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Random Thoughts (Thomas Sowell)
Creators Syndicate ^ | December 25, 2012 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 12/24/2012 10:09:31 AM PST by jazusamo

Random thoughts on the passing scene:

When I was growing up, an older member of the family used to say, "What you don't know would make a big book." Now that I am an older member of the family, I would say to anyone, "What you don't know would fill more books than the Encyclopedia Britannica." At least half of our society's troubles come from know-it-alls, in a world where nobody knows even 10 percent of all.

Some people seem to think that, if life is not fair, then the answer is to turn more of the nation's resources over to politicians — who will, of course, then spend these resources in ways that increase the politicians' chances of getting reelected.

The annual outbursts of intolerance toward any display of traditional Christmas scenes, or even daring to call a Christmas tree by its name, show that today's liberals are by no means liberal. Behind the mist of their lofty words, the totalitarian mindset shows through.

If you don't want to have a gun in your home or in your school, that's your choice. But don't be such a damn fool as to advertise to the whole world that you are in "a gun-free environment" where you are a helpless target for any homicidal fiend who is armed. Is it worth a human life to be a politically correct moral exhibitionist?

The more I study the history of intellectuals, the more they seem like a wrecking crew, dismantling civilization bit by bit — replacing what works with what sounds good.

Some people are wondering what takes so long for the negotiations about the "fiscal cliff." Maybe both sides are waiting for supplies. Democrats may be waiting for more cans to kick down the road. Republicans may be waiting for more white...

(Excerpt) Read more at creators.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: obama; randomthoughts; sowell; thomassowell
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To: DustyMoment; jazusamo
There are people calling for the banning of assault weapons who could not define an "assault weapon" if their life depended on it. Yet the ignorant expect others to take them seriously.

Given the mention of "militia" in the 2nd Amendment, there are at least two implied purposes of it: 1) citizens should have military weapons in their possession so that they could fight if called upon without having to be supplied with weaponry and 2) citizens should be practiced with using such military weaponry so that they would not have to be trained if called upon. The 2nd Amendment clearly makes every able-bodied citizen a soldier, and, in the event of large-scale losses of our military overseas, such citizens would be the last line of defense of America.

Turns out, so-called "assault" weapons are exactly what the 2nd Amendment is about, the last line of defense of the American homeland.
21 posted on 12/24/2012 11:33:58 AM PST by PieterCasparzen (We have to fix things ourselves)
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To: jazusamo
At least half of our society's troubles come from know-it-alls, in a world where nobody knows even 10 percent of all.

Bless Dr. Sowell, the eternal optimist, understating the problem.

I say it's closer to 75% know-it-alls, including 100% of the MSM and elected criminals.

As for how much they actually know, that's true, closer to 2%.

22 posted on 12/24/2012 11:38:06 AM PST by publius911 (Look for the Union Label -- then buy something else)
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To: PieterCasparzen

That’s because there’s no such thing as an assault weapon. Is a dagger an assault knife? Is poison an assault chemical? This term was made up by the commies in their relentless assault on the language.


23 posted on 12/24/2012 11:43:12 AM PST by firebrand
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To: harpu
“I think this man (Obama) really does believe he can change the world, and people like that are infinitely more dangerous than mere crooked politicians.”

Thank you for that collection of memorable quotes, I'm saving them all. But among my fovorites is that one...

For reinforcing the following other classic quote :

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their consciences.” -- C. S. Lewis

That's assuming that they have a conscience. But let's not quibble.

24 posted on 12/24/2012 11:48:59 AM PST by publius911 (Look for the Union Label -- then buy something else)
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To: DustyMoment
There is a treasure trove of great observations in this article. My favorite is:

There must be something liberating about ignorance.

They don't call themselves "liberals" for nothing.

25 posted on 12/24/2012 11:54:11 AM PST by oldbrowser (They are marxists, don't call them democrats)
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To: jazusamo
Random Thoughts (Thomas Sowell)

Thomas Sowell's random thoughts are far better than 99.99% of the population's organized thoughts.

26 posted on 12/24/2012 12:00:03 PM PST by KarlInOhio (I'm tired of being beaten like a malcontent elf so Obama can pretend to be Santa.)
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To: jazusamo
Sowell is one of the smartest men on the scene today.
In contrast, Baraq 0bama is the least qualified person in any room he's in.
27 posted on 12/24/2012 12:07:28 PM PST by YankeeReb
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To: firebrand

I prefer (and used in my paragraph) the term “military” weapon.

Yes, the point of the 2nd Amendment is that citizens should a) possess and b) be practiced with military weapons.

Right ? I’ve never heard this argument, but the 2nd Amendment does say that a militia is necessary:

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

The obvious implication is that the citizenry themselves - not the less than 1% of the population that are members of the Army, Navy Air Force or Marines or National Guard members that are part of a Federalized military force - but the citizenry at large is the well from which a militia is drawn in the case of national defense emergencies. The 2nd Amendment recognizes that if the citizenry at large has arms and ammunition, and is practiced, they will be able to serve their nation well when called upon.

How could a “right of the people” be thought of as only applying to 1% of the population ?


28 posted on 12/24/2012 12:18:35 PM PST by PieterCasparzen (We have to fix things ourselves)
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To: PieterCasparzen

Good points. Back when the Constitution and the Bill of Rights were created, the “militia” were all citizens who answered the call when the nation needed them. At that time, there wasn’t a formal fulltime Army or Navy.


29 posted on 12/24/2012 1:46:26 PM PST by DustyMoment (Congress - another name for anti-American criminals!!)
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To: jazusamo

People who pride themselves on their “complexity” and deride others for being “simplistic” should realize that the truth is often not very complicated. What gets complex is evading the truth. - Thomas Sowell


30 posted on 12/24/2012 2:40:16 PM PST by NurdlyPeon (New tag line in progress.)
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To: jazusamo
There are people calling for the banning of assault weapons who could not define an "assault weapon" if their life depended on it.

Yes sir.

Had someone once define my little .22 as a "assault weapon" because it was not a single shot.

31 posted on 12/24/2012 2:54:04 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Fate plays chess and you don't find out until too late that he's been using two queens all along)
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To: jazusamo

Merry Christmas, jaz!


32 posted on 12/24/2012 4:00:15 PM PST by Gene Eric (Demoralization is a weapon of the enemy. Don't get it, don't spread it!)
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To: jazusamo
Thanks for the Ping, and a very Merry Christmas back atcha!

"If someone wrote a novel about a man who was raised from childhood to resent the successful and despise the basic values of America — and who then went on to become President of the United States — that novel would be considered too unbelievable, even for a work of fiction. Yet that is what has happened in real life."

I'd comment on how Dr. Sowell is in rare form, but that would be untrue. He's in his usual, scintillating form, which happens to be vanishingly rare among so-called public intellectuals.

God bless this amazing fount of common sense.

33 posted on 12/24/2012 4:57:06 PM PST by Flotsam_Jetsome ("Obama": His entire life is Photoshopped.)
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