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Suicide of the West? (Thomas Sowell)
Jewish World Review ^ | August 31, 2009 | Thomas Sowell

Posted on 08/31/2009 8:40:07 PM PDT by jazusamo

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To: Mama Shawna

The only thing is, they inflicted a mass casualty event on us, and we went over and kicked their asses back into the dark ages so they haven’t been able to inflict another one. Now, we have a weak sister in the WH and another 535 weak sisters in Congress, so they will probably inflict another one. But, if we continue to pound their @sses after that, we show that they are really very, very weak.


41 posted on 09/01/2009 12:42:43 PM PDT by ichabod1 (I am rolling over in my grave and I am not even dead yet (GOP Poet))
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To: TChris

I have read a bunch of his books, so that is one to add to my list.


42 posted on 09/01/2009 1:05:58 PM PDT by rlmorel (Mary Jo Kopechne is now available for comment.-August 25, 2009)
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To: Tolik

Great viewpoint summary in your last paragraph. Especially the last line of the last paragraph...

Good job and thanks for that insight.


43 posted on 09/01/2009 1:07:33 PM PDT by rlmorel (Mary Jo Kopechne is now available for comment.-August 25, 2009)
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To: Tolik
When you start with different assumptions, then logic dictates that you *have to* do something to *make it more fair*. It was a philosophy of French revolution, Bolshevik revolution and many others: to forcefully remove inequality as they understood it. America had chosen, in it’s time, a different philosophy - when equality under the law and the individual freedom are the most important. It’s different equality: of opportunity, not the result. No matter that the path of seeking equality of result was shown to be bloody and fruitless, the philosophy is alive and well.

The reason such attempts are fruitless at best and catastrophic at worst is that they are nothing less than attempts to subvert the laws of nature. It's like trying to contravene gravity.

Consequences flow from choices. It's the choices people make -- and hence their consequences -- which cause them to become unequal. Trying to artificially make people equal in outcome is to deny their choices, in effect rendering choice irrelevant. Too many people want to be able to make poor choices and still get good results.

This is exactly what causes the failure of socialism/communism. If the outcome is the same whether you choose to achieve and learn and create and grow, or lounge around, eat and sleep, then that choice simply doesn't matter. If there is no benefit to putting forth the extra effort, it will not be done.

The effect is the same, regardless of the "market". Grade inflation results in less-educated students. Wage inflation (read: unions) results in greater inefficiency and lower quality.

The examples are endless.

Consequences must be tied to choices, or freedom is destroyed.

44 posted on 09/01/2009 2:26:13 PM PDT by TChris (There is no freedom without the possibility of failure.)
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To: Travis McGee

Tom Sowell is an irreplaceable national treasure

He is and I honor him

Michelle Malkin seems to be the likely heir to his mantle.


45 posted on 09/01/2009 2:33:15 PM PDT by Chickensoup (minestra di pollo)
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To: jazusamo

An incredible education can be obtained by reading his books by publication date. I have done it and it has provided me with a worldview like no other...


46 posted on 09/01/2009 2:35:26 PM PDT by Chickensoup (minestra di pollo)
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To: Chickensoup

Agreed, many people including myself have said his books should be required reading in high school and college and I truly believe that.


47 posted on 09/01/2009 3:04:17 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

Sowell BTT. A lot of the liberal commentators on the topic have called for the end of the war on terrorism approach and a return to the law enforcement approach. The difficulty with that is that once they’ve found and imprisoned a terrorist they let him go. That’s essentially no approach at all.


48 posted on 09/01/2009 3:19:16 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: DuncanWaring

Yup. Your combination is the most likely outcome. Muslims are more willing to die than most of us are.


49 posted on 09/01/2009 3:40:57 PM PDT by JohnQ1 ("Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever." Oscar Wilde)
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To: Billthedrill

Correct, if they’re let go they go right back to killing. They have to be killed or locked up for the duration and if they’re tried in a court and found guilty of killing someone due to their terrorism they have to be executed.


50 posted on 09/01/2009 4:03:10 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo

“or locked up for the duration”

If you lock them up, other evil buzzards kidnap a bunch of women and children, and demand their release.

Only execution will do.


51 posted on 09/01/2009 4:20:54 PM PDT by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: dsc

That’s my preference also but there’s probably too many dogooders to really do it.


52 posted on 09/01/2009 5:16:55 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: jazusamo; All

“If you don’t meet the terms of the Geneva Convention, then the Geneva Convention DOESN’T protect you. If you are NOT an American citizen, then the rights guaranteed to American citizens do NOT apply to YOU. “

Emphasis, mine.

I adore you, Dr. Sowell.


53 posted on 09/01/2009 5:41:57 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Yep, those are not difficult things to understand for sane people but not for the bleeding heart liberal terrorist loving Rats, however I repeated myself.

Dr. Sowell says it well and simply.


54 posted on 09/01/2009 5:51:17 PM PDT by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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