Matthew Yglesias seems to have his knickers in twist over this quote from Dr. Thomas Sowell:
When I see the worsening degeneracy in our politicians, our media, our educators, and our intelligentsia, I can’t help wondering if the day may yet come when the only thing that can save this country is a military coup.
Yglesias whines, writes:
I could feign outrage, but I’ve got to admit that, I, too, have had this thought from time to time especially during moments (see, e.g., 2005) when my political preferences weren’t faring well (I never said “decadence,” though, it seems to me that only real extremists worry about decadence). That said, even though I write a ton of words every day, I’ve always had the good sense to not actually write it because even bloggers know that you shouldn’t publish every random crazy thought that pops into your head. What was Sowell thinking? More to the point, how is it that nobody at Creator’s Syndicate or National Review Online stopped this from going to press?
As to Yglesias, Dr. Sowell is a high school drop out in his seventiies who written numerous best sellers. The man is a national treasure. I doubt that Dr. Sowell will be losing any sleep over some young whipper snapper who would presume to censor him.
As to Dr. Sowell’s quote, which so upset Yglesias, I offer an analogy. I hike just a wee bit Now as a male, I will never admit having to ever having been lost. Aferall, I have always found my way back on my own. No comment on dread and panic.
I have noticed that every time I was powerfully confused as where I was, I had made the assumption that I could not get powerfully confused. So when start falling into that comfort zone that I can’t get powerfully confused, I try to remind myself that thinking I couldn’t get powerfully confused always preceding getting powerfully confused as to where I was.
Likewise, Dr. Sowell seems to suggesting that believing that degeneracy can not lead to the collapse of our civilization, is a precondition to that collapse.?
Tags: BitsBlog, Social Issues
May 2nd, 2007 at 20:31
I thought you’d pick up on this particular story; I didn’t touch it because I wanted to see what you do with it. The which, of course, does not mean it wasn’t under discussion; I’ve been into this most of the day with a handful of people.
First off, I have always considered Matthew Yglesias to be a major idiot. How anyone can take the guy seriously on any level is probably best described as a matter of perspective.
I think his reaction to all this instructive, however. what interests me about this, is how their overarching world views, generate completely different conclusions, even though they see the same impending violence on the horizon.
For all of his screaming about ‘rights’, and for all of his denials Yglesias has developed has developed the following that he has, for one reason, and one reason only; he has invariably argued for big government. Specifically, a government big enough to fund all of his pet projects. So, it is interesting, and I think instructive, to note that he finds the removal of the power of government by virtue of the military, to be worse than the intrusion of government itself on rights… writes that he is so interested in giving up to the government, before the military comes along and overturns said government.
Meanwhile, it is equally instructive that the good doctor sees such a military coup as a possibly positive thing, apparently of the idea that such a move would eventually come down in favor of the people, and not the government per se’. . Personally, I’m not sure, but I suspect that there will be a great deal of argument as to whether not a military takeover would be more intrusive on rights than the government that we’ve ended up with these past 60 years or so.
One of the people I have been discussing this with today, has by my reading, long been of the opinion that if a revolution comes along, it will be because of individuals standing up against what we have become. He further advised that when that happens, it’s going to get bloody. He seems to think it inevitable, I don’t, but I certainly see the danger of that happening. You’ll recall, that I’ve sat on a couple of occasions I hope I’m not alive to see it.
In any event, Sowell is apparently viewing such a move as an attempt at the relative equivalent of “rebooting the system”. I guess I’m a little uncomfortable that that’s not going to solve the problem. And in reality, I suspect he isn’t convinced of it, either.
The biggest of the key elements, here, is that the reaction of Yglesias shows clearly that his heart is was and always will be tried to governmental power. That rights. Not freedom.
May 2nd, 2007 at 20:51
I don’t see Dr. Sowell’s comments pertaining to the the end game. I don’t see he endorsing such a coup. Rather, what see is his concern which current our degeneration is taking us.
Personally, I can’t imagine any military in which I served wanting to over throw the civilian goverment, of which we were a part, to which we pledged our loyalty, and for which we served.
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:37
Hmmm. Perhaps I put it better over at OTB this morning: