ELSEWHERE
An email from a born-in-Seattle reader: "More silliness in Seattle is on display as Seattle refuses to punish lawbreakers and votes to dump a law that impounded cars from people who had their licenses suspended. The newspaper headline is a classic, "City Council votes to dump unpopular impound law." I'm sure the law was unpopular with it's criminal targets. The argument used to oppose the law is a real head turner, "opponents said the law amounts to economic injustice because it treats violators who pay tickets better than those who do not, regardless of the public danger posed by both groups of drivers." The Seattle Council takes another step in the direction of creating another dysfunctional city".
Peggy Noonan: "Fast Eddy Doctorow told a story at the commencement all right, and it is a story about the boorishness of the aging liberal. An old '60s radical who feels he is entitled to impose his views on this audience on this day because he's so gifted, so smart, so insightful, so very above the normal rules, agreements and traditions. And for this he will get to call himself besieged and heroic -- a hero about whom stories are told! -- when in fact all he did was guarantee positive personal press in the elite media"
Amazing. The fat filmic slob is in favour of school choice: "Every parent wants to do what's best for their child. Whatever I can afford, I'm going to get my kid the best education I can get" More on Moore on the Adam Smith blog.
"Neocon" nonsense: "Although there are notable exceptions, many European commentators and much of the public are resorting to conspiratorial theories to explain the direction of U.S. foreign policy and somehow overlook the fact that American public opinion runs in favor of the president's handling of foreign affairs. Perhaps more important, however, they overlook the deep historical roots of the current direction of American foreign policy. It is not driven by a "neocon cabal." Rather, it is that certain individuals associated with the neoconservative label have been particularly articulate in expressing a set of policies that flow from two ideas that resonate deeply in American public opinion. The first is a belief that the United States has a responsibility to spread its vision of individual liberty. The second is that the primary and perhaps exclusive task of the federal government is to protect its citizens from external threats".
Carnival of the Vanities is up again -- blessedly free of strained attempts at humour this time.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left cannot face the fact that the American intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq is fundamentally humanitarian. The most effective response to the 9/11 events and the one in America's own best interests would have been a retaliatory strike using nukes to take the whole of Afghanistan off the map -- followed by a threat that Mecca would go sky high if there were any further Islamic attacks on the USA or its allies. That would have made Islam a religion of peace overnight. But GWB rightly rejected that easy road because it would have involved the death of millions of innocents. He chose instead to go after just the bad guys -- an extremely difficult task. And its difficulty is causing continuing American deaths in Iraq to this day. But Americans have always given their blood in order to be humane. They did it in two world wars and in Vietnam and they are doing it now in the Middle East. The only alternative strategy that the Left have is to do nothing -- thus inviting more and more attacks.
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
THE NOT SO SHEEPISH LAMBERT
Tim Lambert is a computer maven at the University of N.S.W. -- where I spent most of my teaching career many long years ago. He seems to have an obsession with catching out John Lott Jr. on gun-usage statistics and he has an occasional blog which seems to be mostly devoted to that. He does also however takes some interest in other scientific issues such as climate change. He has sent me copies of several of his past posts that I have not linked to because I thought that they were too intemperate. Not much light is generated by arguing with an angry man, in my view, and I think all conservative bloggers have to get used to ignoring rage-filled emails from Leftists. Leftists are very good at rage. It seems to be their principal emotion. I did nonetheless address on this blog what substance I could see in Lambert's various posts. Being a terrible tease from way back, however, I deliberately posted here recently another quotation from Lott. I wanted to see what heights of wrath Lambert might rise to this time. Sure enough, another email from Lambert popped into my inbox shortly thereafter. He seems to be learning, however, as his comment this time is principally factual. So, although I am no expert at all on the matter, I thought I might make a few comments on some of the points Lambert raises -- in case John Lott Jr. does not see fit to do so (I could say more about Lambert's whole post but I think that would be too tedious).
Lambert accuses Lott of selective use of statistics but almost any use of statistics has to be selective so the only interesting question is whether alternative selections of statistics show substantially different results. Lambert presents statistics to show that Australia's 1996 gun-control laws have been beneficial. He disputes Lott's claim that serious crime has risen since then. What Lambert's alternative statistics show to me, however, is more a pattern of no change than anything else. Deaths by firearm are surely the biggest issue but Lambert's table shows that the average rate of murder with a firearm before the bans was 0.37 compared with .30 after the bans -- with the figures in most individual years being .20 plus or .30 plus. Given statistical error and the range of influences which could have affected the averages concerned, the bans would seem to have achieved nothing significant -- a very poor result considering the vast expense in money and the significant loss of liberties associated with the bans. I note too that even the slight difference in averages observed seems to have been largely the result of a single very anomalous year in 1997 -- making the averages used a poor guide to any underlying trend. I think that for trend calculating purposes it would in fact be most appropriate to exclude both 1996 and 1997 -- and when one does that the "before and after" difference becomes very small indeed: .31 versus .28. The differences for other gun crimes also seem to be too small to assert a real underlying difference. And even Lambert admits a lack of a clear pattern when he notes that the "assault-with-firearm rate has increased". So Lott's statistical selection shows ill effects from the firearm ban and Lambert's selection shows no clear effect. It seems to me therefore that NEITHER set of statistics support the ban.
Lambert also weighs in on the global warming debate with a critique of another author who says that you can show either global warming or global cooling according to what set of statistics you use. Lambert makes some reasonable criticisms of the statistics which were alleged to show global cooling and recalculates the statistics concerned in a more orthodox way. His conclusion? "When analysed correctly, their data shows neither warming or cooling, regardless of which average is used". In other words, contrary to the Greenies, the earth is NOT warming up. That certainly fits in with all that I know on the subject! I must quote him on that again sometime.
****************************************
Tim Lambert is a computer maven at the University of N.S.W. -- where I spent most of my teaching career many long years ago. He seems to have an obsession with catching out John Lott Jr. on gun-usage statistics and he has an occasional blog which seems to be mostly devoted to that. He does also however takes some interest in other scientific issues such as climate change. He has sent me copies of several of his past posts that I have not linked to because I thought that they were too intemperate. Not much light is generated by arguing with an angry man, in my view, and I think all conservative bloggers have to get used to ignoring rage-filled emails from Leftists. Leftists are very good at rage. It seems to be their principal emotion. I did nonetheless address on this blog what substance I could see in Lambert's various posts. Being a terrible tease from way back, however, I deliberately posted here recently another quotation from Lott. I wanted to see what heights of wrath Lambert might rise to this time. Sure enough, another email from Lambert popped into my inbox shortly thereafter. He seems to be learning, however, as his comment this time is principally factual. So, although I am no expert at all on the matter, I thought I might make a few comments on some of the points Lambert raises -- in case John Lott Jr. does not see fit to do so (I could say more about Lambert's whole post but I think that would be too tedious).
Lambert accuses Lott of selective use of statistics but almost any use of statistics has to be selective so the only interesting question is whether alternative selections of statistics show substantially different results. Lambert presents statistics to show that Australia's 1996 gun-control laws have been beneficial. He disputes Lott's claim that serious crime has risen since then. What Lambert's alternative statistics show to me, however, is more a pattern of no change than anything else. Deaths by firearm are surely the biggest issue but Lambert's table shows that the average rate of murder with a firearm before the bans was 0.37 compared with .30 after the bans -- with the figures in most individual years being .20 plus or .30 plus. Given statistical error and the range of influences which could have affected the averages concerned, the bans would seem to have achieved nothing significant -- a very poor result considering the vast expense in money and the significant loss of liberties associated with the bans. I note too that even the slight difference in averages observed seems to have been largely the result of a single very anomalous year in 1997 -- making the averages used a poor guide to any underlying trend. I think that for trend calculating purposes it would in fact be most appropriate to exclude both 1996 and 1997 -- and when one does that the "before and after" difference becomes very small indeed: .31 versus .28. The differences for other gun crimes also seem to be too small to assert a real underlying difference. And even Lambert admits a lack of a clear pattern when he notes that the "assault-with-firearm rate has increased". So Lott's statistical selection shows ill effects from the firearm ban and Lambert's selection shows no clear effect. It seems to me therefore that NEITHER set of statistics support the ban.
Lambert also weighs in on the global warming debate with a critique of another author who says that you can show either global warming or global cooling according to what set of statistics you use. Lambert makes some reasonable criticisms of the statistics which were alleged to show global cooling and recalculates the statistics concerned in a more orthodox way. His conclusion? "When analysed correctly, their data shows neither warming or cooling, regardless of which average is used". In other words, contrary to the Greenies, the earth is NOT warming up. That certainly fits in with all that I know on the subject! I must quote him on that again sometime.
****************************************
ELSEWHERE
The North Carolina News & Observer has an article by a sociologist explaining why VOLUNTARY segregation of blacks and whites is somehow wrong. It's all the usual Leftist theorizing except for one bit of research that is quoted misleadingly: "no one has managed to demonstrate -- and people have tried really hard -- that there's any connection between that genetic marker for skin color and any of the things we observe as differences between races". That's just evasion of course. Who needs to look at correlates of the genetic marker for skin colour when they can look at skin colour itself -- and that has PLENTY of connections to other things -- crime-rate, for example. And there is almost a century of scientific evidence to show that the lower intelligence of blacks is genetically inherited. But who expects anything but propaganda from a Leftist sociologist? The real reasons for voluntary segregation -- that whites flee black crime and that people in general (black, white or brindle) tend to like best those people who are most similar to themselves -- were not mentioned. The real reasons would never have made it into print, I guess.
Conservative Australian film-critic and economist Paddy McGuinness has a few choice words about Michael Moore's win at Cannes. He even has a picture of himself accompanying the article -- a lot slimmer than when I met him years ago but still weighty. He starts out: "Who ever imagined that the big prizewinners in the international film industry would be fat, hairy slobs?"
Students rebel against arrogant Leftist preacher: "E.L. Doctorow, one of the most celebrated writers in America, was nearly booed off the stage at Hofstra University Sunday when he gave a commencement address lambasting President George W. Bush and effectively calling him a liar.... Those lines provoked an outburst of boos so loud the "Ragtime" author stopped the speech. Rabinowitz approached the podium and called for calm. "We value open discussion and debate," he said. "For the sake of your graduates, please let him finish." Some students and most of the faculty responded with a standing ovation.." (Via Norm Weatherby).
China Hand has just put up some more posts. He sees developments in Taiwan and Hong Kong as worrying.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left cannot face the fact that the American intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq is fundamentally humanitarian. The most effective response to the 9/11 events and the one in America's own best interests would have been a retaliatory strike using nukes to take the whole of Afghanistan off the map -- followed by a threat that Mecca would go sky high if there were any further Islamic attacks on the USA or its allies. That would have made Islam a religion of peace overnight. But GWB rightly rejected that easy road because it would have involved the death of millions of innocents. He chose instead to go after just the bad guys -- an extremely difficult task. And its difficulty is causing continuing American deaths in Iraq to this day. But Americans have always given their blood in order to be humane. They did it in two world wars and in Vietnam and they are doing it now in the Middle East. The only alternative strategy that the Left have is to do nothing -- thus inviting more and more attacks.
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
The North Carolina News & Observer has an article by a sociologist explaining why VOLUNTARY segregation of blacks and whites is somehow wrong. It's all the usual Leftist theorizing except for one bit of research that is quoted misleadingly: "no one has managed to demonstrate -- and people have tried really hard -- that there's any connection between that genetic marker for skin color and any of the things we observe as differences between races". That's just evasion of course. Who needs to look at correlates of the genetic marker for skin colour when they can look at skin colour itself -- and that has PLENTY of connections to other things -- crime-rate, for example. And there is almost a century of scientific evidence to show that the lower intelligence of blacks is genetically inherited. But who expects anything but propaganda from a Leftist sociologist? The real reasons for voluntary segregation -- that whites flee black crime and that people in general (black, white or brindle) tend to like best those people who are most similar to themselves -- were not mentioned. The real reasons would never have made it into print, I guess.
Conservative Australian film-critic and economist Paddy McGuinness has a few choice words about Michael Moore's win at Cannes. He even has a picture of himself accompanying the article -- a lot slimmer than when I met him years ago but still weighty. He starts out: "Who ever imagined that the big prizewinners in the international film industry would be fat, hairy slobs?"
Students rebel against arrogant Leftist preacher: "E.L. Doctorow, one of the most celebrated writers in America, was nearly booed off the stage at Hofstra University Sunday when he gave a commencement address lambasting President George W. Bush and effectively calling him a liar.... Those lines provoked an outburst of boos so loud the "Ragtime" author stopped the speech. Rabinowitz approached the podium and called for calm. "We value open discussion and debate," he said. "For the sake of your graduates, please let him finish." Some students and most of the faculty responded with a standing ovation.." (Via Norm Weatherby).
