Posted on 11/24/2009 12:48:52 PM PST by Bodhi1
In the new Star Trek, Cadet James Tiberius Kirk finds himself standing before the Academy's review board. During his third attempt at a computer simulation no one had ever passed, Kirk installed a subroutine in the simulator's programming which allowed him to win. He was accused of this by Spock, the creator of the simulation.
Here's part of the exchange, starting with Kirk's justification for his actions:
Kirk: [to Spock] The test itself is a cheat, isn't it? I mean you program it to be unwinnable.
Spock: Your argument precludes the possibility of a no-win scenario.
Kirk: I don't believe in no-win scenarios.
(Source)
This shows a change in Kirk's belief system. Prior to this, Captain Christopher Pike told Kirk his dad didn't believe in no-win situations. Kirk replied, "Well, you see how that worked out for him." Kirk's father drove his ship into an enemy ship, but his sacrifice allowed others to live, including Kirk and his mother.
Pike replies, "I guess it depends on how you define "winning."
Captain Kirk then attacked his challenges head on, often risking his own life to achieve victory.
John Galt, the hero in Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged," looked at his own no-win scenario and took a different approach. With not only his company, but his country, rushing towards collectivism, he felt the total collapse of the nation was inevitable. So he quit. He went on strike.
And he took the best of the best with him. One by one he talked the heads of industry into disappearing, leaving the looters to search for another mine to strip.
It would be like Kirk leaving the Enterprise and taking Spock, McCoy and Scotty.
Galt felt what he was facing could not be stopped. So he chose to speed it along its path and pick up the pieces after it collapsed.
Kirk fights. Galt walks.
There are days I find myself wondering which is the appropriate role to take in today's America. I look across the Bridge to Dependence and see so many Americans already on the other side, calling for more to join them and wonder if I shouldn't just let them. Go Galt and get out of the way.
And then there are days where I feel more like Captain Kirk, wanting to confront the ideas of collectivism and Marxism and explain to people that that road leads to the destruction of the individual.
Is America too far gone? Are the Captain Kirks of the conservative and libertarian movement wasting their time? Is there still a chance to win this fight for liberty?
Again, it depends on how you define "winning." If you simply mean a return to Republican party domination, winning is possible. In fact, the more the Democrats do, the more probable it becomes.
However, Republicans in majority behave badly. Rep. Sam Graves, my Congressman, usually votes with a conservative mind. But when the opportunity came for him to take a stand for fiscal conservatism, he chose to vote for $200 billion in looting.
I can't see that as winning. Winning has to be a return to the limited government Madison and Jefferson wanted. That goal is far more difficult. It will take decades to educate a majority of Americans about conservative values, if we can get them to care about the state of the nation more than the state of "Dancing with the Stars." It's a very difficult goal, but is it no-win?
Galt or Kirk? Where are we and what should we do? Tell me what you think in the comments.
You are correct that a line item veto should not be necessary.
I think if some of altair’s ideas were implemented then any necessity for a line item veto could be pretty much done away with.
OTOH, we COULD add a clause in the Constitution which states that NO piece of legislation may be longer than five (5) pages of 8-1/2” x 11” paper including, pre-amble; that single-spaced, 12 pt, Times New Roman type must be used, that each page shall have 1” margins at the top, bottom and on both sides, and that no abbreviations or acronyms of any kind may be substituted for actuakl words anywhere in the body of the Bill.
That oughta keep things short and sweet.
“Try inserting a last minute “rider” into THAT, ya’ jackasses!”
;-)
Another idea would be to return to the spirit of a part-time legislative body. Don’t allow congress to sit for more than say 3 months unless called into emergency session by the Supreme Court or the President. Make those idiots live in their districts & hold real jobs or run real businesses.
Another reform would be to eliminate the direct election of Senators. Go back to selecting them by majority vote of the home state legislature. That way these jokers represent their States breathing new life into the 10th Ammendment.
You got it! I wonder if those shirts didn't have a target on the back of them!!??
I have 400 Quatloo on Captain Kirk (for the record)
You're going to need far more than 400....the Quatloo has been devalued along with the US dollar.
Besides, the Chinese (now the world leader at least in financial matters) does not recognize either the Quatloo or the US dollar.
They DO love Tribbles tho!!
General Tso's Tribbles?
500 quatloos on the newcomer.
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