Posted on 04/09/2012 9:10:55 AM PDT by jazusamo
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Random thoughts on the passing scene: How long do politicians have to keep on promising heaven and delivering hell before people catch on, and stop getting swept away by rhetoric? Why should being in a professional sport exempt anyone from prosecution for advocating deliberate violence? Recent revelations of such advocacy of violence by an NFL coach should lead to his banishment for life by the NFL, and criminal prosecution by the authorities. If you are serious about reducing violence, you have to be serious about punishing those who advocate it. Have you noticed that what modest economic improvements we have seen occurred during the much-lamented "gridlock" in Washington? Nor is this unusual. If you check back through history, doing nothing has a far better track record than that of politicians intervening in the economy. With all the talk about people paying their "fair share" of income taxes, why do nearly half the people in this country pay no income taxes at all? Is that their "fair share"? Or is creating more recipients of government handouts, at no cost to themselves, simply a strategy to gain more votes? Some people are puzzled by the fact that so much that is said and done by politicians seems remote from reality. But reality is not what gets politicians elected. Appearances, rhetoric and emotions are what get them elected. Reality is what the voters and taxpayers are left to deal with, as a result of electing them. Instead of following the tired old formula of having politicians and bureaucrats give college commencement speeches, in which they say how superior it is to follow a career as politicians and bureaucrats "public service" why not invite someone like John Stossel to tell the graduates how much better it is to go into the private sector, supplying what people want, instead of imposing the government's will on them? In politics, few talents are as richly rewarded as the ability to convince parasites that they are victims. Welfare states on both sides of the Atlantic have discovered that largesse to losers does not reduce their hostility to society, but only increases it. Far from producing gratitude, generosity is seen as an admission of guilt, and the reparations as inadequate compensations for injustices leading to worsening behavior by the recipients. Some people say that taxes are the price we pay for civilization. But the runaway taxes of our time are the price we pay for being gullible. Whatever the ideology or rhetoric of the political left, their agenda around the world has been preempting other people's decisions and regimenting their lives. People who believe in evolution in biology often believe in creationism in government. In other words, they believe that the universe and all the creatures in it could have evolved spontaneously, but that the economy is too complicated to operate without being directed by politicians. The United States now has the dubious distinction of having the highest corporate tax rate in the world. And people wonder why American corporations are expanding overseas, providing jobs to foreigners. The left may get their jollies attacking "the rich," but the real victims are other people, who want the jobs that are sent overseas to escape a hostile business climate at home. Different people prefer different exercises. The Republicans' favorite exercise is running for the hills. The Democrats' favorite exercise is kicking the can down the road. When politicians say, "spread the wealth," translate that as "concentrate the power," because that is the only way they can spread the wealth. And once they get the power concentrated, they can do anything else they want to, as people have discovered often to their horror in countries around the world. In an old Western movie, John Wayne encounters a black man. Wayne tells him, "I don't have a prejudiced bone in my body. I would shoot you as quick as I would shoot any white man." That is what equality is supposed to mean. |
This makes far too much sense, and is therefore to be rejected by the bulk of the populace.
“Smart” bombs should be called “Sowell” bombs because they, like him, are so on-target
” Different people prefer different exercises. The Republicans’ favorite exercise is running for the hills. The Democrats’ favorite exercise is kicking the can down the road.”
I see Tom has the Republican cowards in D.C. down cold : )
“The Republicans’ favorite exercise is running for the hills.” Sad but true. Nice to have an adult in the room for a change. Well said, Mr. Sowell.
The Left came to this exact conclusion many years ago and decided to hang their entire political future on the notion that helping the angry and downtrodden only produces more angry, downtrodden people. If you have the job title of "Helper of the Downtrodden" then you are set for life -- everything you do is guaranteed to fail and that very failure will convince people that you need more money and more power so that you can provide more "help".
bttt
Almost every sentence is a gem here. I really like this:
“People who believe in evolution in biology often believe in creationism in government. In other words, they believe that the universe and all the creatures in it could have evolved spontaneously, but that the economy is too complicated to operate without being directed by politicians.”
The occasional “Random Thoughts” articles by Dr. Sowell are some of my favorites. Thanks for the ping jaz.
So true...Hopefully a lot of those Republicans will read or hear of this piece but it’s doubtful that it would do much good.
Agreed, rqsr. I always look forward to the next “Random Thoughts.”
ping
I have a rule that if Dr. Sowell writes it, it is worth my time to read it (that rule applies to no one else except Mark Steyn). However, as I grow older it is humbling to me that even Dr. Sowell’s random thoughts are clearer, more powerful and far more logical than my well thought out and “purposely arrived at” thoughts.
It is a damn shame that this good and wise man is not younger and running for president.
But, perhaps it really doesn’t matter, because we now have the most ignorant electorate in the history of American elections. They don’t understand, they won’t listen and most of them don’t care.
I believe we have the most corrupt government and media our country has ever seen....and I don’t see anything changing for the better.
*****I would have voted for Newt.
People who believe in evolution in biology often believe in creationism in government. In other words, they believe that the universe and all the creatures in it could have evolved spontaneously, but that the economy is too complicated to operate without being directed by politicians.
On the back cover of The Quest for Cosmic Justice, one of the reviewers (I can’t remember who) says something to the effect that “the ratio of insights to words is very high with Dr. Sowell”. How very true.
I read them, so I get to accept them for what they truly are, Pearls of Wisdom.
I couldn't agree with you more. We have to elect decent people to the Senate and House before things will start to change and that will take much time if it happens.
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