China Hand has just put up some more posts. He sees developments in Taiwan and Hong Kong as worrying.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left cannot face the fact that the American intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq is fundamentally humanitarian. The most effective response to the 9/11 events and the one in America's own best interests would have been a retaliatory strike using nukes to take the whole of Afghanistan off the map -- followed by a threat that Mecca would go sky high if there were any further Islamic attacks on the USA or its allies. That would have made Islam a religion of peace overnight. But GWB rightly rejected that easy road because it would have involved the death of millions of innocents. He chose instead to go after just the bad guys -- an extremely difficult task. And its difficulty is causing continuing American deaths in Iraq to this day. But Americans have always given their blood in order to be humane. They did it in two world wars and in Vietnam and they are doing it now in the Middle East. The only alternative strategy that the Left have is to do nothing -- thus inviting more and more attacks.
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
MEDICAL MADNESS
Bureaucrats from Mars: A female psychologist was punished by officialdom because she entered into a relationship with a convicted armed robber whom she had originally met in jail while she was a counsellor there. Why was that wrong? Because of the "vulnerability" of the armed robber. Let me repeat that: An armed robber was "vulnerable" and had to be "protected" from sex by the authorities! Clearly, it is the authorities who have lost all reality contact and who should be locked up for the safety of the public. And where is the Leftist outcry? The story has been going for ages so there was plenty of time for protest but I have heard of none. And "anything goes" seems to be the Leftist view of anything sexual. Why not in this case? But it is not of course "anything goes" when you are suspected of having some power. Power is the one unforgivable sin for Leftists and must be stamped on -- unless it is in their hands of course. I'll bet the poor woman concerned wishes she did have some power.
And how about the case of the pregnant woman who was told by THREE public hospital doctors that her baby was dead inside her, who refused her request for a scan and who then arranged to have the "remains" scraped out? Fortunately, the woman went and got a scan privately and found that the baby was perfectly OK. So, any disciplinary proceedings against the viciously negligent doctors concerned? No way! All they got was "counselling". See here (scroll down) and also my post of 6th.
More bankrupt socialized medicine: "France offers its citizens the best healthcare in the world, and it isn't only the French who will tell you so. The World Health Organization ranks France at the top of its list. The trouble is, the country cannot afford it. The French public health insurance scheme is heading for a $15.5 billion deficit this year, threatening to bankrupt the system. 'Our health system has gone mad,' Health Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told a parliamentary commission earlier this month. 'Profound reforms are urgent.'"
End the FDA! "Certainly one thing is clear and that is the FDA is far more harmful to our health than alternative medicine and supplements. It is time that the American people control their own health and medical choices with help from those in the medical field. ... It's time to end the FDA and turn over the power of medical choice to the American people. Since neither the Republicans nor Democrats will end this dangerous agency, the choice of who to vote for is clear."
"Cover the Uninsured Week" "Last week's national 'Cover the Uninsured Week' should have kicked off with a little honesty. The campaign is a coalition of over 100 groups that inundated Americans with advertisements, events, and pleas from former presidents and celebrity spokesmen 'to publicize the problem of allowing nearly 44 million Americans to live without health care coverage, and to highlight proposed solutions.' The first problem the coalition should have addressed is how it is misleading the public."
Can you have true health privacy? "Now some of the groups who previously supported federalizing health care and medical privacy are opposing the federal medical-privacy rule because they don't like how it applies to issues near and dear to them. And the problem with this rule -- as bad as it is now -- would only get worse with national health care, or a single-payer system."
The UK 14-year-old's 'secret' abortion shows that Left-leaning professionals now see Mum and Dad as the problem.
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Bureaucrats from Mars: A female psychologist was punished by officialdom because she entered into a relationship with a convicted armed robber whom she had originally met in jail while she was a counsellor there. Why was that wrong? Because of the "vulnerability" of the armed robber. Let me repeat that: An armed robber was "vulnerable" and had to be "protected" from sex by the authorities! Clearly, it is the authorities who have lost all reality contact and who should be locked up for the safety of the public. And where is the Leftist outcry? The story has been going for ages so there was plenty of time for protest but I have heard of none. And "anything goes" seems to be the Leftist view of anything sexual. Why not in this case? But it is not of course "anything goes" when you are suspected of having some power. Power is the one unforgivable sin for Leftists and must be stamped on -- unless it is in their hands of course. I'll bet the poor woman concerned wishes she did have some power.
And how about the case of the pregnant woman who was told by THREE public hospital doctors that her baby was dead inside her, who refused her request for a scan and who then arranged to have the "remains" scraped out? Fortunately, the woman went and got a scan privately and found that the baby was perfectly OK. So, any disciplinary proceedings against the viciously negligent doctors concerned? No way! All they got was "counselling". See here (scroll down) and also my post of 6th.
More bankrupt socialized medicine: "France offers its citizens the best healthcare in the world, and it isn't only the French who will tell you so. The World Health Organization ranks France at the top of its list. The trouble is, the country cannot afford it. The French public health insurance scheme is heading for a $15.5 billion deficit this year, threatening to bankrupt the system. 'Our health system has gone mad,' Health Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told a parliamentary commission earlier this month. 'Profound reforms are urgent.'"
End the FDA! "Certainly one thing is clear and that is the FDA is far more harmful to our health than alternative medicine and supplements. It is time that the American people control their own health and medical choices with help from those in the medical field. ... It's time to end the FDA and turn over the power of medical choice to the American people. Since neither the Republicans nor Democrats will end this dangerous agency, the choice of who to vote for is clear."
"Cover the Uninsured Week" "Last week's national 'Cover the Uninsured Week' should have kicked off with a little honesty. The campaign is a coalition of over 100 groups that inundated Americans with advertisements, events, and pleas from former presidents and celebrity spokesmen 'to publicize the problem of allowing nearly 44 million Americans to live without health care coverage, and to highlight proposed solutions.' The first problem the coalition should have addressed is how it is misleading the public."
Can you have true health privacy? "Now some of the groups who previously supported federalizing health care and medical privacy are opposing the federal medical-privacy rule because they don't like how it applies to issues near and dear to them. And the problem with this rule -- as bad as it is now -- would only get worse with national health care, or a single-payer system."
The UK 14-year-old's 'secret' abortion shows that Left-leaning professionals now see Mum and Dad as the problem.
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ELSEWHERE
Further to my recent comments about the neo-Nazi links of Noam Chomsky, there is a book online which documents the matter at great length. It also of course points out how distorted and dishonest are many of the purported "facts" that Chomsky trades in. Chomsky is Jewish and Jewish self-hatred is not a new phenomenon. It is perhaps an understandable response to a history of persecution. But in Chomsky it reaches really pathological heights. I guess he subconsciously hopes that "when they come for the Jews" they will pass him by. Or perhaps he just didn't like his Yiddisher Momma.
It has always seemed to me that Australian Leftists are in general much more conservative than their American counterparts and it somewhat confirms that to hear that Australian Labor Party leaders are resisting calls for homosexual marriage. Peter Beattie, Premier of my home State of Queensland, has made some pretty balanced comments on the matter. See here (scroll down).
Jeff Jacoby says that criticisms of the Patriot Act are hysterical and wrong -- and he makes his case by looking at what it actually says.
I have just put up here a few good paragraphs from Oriana Fallaci's new book which blame the present day aggressiveness of Islamic fundamentalism on the Left-weakened culture of the West.
Diary Date has a very funny letter up that SHOULD be for real. It is the sort of letter that might make "soft on terrorists" Leftists think. But don't hold your breath.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left cannot face the fact that the American intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq is fundamentally humanitarian. The most effective response to the 9/11 events and the one in America's own best interests would have been a retaliatory strike using nukes to take the whole of Afghanistan off the map -- followed by a threat that Mecca would go sky high if there were any further Islamic attacks on the USA or its allies. That would have made Islam a religion of peace overnight. But GWB rightly rejected that easy road because it would have involved the death of millions of innocents. He chose instead to go after just the bad guys -- an extremely difficult task. And its difficulty is causing continuing American deaths in Iraq to this day. But Americans have always given their blood in order to be humane. They did it in two world wars and in Vietnam and they are doing it now in the Middle East. The only alternative strategy that the Left have is to do nothing -- thus inviting more and more attacks.
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Monday, May 24, 2004
THE JOKE THAT IS AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION
Even the brighter kids learn only a small fraction of what they could. As for the rest .....
Where does the idiotic opposition to phonics come from? "Last week, President Bush met with researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who have identified successful reading-instruction methods that break words into sounds. For nearly a decade, however, districts have ignored such research, preferring to stick with traditional - and less-effective - reading instruction that expects students to memorize words. Today, many districts are switching to the NIH approach only because the federal government has offered $900 million in grants to encourage them to change". I guess that because phonics was the old-fashioned method of teaching reading, it HAD to be wrong in the minds of Leftist educational theorists. Too bad about many kids not learning to read at all the "correct" way.
Separating school and state: "Is anyone happy with the public schools? It seems not. Those with no financial stake in the schools have translated their unhappiness into various reform proposals, such as charter schools or voucher plans. Those who do have a stake in the current system -- the teachers' union, for example -- point to the schools' bad condition as a reason for the government to appropriate more money. Whichever way they lean, people generally believe that the schools are not doing what they are supposed to be doing."
Leave them behind? "The Arkansas Education Association (don't let the name fool you -- it's just our branch of the national teachers union) chose to welcome George W. Bush to the state the other day by urging the president to leave children behind. Naturally the AEA's spokesman didn't use those exact words. His boilerplate criticism of the administration's No Child Left Behind Act concentrated on the wrinkles that need to be ironed out in the law, not the whole fabric of accountability it has finally given American education."
"Philadelphia schools are typical of poor-quality big-city schools. Susan Snyder, Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer, in her article "District to Help Teachers Pass Test" (March 24, 2004) reported "that half of the district's 690 middle school teachers who took exams in math, English, social studies and science in September and November failed."... The unflattering fact that we must own up to is that many, perhaps most, of those who choose teaching as a profession represent the very bottom of the academic barrel". At that rate they are not even IN the academic barrel. And it's no surprise. Nobody with any choices would agree to stand up in front of an undisciplined rabble every day.
"At least 75 California teachers helped students cheat on standardized exams since a new testing program began five years ago, according to a newspaper report citing state documents. Incidents include teachers who gave hints by drawing on the blackboard or leaving posters on the wall, told students the right answers and changed the students' responses themselves, the Los Angeles Times reported, referring to documents obtained through a Public Records Act request." Smallest Minority has some comprehensive comments on THAT one.
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Even the brighter kids learn only a small fraction of what they could. As for the rest .....
Where does the idiotic opposition to phonics come from? "Last week, President Bush met with researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) who have identified successful reading-instruction methods that break words into sounds. For nearly a decade, however, districts have ignored such research, preferring to stick with traditional - and less-effective - reading instruction that expects students to memorize words. Today, many districts are switching to the NIH approach only because the federal government has offered $900 million in grants to encourage them to change". I guess that because phonics was the old-fashioned method of teaching reading, it HAD to be wrong in the minds of Leftist educational theorists. Too bad about many kids not learning to read at all the "correct" way.
Separating school and state: "Is anyone happy with the public schools? It seems not. Those with no financial stake in the schools have translated their unhappiness into various reform proposals, such as charter schools or voucher plans. Those who do have a stake in the current system -- the teachers' union, for example -- point to the schools' bad condition as a reason for the government to appropriate more money. Whichever way they lean, people generally believe that the schools are not doing what they are supposed to be doing."
Leave them behind? "The Arkansas Education Association (don't let the name fool you -- it's just our branch of the national teachers union) chose to welcome George W. Bush to the state the other day by urging the president to leave children behind. Naturally the AEA's spokesman didn't use those exact words. His boilerplate criticism of the administration's No Child Left Behind Act concentrated on the wrinkles that need to be ironed out in the law, not the whole fabric of accountability it has finally given American education."
"Philadelphia schools are typical of poor-quality big-city schools. Susan Snyder, Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer, in her article "District to Help Teachers Pass Test" (March 24, 2004) reported "that half of the district's 690 middle school teachers who took exams in math, English, social studies and science in September and November failed."... The unflattering fact that we must own up to is that many, perhaps most, of those who choose teaching as a profession represent the very bottom of the academic barrel". At that rate they are not even IN the academic barrel. And it's no surprise. Nobody with any choices would agree to stand up in front of an undisciplined rabble every day.
"At least 75 California teachers helped students cheat on standardized exams since a new testing program began five years ago, according to a newspaper report citing state documents. Incidents include teachers who gave hints by drawing on the blackboard or leaving posters on the wall, told students the right answers and changed the students' responses themselves, the Los Angeles Times reported, referring to documents obtained through a Public Records Act request." Smallest Minority has some comprehensive comments on THAT one.
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ELSEWHERE
More glories of socialized medicine: "Overseas-trained doctors who have failed primary school level English tests are working in Queensland hospitals. An outraged Liberal Party deputy leader Bruce Flegg told State Parliament this week that there were hundreds of foreign doctors who could speak little better than "broken English"... A secret internal report by Queensland Health's medical adviser for rural health services, Denis Lennox, said a growing number of overseas doctors were being rushed into Queensland public hospitals and private medical centres to cover serious shortages, but their lack of competence was putting patients, employers and the community at risk"
John Lott Jr.: "Crime did not fall in England after handguns were banned in January 1997. Quite the contrary, crime rose sharply.... Before the law, armed robberies had fallen by 50 percent from 1993 to 1997, but as soon as handguns were banned, the robbery rate shot back up, almost back to their 1993 levels. Australia has also seen its violent crime rates soar after its Port Arthur gun control measures in late 1996. Violent crime rates averaged 32 per cent higher in the six years after the law was passed (from 1997 to 2002) than they did the year before the law in 1996. The same comparisons for armed robbery rates showed increases of 45 percent."
