Comments on: MY EXCUSE, LET ME SHOW YOU IT

By: Karl Marx

Karl Marx — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:08:47 +0000

I am very unhappy with Mr. Jungerman. It is, after all, one of my contributions to political thought to classify people into the categories of "producer" and "parasite." As is typical of today's teabaggers, he gets it backwards.

By: creature

creature — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:03:19 +0000

The use of firearms to defend one's life, family and property is as American as apple pie. The farm subsidy/welfare hypocrisy argument can be pulled in several directions, as noted above. That Mr. Farmtreprenuer is probably thinking he is 'better' than 'those people' is more realistic, and more in line with the phony deluded not-really-upper- 1%-income-bracket-but-think-I-should-be mindset. You know, assholes.

By: Rationalizing government aid & the loss of social capital « Sport and Random Thoughts

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:01:24 +0000

[...] as Ed comments, people seem to view government programs/subsidies that directly benefit them as being important [...]

By: Brandon

Brandon — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 01:09:11 +0000

I have no doubt that this guy is indeed a moron. Furthermore, I support a generous welfare state for ethical and economic reasons. That said, while I think that a good number of pejorative terms would be appropriate for Mr. Jungerman, I don't think it's inherently hypocritical to favor price subsidies while opposing welfare. They're not equivalent. Providing price support to producers in an industry characterized by price instability isn't the same as providing welfare benefits for those seeking employment. I think that welfare benefits are necessary, and justifiable on their own terms, and that Mr. Jungerman is wrong in opposing them, but that position doesn't inherently make him a hypocrite. I write this not because I have any sympathy for the guy, but because I think that the argument that "oh, he's a hypocrite because he condemns others for doing exactly what he's doing" is an easy way out, because it's so easy to refute.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 17:02:58 +0000

Great post. You are right, of course. I see it a lot down here in Mississippi. People want what they can get from the government and then want to deny that same right to others. There's just no better way to put it than what you did and it is the bottom line here. Too bad solutions aren't as obvious as their stupidity.

By: bb in GA

bb in GA — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:39:39 +0000

Jennifer:

Without further info I don't know. You may be correct in this instance, but my bias is that you would come up w/ a reason to NEVER have a firearm at the ready for any eventuality.

I have done your thought experiment in Real Life ™ It is easier to unholster a gun than press 911 (even if 911 is on speedial) at least on my flip phone.

When you are trespassing on my land, especially when you get uppity (reported spitting etc. and I'm sure something was said about somebody's parentage) I may, in general, be less than patient with you.

However, being armed imparts a certain responsibility and I have found a certain tolerance for puerile horsesh*t like that from our young "friends."

So to recap, I probably wouldn't have drawn down on those fine young gentlemen even in the face of the reported provocation unless they advanced on my position after the spitting and them being warned. The flip phone would been employed.

//bb

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:17:02 +0000

Ed: Please, PLEASE Dance your ph.D.!!!

Also bb – you have to realize how irresponsible it is for them to pull guns on people? They could have called the policewithout the guns (in fact they may have dialed the phone more easily) and being that this is small-town Missouri I'm sure they would have been able to identify the kids had they left after the police had been summoned.

By: Mike Brower

Mike Brower — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:11:23 +0000

It's not the story so much as your tone. That, coupled with the way you characterize anyone not sharing your view as firearm hoarding revolutionaries. I love the people's aremy artwork you've co-opted as a back drop. Appropriate.

By: bb in GA

bb in GA — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 12:19:49 +0000

Paul:

Paper thin there on Arnold. The Rs drummed him out of the corps a long time ago. Conservatives never really warmed up to him. Same reason some of us look funny at Mary Matlin. The cognitive dissonance is just too much.

Aslan:

Being an L-C is \= ANARCHIST. That comes more from your side of the aisle.

Minimal Government is G.R.T. NO Governnment.

Besides my help in the matter would come from Barney not some G-man.

//bb