The American Spectator

Mary| 2.6.09 @ 6:31PM

And the angst that propels socialism does not allow for piecemeal reform. For a reform you can take back if it proves pernicious.

That's the danger in this rush to judgement that Obama is asking of Congress.

No reasoned and purpose-driven debate is allowed because it would inevitably lead to something vastly different than what he allowed the lower chamber to craft.

I wish for the failure of his Total Society maneuvers.

It's too bad he can point to his predecessor as a comrade in arms.

It was in my first semester of college, many years ago, that I read the Nicomachean Ethics. My professor looked a lot like Batman's butler, Alfred.

The Ethics depressed me though, because I came away thinking the farmer and the physician could never really become friends.

And I had known a Dutch farmer whose knowledge and intellect were formidable.

Alan Brooks| 2.6.09 @ 8:17PM

but don't forget that even a conservative--Gingrich-- can fall for Tthegeneralities of futurism, which is souped-up, disguised progressivism. it takes a high-tech village, etc...

i'm a fool from a lib family, so my self deception kicked in, in reading future-twaddle.

but a brilliant man such as Newt?

Reagan's Ghost| 2.6.09 @ 9:56PM

Marx predicted that all democracy eventually leads to socialism.

J David| 2.6.09 @ 10:02PM

Alexis deToqueville said that democracy will ebd when the people learn that they can vote themselves money.

J David| 2.6.09 @ 10:02PM

"...democracy will end"

Alan Brooks| 2.7.09 @ 1:40AM

no
we're headed for brave new world, not socialism.

you DO understand what role science is going to play?

ruth| 2.7.09 @ 2:43AM

Alan, explain your comments, I'm curious.

Thomas| 2.7.09 @ 9:50AM

Evolution, be it physical or societal is based on strife. Not strife between people, so much, as between people and nature. It is called survival.

Society has, at its base, the objective of increasing the survival of a group of people. It provides a means whereby a larger number of people may prosper. This is not a bad thing, but if taken to extremes it is a destructive force. Extreme protectionism not only can, but it will, destroy a society and a large number of the people who make it up. People learn to succeed through failure. Those that are successful over their lifetime have overcome numerous failures. They have learned how to succeed. Western society, by its attempt to provide a womb-like environment for all of its citizens, is denying them the opportunity to learn how to survive. When potentially fatal circumstances present themselves, as they always do whether by human or natural agencies, a large number of people will not be able to survive and society will collapse. Neither science, technology nor prayer can stop it. Only people can. And it appears that a time of great change is rapidly approaching for the current world civilization.

Good luck.

Jeremiah| 2.7.09 @ 12:46PM

Plato's communism, which he took from Pythagoras, is not rejected outright by Aristotle.

The Greeks had far less respect for private property than subsequent people. Roman law was the beginning of the concept of private property as we now understand it, although the concept of the res - publica still seems to register the tension between that which ought to be "owned" by the public and those things which ought to be proper to citizens.

Alan Brooks| 2.8.09 @ 12:37AM

Ruth,
biotech is very powerful, and real, too.
it's being started now, in laboratories.
uploading-- putting human personalities into computer discs, began last year.
artificial intelligence is moving slowly, but moving.
nanotech is moving along faster.

even if it all is slowed down, it is still brave new world. we're not in heaven-- earth is no utopia.

Alan Brooks| 2.8.09 @ 12:51AM

...read, or re-read Huxley's book.

NFL jerseys| 9.2.09 @ 11:05PM

It is a wonderful article,I like it!Welcome to read following news: NFL jerseys,Photoshop CS2,ghd Hair Straightener,Adobe Photoshop CS4.