Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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    Monday, April 29. 2013

    Re-posted because the speech is so interesting: Charles Murray discusses American civic culture

    Do not miss this speech - it is fascinating video: The State of White America. It's 60+ info-packed minutes. Murray is like a statistically-armed de Toqueville for our time. I needed to hear it twice. The guy is delightful to listen to.


    It's not really about politics, but he does mention American principles, American Exceptionalism, and what is required for a self-governing citizenry. "Self-governing," of course, has a dual meaning.


    A lot of it is about class and "social capital" in America.


    One quote from him: "The upper middle class seems to be keeping all the good stuff to itself: religion, marriage, morality, civic and social engagement, industriousness, and long work hours..." 


    Another: "The federal government can be accused of confusing itself with the rooster who believes that his crowing is what makes the sun rise..."


    Another: "Marriage civilizes men." (Yes, the gals do try, don't they? And we guys fight back, pathetically, by not shaving on Saturday morning.)


    Another useful phrase: "The people who makes things more difficult for their fellow citizens..."


    All very interesting and relevant. I don't care much about class, college degrees, or elitism, but I do care about integrity, responsibility, curiosity, industriousness, and a number of other character traits. And of course I do care about traditional American culture and the work ethic. Like Murray, I do not buy into the European "relaxation" ethic and the aspiration for a stress-free life: humans are not cattle, and cannot have dignity or pride without being productive or constructive in whatever ways they can find. Anybody can make themselves useful if they want to.

    Posted by Bird Dog at 12:40 | Comments (16) | Trackbacks (2)

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    Class, Social Capital, and Character Traits
    Like some other readers, I found Charles Murray's presentation fascinating, last month. I have been thinking about it. As I commented then, sociologists tend not to discuss psychology. A good rule of thumb is that a person's character traits - personali
    Weblog: Maggie's Farm
    Tracked: Jun 10, 09:12
    A Lecture Worth Watching
    I saw this linked over at Maggie's Farm and decided to give it a look. Despite the video's title - The State of White America - Charles Murray's lecture it is not about race but about culture and increasing...
    Weblog: Weekend Pundit
    Tracked: Apr 30, 22:59

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