Freedom Means Responsibility

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Friday, March 7. 2008

Freedom Means Responsibility

George McGovern at the WSJ. I can't believe my ears:

Since leaving office I've written about public policy from a new perspective: outside looking in. I've come to realize that protecting freedom of choice in our everyday lives is essential to maintaining a healthy civil society.
Why do we think we are helping adult consumers by taking away their options? We don't take away cars because we don't like some people speeding. We allow state lotteries despite knowing some people are betting their grocery money. Everyone is exposed to economic risks of some kind. But we don't operate mindlessly in trying to smooth out every theoretical wrinkle in life.

(Sorry - had the wrong piece earlier.)

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 09:12 | Comments (42) | Trackbacks (0)

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And I voted for that idiot back then. I guess I must have been an idiot too. I wonder what was going through my head, besides dope and brew.

#1 sean on 2008-03-07 09:39 (Reply)

Give Georgie Porgie some time, like maybe 30 years if he has them, and maybe he'll come around. If you saw his editorial about freedom and responsibility in today's WSJ, it seems he's had an epiphany concerning some libertarian matters.

#2 KRW on 2008-03-07 09:46 (Reply)

KRW..

When was this cited to you?

"If I may quote what hath been quoted to me...

"Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for."
#14.1.1.1.1 KRW on 2008-03-07 09:01

also please explain this Non sequitur:

"I'd post more often on this blog, but the level of interesting discussion here deteriorates pretty quickly.

The hick/cayjun/whatever lingo is cute the first couple of posts you read, but over time it's just irritating to read and loses its intended impact. Or at least with me it does . Perhaps you could consider moderating, but perhaps you like it. WTH, it's your blog.
#26 KRW on 2008-03-05 17:59 (Reply)

followed later by this:

Sheesh, what an overreaction to a perceived overreaction. "kool aide", "miss prissy", and the inevitable "Third Reich"...looks like a lib blog.

OK, Roger Wilco. Just wont read 'em, but that's what I wasn't (was?) doing in the first place . Hence my point. But don't ask why some people don't post more often here.
#30.1.1 KRW on 2008-03-06 07:44 (Reply)

You are either misstating the facts of your reading habits or are intentionally misrepresenting the facts. In the 3-5-08 at 17:59 your claim is that which is highlighted, stating that you DO READ THEM, (the Hick stuff)

In your 3-6-08 at 07:44 your claim is that you weren't reading them. That is a neat trick ..to do and not to do.....KRW you're a mess in attempting to sully this site. At least attempt to stay somewhere near the facts of what you do or don't do ...or are the facts unimportant?
#14.1.1.1.1.2 Habu on 2008-03-07 10:47 (Reply)

#2.1 Habu on 2008-03-07 10:52 (Reply)

An sheerly yil bee yur pynt-staup!
an sheerly al bee myn!
An will tak a cup o kyndnes yet,
fir ald lang syn.

#2.1.1 KRW on 2008-03-07 14:50 (Reply)

Yep, that would probably be my answer too when faced with that bit of non sequitur..

#2.1.1.1 Habu on 2008-03-07 15:53 (Reply)

To the management:

The management of this blog clearly abrogated it's responsibility in keeping abreast of a nasty ongoing problem. If they were unaware that is damning enough, if they were aware and did not aid in it's resolution by research , that too is damning.
They must have the ability to search their own archives and find the "missing link", the damning quote I purportedly made but that effort was not forthcoming despite my pointing it out to them.

This one act could have put to rest the question without the non response of Dr. Mercury. To me it was an astonishing repudiation of their responsibility to uphold their own mission statement. Perhaps their delight in seeing whatever they were seeing in an uptick in exposure blinded them, who knows.

I beat the drum long enough and loudly enough to get a response from them but to no avail. They could have been a big part of solving the problem but chose to let it fester while posting more threads on bird migration. Priorities.

I wish them great success in finding an entertaining ornithologist who can span the length and probe the depths of those they might lose as contributors. Maybe a Thursday tribute to Dr. Mercury would be fitting , given his untouchable character. And that justanotheroldhousewife or whoever she was looks like a beacon of fresh ideas and penetrating insight.

