tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post6155276169335627703..comments2023-10-03T07:01:41.144-05:00Comments on Always On Watch: Semper Vigilans: Clash of the Biological ImperativesAlways On Watchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-76679146956558493952020-05-10T05:14:16.031-05:002020-05-10T05:14:16.031-05:00It's not just wages, it's conditions. Do w...It's not just wages, it's conditions. Do we want want to compete with the far East by cutting corners in safety?<br />I think EU membership is not zero-sum, it's flawed of course but in my opinion we got something out of it... we shall see. Of course, it's in my disposition to appreciate the restraint the EU imposed on our various Tory governments.<br />But in general I think the EU has constrained its leftist members more than the conservative ones (remember Greece?). It's a neoliberal project, not a socialist one.<br />And of course, it's a linguistic trick which I hope is beneath you to suggest the EU is sympactico with Nazis.jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-79621485732326082212020-05-10T04:23:15.124-05:002020-05-10T04:23:15.124-05:00Meant to say "it's rare for any extreme t...Meant to say "<em>it's rare</em> for any extreme to be optimal"jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-88635136643032329532020-05-10T04:20:56.117-05:002020-05-10T04:20:56.117-05:00You're arguing to extremes. You don't have...You're arguing to extremes. You don't have to go far (ideologically nor geographically: just consider continental Europe) to find examples of mixed economies skewed further towards the public sector than Britain, but which are still genuinely democratic. As I see it, the major threat to democracy in Europe comes not from the left, but the alt-right.<br />I'm not defending communism (I think for any extreme to be optimal), but I don't think we can use Russia as an example: it suited the Soviets to claim they were communist and it suited us to agree with them, and it's very hard to resist a lie sold by not one but two propaganda outlets, but whatever awful thing they were, Marxist they were not (Lennin admitted they were a kind of interim pre-socialist state; Stalin quietly dropped the subject).jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-1412053010074600912020-05-09T17:55:43.677-05:002020-05-09T17:55:43.677-05:00I personally favor wage minimums according to skil...I personally favor wage minimums according to skill set. If you have someone who can't even cook a charburger correctly, why should he or she earn $15/hour? On the other hand, if someone is a skilled worker, suggesting experience, maturity, and upward bound, then he or she ought to be compensated for what they contribute to the operation. Anything less than this undercuts "progress" in employment.<br /><br />About tariffs: no one likes them, particularly since it is always the consumer who get's the short end of the stick. But let's be clear. If our trading partners were treating the US fairly, the subject would never have come up in the first place. I will go so far to suggest that the British have been getting screwed by the EU since day one ... which (at least to my understanding) was what prompted BREXIT. What is the EU if not national socialism on an international scale. It's what Hitler and Mussolini wanted all along. Time for a reality check, Jez.Sam Huntingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431792764655370675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-83172442504657543602020-05-09T17:21:42.552-05:002020-05-09T17:21:42.552-05:00My guess is that the people who created NHS did th...My guess is that the people who created NHS did the best they knew how in the aftermath of a horrific wartime experience. Unfortunately, socialist mush tainted their frame of reference. From each according to his ability to each according to their need is as much lying hogwash as the title People’s Democratic Republic of China. Back then, there was a question whether socialism could work in an advanced society; now we know it does not work, and cannot work, except within a totalitarian framework. Show me a socialist, and I’ll show you someone who is not only ignorant of history but is also seriously delusional.Sam Huntingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431792764655370675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-75526925840548936382020-05-09T16:53:13.837-05:002020-05-09T16:53:13.837-05:00Swearshops undercut ethically responsible operatio...Swearshops undercut ethically responsible operations in our own countries. That's not a problem? What is your opinion of Trump's tarriffs?jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-41238938961898956312020-05-09T16:50:24.596-05:002020-05-09T16:50:24.596-05:00Free markets allocate scarce resources by setting ...Free markets allocate scarce resources by setting the price of the commodity such that demand equals supply. That is a form of rationing. Is it any less brutal?jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-69379814738689082612020-05-09T16:41:43.880-05:002020-05-09T16:41:43.880-05:00Oh that Oswald! Yes, I wasn't being serious, j...Oh that Oswald! Yes, I wasn't being serious, just using it as a famous example of a conspiracy theory.jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-29041442668850829212020-05-09T15:18:48.576-05:002020-05-09T15:18:48.576-05:00
