Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 26, 2011
The ignorant leading the ignorant
Image via WikipediaRelated source » The Political Implications of Ignoring Our Own Ignorance — The American Magazine: 'via Blog this'
[This related source is recommended in its entirety.] h/t Newmark's Door
“ […] Instead of using government to consciously impose an institutional structure based on the maps of cognitively impaired individuals, I would prefer to see institutions evolve through a trial-and-error process. People can be “nudged” by all manner of social and religious customs. I would hope that the better norms and customs would tend to survive in a competitive environment. This was Hayek's view of the evolution of language, morals, common law, and other forms of what he called spontaneous order. In contrast, counting on government officials to provide the right nudges strikes me as a recipe for institutional fragility. If Kahneman is correct that we have “an almost unlimited ability to ignore our own ignorance,” then all of us are prone to mistakes. We need institutions that attempt to protect us from ourselves, but we also need institutions that protect us from one another. Limited government is one such institution.” [emphasis added]
— Arnold Kling, December 8, 2011 (american.com)
It's the default human condition. It's ubiquitous. It's the bane of civilization. "It" is, of course, ignorance.
Western Civilization continues to parry incessant attacks from seventh-century barbarism at our gates. But these attacks are, arguably, not the primary reason for the precarious state of our civilization. No, our biggest enemy comes from within our own midst. As Pogo observed decades ago: "We have met the enemy and he is us." Specifically, our enemy is ignorance. Even more to the point, our enemy is "ignoring our own ignorance".
Some of us, myself included, are at least willing to acknowledge our own ignorance with respect to the vast majority of knowledge extant. After decades of learning, the one thing that I have concluded with little doubt is how much I don't know. But compared to the dearth of knowledge and understanding commonly on display wherever one may inquire, it is downright frightening what that proverbial man-on-the-street doesn't know or comprehend. Far more frightening, however, is the certainty with which people express their opinions about such complex topics as the economy, world history, the differences between politics and the making of sausage (virtually none), and many other disciplines.
And, as if that were not bad enough, the corrosiveness of ignorance is made exponentially more intense when embodied by those whom we empower to devise and implement national policy. Consider the punishment to our national well-being dispensed by such ignoramuses as Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Joe "BFD" Biden, and the like.
Finally, take Barack Obama (Please!). As President of the United States he is undoubtedly the most influential individual in the world. Moreover, he has a distorted opinion of his own infallibility, and together with his demonstrable ability to persuade others of his (largely unsupported) intelligence, he is the perfect storm of misguided and pernicious actions having hugely negative consequences for our society.
What a revolting development his election has proven to be.
Post 1,744 The ignorant leading the ignorant
Western Civilization continues to parry incessant attacks from seventh-century barbarism at our gates. But these attacks are, arguably, not the primary reason for the precarious state of our civilization. No, our biggest enemy comes from within our own midst. As Pogo observed decades ago: "We have met the enemy and he is us." Specifically, our enemy is ignorance. Even more to the point, our enemy is "ignoring our own ignorance".
Some of us, myself included, are at least willing to acknowledge our own ignorance with respect to the vast majority of knowledge extant. After decades of learning, the one thing that I have concluded with little doubt is how much I don't know. But compared to the dearth of knowledge and understanding commonly on display wherever one may inquire, it is downright frightening what that proverbial man-on-the-street doesn't know or comprehend. Far more frightening, however, is the certainty with which people express their opinions about such complex topics as the economy, world history, the differences between politics and the making of sausage (virtually none), and many other disciplines.
And, as if that were not bad enough, the corrosiveness of ignorance is made exponentially more intense when embodied by those whom we empower to devise and implement national policy. Consider the punishment to our national well-being dispensed by such ignoramuses as Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Joe "BFD" Biden, and the like.
Finally, take Barack Obama (Please!). As President of the United States he is undoubtedly the most influential individual in the world. Moreover, he has a distorted opinion of his own infallibility, and together with his demonstrable ability to persuade others of his (largely unsupported) intelligence, he is the perfect storm of misguided and pernicious actions having hugely negative consequences for our society.
What a revolting development his election has proven to be.
Post 1,744 The ignorant leading the ignorant
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
My Modest Proposal
• Labels:
It is all relative,
POTUS
 |
| Image via Theo |
Related source » Is Iran The Key to Obama's Reelection?: 'via Blog this'
[This related source is recommended in its entirety.]
“Now, in light of these statements recently made by Defense Secretary Panetta, I am adding e) a successful US-led operation would virtually guarantee Obama’s reelection.”
— Dan Friedman, 20 December 2011 (theospark.net)
The single most ominous scenario that is gaining on Western civilization is a nuclear-armed Iran. Hence, I am persuaded to declare that if President Obama launches a preemptive strike, coordinated with the IAF, against Iran's capacity to acquire nuclear weapons, I will vote to reelect him for a second term. I hasten to add that I would not vote for this arguably worst President in American history under any other circumstances; I would sooner vote for a yellow dog and then sit in traffic, naked, eating glass.
