Past - Present - Principles

I sympathize with your revulsion. I've read f...

2010-02-25T15:07:31.171-08:00

I sympathize with your revulsion.

I've read far more of Dewey and his ilk than I would have in a saner world - ditto Islamism - and Holmes is clearly in that group. But exposing the twin evils of Progressivism and Pragmatism has a certain therapeutic effect that comes from truly understanding what one is up against.

I find it helpful to have a fuller understanding of history and particulars when I argue for reason and capitalism.

But, none of that is at all intended as criticism, just explanation. It does take a strong 'stomach' and sometimes the odor can be just too much to bear.

Fortunately, the intellectual tide appears to be turning against the Progressives - without lapsing into the dominant false alternative one hopes - making the effort somewhat worthwhile.

Regards,
Jeff Perren
Shaving Leviathan

If you've talked with or seen interviews with ...

2010-02-09T08:57:51.099-08:00

If you've talked with or seen interviews with young enlisted soldiers on active duty today, you must have noticed that they tend not to recognise that they are blindly accepting duty, in causes which they little understand, in plans of campaign of which they have little notion, under tactics of which they do not see the use. Today's military tends to give a coherent account of itself to its inductees, and the young and idealistic or young and undereducated among the inductees tend to accept, learn and sincerely repeat what they are taught. this is the "adorable" faith of which Holmes speaks.

This faith is only poignant and adorable to Holmes, and to us as well, because unlike our earnest young soldiers, we certainly understand that the duty they accept, in causes concocted to obscure actual ends, in plans of campaign of which only a secretive few have clear information, and under tactics which are indeed useless except in bringing our enemies and ourselves to grief, that these duties are worthy neither of our young soldiers' faith, nor of their sacrifices.

Truly horrifying! I don't often gasp aloud when r...

2009-05-21T17:28:06.909-07:00

Truly horrifying! I don't often gasp aloud when reading, but a couple of the Holmes quotes caused me to. I can't stomach him either!

Holmes, along with J. S. Mill, was a card carrying...

2009-05-17T15:37:00.000-07:00

Holmes, along with J. S. Mill, was a card carrying Benthamite. If you want to go to the root of it, look into Jeremy Bentham. I would be interested to hear what you think of him.

hi! Dianne: Congratulations on your new blog. I sa...

2009-05-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

hi! Dianne:
Congratulations on your new blog. I saw the announcement on TOS (subscriber).

In light of a Rep. senator wanting a pragmatist and Obama's current socialist agenda I doubt it that we will get anybody who believes in Bill of rights, does not believe in overriding of rights, privileges,freedoms and goes by founding fathers perceived intentions.

I wonder if the 9th amendment in hindsight was enough to address the fears of Hamilton that protecting specific rights might imply that any unmentioned rights would not be protected. Also were the concerns of some that the strong national government proposed by the Federalists was a threat to individual rights and that the President would become a king were justified in light of "King Obama's" coronation and despotic behavior?

A excellent comprehensive examination of Cuban his...

2009-05-05T16:45:00.000-07:00

A excellent comprehensive examination of Cuban history. I wasn't aware that Cuba sponsors terrorism, thus proving this article is as relevant as ever to today's US foreign policy.

An impressive combination of teaching with contemp...

2009-04-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

An impressive combination of teaching with contemporary implications. In all, a great debut.

Revenue in the early Republic was mostly from impo...

2009-04-29T14:23:00.000-07:00

Revenue in the early Republic was mostly from import & export duties - hence the distress over piracy, which hurt the government as well as merchants. The budget in 1797 (year of the XYZ Affair) was $6.134 million, with revenues of $8.6 million. I suspect that Harper's use of "millions" was for effect, the way we used to say "trillion." Incidentally, the first year the budget topped $1 billion was 1917, just after the income tax was imposed. All stats are from Historical Statistics of the United States (online edition).

Without an income tax, how did the U.S. get the "m...

2009-04-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

Without an income tax, how did the U.S. get the "millions for defense"?

What a great idea relating history with current ev...

2009-04-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

What a great idea relating history with current events and identfying the philosophical principles involved. This is a site I welcome with enthusiasm. Thank you.

Robert Cons

Nicely done! I'll be back.

2009-04-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

Nicely done! I'll be back.