In any event as I look to the left border I see thier competition, which is only a very small portion of what's out there... They're all looking for fresh contributors. Finally some centuries old wisdom for the management that allowed this calumny to grow without resolution.

" Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;
'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;
But he that filches from me my good name
Robs me of that which not enriches him,
And makes me poor indeed."

Iago in Shakespears Othello

Recent post script: you obviously don't recognize that Dr. Mercury has enlisted the aid of agent provocateurs to roil the harmony here. One KRW is full throated in a forum not of his nature but rather to despoil that which exists here. Ah yes,

"Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend" Chairman Mao

#3 Habu on 2008-03-07 10:08 (Reply)

A bit of a tangent, but I wanted to note the passing of a pleasant synchronicity. Last night�s entertainment was an audio presentation of Othello. It features a full cast of actors performing the player�s parts with accompanying commentary (if you choose). This is my first time listening to Shakespeare, rather than reading or viewing stage productions or movies. It�s great fun.

The evenings reading was of Act 3, and the quote you�ve offered here stood out quite brilliantly. I made note of it then, and now here it is a lovely synchronicity.

�Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, Is the immediate jewel of their souls: Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing; 'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him And makes me poor indeed.�

-Othello, Act 3 scene 3
-Bill S.

Of course, Shakespeare was an inveterate plagiarist. Perhaps he has �borrowed� from God.

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

-Proverbs 22:1
-God

But what a plagiarist! William was such a cunning linguist. He put flesh on bones and resurrected the dead; by his pen so many words were born-again. And by my faith, God was pleased.

Thanks Habu, for the charming experience.

#3.1 Jephnol on 2008-03-07 12:45 (Reply)

cunning linguist indeed!
:-D

#3.1.1 buddy larsen on 2008-03-07 12:55 (Reply)

was it the bard that said the difference between a hen and a lawyer is that the hen clucks defiance? Naaawww....

#3.1.1.1 buddy larsen on 2008-03-07 12:57 (Reply)

Ah, Shakespearean spoonerisms. My favorite!

#3.1.1.1.1 Jephnol on 2008-03-07 14:17 (Reply)

It isn't often I'm mentioned in a post alongside Chairman Mao.

Fame is where you find it, I guess. :)

Habu: By "non-response", I gather you meant I didn't follow up a comment thread. Sorry, I rarely look over comment threads after I leave one of my belaboured missives. The word says "Comment" and that's what one is supposed to do. Debating things back and forth is for forums.

If you're referring to your now-infamous "trough" quote, do a search in the nav bar for "celebrity candidate"; it's down near the bottom of the page. Personally, as flames go, I thought it exhibited the height of classiness. Said it all, but without resorting to juvenile smears and cuss words.

It was still a pronounced case of CDS on the entire site's part, though, and if you REALLY want to hear something galling, consider that I've now got Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh on my side. Heh.

Wouldn't that have been a great prediction a year ago?

"I predict that a year from today, both Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh will be endorsing Mrs. Clinton."

The mind reels.

Back to the subject at hand, it appears to be a day of startling quotes. I read the McGovern quote is the WSJ this morning with the same slack-jawed look that BD had, and I'm sure most of the Lefties who inhabit Boingboing.net were stunned to see this on William F. Buckley:
____________________________________________

Buckley famously smoked marijuana � after sailing his boat outside the U.S. territorial limits, where it would no longer be illegal. Finally at the age of 78, Buckley wrote an editorial for the National Review decrying the war on pot.

"Legal practices should be informed by realities," Buckley argued, citing 700,000 pot arrests each year, 87% of which involved only possession of small amounts. "This exercise in scrupulosity costs us $10-15 billion per year in direct expenditures alone."

But would America ever rise up and demand a change in marijuana laws?

"It is happening, but ever so gradually. Two of every five Americans, according to a 2003 Zogby poll cited by Dr. Nadelmann, believe 'the government should treat marijuana more or less the same way it treats alcohol: It should regulate it, control it, tax it, and make it illegal only for children'. The Dutch do odd things, but here they teach us a lesson."