Dictators has some amazing and amusing stuff about the craziness of Mao Tse Tung. Mao sounds just as self-contradictory as modern American "liberals". Surprise!
Bill Whittle has another one of his famous essays up -- this time putting Iraq in full perspective. James Delingpole in The Spectator has a good summary of why we are in Iraq too.
Wicked Thoughts has one of his rare political postings up today. Sometimes reality can be pretty funny too.
I recently posted here a substantial article on Leftist elitism. Leftists do sometimes however fervently claim not to be elitists. That is much less true of Greenies. They are fairly outspoken elitists. They often say quite openly that they want to get rid of much of the world's population -- with the implicit sequel that they will then be left in sole command of a pristine planet. They are emphatic that they know best. Just to give substance to that generalization, however, it seemed worthwhile to gather on the same site just the most recent posts from "Greenie Watch" and this blog that record Greenie elitist attitudes. See here.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
Note that I have just put up a new rubric below.
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The Left cannot face the fact that the American intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq is fundamentally humanitarian. The most effective response to the 9/11 events and the one in America's own best interests would have been a retaliatory strike using nukes to take the whole of Afghanistan off the map -- followed by a threat that Mecca would go sky high if there were any further Islamic attacks on the USA or its allies. That would have made Islam a religion of peace overnight. But GWB rightly rejected that easy road because it would have involved the death of millions of innocents. He chose instead to go after just the bad guys -- an extremely difficult task. And its difficulty is causing continuing American deaths in Iraq to this day. But Americans have always given their blood in order to be humane. They did it in two world wars and in Vietnam and they are doing it now in the Middle East. The only alternative strategy that the Left have is to do nothing -- thus inviting more and more attacks.
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
More glories of socialized medicine: "Overseas-trained doctors who have failed primary school level English tests are working in Queensland hospitals. An outraged Liberal Party deputy leader Bruce Flegg told State Parliament this week that there were hundreds of foreign doctors who could speak little better than "broken English"... A secret internal report by Queensland Health's medical adviser for rural health services, Denis Lennox, said a growing number of overseas doctors were being rushed into Queensland public hospitals and private medical centres to cover serious shortages, but their lack of competence was putting patients, employers and the community at risk"
John Lott Jr.: "Crime did not fall in England after handguns were banned in January 1997. Quite the contrary, crime rose sharply.... Before the law, armed robberies had fallen by 50 percent from 1993 to 1997, but as soon as handguns were banned, the robbery rate shot back up, almost back to their 1993 levels. Australia has also seen its violent crime rates soar after its Port Arthur gun control measures in late 1996. Violent crime rates averaged 32 per cent higher in the six years after the law was passed (from 1997 to 2002) than they did the year before the law in 1996. The same comparisons for armed robbery rates showed increases of 45 percent."
Dictators has some amazing and amusing stuff about the craziness of Mao Tse Tung. Mao sounds just as self-contradictory as modern American "liberals". Surprise!
Bill Whittle has another one of his famous essays up -- this time putting Iraq in full perspective. James Delingpole in The Spectator has a good summary of why we are in Iraq too.
Wicked Thoughts has one of his rare political postings up today. Sometimes reality can be pretty funny too.
I recently posted here a substantial article on Leftist elitism. Leftists do sometimes however fervently claim not to be elitists. That is much less true of Greenies. They are fairly outspoken elitists. They often say quite openly that they want to get rid of much of the world's population -- with the implicit sequel that they will then be left in sole command of a pristine planet. They are emphatic that they know best. Just to give substance to that generalization, however, it seemed worthwhile to gather on the same site just the most recent posts from "Greenie Watch" and this blog that record Greenie elitist attitudes. See here.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
Note that I have just put up a new rubric below.
********************************
The Left cannot face the fact that the American intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq is fundamentally humanitarian. The most effective response to the 9/11 events and the one in America's own best interests would have been a retaliatory strike using nukes to take the whole of Afghanistan off the map -- followed by a threat that Mecca would go sky high if there were any further Islamic attacks on the USA or its allies. That would have made Islam a religion of peace overnight. But GWB rightly rejected that easy road because it would have involved the death of millions of innocents. He chose instead to go after just the bad guys -- an extremely difficult task. And its difficulty is causing continuing American deaths in Iraq to this day. But Americans have always given their blood in order to be humane. They did it in two world wars and in Vietnam and they are doing it now in the Middle East. The only alternative strategy that the Left have is to do nothing -- thus inviting more and more attacks.
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Sunday, May 23, 2004
FROM BROOKES NEWS
Journalist accuses America of war crimes in Iraq The Bush-hating Brian Toohey accuses the US of murdering women and children in Fallujah who were then buried in a mass grave in the town's football stadium. This journalist also defends terrorist as resistance fighters.
A journalist who lied about Iraq abuses also lied about Vietnam Selective outrage and cold-blooded lying come naturally to fanatical leftists likeAlan Ramsey of the Sydney Morning Herald. He lied about Vietnam and now he's reprising his role for Iraq.
Ignorant journalist claims minimum wages wipe out poverty One of the most damaging myths in economics is that effective minimum wages raise living standards. By effective I mean minimum wage rates that are set above market clearing levels. A minimum wage rate set below the market rate is ineffective because those to whom it will apply will either already be on that rate or even above it.
Ancient wisdom, minimum wages and media ignorance The late Spanish Scholastic (1300 to about 1550) warned minimum wages would cause unemployment and poverty. They, unlike profound thinkers of Adele Horin's intellectual standing, knew that people would not be hired if their wage rates exceeded the value of their services.
Beijing makes its move in Latin America Beijing has been using Cuba's Fidel Castro as a means to subvert South America and Central America while President Bush has been waging war against terrorism
Details here
************************************
Journalist accuses America of war crimes in Iraq The Bush-hating Brian Toohey accuses the US of murdering women and children in Fallujah who were then buried in a mass grave in the town's football stadium. This journalist also defends terrorist as resistance fighters.
A journalist who lied about Iraq abuses also lied about Vietnam Selective outrage and cold-blooded lying come naturally to fanatical leftists likeAlan Ramsey of the Sydney Morning Herald. He lied about Vietnam and now he's reprising his role for Iraq.
Ignorant journalist claims minimum wages wipe out poverty One of the most damaging myths in economics is that effective minimum wages raise living standards. By effective I mean minimum wage rates that are set above market clearing levels. A minimum wage rate set below the market rate is ineffective because those to whom it will apply will either already be on that rate or even above it.
Ancient wisdom, minimum wages and media ignorance The late Spanish Scholastic (1300 to about 1550) warned minimum wages would cause unemployment and poverty. They, unlike profound thinkers of Adele Horin's intellectual standing, knew that people would not be hired if their wage rates exceeded the value of their services.
Beijing makes its move in Latin America Beijing has been using Cuba's Fidel Castro as a means to subvert South America and Central America while President Bush has been waging war against terrorism
Details here
************************************
ELSEWHERE
Ya gotta laugh! The latest idea of the obesity warriors: "Among the suggestions featured in the plan, which will not be legally binding, are... the development of video games powered by bicycle" The kids will love that one!
I post on this blog only a tiny fraction of the emails I receive but I think this one deserves an airing because of what it says about Leftist oppression: "I am absolutely enthralled by your article on the psychology of Leftism and so pleased I found it. It's like you KNOW the situation I'm in. I run a website in the UK, the simple purpose of which is to allow local residents in my area an open platform to express opinions and comment on what goes on locally, nationally and internationally. You would not believe the abuse targeted at me and the site from left-wingers, and the attempts they have made to undermine it and close it down - actually, having read your article I know you would believe it. It's as if you know the individuals concerned. They demonstrate precisely the behaviour and techniques you describe, to the lettter, especially labelling everyone as Nazis and accusing them of hatred. The frustrating irony is that the only hatred ever shown is by them and from them and it's directed at normal, ordinary, decent local residents who have the nerve to voice their honest and perfectly reasonable opinions. Strangely enough, while wearing their alleged compassion on their sleeves, they see no problem with attacking everyone at their most vulnerable points, including some of the old folk who contribute and who are dismissed with hurtful and disparaging remarks about their age. When some very sensible teenagers joined the site and expressed majority views out of step with left-thinking, they were targeted with unpleasant patronism and teasing, and I was accused of being a paedophile for allowing them to join the site".
The policeman's blog continues to be an amazing read. I won't even try to summarize it other than to say that politically-correct policing is even worse and more useless than you would have imagined.
The UN: A failed organization: "The U.N. recently passed another blatantly anti-Israel resolution in support of extremist Arab Palestinian claims. There is no longer any point in entering into any serious dialogue with this organization. In countless ways, over many years, the U.N. has proven to be a discredited organization, with lawless elements, which can no longer claim to have any moral standing. Very few of its 191 members can be counted upon to put principle ahead of crass expediency."
Make tax cuts permanent: "Some critics of the Bush administration charge the tax cuts have dramatically reduced government revenues, causing big long-term deficits that will hurt the economy by driving up interest rates. That, however, is a misguided argument -- not only because of a very weak relationship between deficits and interest rates, but also because historical budget data show tax revenues in future years will be at their historical average ... even if the Bush tax cuts are made permanent."
The multi-culti dictatorship: Apparently it is "harassment" to expose students and teachers to conservative viewpoints. You can only object to "white" racism, not Hispanic racism: "Complainants say they were repeatedly harassed by the math teacher.... Kehowski posted hundreds of Internet links relating to "racial hatred, intimidation and supremacy," with titles including "Mexicans Think U.S. Belongs to Them!" and "Mexican Double Standard"."
There is a good article here which documents at length how desperately the European Left hang on to their hatreds (of the USA and Israel mainly) and are supremely uninterested in the facts. It also shows how the lies of Noam Chomsky and Michael Moore play a large part in feeding the frenzy of European Leftist hate. I was unaware, too, how close the ties have been between Noam Chomsky and neo-Nazis. I guess shared hatreds explain it.
Free market environmentalism: "The most horrendous environmental disasters happened and are still happening in regions of the globe where public ownership of nearly everything is routine. China, Cuba, North Korea and less Draconian instances come to mind. Why would this be so? Well, the tragedy of the commons is a good answer, one that's been noticed from ancient times to the present: When things are owned in common, they tend to be neglected."
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Ya gotta laugh! The latest idea of the obesity warriors: "Among the suggestions featured in the plan, which will not be legally binding, are... the development of video games powered by bicycle" The kids will love that one!
I post on this blog only a tiny fraction of the emails I receive but I think this one deserves an airing because of what it says about Leftist oppression: "I am absolutely enthralled by your article on the psychology of Leftism and so pleased I found it. It's like you KNOW the situation I'm in. I run a website in the UK, the simple purpose of which is to allow local residents in my area an open platform to express opinions and comment on what goes on locally, nationally and internationally. You would not believe the abuse targeted at me and the site from left-wingers, and the attempts they have made to undermine it and close it down - actually, having read your article I know you would believe it. It's as if you know the individuals concerned. They demonstrate precisely the behaviour and techniques you describe, to the lettter, especially labelling everyone as Nazis and accusing them of hatred. The frustrating irony is that the only hatred ever shown is by them and from them and it's directed at normal, ordinary, decent local residents who have the nerve to voice their honest and perfectly reasonable opinions. Strangely enough, while wearing their alleged compassion on their sleeves, they see no problem with attacking everyone at their most vulnerable points, including some of the old folk who contribute and who are dismissed with hurtful and disparaging remarks about their age. When some very sensible teenagers joined the site and expressed majority views out of step with left-thinking, they were targeted with unpleasant patronism and teasing, and I was accused of being a paedophile for allowing them to join the site".
The policeman's blog continues to be an amazing read. I won't even try to summarize it other than to say that politically-correct policing is even worse and more useless than you would have imagined.
The UN: A failed organization: "The U.N. recently passed another blatantly anti-Israel resolution in support of extremist Arab Palestinian claims. There is no longer any point in entering into any serious dialogue with this organization. In countless ways, over many years, the U.N. has proven to be a discredited organization, with lawless elements, which can no longer claim to have any moral standing. Very few of its 191 members can be counted upon to put principle ahead of crass expediency."
Make tax cuts permanent: "Some critics of the Bush administration charge the tax cuts have dramatically reduced government revenues, causing big long-term deficits that will hurt the economy by driving up interest rates. That, however, is a misguided argument -- not only because of a very weak relationship between deficits and interest rates, but also because historical budget data show tax revenues in future years will be at their historical average ... even if the Bush tax cuts are made permanent."
The multi-culti dictatorship: Apparently it is "harassment" to expose students and teachers to conservative viewpoints. You can only object to "white" racism, not Hispanic racism: "Complainants say they were repeatedly harassed by the math teacher.... Kehowski posted hundreds of Internet links relating to "racial hatred, intimidation and supremacy," with titles including "Mexicans Think U.S. Belongs to Them!" and "Mexican Double Standard"."