@ jez,
From Wikipedia:
Lee Harvey Oswald (October...<br />@ jez,<br />From Wikipedia:<br />Lee Harvey Oswald (October 18, 1939 – November 24, 1963) was an American Marxist and former U.S. Marine who assassinated United States President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963. Oswald was honorably released from active duty in the Marine Corps into the reserve and defected to the Soviet Union in October 1959. He lived in Minsk until June 1962, when he returned to the United States with his Russian wife, Marina, and eventually settled in Dallas. Five government investigations[n 1] concluded that Oswald shot and killed Kennedy from the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository as the President traveled by motorcade through Dealey Plaza in Dallas. Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17720528359843578475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-78725365996748980892020-05-09T15:13:06.520-05:002020-05-09T15:13:06.520-05:00This is a bit of a non sequitur (we weren't ta...This is a bit of a non sequitur (we weren't talking about hate speech) but TR has never been jailed for hateful language. His convictions include fraud, multiple counts of assault and most recently contempt of court. We won't let him incite violence, but aside from that we're not stopping him from saying whatever he wants.jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-29852611485958482892020-05-09T15:01:38.823-05:002020-05-09T15:01:38.823-05:00You are right, I was attempting a joke ;)You are right, I was attempting a joke ;)jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-51008340217572055202020-05-09T15:00:08.966-05:002020-05-09T15:00:08.966-05:00I don't know what this is replying to. Who is ...I don't know what this is replying to. Who is Oswald?jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-73924521992408871322020-05-09T14:11:09.001-05:002020-05-09T14:11:09.001-05:00Church is another way of saying "community.&q...Church is another way of saying "community." I don't need a community to worship God. My relationship with God is very personal and I treasure it. I'm sure not going to stop worshiping Him because the church doors are closed by order of idiots. Sam Huntingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08431792764655370675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-34317295537468474692020-05-09T12:44:15.682-05:002020-05-09T12:44:15.682-05:00Jez, I agree with Franco although I probably would...Jez, I agree with Franco although I probably wouldn't have used his, somewhat flowery, language. <br />Oswald, was hardly a tool of of either Democrats or Republicans and can be seen as an extremely neurotic if not psychotic individual. Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17720528359843578475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-59042543858661806342020-05-09T10:55:48.517-05:002020-05-09T10:55:48.517-05:00Jez, you just exhibited a degree of obtusity unwor...Jez, you just exhibited a degree of obtusity unworthy of man of your intellgence and good character<br /><br />Please tell me I am correct in assuming you must have speaking tongue-in-cheek. PLEASE!Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-22472986333611336262020-05-09T10:49:03.107-05:002020-05-09T10:49:03.107-05:00HEAR! HEAR! Governor Abbott of Texas is a great gu...HEAR! HEAR! Governor Abbott of Texas is a great guy.<br /><br />God bless him, and God bless Selly Luther for her our in standing up to tyranny.<br /><br />Judge Mo shot be disbarred, thn forcible ejected from the bench.<br /><br />These dirty leftist sons of bitches who habitually abuse power in service to a despotic Socialist Agenda should have NO PLACE in American Jurisprudence.<br /><br />WOULD-BE TYRANTS (i.e. Socialists) DO NOT DESERVE TO BE REPRESENTED IN OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNANCE. THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO LIVE IN EXILE.Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-32489811389450551692020-05-09T10:40:38.510-05:002020-05-09T10:40:38.510-05:00Judge Moye is WORSE than idiotic, Mustang. He is ...Judge Moye is WORSE than idiotic, Mustang. He is a cruel, tyrannical,morally blind, obviously bigotted son-of-a-bitch, who should be summarily disbarred and forcibly removed from the bench<br /><br />As you see I am not in the habit of mincing words when I feel strongly about an issue. ;-)<br /><br />You may not agree, but I believe we –– particularly on the Right –– suffer from an excess of politeness, deference,humility, and consideration when dealing with the shameless knaves, well-meaning fools, brigands, would-be despots, and other malefactors who inhabit the Left.<br /><br />In my vision of an ideal world such fractious, nettlsome, deceitful types would be given no quarter.