stepping beyond your competence can be like stepping off a cliff. Too many people with brilliance and talent within some field do not realize how ignorant-- or, worse yet, misinformed-- they are when talking like philosopher-kings about other things.

There has probably never before been as drastic a decline in the quality of vice presidents as there has been when Dick Cheney was replaced by Joe Biden. Yet the New York Times is lionizing Biden as a wise counselor to President Obama. When you support the liberal agenda, that makes you brilliant ex-officio in the media, whether or not you are vice president-- and whether or not you have even common sense.

Government pressures on mortgage lenders to accept less than the full amount they are owed may win votes for politicians, since there are far more borrowers than lenders. But how much future lending can be expected when the lenders know that politicians are ready to intervene at any time to prevent them from getting their money back?

Some people think that the Obama administration is going to get rid of Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner, making him the scapegoat for its economics failures. This would be consistent with the President's acting as if the people under him are not carrying out his policies. But if they get rid of Geithner too early, that will not help if things still do not get better after he is gone and before the 2010 elections.

People who are urging us to do things to win the approval of other countries seem to put an excessive value on other country's approval, as distinguished from their respect that we can lose by such bowing to "world opinion." Do the world champion New York Yankees try to curry favor with teams that are also-rans?


TOPICS: Editorial; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: randomthoughts; sowell; thomassowell
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1 posted on 11/30/2009 9:02:28 PM PST by jazusamo
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To: abigail2; Amalie; American Quilter; arthurus; awelliott; Bahbah; bamahead; Battle Axe; ...
*PING*
Thomas Sowell

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Recent columns
Never Assume Your Problem Is Pol‘s Priority
Deepest Bow Is Reserved For World Opinion
Random Thoughts

Please FReepmail me if you would like to be added to, or removed from, the Thomas Sowell ping list…

2 posted on 11/30/2009 9:05:58 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

This Romney post is spam. Quit it.


3 posted on 11/30/2009 9:10:32 PM PST by Hound of the Baskervilles ("Nonsense in the intellect draws evil after it." C.S. Lewis)
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To: Hound of the Baskervilles
Look, another Romneybot.

Relax, a similar message is being put automatically at the top of all kinds of threads.

Cheers!

4 posted on 11/30/2009 9:16:39 PM PST by grey_whiskers (The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
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To: jazusamo
My favorite.

"When I see the worsening degeneracy in our politicians, our media, our educators, and our intelligentsia, I can’t help wondering if the day may yet come when the only thing that can save this country is a military coup." - Thomas Sowell

That photo of the laughing clowns that goes with RomneyCare reminded me of Dr. Sowell's thought. Behold the worsening degeneracy in our politicians . . . .

5 posted on 11/30/2009 9:19:53 PM PST by WilliamofCarmichael (If modern America's Man on Horseback is out there, Get on the damn horse already!)
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To: Hound of the Baskervilles

Where have you been?


6 posted on 11/30/2009 9:24:51 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: WilliamofCarmichael

That’s a good one and I remember the part about the coup.


7 posted on 11/30/2009 9:28:12 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo
My personal favorite:

Since this is an era when many people are concerned about "fairness" and "social justice," what is your "fair share" of what someone else has worked for?

8 posted on 11/30/2009 9:31:10 PM PST by Rocky (Obama's ego: The "I's" have it.)
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To: jazusamo

He’s brilliant.


9 posted on 11/30/2009 9:34:54 PM PST by Tzimisce (No thanks. We have enough government already. - The Tick)
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To: jazusamo

what people think is going to happen when a nation that already sponsors international terrorism has nuclear bombs to give to terrorists around the world.


10 posted on 11/30/2009 9:41:30 PM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: Tzimisce

I’m sure there is someone out there smarter than Dr. Sowell. I’ve just never heard of them ;)


11 posted on 11/30/2009 10:21:48 PM PST by jttpwalsh
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To: jazusamo
Here is a math problem for you: Assume that the legislation establishing government control of medical care is passed and that it "brings down the cost of medical care." You pay $500 a year less for your medical care, but the new costs put on employers is passed on to consumers, so that you pay $300 a year more for groceries and $200 a year more for gasoline, while the new mandates put on insurance companies raise your premiums by $300 a year, how much money have you saved?

More importantly, how much more taxable money has the government put in circulation?

12 posted on 11/30/2009 10:43:54 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (whitey's over it.)
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To: Hound of the Baskervilles
This Romney post is spam. Quit it.

Perhaps you should take it up with the owner of this site.

13 posted on 11/30/2009 10:45:14 PM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: jazusamo

Thanks for the ping jaz.


14 posted on 12/01/2009 3:47:07 AM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...Call 'em What you Will, They ALL have Fairies Living In Their Trees.)
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To: jazusamo

Thank you for the ping. Sowell’s “random thoughts” have more wisdom in each short paragraph than most complete articles out there.


15 posted on 12/01/2009 5:25:22 AM PST by Tolik
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To: jazusamo

Dr. Sowell is saying that the emperor is naked. Off with his head!


16 posted on 12/01/2009 5:30:41 AM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: jttpwalsh

Dr. Williams could give him a run for his money, and possibly win, if only because Williams has a better sense of humor. :)


17 posted on 12/01/2009 6:20:31 AM PST by sig226 (Bring back Jimmy Carter!)
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To: Hound of the Baskervilles; Jim Robinson
This Romney post is spam. Quit it.
Jim Robinson put it there.

Speaking as one who (see my tagline) does not favor Governor Romney, I will be glad when Jim decides to stop doing it. Bound to happen January, you would think - and maybe before, so that the fundraising tool will be effective.

But, rank has its privileges - so we'll just see what happens.


18 posted on 12/01/2009 9:12:10 AM PST by conservatism_IS_compassion (DRAFT PALIN)
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To: jazusamo
No one likes to admit having been played for a fool. So it will probably take a mushroom cloud over some American city before some Obama supporters wake up. Even so, the true believers among the survivors will probably say that this was all George Bush's fault.

He's nailed MSNBC with this one.

19 posted on 12/01/2009 1:03:07 PM PST by YankeeReb
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To: WilliamofCarmichael
I've wondered the same thing from time to time. Does that make me brilliant also?

Nah!

20 posted on 12/01/2009 2:20:08 PM PST by Don Carlos ("Fart Proudly" - B. Franklin. I've been flatulating for almost 70 years. Proud of every toot!)
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