There is a good article here which documents at length how desperately the European Left hang on to their hatreds (of the USA and Israel mainly) and are supremely uninterested in the facts. It also shows how the lies of Noam Chomsky and Michael Moore play a large part in feeding the frenzy of European Leftist hate. I was unaware, too, how close the ties have been between Noam Chomsky and neo-Nazis. I guess shared hatreds explain it.
Free market environmentalism: "The most horrendous environmental disasters happened and are still happening in regions of the globe where public ownership of nearly everything is routine. China, Cuba, North Korea and less Draconian instances come to mind. Why would this be so? Well, the tragedy of the commons is a good answer, one that's been noticed from ancient times to the present: When things are owned in common, they tend to be neglected."
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Saturday, May 22, 2004
LEFTIST "IDEALISM"?
Doc Rampage has just put up a long post devoted to explaining why Leftists and conservatives don't understand one-another. He says, basically, that Leftists are aiming to produce perfect people while conservatives see that as an impossible goal. I think he has been deceived by Leftist rhetoric. Everybody knows that perfection is in the eye of the beholder so what is perfect for me will be imperfect for someone else. Similarly, people will differ over what is a good society. Spaniards think bull-fighting is a good thing. Anglos generally do not. Who is to say whether Spanish or Anglo society is objectively better? Certainly not Leftists. They don't believe in any objective values, standards or morality anyway. How can they makes us "better" when they think "better" is meaningless?
And even when they DO appear to advocate some standards, Leftists are far from consistent about it (which means it is not a standard). If "tolerance" is good, for instance, why do they have no tolerance of gun-owners and various other disfavoured groups such as "rednecks", Christians, patriots etc? So why, then, are Leftists -- as Doc Rampage has rightly noticed -- always trying to "improve" us -- by force and coercion if necessary? The answer is psychological, not philosophical: It's just to make themselves appear to be good and caring and wise (mainly because they are not). Other than that they don't really care what happens at all. Only their emotions matter to them. As a certain ex-"liberal" has just expressed it: "Liberalism has no soul, no brain, and no backbone. It is a seething cauldron of emotion: hatred, envy, fear, anger, and guilt"
The said ex-"liberal" (KBJ) does -- of course -- get hate-mail from unrecontructed "liberals" (which rather confirms his characterization of them!) but I was relieved to see in this example that he is merely a "charleton". It would have been a real worry if he were a "charlatan"!
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Doc Rampage has just put up a long post devoted to explaining why Leftists and conservatives don't understand one-another. He says, basically, that Leftists are aiming to produce perfect people while conservatives see that as an impossible goal. I think he has been deceived by Leftist rhetoric. Everybody knows that perfection is in the eye of the beholder so what is perfect for me will be imperfect for someone else. Similarly, people will differ over what is a good society. Spaniards think bull-fighting is a good thing. Anglos generally do not. Who is to say whether Spanish or Anglo society is objectively better? Certainly not Leftists. They don't believe in any objective values, standards or morality anyway. How can they makes us "better" when they think "better" is meaningless?
And even when they DO appear to advocate some standards, Leftists are far from consistent about it (which means it is not a standard). If "tolerance" is good, for instance, why do they have no tolerance of gun-owners and various other disfavoured groups such as "rednecks", Christians, patriots etc? So why, then, are Leftists -- as Doc Rampage has rightly noticed -- always trying to "improve" us -- by force and coercion if necessary? The answer is psychological, not philosophical: It's just to make themselves appear to be good and caring and wise (mainly because they are not). Other than that they don't really care what happens at all. Only their emotions matter to them. As a certain ex-"liberal" has just expressed it: "Liberalism has no soul, no brain, and no backbone. It is a seething cauldron of emotion: hatred, envy, fear, anger, and guilt"
The said ex-"liberal" (KBJ) does -- of course -- get hate-mail from unrecontructed "liberals" (which rather confirms his characterization of them!) but I was relieved to see in this example that he is merely a "charleton". It would have been a real worry if he were a "charlatan"!
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ELSEWHERE
Japan goes for missile defence: "Japan is now thinking only to acquire a sophisticated missile defence system. This capacity will protect her against incoming missiles. In fact, Japan's Cabinet decided on December 19, 2003, to work with the United States to deploy a ballistic missile defence system (BMD). This decision is a significant shift from its "pacifist" stance and is likely to have far-reaching implications for security in the Asia-Pacific region. Until now, Japan's work on missile defence, spurred by North Korea's test of a long-range missile in 1998, has been limited to research and development. Under the plan, Tokyo will contribute 100 billion yen to acquire key US-made technologies, with a further 600 billion yen contribution expected over the next five years. Washington will provide substantial technological support for Tokyo's BMD project". It looks like they don't think that what the media calls "Star Wars" is so ridiculous.
More glories of socialized medicine: "Dozens of ambulances were left circling the streets yesterday after most of Sydney's hospitals were put on code red. Sixteen of the 24 emergency departments across the city were full and only accepting patients whose conditions were life-threatening. Tony O'Connell, in charge of improving patient flow through hospitals, said 32 ambulances were struggling to offload their patients after the hospitals went on code red from about 3.30pm to 4.45pm. And Mr O'Connell admitted the same problem had occurred the day before".
Bill's on our side! "Microsoft boss Bill Gates and the so-called Sage of Omaha, Warren Buffett, joined around 100 other luminaries this week in Microsoft's home town, Redmond, Washington, for the CEO Summit.... Much of the first day was taken up with web logs, commonly known as "blogs". Mr Gates didn't announce plans for his own web log, but his speech extolled the virtues of the online journals and related technologies".
Child abuse by the courts: "The judgement by a single judge of the Family Court approving sexual reassignment for a 13-year-old warrants review as it appears to be based on a lack of adequate medical evidence. There is a need for the State and Federal Attorneys-General to ensure that the case is assessed by a higher court, and to engage a more balanced selection of medical experts. Alex is 13 and suffers from a mental illness that causes her distress and anxiety and social dislocation. Her father, with whom she was close, died traumatically of a stroke. She has no contact with her mother who is remarried."
Leftist antisemitism becoming routine again: The magazine is Vancouver-based Adbusters, an often-subversive left-wing publication that made its name by opposing consumerism and advertising while supporting activism and anti-globalization efforts. In its March-April issue, it carried a piece by editor Kalle Lasn entitled 'Why Won't Anyone Say They Are Jewish?' in which he published a list of people he considers the 50 most influential neoconservatives in America and identified the Jews by putting an asterisk next to their names." Hitler's antisemitism too simply made him a normal Leftist of his day.
How surprising! -- NOT: "OutRage and Queer Youth Alliance went to the protest march at Trafalgar Square to show their support for people of Palestine. But they also urged the Palestinian Authority to halt the arrest, torture and murder of homosexuals. As soon as they arrived at the square to members of the two groups were surrounded by an angry, screaming mob of Islamic fundamentalists, Anglican clergymen, members of the Socialist Workers Party, the Stop the War Coalition, and officials from the protest organizers, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)."
Robert Musil has an amusing article on the mythical "man shortage" that many women past their first youth complain of. He has a story suggesting that the incredible fussiness of the women concerned is a major part of the problem. Feminists did tell them that they "could have it all", didn't they? Reality is not so accommodating. What man in his right mind would want to spend his life with a highly demanding woman anyway?
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Japan goes for missile defence: "Japan is now thinking only to acquire a sophisticated missile defence system. This capacity will protect her against incoming missiles. In fact, Japan's Cabinet decided on December 19, 2003, to work with the United States to deploy a ballistic missile defence system (BMD). This decision is a significant shift from its "pacifist" stance and is likely to have far-reaching implications for security in the Asia-Pacific region. Until now, Japan's work on missile defence, spurred by North Korea's test of a long-range missile in 1998, has been limited to research and development. Under the plan, Tokyo will contribute 100 billion yen to acquire key US-made technologies, with a further 600 billion yen contribution expected over the next five years. Washington will provide substantial technological support for Tokyo's BMD project". It looks like they don't think that what the media calls "Star Wars" is so ridiculous.
More glories of socialized medicine: "Dozens of ambulances were left circling the streets yesterday after most of Sydney's hospitals were put on code red. Sixteen of the 24 emergency departments across the city were full and only accepting patients whose conditions were life-threatening. Tony O'Connell, in charge of improving patient flow through hospitals, said 32 ambulances were struggling to offload their patients after the hospitals went on code red from about 3.30pm to 4.45pm. And Mr O'Connell admitted the same problem had occurred the day before".
Bill's on our side! "Microsoft boss Bill Gates and the so-called Sage of Omaha, Warren Buffett, joined around 100 other luminaries this week in Microsoft's home town, Redmond, Washington, for the CEO Summit.... Much of the first day was taken up with web logs, commonly known as "blogs". Mr Gates didn't announce plans for his own web log, but his speech extolled the virtues of the online journals and related technologies".
Child abuse by the courts: "The judgement by a single judge of the Family Court approving sexual reassignment for a 13-year-old warrants review as it appears to be based on a lack of adequate medical evidence. There is a need for the State and Federal Attorneys-General to ensure that the case is assessed by a higher court, and to engage a more balanced selection of medical experts. Alex is 13 and suffers from a mental illness that causes her distress and anxiety and social dislocation. Her father, with whom she was close, died traumatically of a stroke. She has no contact with her mother who is remarried."
Leftist antisemitism becoming routine again: The magazine is Vancouver-based Adbusters, an often-subversive left-wing publication that made its name by opposing consumerism and advertising while supporting activism and anti-globalization efforts. In its March-April issue, it carried a piece by editor Kalle Lasn entitled 'Why Won't Anyone Say They Are Jewish?' in which he published a list of people he considers the 50 most influential neoconservatives in America and identified the Jews by putting an asterisk next to their names." Hitler's antisemitism too simply made him a normal Leftist of his day.
How surprising! -- NOT: "OutRage and Queer Youth Alliance went to the protest march at Trafalgar Square to show their support for people of Palestine. But they also urged the Palestinian Authority to halt the arrest, torture and murder of homosexuals. As soon as they arrived at the square to members of the two groups were surrounded by an angry, screaming mob of Islamic fundamentalists, Anglican clergymen, members of the Socialist Workers Party, the Stop the War Coalition, and officials from the protest organizers, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)."
Robert Musil has an amusing article on the mythical "man shortage" that many women past their first youth complain of. He has a story suggesting that the incredible fussiness of the women concerned is a major part of the problem. Feminists did tell them that they "could have it all", didn't they? Reality is not so accommodating. What man in his right mind would want to spend his life with a highly demanding woman anyway?
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Friday, May 21, 2004
SOME ECONOMICS
US protectionists accuse economist of treason -- though he is of course a benefactor of U.S. taxpayers: "Sumner, an agricultural economist at the University of California at Davis, played a key role in an international trade case that is shaping up as one of the most significant defeats the United States has ever suffered on the trade front. An analysis that he wrote helped frame a preliminary decision issued two weeks ago by a World Trade Organization panel, which held that the federal subsidies paid to U.S. cotton farmers violate WTO rules because they cause overproduction, drive down world prices and impoverish farmers in developing countries". (See post of May 15th. The permalink is kaput).
How America came to dominate the phone business. America left it to the market. State control in countries such as France caused a much slower development of phone service there.
Indian Communists back globalization: "The communist leader of the Indian state of West Bengal, Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, is quoted by the New York Times as declaring that "Globalization is a must." More meaningfully, he succeeds in implementing some policies that encourage firms such as Mitsubishi and I.B.M. to invest in West Bengal".
Reality denial: "Current examples are many political commentators, as well as elected politicians, who frequently say the country went from surplus to deficit because of the Bush tax cuts. The deficit actually was caused by a large increase in government spending (voted for by majorities of both parties), which began at the end of the Clinton administration, and the recession was under way when President Bush took office."
No to outsourcing? You're sure? "What's the dirtiest word in the United States political dictionary these days? That's easy: 'outsourcing.' There's an ironic aspect to this fear of outsourcing. The U.S. happens to benefit a lot when consumers in foreign countries outsource their wants and needs to American companies. Take the example of 'copyrighted' products such as software, motion pictures, and sound recordings. The U.S. exports $90 billion US worth of these items each year."
"Yes, gas prices have spiked upwards by at least 30 percent in most local markets this year, and yes, it's infuriating to pay $2.00 a gallon to fill up the tank. And yes, higher oil prices are a significant tax on the U.S. economy -- given that we're the world's largest importer of crude. But prices, properly measured, are nowhere near their historical peak. In fact, the long-term trend in oil, gas, and electricity prices is downward, not upward."
************************************
US protectionists accuse economist of treason -- though he is of course a benefactor of U.S. taxpayers: "Sumner, an agricultural economist at the University of California at Davis, played a key role in an international trade case that is shaping up as one of the most significant defeats the United States has ever suffered on the trade front. An analysis that he wrote helped frame a preliminary decision issued two weeks ago by a World Trade Organization panel, which held that the federal subsidies paid to U.S. cotton farmers violate WTO rules because they cause overproduction, drive down world prices and impoverish farmers in developing countries". (See post of May 15th. The permalink is kaput).
How America came to dominate the phone business. America left it to the market. State control in countries such as France caused a much slower development of phone service there.
