WendyMcElroy.com
Donations
|
Sunday 21 May 2017
In defense of arguing ideasIdeas and reason do not motivate people, I am told. Appeals to self-interest and emotion are the only effective way to communicate. It is a false dichotomy, of course, to pit reason against emotion as though a reasoned argument cannot also be a passionate one. The contention should be dismissed on its face. But the argument remains: ideas do not move people; self-interest does.
With no sarcasm, I must ask "what reality do such people live in?" They cannot live in my world, which has been defined by ideas like Christianity, Marxism, democracy, Islam, equality, property rights... I see ideas everywhere. I walk by churches, I go to my local farmers' market, people I pass are arguing politics, a restaurant is vegetarian, a friend shuns me for doubting the "rape culture" concept, a woman wears a hijab, my husband does volunteer work,....ideas never end. It is impossible to escape their power because a culture itself is nothing more than a collective set of beliefs and the various expressions of those beliefs.
As for changing society...ideas spark revolutions. The Bolshevik Revolution was rooted in ideas advanced by a very small number of people. A handful of radicals ignited a nation. The populace may have cleaved to ideas because they explained their terrible oppression...but they cleaved to 'IDEAS.' People will march into the streets, ready to die, under banners reading "Justice! Freedom! Equality!" They do not die under banners reading "Minimum Wage!"
Pitting ideas against self-interest is also a false dichotomy, of course, although a less obvious one than reason v. passion. For one thing, self-interest is itself an idea that differs from person to person. For another, humans are rational animals to whom ideas, learning, understanding are inherent drives. Witness the joy of a child who solves a puzzle and you see the joy of ideas that is natural to man.
Libertarians pitting ideas against self-interest is especially strange because one of the stunning accomplishments of libertarianism is to make self-interest the building block of a political philosophy. Mises built on praxeology -- the theory of human action. All human action is motivated by self-interest or else it would not occur, and this includes the act of thinking. The beauty of libertarianism is that it embraces human nature and doesn't see it as sinful or needing reform/repression/outside control. Human nature needs to be expressed peacefully and equally by all...period. And libertarianism seeks to work out the best way to accomplish that goal. Those who place ideas and self-interest at war with each other are reversing the very basis of libertarianism.
As I said, they live in a different world than I do.
With no sarcasm, I must ask "what reality do such people live in?" They cannot live in my world, which has been defined by ideas like Christianity, Marxism, democracy, Islam, equality, property rights... I see ideas everywhere. I walk by churches, I go to my local farmers' market, people I pass are arguing politics, a restaurant is vegetarian, a friend shuns me for doubting the "rape culture" concept, a woman wears a hijab, my husband does volunteer work,....ideas never end. It is impossible to escape their power because a culture itself is nothing more than a collective set of beliefs and the various expressions of those beliefs.
As for changing society...ideas spark revolutions. The Bolshevik Revolution was rooted in ideas advanced by a very small number of people. A handful of radicals ignited a nation. The populace may have cleaved to ideas because they explained their terrible oppression...but they cleaved to 'IDEAS.' People will march into the streets, ready to die, under banners reading "Justice! Freedom! Equality!" They do not die under banners reading "Minimum Wage!"
Pitting ideas against self-interest is also a false dichotomy, of course, although a less obvious one than reason v. passion. For one thing, self-interest is itself an idea that differs from person to person. For another, humans are rational animals to whom ideas, learning, understanding are inherent drives. Witness the joy of a child who solves a puzzle and you see the joy of ideas that is natural to man.
Libertarians pitting ideas against self-interest is especially strange because one of the stunning accomplishments of libertarianism is to make self-interest the building block of a political philosophy. Mises built on praxeology -- the theory of human action. All human action is motivated by self-interest or else it would not occur, and this includes the act of thinking. The beauty of libertarianism is that it embraces human nature and doesn't see it as sinful or needing reform/repression/outside control. Human nature needs to be expressed peacefully and equally by all...period. And libertarianism seeks to work out the best way to accomplish that goal. Those who place ideas and self-interest at war with each other are reversing the very basis of libertarianism.