Buckley's position was unexpected [to these guys it sure was! -Ed], but it offered an honorable example of his real commitment to intellectualism. He began his essay by writing that "Conservatives pride themselves on resisting change, which is as it should be. But intelligent deference to tradition and stability can evolve into intellectual sloth and moral fanaticism, as when conservatives simply decline to look up from dogma because the effort to raise their heads and reconsider is too great."
__________________________________________

So, a Lefty site is highlighting a Righty, a Righty site is highlighting a Lefty, Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh are endorsing Hillary Clinton and Habu is quoting Chairman Mao.

And the day is still young. :)

#4 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2008-03-07 11:03 (Reply)

Dr. Merc, i hadn't heard, until you mentioned it a few times above, that Rush Limbaugh & Ann Coulter have endorsed Hillary for president.

I had heard, though, that they were endorsing her party-primary contest against Obama.

As you know, a primary inside a political party, and a general election for president, are two wildly different things.

As such, one might want to mention, in any discussion of the two pundits' positions, that distinction.

#4.1 buddy larsen on 2008-03-07 11:34 (Reply)

First off the Chairman Mao was referring to KRW. Are you one and the same?

Secondly, I appreciate you locating "down near the bottom of the page" the famous "trough quote" but the search returns 128 responses...care to narrow it down since you've discovered the "lost Dutchman and give me a date and time stamp on it?

When found and digested I will then cut off my typing finger and drop head first into the trough.

#4.2 Habu on 2008-03-07 12:40 (Reply)

McGovern ran a small hotel or restaurant after retirement and that really opened his eyes. He has written pieces before about poor union behavior, minimum wage etc.

My wife has gotten the incredulouse looks here in CT when she reveals she's a Republican. People ask how you could possibly do that. I tell her to respond that all you have to do is work for your self and you will rapidly see how little most government programs do for you and how much they want to squeeze you dry!

#5 Dave Moelling on 2008-03-07 11:15 (Reply)

I'll say -- she's so right -- nothing like owning and running a small biz to clue you to what the dead hand of gov't excess can do to thwart the invisible hand of a market for the actual people. try a regulated biz within easy driving distance of an agency HQ sometime -- whew -- every agent who wants out of the office will be out drinking your coffee so often you can't get any work done.

#5.1 buddy larsen on 2008-03-07 11:48 (Reply)

To H:

Yikes. I can neither shepherd every comment nor manage every interaction. We all have day jobs here, milking the chickens and feeding the cows and so forth.

If we made a living off this blog, it might be different.

#6 BD on 2008-03-07 11:39 (Reply)

Ann Coulter has endorsed Clinton, but with a sly smirk on her face. I'm pretty sure that when the time comes she will not be able to vote for her.
If you listen to Rush for more than 5 min., you will see it's as Buddy says, Rush supports Clinton only to keep the Dem race alive. This way the Dems can bring out the worst in each other. Also, he can't see McCain tangling with either Dem. so he's hoping the Dems will destroy each other for him.
Hope your accusation against Habu is more accurate than your statements about Rush and Coulter, Dr M.

#7 sean on 2008-03-07 11:51 (Reply)

Dr M,
You are correct, it does say comments. Why do you then, on occasion, treat it as a forum. Is this a case of situational selectivity to avoid the reality that comments can also be responses? Or do yo subscribe to the stand alone, never reponded to "comment?"

Seems as if you want your cake and eat it too. But you would never resort to that, would you?

#8 Habu on 2008-03-07 13:11 (Reply)

OK FOLKS DR. MERCURY GOT ME.......

Dr.
When you eat do you use a knife,fork, and spoon or just go face first into the trough?
#4.1 Habu on 2007-07-20 18:27

So at this point an apology is in order. I am loathe to offer it and would do so in 4 point type if offered, but it is deserved. The genesis of my loathing is that a persona I find totally repugnant bested me. That is always a a putrid state of being, so I've been told.