Indian Communists back globalization: "The communist leader of the Indian state of West Bengal, Buddhadev Bhattacharjee, is quoted by the New York Times as declaring that "Globalization is a must." More meaningfully, he succeeds in implementing some policies that encourage firms such as Mitsubishi and I.B.M. to invest in West Bengal".
Reality denial: "Current examples are many political commentators, as well as elected politicians, who frequently say the country went from surplus to deficit because of the Bush tax cuts. The deficit actually was caused by a large increase in government spending (voted for by majorities of both parties), which began at the end of the Clinton administration, and the recession was under way when President Bush took office."
No to outsourcing? You're sure? "What's the dirtiest word in the United States political dictionary these days? That's easy: 'outsourcing.' There's an ironic aspect to this fear of outsourcing. The U.S. happens to benefit a lot when consumers in foreign countries outsource their wants and needs to American companies. Take the example of 'copyrighted' products such as software, motion pictures, and sound recordings. The U.S. exports $90 billion US worth of these items each year."
"Yes, gas prices have spiked upwards by at least 30 percent in most local markets this year, and yes, it's infuriating to pay $2.00 a gallon to fill up the tank. And yes, higher oil prices are a significant tax on the U.S. economy -- given that we're the world's largest importer of crude. But prices, properly measured, are nowhere near their historical peak. In fact, the long-term trend in oil, gas, and electricity prices is downward, not upward."
************************************
ELSEWHERE
From the Sodakmonk: "I first noticed the (Left wing media) bias after Reagan was elected in 1980. My theory is that after Watergate, many libs became journalism majors as a way of advancing their political cause. They thought after Watergate that the Republican party would be a permanent minority. When Reagan swept into power in 1980 they couldn't believe it, and felt they had to correct what they saw as clearly a malfunction in our political system. That began their crusade." I think that the monk might have PART of the story there but I think that, in general, journalistic Leftism is just one instance of the Leftism that is to be expected of any elite group.
"The Democrats are the party of the elite. Consider Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. In a 1948 student poll Thomas E. Dewey beat Harry Truman by 2 to 1. In 2000 Al Gore beat Bush, an Andover alumnus, by nearly the same margin, reflecting the Democrats' historic capture in 2000 of "professionals," a group well-represented among the parents of Andover students. Next to African-Americans, the most reliable Democrats in the electorate are women with post-graduate degrees".
What feminist hatred of men leads to: Guilt is presumed and evidence is manufactured. "A woman's admission that she lied in accusing 13 people of pedophilia — causing some to be imprisoned for up to three years — has riveted France and shaken the nation's legal system".
A tragedy caused by the perverse Leftist belief in nurture rather than nature: "David Reimer, the Canadian man raised as a girl for the first 14 years of his life in a highly touted medical experiment, committed suicide May 4 in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was 38."
Another battle honour for Scotland's Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders that will long be remembered -- this time in Iraq. With good British perversity, Sutherland is of course in the far NORTH of Scotland.
"Weblogs now make up 5 percent of the 128 million Internet-using American adults. A whopping 17 percent call themselves blog readers"
I can't believe the quantity of posts that the Judd Brothers put up in one day. All good too.
Carnival of the Vanities is up with its usual convenient index to blogospheric wisdom.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
From the Sodakmonk: "I first noticed the (Left wing media) bias after Reagan was elected in 1980. My theory is that after Watergate, many libs became journalism majors as a way of advancing their political cause. They thought after Watergate that the Republican party would be a permanent minority. When Reagan swept into power in 1980 they couldn't believe it, and felt they had to correct what they saw as clearly a malfunction in our political system. That began their crusade." I think that the monk might have PART of the story there but I think that, in general, journalistic Leftism is just one instance of the Leftism that is to be expected of any elite group.
"The Democrats are the party of the elite. Consider Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. In a 1948 student poll Thomas E. Dewey beat Harry Truman by 2 to 1. In 2000 Al Gore beat Bush, an Andover alumnus, by nearly the same margin, reflecting the Democrats' historic capture in 2000 of "professionals," a group well-represented among the parents of Andover students. Next to African-Americans, the most reliable Democrats in the electorate are women with post-graduate degrees".
What feminist hatred of men leads to: Guilt is presumed and evidence is manufactured. "A woman's admission that she lied in accusing 13 people of pedophilia — causing some to be imprisoned for up to three years — has riveted France and shaken the nation's legal system".
A tragedy caused by the perverse Leftist belief in nurture rather than nature: "David Reimer, the Canadian man raised as a girl for the first 14 years of his life in a highly touted medical experiment, committed suicide May 4 in his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was 38."
Another battle honour for Scotland's Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders that will long be remembered -- this time in Iraq. With good British perversity, Sutherland is of course in the far NORTH of Scotland.
"Weblogs now make up 5 percent of the 128 million Internet-using American adults. A whopping 17 percent call themselves blog readers"
I can't believe the quantity of posts that the Judd Brothers put up in one day. All good too.
Carnival of the Vanities is up with its usual convenient index to blogospheric wisdom.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Thursday, May 20, 2004
A SLIGHT EMBARRASSMENT
I mentioned yesterday that I make an effort always to write simply. But in my posts of just the day before I described Dick McDonald's writing as "trenchant" -- a word not in common use. Dick had to look it up to see what I was saying about him -- though he was very pleased when he found out.
I have always made an effort to express myself as simply as possible even in my academic writing. I have always said that unclear writing is a sign of unclear thinking. But there are some examples here which suggest that obscure writing can be even more discreditable than that. Sometimes it covers up the fact that the author -- typically a Leftist academic -- has nothing to contribute at all.
**************************
I mentioned yesterday that I make an effort always to write simply. But in my posts of just the day before I described Dick McDonald's writing as "trenchant" -- a word not in common use. Dick had to look it up to see what I was saying about him -- though he was very pleased when he found out.
I have always made an effort to express myself as simply as possible even in my academic writing. I have always said that unclear writing is a sign of unclear thinking. But there are some examples here which suggest that obscure writing can be even more discreditable than that. Sometimes it covers up the fact that the author -- typically a Leftist academic -- has nothing to contribute at all.
**************************
BROWN
Few people now remember that the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown decision (forcing racially mixed schools) was substantially based on evidence from a psychologist -- fraudulent testimony, as it turns out. As Jonah Goldberg comments: " "The watershed moment for this thinking was when the Supreme Court cited those famous "doll tests" conducted by Kenneth Clark in their Brown v. Board of Education decision. The tests showed that black kids in segregated Southern schools preferred white dolls, and hence had low self-esteem. This low self-esteem, in turn, was cited as a justification for getting rid of the segregation.... Indeed, as former NR bright light Ernest van den Haag noted in 1960, the tests Clark conducted were, at minimum, irrelevant--and Clark was more than a bit dishonest. Writing in The Villanova Law Review, van den Haag noted that Clark also ran doll tests in integrated schools up North, and got the same or even more dramatic results as he did in segregated schools. Black kids everywhere chose white dolls over black ones; segregation was irrelevant. Clark didn't tell the Court about those tests" More on the Kenneth Clark fraud here
Patrick Buchanan summarizes the great damage to democracy done by the Brown decision.
End government schools: "Government school racism did much more damage than private enterprise could ever have afforded to do. It would have been better if government had stayed out of the schools altogether. The Brown decision ignores how government schools started the problem that Brown ended. When government began socializing schools in the late 1800s, it expanded government-mandated racism. Brown is another example of government peeing on everyone and then claiming that it was rain."
****************************
Few people now remember that the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown decision (forcing racially mixed schools) was substantially based on evidence from a psychologist -- fraudulent testimony, as it turns out. As Jonah Goldberg comments: " "The watershed moment for this thinking was when the Supreme Court cited those famous "doll tests" conducted by Kenneth Clark in their Brown v. Board of Education decision. The tests showed that black kids in segregated Southern schools preferred white dolls, and hence had low self-esteem. This low self-esteem, in turn, was cited as a justification for getting rid of the segregation.... Indeed, as former NR bright light Ernest van den Haag noted in 1960, the tests Clark conducted were, at minimum, irrelevant--and Clark was more than a bit dishonest. Writing in The Villanova Law Review, van den Haag noted that Clark also ran doll tests in integrated schools up North, and got the same or even more dramatic results as he did in segregated schools. Black kids everywhere chose white dolls over black ones; segregation was irrelevant. Clark didn't tell the Court about those tests" More on the Kenneth Clark fraud here
Patrick Buchanan summarizes the great damage to democracy done by the Brown decision.
End government schools: "Government school racism did much more damage than private enterprise could ever have afforded to do. It would have been better if government had stayed out of the schools altogether. The Brown decision ignores how government schools started the problem that Brown ended. When government began socializing schools in the late 1800s, it expanded government-mandated racism. Brown is another example of government peeing on everyone and then claiming that it was rain."
****************************
ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY
Stephen Karlson has been writing a lot about the absurdities of academic life lately and Anthropology & Economics has taken up his question about why people do "useless" social science and humanities courses at universities -- and why they do Ph.D.s in particular. I actually think that most (say 95%) of the social science and humanities Ph.D. candidates have no choice. They are psychologically unfit for the real world or a real academic discipline and their "studies" are just a sort of sheltered workshop for them -- which is why they often take a long time to get the degrees concerned and which is why they rely a lot on post-doc programs after that. And it sure beats driving a cab. As I myself have done both (driven a cab and gotten a social science Ph.D.) I guess I know a little about it all. I myself did well in both academe and in business but that seems to be extremely rare. Most social science and humanities academics would not last 5 minutes in business.
And I notice that Marginal Revolution takes seriously the claim by Anthropology & Economics to the effect that anthropology and economics are just two different ways of looking at human values. I taught for 12 years in a university Department of Sociology & Anthropology and I have also taught economics so maybe I know a bit about that too. From my observations, both Sociology and Anthropology are 95% Marxist claptrap -- in no way comparable with economics. Margaret Mead, the lying Leftist propagandist, was not so much an exception in Anthropology as the rule. It has also recently come to light that modern anthropology actually started out on the basis of deliberately fraudulent work designed to prop up Leftist beliefs. Franz Boas was the fraudster concerned. See also here
***************************
Stephen Karlson has been writing a lot about the absurdities of academic life lately and Anthropology & Economics has taken up his question about why people do "useless" social science and humanities courses at universities -- and why they do Ph.D.s in particular. I actually think that most (say 95%) of the social science and humanities Ph.D. candidates have no choice. They are psychologically unfit for the real world or a real academic discipline and their "studies" are just a sort of sheltered workshop for them -- which is why they often take a long time to get the degrees concerned and which is why they rely a lot on post-doc programs after that. And it sure beats driving a cab. As I myself have done both (driven a cab and gotten a social science Ph.D.) I guess I know a little about it all. I myself did well in both academe and in business but that seems to be extremely rare. Most social science and humanities academics would not last 5 minutes in business.
And I notice that Marginal Revolution takes seriously the claim by Anthropology & Economics to the effect that anthropology and economics are just two different ways of looking at human values. I taught for 12 years in a university Department of Sociology & Anthropology and I have also taught economics so maybe I know a bit about that too. From my observations, both Sociology and Anthropology are 95% Marxist claptrap -- in no way comparable with economics. Margaret Mead, the lying Leftist propagandist, was not so much an exception in Anthropology as the rule. It has also recently come to light that modern anthropology actually started out on the basis of deliberately fraudulent work designed to prop up Leftist beliefs. Franz Boas was the fraudster concerned. See also here
***************************
ELSEWHERE
Why is it OK to bomb and remove from office one brutal Fascist dictator (Milosevic) but not OK to bomb and remove from office another brutal Fascist dictator (Saddam)? These three prominent Democrats don't seem to be able to tell us but there is no doubt that they do see the bombing of the Christian Serbs as OK but not the bombing of Muslim Iraqis. Not really surprising, given the well-known Democrat hatred of Christians.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Why is it OK to bomb and remove from office one brutal Fascist dictator (Milosevic) but not OK to bomb and remove from office another brutal Fascist dictator (Saddam)? These three prominent Democrats don't seem to be able to tell us but there is no doubt that they do see the bombing of the Christian Serbs as OK but not the bombing of Muslim Iraqis. Not really surprising, given the well-known Democrat hatred of Christians.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
INFO ABOUT THIS BLOG
I go to some lengths to make this blog as easy to read as possible. I usually post only once a day (around 9am my time) and I use part of the rest of the time to ensure that I have expressed everything that I want to say as simply and clearly and accurately as possible. I also use no graphics so that the site always loads as quickly as blogspot will allow. There are quite a few blogs that I don't visit because they are so slow to load -- so I do my best to avoid that folly. On the odd occasion that I do want to use a graphic I post it elsewhere and refer to it with a link.
I have never however worked out what font is best to use. A big font makes it hard for readers to scan a page quickly and a small font may be difficult to read for those without 20/20 vision. I do wonder whether the font I am using here may be too small. If it is a bit small, there is an alternative. Because it still has over 70 links going to it from other blogs, I have resumed posting on my old site as well as continuing to post on my current site. And I use a somewhat larger font on my old site. The only other difference between my current site and my old site is that I post everything about half a day later on my old site. So choose your font!
