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Random Thoughts (Thomas Sowell)
Townhall.com ^ | November 10, 2009 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 11/09/2009 9:01:38 PM PST by jazusamo

If politicians stopped meddling with things they don't understand, there would be a more drastic reduction in the size of government than anyone in either party advocates.

It was fascinating to see Barack Obama warning us not to leap to conclusions about the killings at Fort Hood, Texas-- after the way he leaped to conclusions over the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, when he knew less about the facts than we already know about the massacre at Fort Hood.

My first column, more than 30 years ago, was titled "The Profits of Doom." Recent news stories about the millions of dollars that Al Gore has made out of his "global warming" hysteria suggest that some things haven't changed much in three decades.

Although the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation backs up bank accounts, a recent audit suggests that the FDIC does not have enough money in its own account to do its job. No doubt more money will be printed in Washington if necessary. But what this means is that even the record-breaking federal deficit understates the government's real financial liabilities, because agencies like FDIC and the Federal Housing Authority are likely to need increased amounts of money to keep going.

An e-mail from a reader says that liberals like to take the moral high ground, even though their own moral relativism means that there is no moral high ground.

I doubt whether the man responsible for the massacre at Fort Hood will pay with his life for the lives that he took. He may well be free again someday. We can only hope that he does not get a hero's welcome when he arrives in some terror-sponsoring country, the way the Lockerbie bomber did.

A recent study by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights showed that, after the housing boom and bust, blacks, whites, Hispanics, Asian Americans and American Indians all reduced their subprime mortgage loans. Only politicians seem not to have learned anything from the economic disaster, and to persist in the reckless policies that brought it on.

Baseball has too many close plays and too many judgment calls to have wholesale instant replay that could add hours to a game. However, there is no reason why there can't be some device to show automatically whether any part of a ball went over any part of the plate, before an umpire can call it a strike. How wide the strike zone is shouldn't depend on what umpire is behind the plate.

Among the many infirmities of age is omniscience.

What I most remember about the late Irving Kristol, aside from his wisdom-- which is much rarer among intellectuals than one might expect-- was that I never saw him angry, either in person or in the media. And he lived in a time when there was much to be angry about. Those of us who are getting along in years are unlikely to see another like him, and even those who are younger will be lucky if they do.

No statement is more unnecessary than the statement that the government should "do something" about some issue. Politicians are going to "do something," whether or not something needs to be done, and regardless of whether what they do makes matters better or worse. All their incentives are to keep themselves in the public eye.

There is no point dwelling on all the foolish mistakes we have made in our lives. For one thing, it can be very time-consuming.

One of the few advantages to the country in having Congress overwhelmingly in the hands of one party is that the lack of need to compromise lets the leaders of that party reveal themselves for what they are-- in this case, people with unbounded arrogance and utter contempt for the right of ordinary people to live their lives as they see fit, much less the right to know as citizens what laws are going to be passed by their government. The question is whether voters will remember on election day in 2010.

Even if this country can survive intact and unharmed after the Obama administration-- or, heaven help us, two terms of Obama-- the gullibility that led to his being elected in the first place will still be there for some other slick demagogue to come along and get the power to put the American way of life, and even our physical safety, at risk again.


TOPICS: Editorial; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: randomthoughts; sowell; thomassowell
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1 posted on 11/09/2009 9:01:39 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
The “Costs“ of Medical Care: Part IV
The “Costs“ of Medical Care: Part III
The “Costs“ of Medical Care: Part II

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

2 posted on 11/09/2009 9:03:07 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
An e-mail from a reader says that liberals like to take the moral high ground, even though their own moral relativism means that there is no moral high ground.

Oooooooh. I like that one. Must commit that one to memory.

3 posted on 11/09/2009 9:05:01 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. -- Texas Eagle)
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To: jazusamo
The question is whether voters will remember on election day in 2010.

It's hard to say. Some shiny object might distract them.

4 posted on 11/09/2009 9:06:26 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (:: The government will do for health care what it did for real estate. ::)
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To: jazusamo

doubt whether the man responsible for the massacre at Fort Hood will pay with his life for the lives that he took. He may well be free again someday. We can only hope that he does not get a hero’s welcome when he arrives in some terror-sponsoring country, the way the Lockerbie bomber did.
_________________________________________________

There is that...


5 posted on 11/09/2009 9:06:46 PM PST by Tennessee Nana
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To: jazusamo
It was fascinating to see Barack Obama warning us not to leap to conclusions about the killings at Fort Hood, Texas-- after the way he leaped to conclusions over the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, when he knew less about the facts than we already know about the massacre at Fort Hood.

