Self-Righteous Ignorance

"Nothing Threatens Freedom so much as Self-Righteous Ignorance." 


William Ralph Inge said "Originality is undetected plagiarism".  So far, the above quote is still original.  It's one of the few things I can claim to be my own.  I use it as a reminder to avoid self-righteousness.  It's way too easy to use self-righteousness as a justification for controlling people.  If my views are the only ones that are valid, then it is okay to make laws restricting or compelling people to do what I believe is right.


I use this as a litmus test for all laws and regulations.  If Congress passes a law, I ask myself, what is the intent?  Is it a valid intent?  Is it controversial?  What is the controversy?  Is the law based on arbitrary morality?  Can it be supported through empiric data or a priori reasoning?  What is the justification for limiting freedom?  Can it be justified?


What other information do I need?  I have observed many people adhering to strong positions in controversy, but when questioned, found them to be largely ignorant of the issue in general.  I saw this at the Occupy Boston protest last fall.  Many of the participants appeared to be far more interested in the protest than in the issues being debated.  Many appeared to have very little understanding of macro-economics.  But all of them seemed to have strong opinions about what should be done.


If I assume I am right without becoming fully educated, I risk acting immorally or unethically through my ignorance.  Even when I become educated on the subject, I need to be aware that there is probably data I haven't considered.  I need to be ready to change my views based on new data.  Assuming it's possible that all my beliefs are wrong allows me to be receptive to new information and to grow in knowledge and wisdom.


This blog is all about the idea of accepting that I may be wrong.  By posting on controversial topics, I hope to receive feedback and comments that will allow my readers and me to increase our understanding of the controversies and to grow in knowledge and wisdom.

 

TSA: Making us safe from 4 year old little girls.

Article: Weeping four-year-old girl accused of carrying a gun


The TSA has managed to misplace its common sense again.   The above article is about a little girl and her family who were terrorized in the name of safety.

I fly a lot.  I have had pat-downs.  I've had my hands and luggage swabbed to check for explosives residue.  I've had my bags pulled and and hand inspected.  I've been ID checked at the gate.  I've had my unopened water bottles (that I bought in a store across from the gate) vapor sampled for combustibles.

I'm not complaining about random searching.  I do believe we need to relax some of the bans.  I'd love to be able to carry my pocket knife again when flying.  I think we need to add some profiling protocols like the Israelis do.

But most importantly, I believe we need a better grade of TSA agent.  The department needs to pay more money to attract better employees,  These employees should be better trained is how to effectively do their jobs without violating the dignity or the personal rights of innocent travelers

I would love to see a third party study of TSA protocols and security regulations to determine what works and what policies are just "feel-good" measures that do nothing to make us safe.

Space: The Final Capitalist Frontier!

Link to USA Today article: SpaceX’s Mission: Pick Up Where NASA Left Off


Robert Heinlein, in his "The Past Through Tomorrow" series of short stories, created an alternate American history of space exploration where advancements were achieved completely through capitalist venture rather than government initiative.   In his stories, we conquered space at a much faster rate than we have seen in real life.  Profit and market interest drove invention and development, resulting in a more efficient space program owned and operated by private industry.

I hope he was right.

History shows us that certain things are done better by government.  We also see that sometimes government has to open the door, then allow private industry to take over.  If the exploration of America is an example of what we can expect from our modern space initiatives, then I believe we have hope.  Private exploration and exploitation of the Americas resulted in highly successful colonies.  It's somewhat arguable, I admit, but it seems the most successful colonies were the ones with the least amount of government involvement.

I believe privatizing space will result in huge advancements in our exploration and exploitation of space.  I'm totally psyched.

The CISPA Bill and Big Brother

See article here:  CISPA Rseource Page

See the bill here:  CISPA Bill

The SOPA Bill recently defeated in Congress had a lot of people alarmed about government intrusion into internet privacy.  Not many people are aware of the CISPA Bill now being considered in Congress.  The CISPA Bill makes SOPA look like a day in the park.  The bill requires private industry to share user data with the government.  It gives the military complete control over privacy security.  It supersedes all previous privacy laws.  And it scares the heck out of me.