*****************************
ELSEWHERE
Norm Weatherby has been having a discussion with the Sodakmonk. The monk seems to think that the main danger from militant Islam is spiritual. Norm disagrees emphatically.
David Kaspar notes some unusual sense from an Iraqi leader: "Amin has some advice for Arab sovereigns: they should follow George W. Bush's example and apologize for the crimes they've committed. "Washington is showing us how a democracy deals with criminal behavior," Amin says. "We should learn from this, not only here in Iraq, but throughout the Arab world."
America: the most polite nation in history? "American athletes have been warned not to wave the U.S. flag during their medal celebrations at this summer's Olympic Games in Athens, for fear of provoking crowd hostility and harming the country's already-battered public image. The spectacle of victorious athletes grabbing a national flag and parading it around the stadium is a familiar part of international sporting competition, but U.S. Olympic officials have ordered their 550-strong team to exercise restraint and avoid any jingoistic behavior. The plan is part of a charm offensive aimed at repairing the country's international reputation after the deepening crisis in Iraq"
Iraq's missing refugees: "the United States and the international community were very well-prepared for one crisis that never occurred: a massive outflow of refugees from Iraq to other countries. Refugees had streamed out of Iraq during the first Gulf War, and it was assumed the same thing would happen in the second" I think that's called voting with your feet.
Good to see: "Conservative political action committee RightMarch.com successfully recruited former Republican Utah state senator Matt Throckmorton to run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) in the upcoming primary to serve as 'a wake-up call' to all liberal Republican legislators who run as Republicans but subsequently abandon their conservative principles once they are elected into office. RightMarch.com claims credit for persuading Utah's GOP state convention delegates to 'put Chris Cannon last' by not electing him to another term. In just three days of fundraising, RightMarch.com claims it has been able to generate $7,500 in online donations ... calling this a 'victory cry for true conservative Republicans and a wake-up call to RINOs [Republicans In Name Only] ...'"
The slow suicide: "The government employee's perverted frame of reference ... becomes antithetical to the principles of freedom, liberty and limited government that are enshrined in the American Constitution and the Republican Party platform. And yet, the Republican Party leadership ... has been steadily increasing the population of those most likely to be hostile to the party's stated goals. When George Delano took office in 2001, government employees at federal, state and local levels consisted of 18.9 percent of the national labor force. Three years later, in 2004, that percentage has increased to 20.1 percent, an increase of 670,000 government workers in a time when total employment has dropped by almost 3 million."
Compulsion does not work: "In 1953, right before the decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Atlanta Public Schools consisted of 600 schools serving 18,664 students. Black and white students were kept apart by the government. Fifty years after Brown, APS consists of 96 much larger schools serving 55,812 students of all races, and more than three quarters of them are still in schools where one race has a 90 percent majority. Atlanta's private schools today draw students from the same basic geographic area as APS, yet they are significantly less segregated than are the public schools. How can this be?"
More brainless education spending: "Initiative 884 calls for a 15.4 percent sales tax increase to raise one billion dollars a year in additional funding for our state's education system. Backers of the measure promise taxpayers the expenditures would be targeted, accountable and efficient. Unfortunately, they are wrong. Even if they could guarantee the money would be used for the programs proponents advertise, the programs themselves have shown little or no promise of increased academic achievement, which is the point of the initiative."
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
I go to some lengths to make this blog as easy to read as possible. I usually post only once a day (around 9am my time) and I use part of the rest of the time to ensure that I have expressed everything that I want to say as simply and clearly and accurately as possible. I also use no graphics so that the site always loads as quickly as blogspot will allow. There are quite a few blogs that I don't visit because they are so slow to load -- so I do my best to avoid that folly. On the odd occasion that I do want to use a graphic I post it elsewhere and refer to it with a link.
I have never however worked out what font is best to use. A big font makes it hard for readers to scan a page quickly and a small font may be difficult to read for those without 20/20 vision. I do wonder whether the font I am using here may be too small. If it is a bit small, there is an alternative. Because it still has over 70 links going to it from other blogs, I have resumed posting on my old site as well as continuing to post on my current site. And I use a somewhat larger font on my old site. The only other difference between my current site and my old site is that I post everything about half a day later on my old site. So choose your font!
*****************************
ELSEWHERE
Norm Weatherby has been having a discussion with the Sodakmonk. The monk seems to think that the main danger from militant Islam is spiritual. Norm disagrees emphatically.
David Kaspar notes some unusual sense from an Iraqi leader: "Amin has some advice for Arab sovereigns: they should follow George W. Bush's example and apologize for the crimes they've committed. "Washington is showing us how a democracy deals with criminal behavior," Amin says. "We should learn from this, not only here in Iraq, but throughout the Arab world."
America: the most polite nation in history? "American athletes have been warned not to wave the U.S. flag during their medal celebrations at this summer's Olympic Games in Athens, for fear of provoking crowd hostility and harming the country's already-battered public image. The spectacle of victorious athletes grabbing a national flag and parading it around the stadium is a familiar part of international sporting competition, but U.S. Olympic officials have ordered their 550-strong team to exercise restraint and avoid any jingoistic behavior. The plan is part of a charm offensive aimed at repairing the country's international reputation after the deepening crisis in Iraq"
Iraq's missing refugees: "the United States and the international community were very well-prepared for one crisis that never occurred: a massive outflow of refugees from Iraq to other countries. Refugees had streamed out of Iraq during the first Gulf War, and it was assumed the same thing would happen in the second" I think that's called voting with your feet.
Good to see: "Conservative political action committee RightMarch.com successfully recruited former Republican Utah state senator Matt Throckmorton to run against incumbent U.S. Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) in the upcoming primary to serve as 'a wake-up call' to all liberal Republican legislators who run as Republicans but subsequently abandon their conservative principles once they are elected into office. RightMarch.com claims credit for persuading Utah's GOP state convention delegates to 'put Chris Cannon last' by not electing him to another term. In just three days of fundraising, RightMarch.com claims it has been able to generate $7,500 in online donations ... calling this a 'victory cry for true conservative Republicans and a wake-up call to RINOs [Republicans In Name Only] ...'"
The slow suicide: "The government employee's perverted frame of reference ... becomes antithetical to the principles of freedom, liberty and limited government that are enshrined in the American Constitution and the Republican Party platform. And yet, the Republican Party leadership ... has been steadily increasing the population of those most likely to be hostile to the party's stated goals. When George Delano took office in 2001, government employees at federal, state and local levels consisted of 18.9 percent of the national labor force. Three years later, in 2004, that percentage has increased to 20.1 percent, an increase of 670,000 government workers in a time when total employment has dropped by almost 3 million."
Compulsion does not work: "In 1953, right before the decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Atlanta Public Schools consisted of 600 schools serving 18,664 students. Black and white students were kept apart by the government. Fifty years after Brown, APS consists of 96 much larger schools serving 55,812 students of all races, and more than three quarters of them are still in schools where one race has a 90 percent majority. Atlanta's private schools today draw students from the same basic geographic area as APS, yet they are significantly less segregated than are the public schools. How can this be?"
More brainless education spending: "Initiative 884 calls for a 15.4 percent sales tax increase to raise one billion dollars a year in additional funding for our state's education system. Backers of the measure promise taxpayers the expenditures would be targeted, accountable and efficient. Unfortunately, they are wrong. Even if they could guarantee the money would be used for the programs proponents advertise, the programs themselves have shown little or no promise of increased academic achievement, which is the point of the initiative."
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
CONSERVATISM
Hayek, like Burke, came to the profoundly conservative conclusion that human society is too complex to be modelled by anyone or be well described by any theory: "Hayek initially thought the dividing line between possible and impossible positivism lay in the distinction between natural sciences and social sciences, but by the 1950s he had come to understand that the issue was really one of complexity. A positivist, predictive science is possible only for phenomena, whether human or natural, that are relatively simple- particle physics, for example. One can never fully model and predict complex phenomena such as the spontaneous orders produced by the interactions of simpler agents. These orders include the human brain, whose higher functions cannot possibly be inferred from its physical substratum, as well as ecosystems and, of course, markets, cultures, and other human institutions."
Capitalism makes you happier than socialism does: "Lottery winners, trust-fund babies and others who get their money without working for it do not get as much satisfaction from their cash as those who earn it, a study of the pleasure centre in people's brains suggests. Emory University researchers measured brain activity in the striatum - the part of the brain associated with reward processing and pleasure.... "When you have to do things for your reward, it's clearly more important to the brain," said Greg Berns, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural science."
Job discrimination: "A recent headline about opposition to a new Louisiana state job application presents the perfect basis on which to explain the ridiculousness of the concept of 'employment discrimination,' ... the burdens that such a policy imposes on market participants, the inherently aggressive nature of addressing the issue through public policy, and how anti-discrimination legislation promotes slavery.... Demonizing 'preference,' a key characteristic of all human action, by identifying it as an intrinsic evil and labeling it 'discrimination,' is absurd on numerous grounds..... Such policies indeed violently rob individuals, under a threat of force, of their right to their property and mutually beneficial exchanges of that property."
Vouchers spur public schools to compete: "Competition is, in some circles, a much-derided word. Psychologists worry about the effects competition has on the mental and emotional health of children. Others become concerned when a parent takes competition too far, and fights break out at hockey or soccer games. Yet competition is, as Cicero observed, not about crushing one's opponent."
A true Christian conservative: "I attended the Memorial Service of Rev. Joseph Sheley yesterday. As I listened to speaker after speaker talk about Joe, it was clear that he was one of those who went to be with his Lord owning that most precious of possessions - a good name. Joe was not a flashy man. He was not one to push himself forward or to try to gain attention for himself. And he didn't have much in terms of this world's wealth. But he was a very rich man. He was rich in family who treasured him... Joe's children, grand-children, and great grand-children loved him, and with good reason. He loved them with all his heart, and taught them important life lessons that will stand them in good stead for as long as they walk the earth... He was rich in the esteem in which others held him. That was evident in the faces of the many who came to honor him at his memorial service... He accomplished many things for the Lord about which he could have boasted. I never heard him do so".
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ELSEWHERE
Jeff Jacoby: "This is the week that same-sex marriage comes to Massachusetts, and thus to the United States. The fundamental building block of civilization is about to undergo a radical change -- a change not only unsupported by a clear consensus, but opposed by a majority of American adults.... Chief Justice Margaret Marshall and three of her colleagues ruled in the Goodridge case last November that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples infringes the freedom and equality protected by the Massachusetts Constitution. The job of the judiciary is to interpret the law, but this was no mere interpretation. It was a wholesale rewriting of the law to make it say and mean things it had never said or meant before. In effect, Goodridge was a constitutional amendment dictated from the bench. It was something the Massachusetts Constitution expressly forbids: an exercise by the judiciary of legislative and executive power"
Does Hollywood unfairly "stereotype" Arabs? "Unsurprisingly, screenwriters focus on realities well known to their audience, and there is simply no escaping the fact that the Middle East abounds in terrorist groups. That is why the action in, for example, GI Jane (1997), takes place in Libya, rather than Costa Rica. That is why the terrorists in True Lies are Middle Eastern, rather than Scandinavian."
I have just put up Chris Brand's latests postings here. He notes a recent strong academic finding showing that anti-social behaviour (which generally means criminality) is 70% inherited! It is yet another bit of scientific evidence showing that criminals are born, not made -- which is the exact opposite of what Leftists preach. See also here.
Ally Eskin has revised her template so her blog is a lot easier to read now. And it's worth reading! Dick McDonald continues to post lots of trenchant comments on current events too. I don't comment a lot on day-to-day politics but Dick certainly does. And he generally gets it pretty right in my opinion.
Thanks to some constructive comments from one of my readers, I have just put up a further big upgrade to my article on why elites tend to be Leftist. I don't foresee any further revisions to the article so I have also now put up a copy of it that is viewable in China.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Hayek, like Burke, came to the profoundly conservative conclusion that human society is too complex to be modelled by anyone or be well described by any theory: "Hayek initially thought the dividing line between possible and impossible positivism lay in the distinction between natural sciences and social sciences, but by the 1950s he had come to understand that the issue was really one of complexity. A positivist, predictive science is possible only for phenomena, whether human or natural, that are relatively simple- particle physics, for example. One can never fully model and predict complex phenomena such as the spontaneous orders produced by the interactions of simpler agents. These orders include the human brain, whose higher functions cannot possibly be inferred from its physical substratum, as well as ecosystems and, of course, markets, cultures, and other human institutions."
Capitalism makes you happier than socialism does: "Lottery winners, trust-fund babies and others who get their money without working for it do not get as much satisfaction from their cash as those who earn it, a study of the pleasure centre in people's brains suggests. Emory University researchers measured brain activity in the striatum - the part of the brain associated with reward processing and pleasure.... "When you have to do things for your reward, it's clearly more important to the brain," said Greg Berns, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural science."
Job discrimination: "A recent headline about opposition to a new Louisiana state job application presents the perfect basis on which to explain the ridiculousness of the concept of 'employment discrimination,' ... the burdens that such a policy imposes on market participants, the inherently aggressive nature of addressing the issue through public policy, and how anti-discrimination legislation promotes slavery.... Demonizing 'preference,' a key characteristic of all human action, by identifying it as an intrinsic evil and labeling it 'discrimination,' is absurd on numerous grounds..... Such policies indeed violently rob individuals, under a threat of force, of their right to their property and mutually beneficial exchanges of that property."
