Blind hog with a truffle quote of the day
The debate should have provided the conservative defenders of property rights with a perfect example of how the right to own property also protects the 1st Amendment rights of assembly and religion by supporting the building of the mosque.
...
It is repeatedly said that 64% of the people, after listening to the political demagogues, don't want the mosque to be built. What would we do if 75% of the people insist that no more Catholic churches be built in New York City? The point being is that majorities can become oppressors of minority rights as well as individual dictators. Statistics of support is irrelevant when it comes to the purpose of government in a free society—protecting liberty.-Representative Ron Paul, "Ron Paul to Sunshine Patriots:
Stop Your Demagogy About The NYC Mosque!" August 20th, 2010
Well, crap. Whatever I might have said about Rand Paul being a crazy chip off the old man's nut block, maybe I owe his wingnut papa some sort of apology. At the very least, I'm feeling a sort of grudging respect right now for the elder Paul's stubborn consistency. I mean, consistency shouldn't always be admired--I've long agreed with Emerson that a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds--and I don't find a whole lot worthwhile in Ron Paul's libertarian ethos in general. Still,a blind hog finds a truffle now and again, as the aphorism goes, and I'll give Old Ron due credit on this one.
Paul does take a shot at libs in the full piece (at the link above, and it is worth a read--there are several choice quotes in it, actually):
Let me take the moment to respond that I don't think okay-with-the-Islamic-center libs are staking out an inconsistent position. I remain completely in favor of the proposition that society may regulate the use of property in an impartial and nondiscriminatory manner: if Park51 or Cordoba Center or whatever it's being called this week intended to use the former Burlington Coat Factory property two blocks from Ground Zero in a manner inconsistent with zoning restrictions, there would certainly be fair cause for concern until or unless a variance was properly granted. But legitimate zoning regulations take into account things like public safety and environmental concerns (actually, that's redundant in my view, but you get the idea) or, perhaps, urban planning, not that somebody's feelings might get hurt.
In other words, I don't agree with Ron Paul's extreme laissez-faire libertarianism that says that there can be no valid restrictions on private property usage. An oil refinery next to a school or a toxic waste dump in a housing development both seem like rather bad ideas, and I don't have a problem with a township worrying about whether local streets are up to the task of supporting a five-story mega-mall and restricting use of the property to something more modest and sensible even if the owner of a parcel of land has tenants lined up around the block to launch storefronts on opening day. But within those parameters, whatever the hell the owner wants, you know? If the parcel is zoned for toxic waste dump or mega-mall (actually, that's redundant in my view, but you get the idea), there you are, dump or mall away.
Anyway, what does it say about the protesters and demagogues like Palin and Gingrich that they have fringe right-wingers like Ron Paul and mixed-market socialists like myself agreeing about anything? One might expect that question to haunt their minds if they had any.
Paul does take a shot at libs in the full piece (at the link above, and it is worth a read--there are several choice quotes in it, actually):
Conservatives are once again, unfortunately, failing to defend private property rights, a policy we claim to cherish. In addition conservatives missed a chance to challenge the hypocrisy of the left which now claims they defend property rights of Muslims, yet rarely if ever, the property rights of American private businesses.
Let me take the moment to respond that I don't think okay-with-the-Islamic-center libs are staking out an inconsistent position. I remain completely in favor of the proposition that society may regulate the use of property in an impartial and nondiscriminatory manner: if Park51 or Cordoba Center or whatever it's being called this week intended to use the former Burlington Coat Factory property two blocks from Ground Zero in a manner inconsistent with zoning restrictions, there would certainly be fair cause for concern until or unless a variance was properly granted. But legitimate zoning regulations take into account things like public safety and environmental concerns (actually, that's redundant in my view, but you get the idea) or, perhaps, urban planning, not that somebody's feelings might get hurt.
In other words, I don't agree with Ron Paul's extreme laissez-faire libertarianism that says that there can be no valid restrictions on private property usage. An oil refinery next to a school or a toxic waste dump in a housing development both seem like rather bad ideas, and I don't have a problem with a township worrying about whether local streets are up to the task of supporting a five-story mega-mall and restricting use of the property to something more modest and sensible even if the owner of a parcel of land has tenants lined up around the block to launch storefronts on opening day. But within those parameters, whatever the hell the owner wants, you know? If the parcel is zoned for toxic waste dump or mega-mall (actually, that's redundant in my view, but you get the idea), there you are, dump or mall away.
Anyway, what does it say about the protesters and demagogues like Palin and Gingrich that they have fringe right-wingers like Ron Paul and mixed-market socialists like myself agreeing about anything? One might expect that question to haunt their minds if they had any.
Comments
They have them. They've just lost the user manual and don't give a shit that they're using them incorrectly.
I didn't even bother visiting your "Burn a Quran" link; it's possible I should've simply deleted it as mindless bigotry. Your "Yes We Scam" link in this post is neither stunning nor hilarious. It is banal, foolish and predicated on a poor grasp of economics, current events and the definition of socialism. A thinking critic of the President would be embarrassed to associate him or herself with it, though you're giving me cause to suspect you're not the least bit thoughtful. I would love to be proven wrong, but that's entirely up to you.
I would also ask regular readers not to pile on. If Cammie rises to the challenge and exercises some individual thought processes, please feel free to respond to those comments, but I have a feeling Cammie will decline the invitation, in which case Cammie will be taking a dive down the memory hole to join the Mysterious Chinese Linkspammers who have been appearing here with increasing regularity.
Which isn't exactly linkspamming, though it comes close.
Cammie, like I said: it looks like you have left individual comments on various blogs. You're welcome to leave them here. You're welcome to disagree with me or any of the regulars. You should be advised there's a low bullshit tolerance around here and you'll do better to leave thoughtful and fact-based comments.
I'm all agogy at the brilliance of his misunderrepresentation. "Property rights," my ass!
And further, what is an American politician doing using British usage in a speech to Americans! Because, he isn't using it to mean definitions 2 or 3.
He should stuff it in the boot, and take the lift down, innit!
I'm merely the messenger here.
I'm on to you, mister. Like stink on a pig, although I hear they are really very clean animals in reality.
(just sharin' ;-)