<br /><br />Now, ain't ya glad I'm not in charge? <br /><br />];^}>Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-83207926590034301752020-05-09T10:25:32.417-05:002020-05-09T10:25:32.417-05:00I agree, but I would never want an agent of GOVERM...I agree, but I would never want an agent of GOVERMENTto be grant the power to decide FOR me or you what is and is not "<i>appropriate</i> speech."<br /><br />The coerced hypocrisy of Political Correctness and our damnable "Hate Speech Codes" have long ago gone too far in that direction.<br /><br />If something –– or SOMEONE –– strikes anyone as "hateful," who the hell am I –– or you –– to say their feelings should be declared <i>unlawful</i> and punishable by a fine or gaol term?<br /><br />I'm thinking of the disgraceful, ungodly, inhumane, wickedly discriminatory treatment of Tommy Robinson in Britain, of course, but thousands of other examples apply equally well on both sides of the Pond. .Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-1443893379025891492020-05-09T09:44:44.046-05:002020-05-09T09:44:44.046-05:00I see we are largely in agreement, Mustang. Words...I see we are largely in agreement, Mustang. Words are poor ools for conveying the true meaning of what one tries to say. I'm glad you returned to respond. This exchange has been, I believe, a genuine <i>conversation</i> –– somethingI've longed to experience for twenty-plus years but rarely found in the blogosphere. <br /><br />Too many of us –– including me at times –– get too easily locked into mindless bullheaded exchanges of virulent, reflexive, witless opposition.<br /><br />For years I've seen your sober thoughtful, informed approach as a Good Influence. It's a pleasure to talk with you.<br /><br />Stay well. Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-65098054653073496982020-05-09T09:33:01.641-05:002020-05-09T09:33:01.641-05:00What WE have enjoyed in the past, –– and to a larg...What WE have enjoyed in the past, –– and to a large extent still do –– IS the best option.<br /><br />Again when we insist that "<i>everybody</i>" be treated EQUALLY, regardless of their economic and social status, the result can't HELP but be that "<i>everybody</i>" receives equal degrees of RATIONED and decidedly MEDIOCRE medical care.<br /><br /><b>I believe that what you appear to advocate is <i>not</i> going to bring about Great Improvement in Medical Care, but a guranteed REVOCATION of <i>PRIVILEGE</i></b>. That is, and always has been, the Ultimate Goal of Marxist-Socialist-Utopian Schemes, which ALWAYS require Government COERCION –– often brutal –– to be implemented.<br /><br /><b><i>If ALL can't have the very BEST then NO ONE should have it</i></b> is REALLY what I think you are saying, even if you don't see it that way. ;-)Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-73875786858921139872020-05-09T09:28:09.613-05:002020-05-09T09:28:09.613-05:00Ducky said:
"Do silly conspiracy theories imp...Ducky said:<br />"Do silly conspiracy theories improv the situation?"<br /><br />Yours, don't seem to have affected your situation.Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17720528359843578475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-89121965904197552062020-05-09T09:18:11.331-05:002020-05-09T09:18:11.331-05:00Ah, but I am a firm believer in Laissez faire Capi...Ah, but I am a firm believer in <i>Laissez faire</i> Capitalism. <br /><br />And you seem determined not to understand that YOUR idea of a "Sweatshop" could well be seen by one of your perceived "VICTIMS" as "My Only Source of Income."<br /><br />The One-Size-Fits-All approach doesn't work any better when it comes to varying cultures, customs, mores, ethics and morality than it does to the Garment Industry.<br /><br /><b>Enforced UNIFORMITY is the very LAST thing we should want for the world. <br /><br />Creative accomplishments have always sprung from unusually clever, intelligent, determined, passionately committed INDIVIDUALS with VISION and the courage of their convictions.<br /><br />I believe TRUE advances come through natural EVOLUTION not forced REVOLUTiON, the American Revolution being the only exception that I know –– <i>an exception that may well prove the rule</i></b>. Franco Aragostahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11088635482766081825noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-69884682000457539402020-05-09T08:34:39.361-05:002020-05-09T08:34:39.361-05:00Jez: Most churches are closed.Jez: Most churches are closed.Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-10497035722132330612020-05-09T03:52:09.983-05:002020-05-09T03:52:09.983-05:00No, they don't help. But listen, if there were...No, they don't help. But listen, if there were an anti-Trump conspiracy, why wouldn't it just kill him like they did to Kennedy?jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4320479736034351430.post-88104286614230306622020-05-09T03:47:47.735-05:002020-05-09T03:47:47.735-05:00Are churches still offering communion? Seems like ...Are churches still offering communion? Seems like an excellent way to spread the virus...jezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14865247084509280406noreply@blogger.com