Vouchers spur public schools to compete: "Competition is, in some circles, a much-derided word. Psychologists worry about the effects competition has on the mental and emotional health of children. Others become concerned when a parent takes competition too far, and fights break out at hockey or soccer games. Yet competition is, as Cicero observed, not about crushing one's opponent."
A true Christian conservative: "I attended the Memorial Service of Rev. Joseph Sheley yesterday. As I listened to speaker after speaker talk about Joe, it was clear that he was one of those who went to be with his Lord owning that most precious of possessions - a good name. Joe was not a flashy man. He was not one to push himself forward or to try to gain attention for himself. And he didn't have much in terms of this world's wealth. But he was a very rich man. He was rich in family who treasured him... Joe's children, grand-children, and great grand-children loved him, and with good reason. He loved them with all his heart, and taught them important life lessons that will stand them in good stead for as long as they walk the earth... He was rich in the esteem in which others held him. That was evident in the faces of the many who came to honor him at his memorial service... He accomplished many things for the Lord about which he could have boasted. I never heard him do so".
************************************
ELSEWHERE
Jeff Jacoby: "This is the week that same-sex marriage comes to Massachusetts, and thus to the United States. The fundamental building block of civilization is about to undergo a radical change -- a change not only unsupported by a clear consensus, but opposed by a majority of American adults.... Chief Justice Margaret Marshall and three of her colleagues ruled in the Goodridge case last November that limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples infringes the freedom and equality protected by the Massachusetts Constitution. The job of the judiciary is to interpret the law, but this was no mere interpretation. It was a wholesale rewriting of the law to make it say and mean things it had never said or meant before. In effect, Goodridge was a constitutional amendment dictated from the bench. It was something the Massachusetts Constitution expressly forbids: an exercise by the judiciary of legislative and executive power"
Does Hollywood unfairly "stereotype" Arabs? "Unsurprisingly, screenwriters focus on realities well known to their audience, and there is simply no escaping the fact that the Middle East abounds in terrorist groups. That is why the action in, for example, GI Jane (1997), takes place in Libya, rather than Costa Rica. That is why the terrorists in True Lies are Middle Eastern, rather than Scandinavian."
I have just put up Chris Brand's latests postings here. He notes a recent strong academic finding showing that anti-social behaviour (which generally means criminality) is 70% inherited! It is yet another bit of scientific evidence showing that criminals are born, not made -- which is the exact opposite of what Leftists preach. See also here.
Ally Eskin has revised her template so her blog is a lot easier to read now. And it's worth reading! Dick McDonald continues to post lots of trenchant comments on current events too. I don't comment a lot on day-to-day politics but Dick certainly does. And he generally gets it pretty right in my opinion.
Thanks to some constructive comments from one of my readers, I have just put up a further big upgrade to my article on why elites tend to be Leftist. I don't foresee any further revisions to the article so I have also now put up a copy of it that is viewable in China.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Monday, May 17, 2004
THE WEDDING
Many Americans may be unaware that the Crown Prince of Denmark has just married an Australian girl. The event got big coverage in much of Europe (and, of course, in Australia) and was even well-covered in China, but I believe that American coverage was minimal. I guess Americans are not too keen on Royalty. Was there a revolution or something? Australia is a monarchy, however, and I have always been a strong monarchist so I found it interesting and pleasing that the wedding got a lot of coverage around the world. Who says that monarchy is an anachronistic irrelevance? If it is, how come so many people watched a wedding in an ancient European monarchy? It was a beautiful show too, of course. Lots of Australian women in particular were absolutely glued to their TVs while it was all happening. So much nicer than watching anything to do with Iraq.
And, if I have any readers in Scotland, I would be pleased to hear whether I guess right in thinking that the wedding would have got blanket coverage in Scotland too. Why? Well, quite apart from normal Scottish sentimentality, the father of the bride is a Scotsman with a Scottish accent who wore the kilt for the occasion! There would have been not a dry eye in many Scottish homes, I think. I felt a bit teary myself, given my Scottish heritage.
And the wedding is another example of how pervasive the Australian diaspora is in the world. I think most people are aware of the big Australian presence in Hollywood these days and people who take an interest in business will be aware that Australians run both Coca Cola and McDonald's, but having an Australian as the future Queen of Denmark does rather set the seal on what a large and successful diaspora it is. And, unlike most diasporas, Australians are not driven abroad by poverty, warfare, persecution etc. They are just adventurous.
****************************
Many Americans may be unaware that the Crown Prince of Denmark has just married an Australian girl. The event got big coverage in much of Europe (and, of course, in Australia) and was even well-covered in China, but I believe that American coverage was minimal. I guess Americans are not too keen on Royalty. Was there a revolution or something? Australia is a monarchy, however, and I have always been a strong monarchist so I found it interesting and pleasing that the wedding got a lot of coverage around the world. Who says that monarchy is an anachronistic irrelevance? If it is, how come so many people watched a wedding in an ancient European monarchy? It was a beautiful show too, of course. Lots of Australian women in particular were absolutely glued to their TVs while it was all happening. So much nicer than watching anything to do with Iraq.
And, if I have any readers in Scotland, I would be pleased to hear whether I guess right in thinking that the wedding would have got blanket coverage in Scotland too. Why? Well, quite apart from normal Scottish sentimentality, the father of the bride is a Scotsman with a Scottish accent who wore the kilt for the occasion! There would have been not a dry eye in many Scottish homes, I think. I felt a bit teary myself, given my Scottish heritage.
And the wedding is another example of how pervasive the Australian diaspora is in the world. I think most people are aware of the big Australian presence in Hollywood these days and people who take an interest in business will be aware that Australians run both Coca Cola and McDonald's, but having an Australian as the future Queen of Denmark does rather set the seal on what a large and successful diaspora it is. And, unlike most diasporas, Australians are not driven abroad by poverty, warfare, persecution etc. They are just adventurous.
****************************
ELSEWHERE
The Left of politics are of course doing everything within their power to blame the Bush administration for the prisoner abuse affair. There is a typical example here -- which says that the Guantanamo Bay detentions created an "atmosphere of lawlessness" in the U.S. Army and that led to the prisoner abuses. What utter rot! The U.S. armed forces have been amazingly disciplined in obeying their extremely strict "rules of engagement". If people dance in the street when you are attacked, do you fire on them? Most armies would. Most people would. But the U.S. army never has. The prisoner abuse affair is a very small lapse in that context. Most armies in history could be accused of far worse.
Things are getting better in the USA: "Several social ills that loomed large in recent decades and seemed intractable have also turned around abruptly. Crime is way down: In Fort Apache, the Bronx, the subject of a popular 1981 film, the number of murders per year in the 1970s was about 130; in 2001, the figure was 12. During roughly the same period the number of traffic deaths per year in America fell about 10,000 or roughly 20 percent-even though the number of drivers has increased, the number of miles we drive has grown enormously, and we own more cars, almost one per adult. And despite all that driving, air quality is everywhere improved, as are all other forms of pollution, except for emission of greenhouse gases. Our progress is about a decade ahead of Europe 's, the usual rants in international forums notwithstanding. Our national mood is not disastrous either: The U.S. suicide rate is one-half of France's" Yet despite that, not everyone is happy. Why? See here and here and here and here. There is also a short article on the subject here
A major applied psychology organization says that how happy you are is 50% genetically inherited. Those naughty genetics again! Every Leftist will tell you that we just need to abolish things like inequality, racism and patriarchy for us all to be happy.
Fraudulent beggars:. I saw [the beggar] eyeing me up, but he didn't recognise me. So, as he approached, I asked him for $5 for my train fare. Stunned, he said no.... A doe-eyed plea for spare change for something to eat ended with fierce obscenities being yelled at me when I offered to buy her a hamburger instead of hand over my money."
"Yesterday the Humane Society of the United States, the nation's richest animal rights organization, named long-time vice president Wayne Pacelle as its new chief executive. Pacelle will have virtually unfettered control over the group's $96 million bank account. If you think this change amounts to a different leader's rubber-stamp on efforts to help puppies and kittens, think again. HSUS doesn't operate a single animal shelter, and it is completely unrelated to the local 'Humane Society' in your home town. In reality, it's a gigantic animal-rights lobbying group, focusing more and more on the food we eat. Wayne Pacelle is a strict, near-religious vegan, whose goal is to create 'a National Rifle Association of the animal rights movement.'"
A war on everything: "For all practical purposes, every time the State touches something, it makes war on it, even if it means to make things better. The 'war' on discrimination through affirmative action? It has instead set black against white, women against men, gay against straight, as each tries to use the political process to obtain power over the others. The road to Hell, obviously, is paved with good intentions. When the personal becomes the political, you can be sure war is to follow."
The Left like to portray the Bush administration as a coven of Christian fundamentalists but the Bush administration's has shown "Clintonian" tolerance of its own homosexual diplomats in Roumania.
PID has some more comments on the Zimbardo experiment and the Iraqi prisoner mistreatment affair.
The Policeman's blog continues to put up dreadful stories of the bureaucratic quagmire that is British policing today. Not much policing gets done.
A very pleased-looking Peter Cuthbertson has a photo of himself here with one of the two greatest visionaries of the 20th century.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
The Left of politics are of course doing everything within their power to blame the Bush administration for the prisoner abuse affair. There is a typical example here -- which says that the Guantanamo Bay detentions created an "atmosphere of lawlessness" in the U.S. Army and that led to the prisoner abuses. What utter rot! The U.S. armed forces have been amazingly disciplined in obeying their extremely strict "rules of engagement". If people dance in the street when you are attacked, do you fire on them? Most armies would. Most people would. But the U.S. army never has. The prisoner abuse affair is a very small lapse in that context. Most armies in history could be accused of far worse.
Things are getting better in the USA: "Several social ills that loomed large in recent decades and seemed intractable have also turned around abruptly. Crime is way down: In Fort Apache, the Bronx, the subject of a popular 1981 film, the number of murders per year in the 1970s was about 130; in 2001, the figure was 12. During roughly the same period the number of traffic deaths per year in America fell about 10,000 or roughly 20 percent-even though the number of drivers has increased, the number of miles we drive has grown enormously, and we own more cars, almost one per adult. And despite all that driving, air quality is everywhere improved, as are all other forms of pollution, except for emission of greenhouse gases. Our progress is about a decade ahead of Europe 's, the usual rants in international forums notwithstanding. Our national mood is not disastrous either: The U.S. suicide rate is one-half of France's" Yet despite that, not everyone is happy. Why? See here and here and here and here. There is also a short article on the subject here
A major applied psychology organization says that how happy you are is 50% genetically inherited. Those naughty genetics again! Every Leftist will tell you that we just need to abolish things like inequality, racism and patriarchy for us all to be happy.
Fraudulent beggars:. I saw [the beggar] eyeing me up, but he didn't recognise me. So, as he approached, I asked him for $5 for my train fare. Stunned, he said no.... A doe-eyed plea for spare change for something to eat ended with fierce obscenities being yelled at me when I offered to buy her a hamburger instead of hand over my money."
"Yesterday the Humane Society of the United States, the nation's richest animal rights organization, named long-time vice president Wayne Pacelle as its new chief executive. Pacelle will have virtually unfettered control over the group's $96 million bank account. If you think this change amounts to a different leader's rubber-stamp on efforts to help puppies and kittens, think again. HSUS doesn't operate a single animal shelter, and it is completely unrelated to the local 'Humane Society' in your home town. In reality, it's a gigantic animal-rights lobbying group, focusing more and more on the food we eat. Wayne Pacelle is a strict, near-religious vegan, whose goal is to create 'a National Rifle Association of the animal rights movement.'"
A war on everything: "For all practical purposes, every time the State touches something, it makes war on it, even if it means to make things better. The 'war' on discrimination through affirmative action? It has instead set black against white, women against men, gay against straight, as each tries to use the political process to obtain power over the others. The road to Hell, obviously, is paved with good intentions. When the personal becomes the political, you can be sure war is to follow."
The Left like to portray the Bush administration as a coven of Christian fundamentalists but the Bush administration's has shown "Clintonian" tolerance of its own homosexual diplomats in Roumania.
PID has some more comments on the Zimbardo experiment and the Iraqi prisoner mistreatment affair.
The Policeman's blog continues to put up dreadful stories of the bureaucratic quagmire that is British policing today. Not much policing gets done.
A very pleased-looking Peter Cuthbertson has a photo of himself here with one of the two greatest visionaries of the 20th century.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Sunday, May 16, 2004
IRAQ
I mentioned on 11th. the relevance of the famous Zimbardo experiment to an understanding of the Iraqi prisoner mistreatment affair. There is a more extensive account of the lessons to be learned from it here
Instant solutions in Iraq unrealistic "There were many Americans who earnestly believed after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that World War II was practically over. Now that the massive economic power of the United States was being directed against the Axis, the war could be won in just a few months. The rest was, in Churchill's later words, "merely the proper application of overwhelming force."
