TGIF: Sam Harris on Saving Democracy from Voters

TGIF: Sam Harris on Saving Democracy from Voters

by | Sep 23, 2022 | , , , , , ,

Neuroscientist/philosopher Sam Harris caused quite a stir recently by defending the social networks' conspiracy (his word) to suppress news coverage of Joe Biden's son Hunter's smoking-gun laptop shortly before Election Day 2020. Harris said the suppression was justified because Donald Trump was such a threat to America that he had to be defeated whatever the cost to the election's integrity. In other words, according to Harris, such tampering is okay as long as he deems it necessary to save American democracy from the voters. The social networks are privately owned, of course, but remember...

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TGIF: Question Intuition!

TGIF: Question Intuition!

by | Sep 16, 2022 | , , , , , ,

In the 1960s a popular button that New Left activists wore implored everyone to "Question Authority!" It was good advice, even though many kinds of authority exist. Some authority is chosen (for example, one's doctor) and others are compulsory (the government). But in either case, questioning it is reasonable. The button did not implore anyone to reject authority, only to question it. What about intuition? I have the impression that people think their own intuitions need not be questioned because they are reliable. But is that wise? I don't think so. First let's acknowledge that much of what...

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TGIF: Reject Both Identity and Egalitarian Politics

TGIF: Reject Both Identity and Egalitarian Politics

by | Sep 9, 2022 | , , , , , ,

The push-back against identity politics by disillusioned leftists is welcome, but the striving to replace identity with economic equality as the guiding political principle? Not so much. I won't spend time on the problems with identity politics, a zero-sum game if ever there was one. The virtue of universalism extolled by classical liberalism seems indisputable. Why wouldn't everyone begin with the same entitlement to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness free of government impediment? As a general matter, past crimes committed by some long-dead people against other long-dead other...

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TGIF: National Conservatism’s Ominous Economics

TGIF: National Conservatism’s Ominous Economics

by | Sep 2, 2022 | , , ,

National conservatism is objectionable on many counts -- the name in itself tells you that -- but it does pay tribute to free enterprise. A closer look, however, may cause one to doubt its commitment. The movement's official Statement of Principles includes Principle 6, which begins encouragingly, though predictably tradition-bound: We believe that an economy based on private property and free enterprise is best suited to promoting the prosperity of the nation and accords with traditions of individual liberty that are central to the Anglo-American political tradition. We reject the socialist...

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TGIF: Jefferson on Not Trusting the State

TGIF: Jefferson on Not Trusting the State

by | Aug 26, 2022 | , , , , ,

Regardless of written constitutions and the laws on the books, individual liberty is always at risk. And as liberty goes, so goes our capacity to live well, to achieve the good life as rational, virtuous social beings. The danger comes from left and right, both of which aspire to have a body of elders impose narrow cultural and moral norms on everyone, overriding our right to think for ourselves. (Progressives and National Conservatives have a lot in common in that regard, even if they differ on what is to be imposed.) This point about the fragility of liberty was well understood by the...

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TGIF: The Coming New and Improved IRS

TGIF: The Coming New and Improved IRS

by | Aug 19, 2022 | , , , , , ,

The brilliant people in the Biden administration and the U.S. Congress have decided that one thing America really needs is an Internal Revenue Service (!) fortified by 87,000 more employees and 80 billion more dollars so it can help reduce the inflation that currently menaces us. You don't believe it? Oh, ye of little faith! How is that to be accomplished? By auditing rich individuals and corporations, of course, thereby harvesting tons of hitherto uncollected revenue and forcing the shirkers to pay their "fair share." (No one ever says how we know they aren't already paying it.) The law's...

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TGIF: About Those January 6 Committee Extravaganzas

TGIF: About Those January 6 Committee Extravaganzas

by | Aug 5, 2022 | , , , , ,

I admit it: I watched nearly every moment of the House committee extravaganzas on the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. I did more than that. I was transfixed. I couldn't even multitask. Were the mislabeled "hearings" beyond all criticism? Of course not. They were choreographed, but only mildly so; the production effort lent an orderliness that I appreciated. I accept the point that the presentations had nothing to say about FBI-informant intrigue if it took place. Such mischief has occurred in the past, and if credible allegations exist, they should be pursued vigorously. Of course, it...

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