Equally fascinating after the way he expressed "disgust" and "outrage" at the killing of abortionist Dr. Tiller.

He didn't even preface his condemnation with a "shout-out" to someone in the audience.

6 posted on 11/09/2009 9:07:46 PM PST by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all. -- Texas Eagle)
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To: jazusamo

It was fascinating to see Barack Obama warning us not to leap to conclusions about the killings at Fort Hood, Texas— after the way he leaped to conclusions over the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, when he knew less about the facts than we already know about the massacre at Fort Hood.


7 posted on 11/09/2009 9:08:06 PM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
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To: Texas Eagle; george76

BUMP!


8 posted on 11/09/2009 9:13:52 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

9 posted on 11/09/2009 9:16:32 PM PST by PhilDragoo (Hussein: Islamo-Commie from Kenya)
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To: jazusamo
"Among the many infirmities of age is omniscience."

More than a few teenagers are afflicted with that infirmity too. Thanks as always Jazusamo.

10 posted on 11/09/2009 9:17:22 PM PST by VR-21 (Down to the stones, where old ghosts play.)
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To: PhilDragoo

That nails it, Phil!


11 posted on 11/09/2009 9:18:22 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: Texas Eagle

We must not jump to conclusions about Obama... “cough”


12 posted on 11/09/2009 9:20:15 PM PST by ConfidentConservative (I think, therefore I am conservative.)
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To: Texas Eagle

“Among the many infirmities of age is omniscience.”

I liked that one, especially since we have all been thru the teenage years when we knew everything. Only when we got into the middle years did we begin to question our God-like knowledge of the truth of life.


13 posted on 11/09/2009 9:22:15 PM PST by Rembrandt
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To: jazusamo
The following Thomas Sowell quote is still my all time favorite:

"People who pride themselves on their "complexity" and deride others for being "simplistic" should realize that the truth is often not very complicated. What gets complex is evading the truth."

14 posted on 11/09/2009 9:23:27 PM PST by NurdlyPeon (Sarah Palin: Americas last, best hope for survival.)
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To: NurdlyPeon

That’s so true as well as a reflection of Dr. Sowell in his thinking and writing.


15 posted on 11/09/2009 9:25:34 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

As usual, Obama acted stupidly.


16 posted on 11/09/2009 9:34:24 PM PST by P-Marlowe (LPFOKETT GAHCOEEP-w/o*)
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To: jazusamo
The question is whether voters will remember on election day in 2010

I think they will. After all, the dems have such a huge majority in congress now because of the misbehavior of Republicans. People were so fed up they over-swung to the left (and now they have voters remorse). Had Repubs not squandered their chances the Pelosi bill would never seen the light of day.

17 posted on 11/09/2009 9:34:43 PM PST by phredo53 (Caution: This post does not comply with White House standards.)
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To: Texas Eagle
He didn't even preface his condemnation with a “shout-out” to someone in the audience.<<

And what u don't see about that “shout-out” is..Dr Joe Medicine Crow was not a “MEDAL OF HONOR” recipient......He was a “Medal of Freedom” winner.....which obama himself awarded in August.....You'd think he'd know the difference...Can u imagine if Bush had made that mistake????
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/mike-bates/2009/11/06/obama-gives-shout-out-congressional-medal-honor-winner-who-isnt

18 posted on 11/09/2009 10:10:15 PM PST by M-cubed (Why is "Greshams Law" a law?)
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To: jazusamo; hiredhand; Squantos; NFHale
There is no point dwelling on all the foolish mistakes we have made in our lives. For one thing, it can be very time-consuming.

priceless...

19 posted on 11/09/2009 10:25:29 PM PST by Gilbo_3 (Gov is not reason; not eloquent; its force... Like fire, a dangerous servant & master. GW)
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To: jazusamo
One of the few advantages to the country in having Congress overwhelmingly in the hands of one party is that the lack of need to compromise lets the leaders of that party reveal themselves for what they are-- in this case, people with unbounded arrogance and utter contempt for the right of ordinary people to live their lives as they see fit, much less the right to know as citizens what laws are going to be passed by their government.

Another keeper.
Thank you Dr. Sowell.

20 posted on 11/09/2009 10:49:59 PM PST by Publius6961 (Â…he's not America, he's an employee who hasn't risen to minimal expectations.)
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