But Dr. M, I don't recall a response to my "trough " question. I'm betting the latter is the regnant choice. It seems to fit so well.

So light up the victory cigar DM. Do a victory lap. Hope for a myocardial infarction.!!

#9 Habu on 2008-03-07 15:04 (Reply)

I knew a guy just like Dr. Mercury. He called out his own name during orgasm.

#10 Meta on 2008-03-07 15:14 (Reply)

SHAME on you, meta!
:-D

#10.1 buddy larsen on 2008-03-07 15:31 (Reply)

Ann and Rush are "endorsing" Hillary the same way that Neal Boortz is and a whole bunch of other people that would just love to see the Dems cat-fight for the next few months. Let's not get too hung up in semantics. No, none of them are going to vote for her, promise.

"I'd post more often on this blog, but the level of interesting discussion here deteriorates pretty quickly." - KRW

The average blog comments thread stays on-topic for 3.2 messages. I've made a study of this, and it's right around 3.2, possibly less. So if you think comment threads should stay on-topic, then "deteriorates" is probably a pretty good word.

Habu:

"First off the Chairman Mao was referring to KRW. Are you one and the same?"

I said "alongside", that's all.

"Why do you then, on occasion, treat it as a forum."

But I don't. A forum is where people discuss things back and forth. A comments area is where you spit out your two cents' worth and move on to the next article. There's certainly nothing wrong with coming back to the comment thread later and dickering over something, but it's an incredible waste of time. Note that, after more than a year of us both jabbering away here in the comments, this is the first time we've ever talked.

Well, okay, second.

"When found and digested I will then cut off my typing finger and drop head first into the trough."

I see you beat me to it. I just whipped up a TinyURL for you.

What worries me is that you said "finger", singular, whereas most people use at least two fingers, which would give you a spare after the fingerotomy.

The problem is that you wrote one of the eloquent, moving things I'd read in months a while back, and I'd miss that.

Practice using your nose. :)

#11 Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2008-03-07 15:52 (Reply)

Comment/forum/ a distinction without a difference in the blogsphere.

Funny you should mention two fingers. I have on my wall in my gym several pictures, one of which is Steve McQueen (I don't know how old you are so that may mean nothing to you) from his movie LeMans..he is in his drivers suit holding up two fingers in the V formation. However the explanation and sign he is conveying to his rival is not of victory but that he has the two fingers ancient archers used. If archers were captured in battle their fingers were cut off, so McQueen is saying "I am still a capable foe"...either that or it's one damn big booger.
Now, fork,spoon or trough?

#11.1 Habu on 2008-03-07 16:06 (Reply)

What?! Love is in the air and it isn't even spring yet!

L'amour!

http://www.globalorgasm.org/

#12 Jephnol on 2008-03-07 16:01 (Reply)

Jephnol,

Sorry to have been wrong and involved you kind folks in a losing kerfuffle. I'll be more careful with a longer fuse in the future. It's only a blogsite...but thanks so much for the support.

Habu

#13 Habu on 2008-03-07 16:09 (Reply)

It would be a good idea if commenters did not get personal here. I don't think it encourages more commenters.

#13.1 BD on 2008-03-07 16:50 (Reply)

Sorry Mister, posted before I saw this.

#13.1.1 Jephnol on 2008-03-07 17:23 (Reply)

Can you seperate the wheat from the tare?

#13.1.2 Jephnol on 2008-03-07 17:32 (Reply)

What an odd comment considering you, one of this blog's five or six hosts, were called on several times for help in this matter. When a blog implodes, it behooves the hosts to step in to help calm things down. Coming in after the fact to criticize the faithful peons who rock the blog doesn't exactly engender new commentary.

#13.1.3 Meta on 2008-03-07 19:56 (Reply)

Habu,

But chill my friend, there's nothing here uncommon to man just as there�s nothing new under the sun. How much easier is it to exercise passion than patience? How much easier is it to deny the truth than reveal our own fault? It�s our human nature that causes us to strive with one another, (which is why you and I know strong men are needed to guard the gates). Better we know our nature and are armed to use it well.