As I said, they live in a different world than I do.
Saturday 20 May 2017
News and commentary round upFrom FOX News: Julian Assange after rape charges dropped: Prepare for 'war' [Ed: he could still face arrest if he leaves the Ecuadorean Embassy. The war comment seems to refer to upcoming legal battles.]
From Vice: VICE news uncovers scope of massive shadow war waged by US special operations forces in Africa
From Reason: Rand Paul's REINS Act Finally Makes It to Senate Floor [Ed: would require every new regulation that costs more than $100 million to be approved by Congress. But how would this work with Executive Orders?]
From Tech Crunch: Who needs the FCC? Seattle writes its own broadband privacy rule
From Vox: Democrats are falling for fake news about Russia [Ed: interesting and insightful.]
From the Libertarian Republic: Venezuelan General Pushes for Potential Use of Snipers on Anti-Gov Protesters [Ed: nation is close to outright civil war. Damned shame.] This is the original article from the Miami Herald:
From the Libertarian Institute: Washington Post Cites Joke As Factual Evidence of Russiagate [Ed: a must read.]
From Tech Dirt: British Human Rights Activist Faces Prison For Refusing To Hand Over Passwords At UK Border [Ed.: British citizen. He has been stopped at the border about 20 times but this is the first time he has been arrested for refusing to turn over his password.] And a related story from Gizmodo: Why This Man Is Risking Jail by Refusing to Surrender Passwords at a London Airport
From Reason: Cuban Libertarian Party Launched After Arrest of Libertarian Activists [Ed: The Party, named after famed 19th century Cuban independence fighter Jose Marti]
From the Independent: UK Prime Minister Theresa May to create "new internet" that would be controlled and regulated by government [Ed: planning to introduce huge regulations on the way the internet works]
From Vice: VICE news uncovers scope of massive shadow war waged by US special operations forces in Africa
From Reason: Rand Paul's REINS Act Finally Makes It to Senate Floor [Ed: would require every new regulation that costs more than $100 million to be approved by Congress. But how would this work with Executive Orders?]
From Tech Crunch: Who needs the FCC? Seattle writes its own broadband privacy rule
From Vox: Democrats are falling for fake news about Russia [Ed: interesting and insightful.]
From the Libertarian Republic: Venezuelan General Pushes for Potential Use of Snipers on Anti-Gov Protesters [Ed: nation is close to outright civil war. Damned shame.] This is the original article from the Miami Herald:
From the Libertarian Institute: Washington Post Cites Joke As Factual Evidence of Russiagate [Ed: a must read.]
From Tech Dirt: British Human Rights Activist Faces Prison For Refusing To Hand Over Passwords At UK Border [Ed.: British citizen. He has been stopped at the border about 20 times but this is the first time he has been arrested for refusing to turn over his password.] And a related story from Gizmodo: Why This Man Is Risking Jail by Refusing to Surrender Passwords at a London Airport
From Reason: Cuban Libertarian Party Launched After Arrest of Libertarian Activists [Ed: The Party, named after famed 19th century Cuban independence fighter Jose Marti]
From the Independent: UK Prime Minister Theresa May to create "new internet" that would be controlled and regulated by government [Ed: planning to introduce huge regulations on the way the internet works]
I oppose Trump Derangement Syndrome...I oppose Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) because I am against Trump. (No, this does not make me pro-Democrat; a curse on both their houses.) I define TDS as a satirical psychological diagnosis that describes an incessantly hysterical, ad hominem and hyperbolic response to everything Trump, especially the minutia. I oppose TDS because it blocks the formation of a serious opposition to counter Trump's policies with reasoned arguments, solid evidence and better solutions. While major media scream in horror at annoying tweets, Yemen is bombed. While journalists investigate how many scoops of ice cream the man eats, the police continue to evolve into a domestic military that is loyal to Trump. I could go on and on...