The Center for Democracy & Technology and the ACLU have both come out against it.  President Obama has threatened to veto it.

I'm gravely concerned that such a bill could get as far as this one has.  I would like to see legislation protecting internet privacy for users.

Is IB really UN?

Links: Criticism of the International Baccalaureate Program  /  Wikipedia IB page


Our local school system has adopted the International Baccalaureate education program.  At first this sounded pretty good.  A structured program emphasizing core subjects, critical thinking, social responsibility, cultural awareness, and foreign language.  What could be wrong with that?

I'm afraid it hasn't been so great.  Our children are frequently stressed by IB "experiments" supposedly designed to teach cultural awareness.  We are constantly finding ourselves countering controversial ideas being taught to our kids as fact.  Chinese is taught daily, but science and math are not.  Our kids are stressed, and so are we.

A little research has caused me some very real alarm.

It turns out that the IB program is a United Nations initiative.  It was originally designed to teach the children of foreign diplomats in Europe.  In its modern form, IB is designed to advance UN ideals and world citizenship at the expense of American history, culture, and patriotism.  The social agenda of the UN is subtly forced on our children through the IB curriculum.  This is an agenda considered by many Americans to be very liberal and completely contrary to our national heritage.

We are no longer going to participate in this social indoctrination of our children.  Starting next year, our kids will be home schooled.  My wife did an excellent job of educating out children prior to enrolling them in the public system.  Under her tutelage, I expect my children to receive an education that is as good, or better than what is being offered through the IB program.  I will also find comfort in the fact that they will be guided in their social development to adopt our family's and our nation's values and heritage.

If homosexuality is a sin...

I came across this essay recently:  Bad Religion

It got me thinking about how I feel about the Christian reaction to homosexuality in our culture.

I’ve read the Bible through a couple of times.  I’ve specifically researched God’s position on homosexuality.  I believe I could make a good argument for homosexual activity being regarded by God as a sin.

But I won’t.

I’m alarmed by the mainstream Christian community’s focus on homosexual behavior in this country.  I have seen Christians point fingers and judge gay men and women while engaging in sinful behavior of their own.   Homosexuals seem to have become the scapegoats for a sinful society.

If homosexuality is a sin, is it worse than adultery?  Many Christians would say that it is.  But, if homosexuality is a sin, then it’s a private sin.  The only people directly affected are the gay partners themselves.  Adultery often destroys families, breaks trust, harms children, and ruins finances.  Homosexuality does none of these things.  So why is adultery better accepted that homosexuality by so many Christians?

If homosexuality is a sin, then it’s really only a sin for Christians.

Many Christians forget that non-Christians are not bound by God’s rules.  Not really.  They are already lost.  If you don’t know Christ, and are already condemned to Hell.  Will you be more condemned to Hell if you kill, steal, or bear false witness?  Prior to salvation, a person’s behavior is not really relevant.  People must be saved first.  Personally, I find that judging people and condemning them doesn’t open many doors to discussions of salvation.  I find it much more productive to focus on the sinner rather than the sin.  To explain God’s love for us rather than his punishment for our sinful nature.

If homosexuality is a sin, I believe that as a Christian, it is my responsibility to love the sinner.  It’s my job to tell people about Christ.  It’s my privilege to help people discover saving grace in Christ.  It is not my job to judge and condemn.  I have a responsibility to inform a person of their sin if I believe they are unaware.  I shouldn’t enable sin.  I should offer support to people who are struggling with sin.  But I’m not supposed to separate myself from fellow Christians by focusing on their sin.  Especially when I consider the sin burden I have in my own life.

If homosexuality is a sin, then I love sinners.  I love my fellow Christians regardless of their sexual orientation.  I encourage all Christians to read the Bible and discover what changes God would like them to make in their lives.  If homosexuality is a sin, then I trust God to love, support, strengthen, and change the sinner.  I don’t believe it’s my job to do that for Him.

God has charged me to love, not to condemn.  We all have sin in our lives.  We are all in different places in our walk with Christ.  If we love and support one another, we are all more likely to grow in Christ.  As we grow, He will change us.  We can trust God to form us into the image He has for us.