Besides, who doesn�t like a bar clearing brawl every now and then?

#13.2 Jephnol on 2008-03-07 17:20 (Reply)

You're right. You'd think I'd mellow out a bit but I'm a type "A" with a minors in attitude and aggression.

Believe it or not I have actually improved a wee bit over the years....hell the big bad site, Rottweiller something and the South African Kim du Toit both couldn't handle my critiques, and I was using nice language........I just challenged them and they didn't like it..I noticed those who fawned over those two guys sites had no problem but it was also like watching the little dog following Spike the bulldog, always saying "yeah Spike you're right"

I'm glad you're around to call me on things..Buddy is a great guy also in offering calming words, although as an oilman I figure if I was closer both you guys might task sjambok me.

#13.2.1 Habu on 2008-03-07 18:08 (Reply)

well, it IS a blogsite, mostly for fun natch -- so it's all good, whether wright OR rong at any given juncture.

#13.2.1.1 buddy larsen on 2008-03-07 19:20 (Reply)

And thus the point I think. Fun... wherever it may lead.

#13.2.1.1.1 Luther McLeod on 2008-03-07 19:55 (Reply)

Buddy has the sjambok. All I have is an old bull whip hanging around.

#13.2.1.2 Jephnol on 2008-03-07 22:18 (Reply)

Mass apologies all around but can we please forgo the group hug?

ALSO big news: Habu LLC Cayman Islands is offering a rebate for those who hung with Habu through the "trough incident".

If you make it to the Caymans get to the First Bank of the GuernseyTelephone Box. Dial "O" and wait.
Your rebate will arrive shortly.

#14 Habu on 2008-03-07 17:10 (Reply)

Much like SCOTUS defining exactly what pornography is, attempting to give a definitive meaning to geek or geekdom is difficult.

There was a time when the plastic pocket protector was a sure sign of the condition, and if an excess of Brylcreme was evident then bingo ..you had a geek sighting. But now we're in the computer age and things have changed, but I believe I just identified a new species of geek..how could this happen on a blog? ...read on

"The average blog comments thread stays on-topic for 3.2 messages. I've made a study of this , and it's right around 3.2, possibly less. So if you think comment threads should stay on-topic, then "deteriorates" is probably a pretty good word."
Dr. Mercury (Link) on 2008-03-07 15:52

Yes folks there it is. An admission by a contributor that he made a STUDY of the on-topic messages in a thread....

"Hey Ms. may I buy you a drink and we can discuss the 3.2 on-topic messages in a thread"

"Sure just let me turn my hearing aid down"

#15 Habu on 2008-03-07 17:27 (Reply)

Habu, I don't want a rebate from the Cayman Islands Just send me that Springfield Armory XD .45 4 inch barrel. Thank you very much!!!!

#15.1 jappy on 2008-03-07 19:23 (Reply)

if that .45 don't work out, pick up one of these:

http://tinyurl.com/2w8v4a

#15.1.1 buddy larsen on 2008-03-07 21:27 (Reply)

LOL -- Custer to bystander in heaven: "psst, didja see that cheap-looking tomahawk Crazy Horse brained me with?"

#15.2 buddy larsen on 2008-03-07 19:24 (Reply)

Buddy, whats up with the :-D at the end of some of your posts. Is that my grade on the exam you gave today? I'm pissed cause the guy I had take it for me is Dumber than me. Have a nice weekend. Can I do a do over?

#15.2.1 jappy on 2008-03-07 20:30 (Reply)

jappy, well, this is America, so you get all the second chances you want up to oh say a few dozen. That little :-D is 'spose to be a laughing face -- tho true if you look at it long enough it begins to resemble a colon, dash, and capital D -- much like those big billowing silver faces and animals in the sky, if you look at 'em just right, resemble clouds.
:-D

#15.2.1.1 buddy larsen on 2008-03-07 21:16 (Reply)

Last couple of days been good!
:-P
:

#15.2.1.1.1 Jephnol on 2008-03-07 22:27 (Reply)

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Friday, March 7. 2008

Freedom Means Responsibility