It is easy and self-indulgent to vent your spleen through personal insults instead of doing the hard work of policy analysis. And, no, "he's insane, he's the devil!" is not policy analysis. It is a way to alienate the majority of people who start to tune out the unending, sickening blast of fury because they need to get on with real life. God forbid the left should find a real smoking gun in Trump's hand because their justified outrage will seem like just another Tuesday and people will flip the channel.
If you truly oppose Trump, then calm down! Emulate Justin Raimondo of antiwar.com who dissects Trump's foreign policies with a scalpel. The left is its own worst enemy...and, normally, I wouldn't object but their never-ending temper tantrum almost ensures that Trump's power will grow. Hit him where he is weak. Policy. Otherwise the world will get more Trump, not less.
It is easy and self-indulgent to vent your spleen through personal insults instead of doing the hard work of policy analysis. And, no, "he's insane, he's the devil!" is not policy analysis. It is a way to alienate the majority of people who start to tune out the unending, sickening blast of fury because they need to get on with real life. God forbid the left should find a real smoking gun in Trump's hand because their justified outrage will seem like just another Tuesday and people will flip the channel.
If you truly oppose Trump, then calm down! Emulate Justin Raimondo of antiwar.com who dissects Trump's foreign policies with a scalpel. The left is its own worst enemy...and, normally, I wouldn't object but their never-ending temper tantrum almost ensures that Trump's power will grow. Hit him where he is weak. Policy. Otherwise the world will get more Trump, not less.
Yeah. This promotes reasoned discussion and NOT hysteria at all.
Friday 19 May 2017
News and commentary round upFrom the Intercept: Chelsea Manning Is a Free Woman: Her Heroism Has Expanded Beyond Her Initial Whistleblowing [Ed: you go, girl!]
From the New York Times: How a Special Counsel Alters the Russia Investigation [Ed: helps to clarify a murky, murky political sitch.]
From Judicial Watch: U.S. Yanks Scathing Report Blasting DHS for Catching Less than 1% of Visa Overstays
From the Federalist: The Media Elite Is Indulging Dangerous Fantasies About Removing Trump From Office[{Ed: see my brief comments about Trump Derangement Syndrome above.]
From the Associated Press: Democrats again fall short in a closely-watched election [Ed: Omaha mayoral race was widely seen as a bellwether for future electoral campaigns.]
From the New York Times: How a Special Counsel Alters the Russia Investigation [Ed: helps to clarify a murky, murky political sitch.]
From Judicial Watch: U.S. Yanks Scathing Report Blasting DHS for Catching Less than 1% of Visa Overstays
From the Federalist: The Media Elite Is Indulging Dangerous Fantasies About Removing Trump From Office[{Ed: see my brief comments about Trump Derangement Syndrome above.]
From the Associated Press: Democrats again fall short in a closely-watched election [Ed: Omaha mayoral race was widely seen as a bellwether for future electoral campaigns.]
Thursday 18 May 2017
News and commentary round upFrom Target Liberty: DOJ Appoints Special Prosecutor To Lead Russia Probe [Ed: Former FBI Director Robert Muller, rumored to be a Comey ally.]
From Money CNN: Story on DNC staffer's murder dominated conservative media -- hours later it fell apart. [Ed: unfortunate because there is a real possibility that Rich was the leak.]
From Watts Up With That?: For Our Canadian Audience – a must see video [Ed: heck, it is fun for the whole family.]
From Lew Rockwell: Donald Trump’s Seven Days in May [Ed: the excellent Judge Napolitano claims Comey (the FBI) hired former British Intelligence Agent to dig up dirt on Trump.]
From Zero Hedge: Sweden Inches Closer To Cashless Society As Churches And Homeless Now Accept Plastic
From the Los Angeles Times: American Household Debt Hits New Record High. It beats the previous record ... set immediately before the 2008 recession [Ed: student and auto debt are driving forces.]
