Sowell: Random Thoughts

Creators Syndicate ^ | November 26, 2013 | Thomas Sowell

[jazusamo]

Random thoughts on the passing scene:

They say that man cannot control the weather. But every time I buy photographic equipment, it rains.

Who says that there is no difference between the political parties? When Democrats are criticized, they counter-attack. When Republicans are criticized, they whine that they are innocent.

We all enter the world knowing nothing but, by the time we are teenagers, we know it all. Sometimes it is decades later before we know enough to realize how little we know.

Nothing is called "second-hand" any more, except "second-hand smoke." Why is it not called "pre-owned" smoke?

Civil rights used to be about treating everyone the same. But today some people are so used to special treatment that equal treatment is considered to be discrimination.

Some people seem to think that we live in more "liberated" times, when all that has happened is that one set of taboos has been replaced by another and more intolerantly enforced set of taboos.

If people had been as mealy-mouthed in centuries past as they are today, Ivan the Terrible would have been called Ivan the Inappropriate.

Sometimes you need a vacation just to recover from all the preparations you made before going on vacation.

Why would a boxer agree to a match in another boxer's home town?

Whatever the political benefits of making decisions by committees, the need for consensus virtually guarantees the lowest common denominator. A bipartisan committee with people of widely differing views has to paper over these differences and issue mushy pieties, like those of the Baker-Hamilton report on Iraq.

[driftless2]

I think he’s making a snide comment about conductors...leading to old question about the need for them at the concerts.

[driftless2]

Sowell was one of the first social scientists who challenged conventional "wisdom" on a variety of issues. Back in the '70 when he appeared on Buckley's "Firing Line" (my first experience with Sowell) and dismissed discrimination as a reason for black failure, he was maligned or ignored by the national media who wanted to hear a black professional say it's all whitey's fault for black failure.

Sowell has never failed to say the obvious...like in his recent column about black crime. The fact that most Americans have never heard of Sowell is a national tragedy.

[BradyLS]

“Through CDs, they can now enjoy the music without having to watch the antics and rituals of classical concerts.”

I’m curious; what “antics and rituals”?

I thought he was being sarcastic.

[TheOldLady]

Thank you, Jaz. Dr. Sowell’s Random Thoughts columns are my favorites. They kind of tease me, because on some of them, I wish he would expound, but I enjoy them anyway.

[krunkygirl]

Yeah, much as I thought I liked him,
this guy is trying my patience!

kg/nancy

[jazusamo]

Amen TOL, I always look forward to his next Random Thoughts.

[geologist]

Dr. Sowell does get us thinking, and that is the whole idea. We are so accustomed to TV commentary we fail to consider the reality or truth of whether it is accurate or simply bias brain washing.

Our children’s schooling is now deliberately teaching them biased information. NOT truth, not good.

We are like sheep following over the edge of cliffs. MO

Thank you, Dr Sowell for your continuing stable good sense.