Archive for October, 2011
Dave Killion — October 31, 2011
Plus, polar bears are frequently found sporting the national colours!
Here in the Great White North, it’s beavers vs.bears -
“A Canadian senator has called for a national “emblem makeover” by replacing a vegetarian rodent that defends its territory with urine with the world’s largest walking carnivore that thrives in the cold.
Referring to the beaver as a “dentally defective rat,” Nicole Eaton called on Ottawa to replace the critter as the national emblem with the polar bear, an animal she hails as strong, majestic and brave.”
The beaver is respected for being peaceful and industrious, qualities long attributed to Canadians. However, the Senator may have a point. Given the recent willingness of Canadians to join with the imperialist US government in various foreign adventures, perhaps something a little more blood-thirsty would be in order.
Dave Killion — October 30, 2011
Paul Willcocks writes a lot about the downtrodden in BC, and he gets a lot wrong because, like all proponents of the welfare state, he mistakes the government for society. So whenever someone suffers, it’s ‘our’ fault. In his latest blog post, Willcocks says we’re all no different than the people who walked by the (now deceased) two-year-old Chinese girl who laid crying in a puddle of blood as the result of being hit by a van.
Willcocks does not seem to know that the indifference he rails against is the direct and perfectly predictable result of the welfare state he endorses. But don’t take my word for it. Just ask former US President Grover Cleveland -
“…I do not believe that the power and duty of the general government ought to be extended to the relief of individual suffering which is in no manner properly related to the public service or benefit. A prevalent tendency to disregard the limited mission of this power and duty should, I think, be steadfastly resisted, to the end that the lesson should be constantly enforced that, though the people support the government, the government should not support the people.
The friendliness and charity of our countrymen can always be relied upon to relieve their fellow-citizens in misfortune. This has been repeatedly and quite lately demonstrated. Federal aid in such cases encourages the expectation of paternal care on the part of the government and weakens the sturdiness of our national character, while it prevents the indulgence among our people of that kindly sentiment and conduct which strengthens the bonds of a common brotherhood.”
If Willcocks wants to see the lot of the disadvantaged improved, he should support libertarians in bringing an end to the welfare state.
Dave Killion — October 30, 2011
If someone is looking for good stories to share with children, we’ve already recommended a few. You might also appreciate knowing what to avoid. Well, if this image is representative, it would be best to turn your back on Olivia -
Good grief, Olivia! Don't you know some pigs are more equal than others?
Dave Killion — October 28, 2011
My favourite version of my favourite Aesop’s Fable -
“Once upon a time a Wolf was lapping at a spring on a hillside, when, looking up, what should he see but a Lamb just beginning to drink a little lower down. “There’s my supper,” thought he, “if only I can find some excuse to seize it.” Then he called out to the Lamb, “How dare you muddle the water from which I am drinking.”
“Nay, master, nay.” said Lambikin; “if the water be muddy up there, I cannot be the cause of it, for it runs down from you to me.
“Well, then,” said the Wolf, “why did you call me bad names this time last year?”
“That cannot be,” said the Lamb; “I am only six months old.”
“I don’t care,” snarled the Wolf; “if it was not you, it was your father;” and with that he rushed upon the poor little Lamb and ate her all up. But before she died she gasped out– “Any excuse will serve a tyrant.”
There are some other versions here, along with some history of the story. As a kid I was bullied a few times, and to my everlasting shame I did a little bullying myself, so that’s probably why I was struck by tale. However, now that I’m a libertarian I think I have a much better understanding of what Aesop was trying to convey.
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