She's a Hero.

Read the story here:  Boston woman stops man who allegedly flashed her on train

Sir Edmund Burke is generally credited with saying “For evil to flourish, good men need do nothing”.

In the linked article, the woman in the story didn’t allow evil to flourish.  While others did nothing, she stood up against another person’s creepy and potentially dangerous behavior.  She did something.  And as a result, a pervert was arrested before he could potentially take his sickness to the next level.

I commend her for her actions.  To me, she is a hero.   

The folks who stood around and did nothing?  They’re just part of the problem.

All This Hair

Not every post can be deep, thought provoking, and controversial...

Today, I want opinions.  What should I do with all this hair.

About 20 years ago, I started cutting my hair "High and Tight" because of my martial arts training.  Last fall, I had several people tell me, all in about a 2 week period, that I should grow it out.

So I did...

I haven't cut my hair since October.  It's a bit thinner on top than it was 20 years ago, and a lot more gray, but it's still fairly thick, a bit curly, and entirely unruly.

I think it's time for a haircut.  But what kind of style?  Should I grow it a bit longer?  Should I go with the messy, unkempt look that's in these days?  Gel it to accent the curls?  Brush it straight back like The Fonz?  (Dating myself, I know).  Cut it all off again?

All suggestions will be considered.

Grin.

Brides in diapers? Really?

See the article here:  Bridal diapers  

Classify this one under "Ew!"  Apparently bathroom breaks are more of an issue than I realized.

A wedding is a huge event.  Aside from the bride, the dress is the centerpiece of the wedding (sorry guys, we come in 3rd, at best).  These dresses are designed for looks, not bathroom breaks.  I get all that.

But diapers?  Really?  Is it really more dignified to pee your pants during the ceremony than to ask a couple of close friends to help out in the bathroom?

And wouldn't it be a better option to buy a reception dress rather than to deal with the inconvenience of a form fitting, long train wedding dress?  Are diapers really the solution?

Maybe it's something we guys will just never understand...

Presidential Overreach

Related Articles:

Weekly Enewsletter: An Executive Order You Should Know About

House Republicans return to valuing civil liberties

I have always been wary of the use of Executive Orders.  With the stroke of a pen, a president can create law, without oversight or debate.

Through the War Powers Act, Congress gave the president short term authority in times of war to mobilize the country's military capabilities in an emergency, but this EO is entirely different.  Without Congressional approval, the president has assumed the authority to expand his own power.  With a simple document, he has usurped personal liberty and declared himself to have unconstitutional authority in times of ambiguous crisis.

This is entirely unacceptable.  We should all be afraid of this EO and what it means for the American public.

Two is one and one is none.

I know the Dooms-Day fanatics have made a lot of people shy away from preparedness discussions, but this really is something we need to talk about.

Lots of things can create enough of a crisis to leave us taking care of ourselves for a period of time.  A natural disaster could strand us for days.  A Teamsters strike could stop or slow food distribution for weeks.  A snow storm could confine us to our homes.  I'm sure others could come up with much scarier scenarios...

Having some basic supplies to carry us through is a good idea.  But please remember.  We're not just getting ready to provide for ourselves.  We have to keep enough supplies for our "grasshopper" neighbors as well.

Stock a basement shelf with enough food for your family for 60 days.  Rotate your supplies by using and replacing them.  Store stuff your family will eat.  A 60 day supply means you can feed your family and a neighbor's family for a month.  Or three neighbors for two weeks.

Have gas for the generator.  You'll want enough to run it at least an hour a day to charge batteries, run your freezer, or to run your well-pump.  If you have a sub-pump, get a battery backup pump unless you are willing to let your basement flood.

Buy a good kerosine heater and keep enough fuel around to run it.  Kerosine will keep for about 10 years, so fill a couple of cans and forget about it.  If you have a fireplace or wood stove, stock some good firewood.  Or better yet, get a coal tray and a cubic-yard of coal.  Pile the coal in the yard, cover it with dirt, plant some wild flowers, and forget about it... until you need it.

