Posted on 07/06/2005 10:01:01 PM PDT by annalex
You missed its best.
If the standard of comparison is with complete garbage, like Time or Newsweek, then I suppose NR is worth something. However, there are excellent suggestions for reading material on this thread, -- give them a chance, will you?
Dear dsc,
"Is it impossible that conservatives will ever be in charge of anything?"
There are some things of which conservatives are usually unlikely to be in charge. I think "community service" programs are one of them.
sitetest
"unlikely to be in charge. I think "community service" programs are one of them."
Maybe they oughtta be.
I think, communitarianism, of which Dsc's suggestion is a specimen, might belong to the conservative movement in principle. I think, the call for a draft is completely misplaced in today's only-superpower America. but there are several topics on which a conservative will agree:
- Rights are complemented by duties;
- Civic virtues are to be taught;
- Wars are normal part of human existence;
- Men owe allegiance to the homeland
- ...(?)
It is indicative of the state of confusion the modern conservatism finds itself in America, that a rational discussion on these topics is nearly impossible.
I do not think that the National Review's position on the draft is a disqualifying factor for conservatism, while I think that any shade or hue of deathism is disqualifying.
Like Keating says, there are things that are not negotiable. Euthanasia is a non-negotiable. Draft is something that makes most conservatives queasy, but theoretical circumstances exist when it is a salutary thing. We can argue whether or not these circumstances are in evidence today, here. I think, not. But the reason to drop the NR is not Buckley's position on the community service but his, and his hires' tepidity toward life.
That was generally very reasonable.
I object only to the term "communitarianism" as a label for what is effectively a draft that, IMO, should complement national defense.
"He's probably going to go after Gerry Matatics. He's been hounding the man trying to destroy him after Gerry stopped working for him years ago. They had a disagreement over finances. (basically one didn't want to pay the other what he'd agreed to)"
Since you were not present, let me explain what actually happened. Gerry and Catholic Answers agreed on a salary, and that amount was paid when due throughout the seven months that Gerry worked with Catholic Answers.
On the side Gerry had an agreement with San Diego businessman Scott Butler, who later was the co-author of the book "Jesus, Peter, and the Keys." Scott agreed to subsidize Gerry at $300 per month, to help underwrite Gerry's housing expenses.
This was generous on Scott's part, but he and Gerry had a falling out, and Scott decided not to provide the subsidy any longer. Gerry's employment with Catholic Answers was not conditioned on the Scott-Gerry agreement. Gerry had agreed to the salary we offered before arriving in San Diego and meeting Scott.
Gerry's departure from Catholic Answers had nothing to do with finances, though he later spun the story that way.
Side note:
Part way through his time with Catholic Answers, Gerry came to me and said that he was finding it difficult to work on his Ph.D. dissertation in the evenings. He said he would be more valuable to Catholic Answers if he got his Ph.D. and said he wanted to stay home one day a week to work on it, while drawing a salary predicated on working five days a week, not four.
I interpreted him to mean that he would leave Catholic Answers if I did not agree to this arrangement. Not wanting him to leave, I reluctantly agreed. He worked four days a week for us, and was paid for five, until he left the company.
Later I learned that Gerry had not been working on his dissertation. A Ph.D. student does not work on his dissertation until his advisor and committee have signed off on the topic. According to Scott Hahn, Gerry never even had an advisor or a committee, so he could not have had an approved dissertation topic to work on.
Since Gerry finalged a way to get paid for five days' work while working only four days, he was making good money and had no cause for complaint.
Did you or did you not tell Gerry that you owned him 24/7 in regards to Apologetics work?
"Did you or did you not tell Gerry that you owned him 24/7 in regards to Apologetics work?"
Of course not, nor has that ever been said to any of the other apologists who work or worked at Catholic Answers.
Has anything like that been ever said by you to Gerry Matatics? 24/7 or 7/24 or any similar phrase about someone taking on Apologetics work on their own outside of the framework of Catholic Answers or any other organization you have influence in?
"Has anything like that been ever said by you to Gerry Matatics? 24/7 or 7/24 or any similar phrase about someone taking on Apologetics work on their own outside of the framework of Catholic Answers or any other organization you have influence in?"
Catholic Answers' apologists are encouraged to enhance their reputations by doing outside things, if they are so inclined, such as writing books and appearing on radio and television programs. This helps them (maybe even financially) and indirectly helps the apostolate.
Of course, we expect that staff members will show loyalty to Catholic Answers and will not engage in outside activities that would constitute direct competition. In this we have a policy that is like that of most companies.
Fair enough. I'll take what you stated and bring it up with Gerry on the next occasion that I talk to him.
Feel free to speak directly with our staff apologists, if you wish. Their names can be found at catholic.com. They will confirm that we do not put unreasonable restrictions on our employees. That would be a shortsighted business practice. We have skilled staff members and want to keep them.
(I would note that while we allow outside activity, we do not push it. Our apologists give 40 hours a week at the office, and they need time off for themselves and their families. We do not want them to become workaholics or to suffer burnout.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.