Iraq's new ruler? "As Mr. Saleh took command on April 30, the stocky general with a Saddam-style mustache wore his Saddam-era uniform, complete with maroon beret. In a scene broadcast across Iraq, he shook hands with Marine commanders and had the old Iraqi flag raised, to the cheers of onlookers. He set the tone immediately by declaring an intent to impose security and stability in Fallujah "without the need for the American army, which the people of Fallujah reject."
Victory is seldom pretty: "Watching the amazing ugliness and incoherence of the Iraqi battlefront of the war on terror, it is easy to understand Otto Von Bismark's comment that a special providence watches out for drunks, fools and the United States of America. Why? Because America is winning the war on terror. How? By slowly but surely making the Middle East safe for democracy. Indeed, it is even possible to argue that the American stumbling in Iraq is providing a cover under which reform can be presented as an alternative, even a rebuke, to American military power. In other words, the U.S. is winning the way it has often won, ugly."
"The Oil for Food scandal is already undermining the U.N.'s ability to contribute usefully to the reconstruction of a liberated Iraq. Thanks to the scandal, Iraqi citizens are reported to be very skeptical of the U.N. -- and rightfully so, as it is now clear that Oil for Food money which was supposed to be feeding them was instead employed for bribes and pay-offs with billions going to Saddam, himself, and other enemies of peace, possibly even including Al Qaeda."
The British role: "The view of this newspaper is that Britain's place is in the wider community of free, English-speaking peoples - the "Anglosphere".... The case for the Atlantic alliance is simple. More often than not, our interests and the Americans' coincide. Like them, we have an interest in stability and free trade among nations. This makes us especially hostile to local bullies and ready, if necessary, to deploy proportionate force against them. The Americans have invaded Iraq twice on these grounds; we have intervened no fewer than seven times."
The BBC: "Over the past few days, the BBC’s virulent bias over Iraq, America and Israel has gone into an utterly astounding overdrive. The scandal over the ill-treatment of Iraqi prisoners has clearly destroyed the last vestiges of any attempt at fairness as hysteria has descended on our public disservice broadcaster."
Toby Harnden talks to an anti-war journalist who wants to see more Iraqis die - so that Bush will be thrown out in November.
V.D. Hanson: "The 20th century should have taught the citizens of liberal democracies the catastrophic consequences of placating tyrants... What eventually contained Stalinism was the Truman Doctrine, NATO and nuclear deterrence--not the United Nations-- and what destroyed its legacy was Ronald Reagan's assertiveness, not Jimmy Carter's accommodation or Richard Nixon's detente."
Dick McDonald has some good posts on Iraq up at the moment.
*********************************
I mentioned on 11th. the relevance of the famous Zimbardo experiment to an understanding of the Iraqi prisoner mistreatment affair. There is a more extensive account of the lessons to be learned from it here
Instant solutions in Iraq unrealistic "There were many Americans who earnestly believed after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that World War II was practically over. Now that the massive economic power of the United States was being directed against the Axis, the war could be won in just a few months. The rest was, in Churchill's later words, "merely the proper application of overwhelming force."
Iraq's new ruler? "As Mr. Saleh took command on April 30, the stocky general with a Saddam-style mustache wore his Saddam-era uniform, complete with maroon beret. In a scene broadcast across Iraq, he shook hands with Marine commanders and had the old Iraqi flag raised, to the cheers of onlookers. He set the tone immediately by declaring an intent to impose security and stability in Fallujah "without the need for the American army, which the people of Fallujah reject."
Victory is seldom pretty: "Watching the amazing ugliness and incoherence of the Iraqi battlefront of the war on terror, it is easy to understand Otto Von Bismark's comment that a special providence watches out for drunks, fools and the United States of America. Why? Because America is winning the war on terror. How? By slowly but surely making the Middle East safe for democracy. Indeed, it is even possible to argue that the American stumbling in Iraq is providing a cover under which reform can be presented as an alternative, even a rebuke, to American military power. In other words, the U.S. is winning the way it has often won, ugly."
"The Oil for Food scandal is already undermining the U.N.'s ability to contribute usefully to the reconstruction of a liberated Iraq. Thanks to the scandal, Iraqi citizens are reported to be very skeptical of the U.N. -- and rightfully so, as it is now clear that Oil for Food money which was supposed to be feeding them was instead employed for bribes and pay-offs with billions going to Saddam, himself, and other enemies of peace, possibly even including Al Qaeda."
The British role: "The view of this newspaper is that Britain's place is in the wider community of free, English-speaking peoples - the "Anglosphere".... The case for the Atlantic alliance is simple. More often than not, our interests and the Americans' coincide. Like them, we have an interest in stability and free trade among nations. This makes us especially hostile to local bullies and ready, if necessary, to deploy proportionate force against them. The Americans have invaded Iraq twice on these grounds; we have intervened no fewer than seven times."
The BBC: "Over the past few days, the BBC’s virulent bias over Iraq, America and Israel has gone into an utterly astounding overdrive. The scandal over the ill-treatment of Iraqi prisoners has clearly destroyed the last vestiges of any attempt at fairness as hysteria has descended on our public disservice broadcaster."
Toby Harnden talks to an anti-war journalist who wants to see more Iraqis die - so that Bush will be thrown out in November.
V.D. Hanson: "The 20th century should have taught the citizens of liberal democracies the catastrophic consequences of placating tyrants... What eventually contained Stalinism was the Truman Doctrine, NATO and nuclear deterrence--not the United Nations-- and what destroyed its legacy was Ronald Reagan's assertiveness, not Jimmy Carter's accommodation or Richard Nixon's detente."
Dick McDonald has some good posts on Iraq up at the moment.
*********************************
ELSEWHERE
It seems that the American Catholic bishops are so pro-Democrat that they are about to fold even on the homosexual marriage issue. See here for the latest.
Sam Francis: "Big Business and its bottomless appetite for cheap labor are by no means the only pillars of the Open Borders Lobby that has helped flood the country with Third World immigrants. There are also the churches, themselves ever hungry for new members as their own religious liberalism drives away their old members."
An American Benedictine monk has some excellent comments on Leftist self-righteousness: "In my personal experience, people of strong character are quick to admit their own faults. People who constantly need to praise themselves are insecure or emotionally needy. Emotionally needy people often interpret any disagreement with them as "hate speech". And this leads to a very, very unhealthy escalation of overheated rhetoric in public debates"
Hilarious! Given their pervasive Leftism, Canadians LOVE indigenous people and HATE private health care. So what happens when indigenous people want to set up private health care? You guessed it: That love is soon shown for the sham it it. "YOU MUST CONFORM" is what Leftists really believe in. Natalie Solent has some good comments.
Keith Burgess-Jackson is an animal lover but he says: "With friends like PETA, animals don’t need enemies."
The wicked one has some more doggy wisdom for us.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
It seems that the American Catholic bishops are so pro-Democrat that they are about to fold even on the homosexual marriage issue. See here for the latest.
Sam Francis: "Big Business and its bottomless appetite for cheap labor are by no means the only pillars of the Open Borders Lobby that has helped flood the country with Third World immigrants. There are also the churches, themselves ever hungry for new members as their own religious liberalism drives away their old members."
An American Benedictine monk has some excellent comments on Leftist self-righteousness: "In my personal experience, people of strong character are quick to admit their own faults. People who constantly need to praise themselves are insecure or emotionally needy. Emotionally needy people often interpret any disagreement with them as "hate speech". And this leads to a very, very unhealthy escalation of overheated rhetoric in public debates"
Hilarious! Given their pervasive Leftism, Canadians LOVE indigenous people and HATE private health care. So what happens when indigenous people want to set up private health care? You guessed it: That love is soon shown for the sham it it. "YOU MUST CONFORM" is what Leftists really believe in. Natalie Solent has some good comments.
Keith Burgess-Jackson is an animal lover but he says: "With friends like PETA, animals don’t need enemies."
The wicked one has some more doggy wisdom for us.
For more postings, see GREENIE WATCH and POLITICAL CORRECTNESS WATCH. Mirror sites here and here
********************************
The Left have always wanted more spent on welfare and made "Fascism" a swear-word. President Bush deposed a brutal Fascist dictator and sponsored a big expansion of welfare. But instead of being admired by the Left, he is hated with a passion. What does that tell you about the Left? It tells you that they have no principles at all: That everything they have ever claimed to stand for is fake.
All politicians seek power but conservatives bring with them some concern for the welfare of their country. Leftists bring only their hate-filled Stalinist hearts and their pretend compassion. Voters, unfortunately, often believe the compassion is genuine
Comments? Email me or here. If there are no recent posts here blame Blogger.com and visit my mirror site here or here. My Home Page is here or here.
********************************
Saturday, May 15, 2004
AN ANNIVERSARY TO BE MOURNED
When government of the people, by the people perished in the USA
"May 17 is the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court decision that used federal force to integrate public schools in the US... Many on the liberal-left and in black civil rights circles have soured on Brown and regard the decision as contributing little to the "black freedom struggle" and even as a disservice to blacks.... Derrick Bell, a former NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney, has written that Brown was based on unwarranted faith in integrationist ideals and has harmed black education....
Brown still matters to the left, Garrow writes, because the power the Court seized in its Brown ruling can be used to mandate homosexual marriage. The Massachusetts court has taken the lead, and on May 17 homosexuals will be able to obtain state marriage licenses. This, Garrow writes, is a fitting tribute to Brown's constitutional vision on its 50th anniversary. Whether one looks with favor or disfavor on homosexual marriage, Garrow is correct. Brown gave the judiciary the power to impose its morality on society, regardless of legislation or societal values....
Brown did something else. It ushered in kritarchy - government by judges - as Supreme Court Justice Stanley Reed recognized. Kritarchy is fundamentally at odds with the separation of powers and the character of the American political system. Now that judges rule, the fight over Court appointments has become a life and death matter for the two political parties.
Even worse, in place of good will and persuasion Brown substituted coercion as the basis for reform. May 17, 1954, is a day of infamy, because it is the day Marxism triumphed over liberalism in America.
Americans have forgotten that Brown was based in sociology, not in law. This was widely recognized at the time. "A sociological Decision: Court Founded Its Segregation Ruling On Hearts and Minds Rather Than Laws," read a New York Times headline on May 18, 1954. James Reston commented that "the Court's opinion reads more like an expert paper on sociology." Columbia Law professor Herbert Wechsler, a consultant to the NAACP in the case, said that Brown would have to be "accepted on faith" as there was no constitutional principle that justifies the ruling.
That's because the Brown decision was based on Swedish socialist Gunnar Myrdal's argument that all Americans (even Northeast Liberals) are so racist that democracy would forever uphold segregation. To get rid of the great evil, an elite would have to seize power and rescue America from immorality."
More of the above article here
It is also amusing to read the rather desperate piece of propaganda here which starts out trumpeting the success of school integration in mainly white Topeka, Kansas but which ends up admitting that the supposed aim -- better black educational achievement -- has not been attained and that there have been disadvantages as well as advantages in integration.
***********************************
When government of the people, by the people perished in the USA
"May 17 is the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court decision that used federal force to integrate public schools in the US... Many on the liberal-left and in black civil rights circles have soured on Brown and regard the decision as contributing little to the "black freedom struggle" and even as a disservice to blacks.... Derrick Bell, a former NAACP Legal Defense Fund attorney, has written that Brown was based on unwarranted faith in integrationist ideals and has harmed black education....
Brown still matters to the left, Garrow writes, because the power the Court seized in its Brown ruling can be used to mandate homosexual marriage. The Massachusetts court has taken the lead, and on May 17 homosexuals will be able to obtain state marriage licenses. This, Garrow writes, is a fitting tribute to Brown's constitutional vision on its 50th anniversary. Whether one looks with favor or disfavor on homosexual marriage, Garrow is correct. Brown gave the judiciary the power to impose its morality on society, regardless of legislation or societal values....
Brown did something else. It ushered in kritarchy - government by judges - as Supreme Court Justice Stanley Reed recognized. Kritarchy is fundamentally at odds with the separation of powers and the character of the American political system. Now that judges rule, the fight over Court appointments has become a life and death matter for the two political parties.
Even worse, in place of good will and persuasion Brown substituted coercion as the basis for reform. May 17, 1954, is a day of infamy, because it is the day Marxism triumphed over liberalism in America.
Americans have forgotten that Brown was based in sociology, not in law. This was widely recognized at the time. "A sociological Decision: Court Founded Its Segregation Ruling On Hearts and Minds Rather Than Laws," read a New York Times headline on May 18, 1954. James Reston commented that "the Court's opinion reads more like an expert paper on sociology." Columbia Law professor Herbert Wechsler, a consultant to the NAACP in the case, said that Brown would have to be "accepted on faith" as there was no constitutional principle that justifies the ruling.
That's because the Brown decision was based on Swedish socialist Gunnar Myrdal's argument that all Americans (even Northeast Liberals) are so racist that democracy would forever uphold segregation. To get rid of the great evil, an elite would have to seize power and rescue America from immorality."
More of the above article here
It is also amusing to read the rather desperate piece of propaganda here which starts out trumpeting the success of school integration in mainly white Topeka, Kansas but which ends up admitting that the supposed aim -- better black educational achievement -- has not been attained and that there have been disadvantages as well as advantages in integration.
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