Keep a couple of 5-gallon water jugs filled in the basement.  Get a decent hiking water filter and store it away with some iodine tablets.  Pure chlorine bleach is a good water purifier as well.

Store some candles and a couple of oil lamps.  Oil lamps will run on kerosine.  Use them a couple of times so you can learn how to trim the wicks and how to get the most light from them without sooting up the sconce.

Make sure your first-aid kit is well stocked and up to date.  Make sure you have enough prescription medications around, especially essential meds like insulin or Synthroid. 

All these ideas are fairly inexpensive.  The average family can get a basic preparedness kit together for a couple of hundred dollars.  Then supplement the kit a bit at a time over the years until it meets all your family's basic needs.  Get a backup of any essential items.  Remember: Two is one and one is none.  Things break and get lost.  Be redundant.

Practice with the kids by having a "lights out" weekend.  Use oil lamps and candles.  Cook over a campfire.  Read together, play board games, and sing campfire songs.  The kids will absolutely love it (once they quit whining about missing their iPhones).

Americans are an independent bunch.  Let's practice that independence by being ready to take care of ourselves.  And our neighbors.

God bless.

Vegans, personal choice, and healthy eating...

Vegetables aren't food.  Vegetables are what food eats...

Eating healthy is smart.  No doubt about it. But Vegans take it to an extreme that borders on religion.

First of all, there is nothing unhealthy about meat.  Our American diet certainly does consist of more meat, eggs, and dairy than healthy, but that doesn't make the foods themselves unhealthy.  Eating animal protein is the easiest way to get enough complete protein, minerals, and vitamins in our diet.  Avoiding animal products requires either supplementation, or a careful balance of plant foods not usually found in the same region.  Hardly natural.

Some folks object to the idea of eating animals.  A vegetarian diet supplemented with eggs and dairy is a healthy and responsible way to avoid killing animals for food.

Vegans, however, seem to take this all to the level of religion.  They spend an incredible amount of time worrying about what they put in their mouths and whether it offends their ideology.  They try to impose their beliefs on others, campaigning for our society to remove all animal protein from our diets.  Recently, they protested against Starbucks for using a natural food coloring that contained ground beetles (a common food and textile dye that has been used for centuries).

There is nothing unnatural or immoral about eating animal protein.  Our bodies are designed to process these foods.  Eating only vegetables requires an inordinate amount of effort to remain healthy.  Killing animals for food is as moral for us as it is for the sharks, bears, and tigers who will kill humans for food at any opportunity.

Vegans are welcome to follow their religion.  They are not, however, welcome to impose their ideology on me.  I have far more respect for people who quietly follow a vegetarian diet for themselves while respecting my choice to choose my own diet.  Not only do I respect their choice, I actively support it.

Michigan Helmet Law

Read about it here: Detroit News Article

Michigan passed a new law yesterday allowing experienced motorcycle riders over the age of 21 to ride without a helmet if they purchase an additional $20K in insurance coverage to offset potential increased healthcare costs.

Michigan just became a more free state.

Now when I wear my helmet, it'll be because of my own choice rather than compliance with a nanny government's oppressive laws.

As an adult, I am fully qualified to make my own choices about the risks I am willing to accept.  No government bureaucrat or faceless politician is better qualified to make these decisions for me.

Personal Liberty is essential to a free society.  No law should limit liberty unless it can be shown that the law will protect against a direct infringement on the rights of others.

Seatbelt laws are next...

"Jeder nach seinen Fähigkeiten, jedem nach seinen Bedürfnissen!" ("From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.") --Karl Marx, Critique of the Gotha Program, 1875.


It seems we have the whole "...to each according to his need" part down pretty well here in the US, but what about the "From each according to his ability..." part?  Is modern Progressivism just a form of reward without responsibility?  Why do we provide for people who don't produce?  Why do we fail to expect production?  Is this reasonable?  Doesn't it erode society by promoting entitlement and dependence while discouraging industriousness?


Shouldn't we consider programs like Roosevelt's TVA initiative to replace our modern welfare system?  If we're going to give away government money, shouldn't it be in the form of paychecks instead of welfare checks?