In the event that Obama does launch such a strike, I believe he would gain a sufficient swing in support from people like myself to guarantee his reelection. In that case we would have to rely on a Republican House to minimize the collateral damage from his lame-duck administration.
If you doubt my sincerity in this instance, then, as god is my witness, I give my word of honor that I would keep my end of this proposed bargain. And, needless to say, my word, as well as that of millions of others, is far more reliable than the word of our dear leader.
Post 1,742 My Modest Proposal
In the event that Obama does launch such a strike, I believe he would gain a sufficient swing in support from people like myself to guarantee his reelection. In that case we would have to rely on a Republican House to minimize the collateral damage from his lame-duck administration.
If you doubt my sincerity in this instance, then, as god is my witness, I give my word of honor that I would keep my end of this proposed bargain. And, needless to say, my word, as well as that of millions of others, is far more reliable than the word of our dear leader.
Post 1,742 My Modest Proposal
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Saturday, December 17, 2011
To hell and NOT back
["To Hell and Back" is the war memoir of Audie Murphy, most decorated American soldier of World War II.]
Cover of To Hell and Back
Cover of To Hell and BackRelated source » Watching The Wheels Come Off The Green Machine - Forbes: 'via Blog this'
[This related source is recommended in its entirety.] h/t Craig Newmark
“ […] One of the key tenets of activist government is that the failures of central planning can always be solved with more central planning, just as failed spending programs can be fixed with more spending. All it takes is the will to reallocate resources from the private sector to the state, along with the courage to forge ahead no matter how many failures pile up. President Obama has made this approach the centerpiece of his “We Can’t Wait” campaign, issuing a stream of executive orders to demonstrate his leadership abilities. Leadership, indeed. But to where?” [emphasis added]
— Bill Frezza, 11/29/2011 (forbes.com)
Leadership to where? Undoubtedly to hell and not back! What a revolting development the so-called "Obama experiment" has led to. This great hope of the insufferable left has left: our economy in shambles; our citizenry polarized; our enemies emboldened; our allies abandoned; and the fabric of our great nation distressed. Obama is the Anti-President, and the left clings to him come hell or high water. So much for slowing the rise of the sea levels.
Obama's activist administration (i.e., industrial strength social-engineering via confiscatory and re-distributive fiscal policy) has bludgeoned an already weak economy into near-death. His immoral boot-licking of petty autocratic scumbags has emboldened, rather than given pause, to the likes of Iran's I'madinnerjacket. His rudeness towards America's few remaining loyal allies has bewildered and angered most political opponents, who had initially given him the benefit of the doubt. And what has he deigned to show for all that? Why the bravery of our Navy Seals, who managed to kill the biggest scumbag of the new century, despite the short shrift given our armed forces by our Commander-(from the rear)-in-Chief.
I still have faith in the yeoman core of America's can-do spirit. I believe the left's days of self-destructive activity are numbered. Hopefully, a year from now, we will be looking forward to a new chapter in the history of humanity's last best hope, as we finally douse this blighted experiment in irrational exuberance.
Post 1,740 To hell and NOT back
Obama's activist administration (i.e., industrial strength social-engineering via confiscatory and re-distributive fiscal policy) has bludgeoned an already weak economy into near-death. His immoral boot-licking of petty autocratic scumbags has emboldened, rather than given pause, to the likes of Iran's I'madinnerjacket. His rudeness towards America's few remaining loyal allies has bewildered and angered most political opponents, who had initially given him the benefit of the doubt. And what has he deigned to show for all that? Why the bravery of our Navy Seals, who managed to kill the biggest scumbag of the new century, despite the short shrift given our armed forces by our Commander-(from the rear)-in-Chief.
I still have faith in the yeoman core of America's can-do spirit. I believe the left's days of self-destructive activity are numbered. Hopefully, a year from now, we will be looking forward to a new chapter in the history of humanity's last best hope, as we finally douse this blighted experiment in irrational exuberance.
Post 1,740 To hell and NOT back
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Friday, December 9, 2011
Plain Speaking from Wild Bill for America
Image via Wikipedia'via Blog this' [h/t Theo]
I get the feeling that all the erudite explanations for the dismal performance of the Obama Administration are not getting through to many Americans who have a hard time figuring things out for themselves. Well, maybe it's time for a little Truman-like plain speaking.
The above video tells you all you need to know to clean up the god-awful mess created by the Obama presidency.
Post 1,738 Plain Speaking from Wild Bill for America
The above video tells you all you need to know to clean up the god-awful mess created by the Obama presidency.
Post 1,738 Plain Speaking from Wild Bill for America
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
December 7, 1941: Pearl Harbor Attacked!
• Labels:
Remembrance,
Vengeance Is Mine
Image via WikipediaA date which will live in infamy …
Related source » Pearl Harbor Attack Remembered at 70th Anniversary
[This related source is recommended in its entirety.]
— December 07, 2011 | Associated Press
Sunday, December 4, 2011
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