History is a form of science. We can see which designs worked and which did not. There’s two types of societies: organized ones and deconstructing ones. Liberalism, the People, etc. is deconstruction and places power in the hands of those who are most easily fooled. They are then ruled by oligarchs, of whom technocrats are [...]
Posts from ‘December, 2008’
All politicians are fake
Tell the voters what they want to hear. Reality? Find a plausible excuse of a plan, and then its your subordinates’ problem. The fakeness extends to crocodile tears and warm hugs of all sorts: Rev. Jesse Jackson referred to Jews as “Hymies” and to New York City as “Hymietown” in January 1984 during a conversation [...]
Heretical truth: Good leadership is strong
A strong leader who punishes cheats and freeloaders can increase the cooperation and riches enjoyed by the rest of the group, according to psychology and economics research at the University of British Columbia, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Kent. “One person can make a difference,” says UBC Assoc. Prof. Joe Henrich, who teaches [...]
Who I am and where I blog
Hi. I am a realist. This means my political views are not what I wish were true, but what I from proof and deduction have reason to believe is true. We all live in the same universe; it rewards some behaviors and not others; nothing is new under the sun. In addition, this universe doesn’t [...]
More on evolution and devolution
Continuing an idea blogged about elsewhere… But when Gutenberg (borrowing from the Chinese) perfected moveable type, he led the way to another and even broader form of cultural sharing; literacy became widespread in the aftermath of the printing press, and savants throughout the Europe published their insights, sharing their own expertise, producing the Enlightenment and [...]
Who gives to charities
Liberals show tremendous compassion in pushing for generous government spending to help the neediest people at home and abroad. Yet when it comes to individual contributions to charitable causes, liberals are cheapskates. Arthur Brooks, the author of a book on donors to charity, “Who Really Cares,” cites data that households headed by conservatives give 30 [...]
Useful UN bans criticism of any religious faith
The U.N. General Assembly Thursday approved a “Defamation of Religion” resolution, largely supported by Islamic countries, condemning critical or offensive expressions directed at any religious faith. The resolution therefore raises the issue: Should respect for what is considered sacred by others limit freedom of expression? It is also a prime example of the way different [...]
No surprise that smarter kids drink more
Research has now shown a link between high childhood IQ and an adult enthusiasm for alcohol that leads in some cases to problem drinking. Parents may be aware that the easiest children to have around the house, and those who are also the most likely to have a predictable, comfortable lifestyle when adults, are those [...]
Nu-Immigrants are here for a quick buck
In the third quarter of 2008, 71.3% of Latino immigrant workers were either employed or actively seeking work, compared with 72.4% in the same quarter a year earlier, according to a new study by the Pew Hispanic Center, a nonpartisan research organization. The 1.1-percentage-point drop “marks a substantial decrease in the labor-market participation of Latino [...]
Children fascinated by conquerors
For decades, toy replicas of British warplanes like the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster have outsold those of their Nazi foes, but now kit sales of Second World War German aircraft have overtaken those of the Allied forces. Sales of German tanks and ships have also outstripped those of the Allies. Analysis by the model maker [...]