From the Onion: Nation Allows Itself 5 Minutes To Believe This All Going To Be Over Soon
From Mashable: Boy and His Teddy Bear Wow Cybersecurity Experts [Ed: a must read. I'm so glad we've steered clear of the Internet of Things.]
From the Intercept: Don’t Lionize James Comey. The FBI Did Some Terrible Things Under Him.
From Police State Daily: #BasedShieldMan Stands Down Socialist Water Cannons In Venezuela, Risks Military Arrest [Ed: a must read.] And related item from the Mises Institute: Venezuela: Forty Years of Economic Decline [Ed: recommended. Read both parts.]
From Breitbart: Dennis Kucinich Calls ‘High BS Quotient’ on WaPo Story, Asks Who Leaked [Ed: I have always admired K. for his consistent antiwar stand.]
From the National Review: Draining a pool without a license could soon be illegal in the Garden State.
From NBC News: Chelsea Manning's First Tweet Upon Release [Ed: it was "First steps of freedom!!" I wish the lady well.]
From the Hill: Putin: 'Political Schizophrenia' Gripping US. Defends Trump, says he'll hand over transcript of the White House meeting
From the Intercept: Trump Praises Erdogan, Whose Bodyguards Then Assault Protesters in Washington [Ed: as far as I can tell, the protesters were peaceful.]
From the Gateway Pundit: Comey: Trump never pressured FBI to halt probe. Told Senate on May 3 'It's not happened' [Ed: the widely broadcast footage is explicit and Comey is adamant that he has not been pressured.]
From the Onion: Sean Spicer Quietly Puts Painting Back Over Unfinished Escape Tunnel
From Money CNN: Story on DNC staffer's murder dominated conservative media -- hours later it fell apart. [Ed: unfortunate because there is a real possibility that Rich was the leak.]
From Watts Up With That?: For Our Canadian Audience – a must see video [Ed: heck, it is fun for the whole family.]
From Lew Rockwell: Donald Trump’s Seven Days in May [Ed: the excellent Judge Napolitano claims Comey (the FBI) hired former British Intelligence Agent to dig up dirt on Trump.]
From Zero Hedge: Sweden Inches Closer To Cashless Society As Churches And Homeless Now Accept Plastic
From the Los Angeles Times: American Household Debt Hits New Record High. It beats the previous record ... set immediately before the 2008 recession [Ed: student and auto debt are driving forces.]
From the Onion: Nation Allows Itself 5 Minutes To Believe This All Going To Be Over Soon
From Mashable: Boy and His Teddy Bear Wow Cybersecurity Experts [Ed: a must read. I'm so glad we've steered clear of the Internet of Things.]
From the Intercept: Don’t Lionize James Comey. The FBI Did Some Terrible Things Under Him.
From Police State Daily: #BasedShieldMan Stands Down Socialist Water Cannons In Venezuela, Risks Military Arrest [Ed: a must read.] And related item from the Mises Institute: Venezuela: Forty Years of Economic Decline [Ed: recommended. Read both parts.]
From Breitbart: Dennis Kucinich Calls ‘High BS Quotient’ on WaPo Story, Asks Who Leaked [Ed: I have always admired K. for his consistent antiwar stand.]
From the National Review: Draining a pool without a license could soon be illegal in the Garden State.
From NBC News: Chelsea Manning's First Tweet Upon Release [Ed: it was "First steps of freedom!!" I wish the lady well.]
From the Hill: Putin: 'Political Schizophrenia' Gripping US. Defends Trump, says he'll hand over transcript of the White House meeting
From the Intercept: Trump Praises Erdogan, Whose Bodyguards Then Assault Protesters in Washington [Ed: as far as I can tell, the protesters were peaceful.]
From the Gateway Pundit: Comey: Trump never pressured FBI to halt probe. Told Senate on May 3 'It's not happened' [Ed: the widely broadcast footage is explicit and Comey is adamant that he has not been pressured.]
From the Onion: Sean Spicer Quietly Puts Painting Back Over Unfinished Escape Tunnel
BRING YOUR DOG TO WORK DAY
Wednesday 17 May 2017
News and commentary round upFrom Fox 26 News: Private investigator claims slain DNC staffer Seth Rich had contact with Wikileaks [Ed: fascinating.] And a related item from the Free Thought Project: Seth Rich Named as WikiLeaks’ Source, Not Russia — ‘Clinton Team Blocking Murder Investigation’ [Ed: important to note that Rich's family disputes this claim.] And a good overview from Activist Post: Who Is Lying About The Murder Of Seth Rich?
From the Intercept: The Bizarre Story Behind the FBI’s Fake Documentary About the Bundy Family
From the Mises Institute: Libertarianism at the Brink [Ed: the feud between Mises and Cato goes on....]
From Activist Post: This Blockchain Project is Decentralizing All The Things [Ed: the blockchainis the most interesting part of Bitcoin, by far. ]
From the Guardian: 'Erdoğan's bodyguards' in violent clash with protesters in Washington DC [Ed: at the Turkish ambassador’s residence in the US capital during a visit by Erdoğan.]
From the Economic Policy Journal: If Trump is Forced Out, What Would a President Pence Economic Policy Look Like [Ed: I am seeing the idea of Trump being forced out more and more, even on sites that are not particularly anti-Trump.]
From the Intercept: How an Undercover FBI Agent Ended Up in Jail After Pretending to Be a Journalist
From Zero Hedge: Retired Green Beret Warns A Successful Derailment Of Trump's Efforts Is Well Under Way; War Is Inevitable
From the Free Thought Project: Mainstream Media Outlet Calls for the Execution of Anti-vaxxers [Ed: the Boston Herald.]
From the Jerusalem Post: Israeli Minister: It's Time to Assassinate Syria's Leader Assad
From Watts Up With That?: The “expert” fallacy: The stark differences between MD’s and PhD’s [Ed: nice analysis of a distinction I'd not considered.]
From the Mises Institute: The World's Central Banks Are Frozen with Fear
From Poletical: Top Ten Contemporary Academics Helping The Political Right [Ed: a comparable list for the left would be useful.]
From the Intercept: The Bizarre Story Behind the FBI’s Fake Documentary About the Bundy Family
From the Mises Institute: Libertarianism at the Brink [Ed: the feud between Mises and Cato goes on....]
From Activist Post: This Blockchain Project is Decentralizing All The Things [Ed: the blockchainis the most interesting part of Bitcoin, by far. ]
From the Guardian: 'Erdoğan's bodyguards' in violent clash with protesters in Washington DC [Ed: at the Turkish ambassador’s residence in the US capital during a visit by Erdoğan.]
From the Economic Policy Journal: If Trump is Forced Out, What Would a President Pence Economic Policy Look Like [Ed: I am seeing the idea of Trump being forced out more and more, even on sites that are not particularly anti-Trump.]
From the Intercept: How an Undercover FBI Agent Ended Up in Jail After Pretending to Be a Journalist
From Zero Hedge: Retired Green Beret Warns A Successful Derailment Of Trump's Efforts Is Well Under Way; War Is Inevitable
From the Free Thought Project: Mainstream Media Outlet Calls for the Execution of Anti-vaxxers [Ed: the Boston Herald.]
From the Jerusalem Post: Israeli Minister: It's Time to Assassinate Syria's Leader Assad
From Watts Up With That?: The “expert” fallacy: The stark differences between MD’s and PhD’s [Ed: nice analysis of a distinction I'd not considered.]
From the Mises Institute: The World's Central Banks Are Frozen with Fear
From Poletical: Top Ten Contemporary Academics Helping The Political Right [Ed: a comparable list for the left would be useful.]
| Donate with Paypal |
 | Donate Bitcoins! |
New Bitcoin address - 30 Nov 2020
1Ee7g7zAUReViPRWtLPBEgnPDRP62qxq3J
1Ee7g7zAUReViPRWtLPBEgnPDRP62qxq3J
Our news can be syndicated by using these rss feeds.
