Posted on 05/10/2006 10:11:03 AM PDT by jan in Colorado
A visit to my genius shrink, Paul Hyman. In the course of a lengthy conversation, I asked him what he would say to college graduates about what they must know to succeed at life. He looked dubious, so I refined the question.
"I mean," I said, "what do you need to know now that's different from what you, let us say, needed to know in the 1960s?"
Then, his majestically smart face lit up. And he gave me a list, which I am at best paraphrasing.
First, he said, materialism has become more powerful than it has ever been in his life. The worship of money and the things money can buy is more acute, more unchallenged, than it ever has been. This is a trap, because almost no one can ever have enough. There will always be someone with more. And most of all, the occupations that lead to serious wealth are not well suited to most temperaments. Trying to jam yourself into that round hole will do you more harm than good if you are square dowel.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
Second, almost no one today knows anything about history. No one has context. But life without historical context is shallow and unsatisfactory. If you don't know how mankind suffered in World War II, if you don't know how your fellow Jews or Slavs suffered in the Holocaust, if you do not know what Communism did to fifty million good people, you cannot possibly know how blessed your life in the United States of America is in 2006. If you do not know how much your grandparents had to work to get you where you are, you cannot know how precious that car your parents gave you is, or how lucky it is that you can study without having to work at a part-time job. If you do not know how your fellow African Americans were treated in rural 1920s Mississippi, you cannot know how lucky you are to live in an America that has the opportunities this nation now affords men and women of every race.
Peek at some DVD's of the Korean War, etc..
10% of that firepower would go along way towards developing good behavior in todays bad boys.
Who is Paul Hyman? I'm 56 and have never heard of him.
Terrific post, however. I admire Ben Stein rather a lot.
bttt
"Who is Paul Hyman? I'm 56 and have never heard of him."
Uh...from context, that's Stein's shrink and friend. He just mentioned the guy's name out of respect.
Hmmm...sounds like someone we ought to know is the way I read it.
Thanks for the note.
Thanks for this post. I'm going to have my 13 year old son read it.
Probably over his head right now, but you never know what will stick.
"sissylike" LOL I love it!
It would be nice if we would fight to win like they did in the past!
I was going to say a "nobody" which is why he makes so much sense.
Now that Rush has read most of this article on his radio program today, Mr. Hyman may soon become an "expert."
It may be a good article, but Stein jumped the shark yesterday on O'Gasbag.
He was advocating a 10% surcharge on the taxes "the rich" pay just because they're "rich." As in they "owe" something back because an Army Private makes $1200/month to protect the society the "rich" can be "rich" in.
Pity to see a good man lose his marbles.
Thanks for the post. It is so right on. I now love Ben Stein even more. Refreshing.
did any of y'all catch Ben on Fox last night arguing for a 10% surtax on people with annual incomes over $1 million? I was shocked, but since he said he wanted the money to go to increase military pay, I almost agreed! What do you think, freepers?
WOW! I can't believe he said that. I have that show on tape and will have to go watch it right now.
He's a funny man, but I wouldn't hire him as a financial advisor or to represent me in Washington or Sacramento that is fur sure!
ping for later read
Yes, 10% - 10% of the tax rate, so around 3-4 percent more.
It also surprised me when he came up with that - 10% for this, 10% for that - ending up with nothing left.
We should leave the rich alone as they are out building and buying all kinds of stuff that is taxed in 10 or more different ways. Also, they don't use any more 'services' than a poor person.
I do too, but this has me re-thinking that position.
Here is another of Ben Stein's articles that was posted in 2005 which shows how pro-military Mr. Stein is.
The fact that it slams Hollywood doesn't hurt. ;o)
You are correct. This is downright creepy. All "fairness" has gotten us is a society where no one is responsible for anything anymore.
"10% surtax on people with annual incomes over $1 million? I was shocked, but since he said he wanted the money to go to increase military pay, I almost agreed! What do you think, freepers?"
More pay to the Military I agree with, but not the surcharge. That's counter-motivational to the people who generate wealth.
Rather, put a % tax on all purchases. That way you will proportianately get more from the wealthy and won't hurt the poor. Oh, and get rid of the income tax!
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