Random Ramblings - Again

While I am still unhappy and fearful for the future of my country in the hands of Progressives, Liberals,  and Socialists, I have calmed down from my rant of last month and shall endeavor to refrain from venting, with emphasis on the endeavor part.

Four quotes from my favorite philosopher, economist Thomas Sowell:
"It is hard to imagine a more stupid or more dangerous way of making decisions than by putting those decisions in the hands of people who pay no price for being wrong."
"We seem to be moving steadily in the direction of a society where no one is responsible for what he himself did, but we are all responsible for what somebody else did, either in the present or in the past."
"One of the consequences of such notions as 'entitlements' is that people who have contributed nothing to society feel that society owes them something, apparently just for being nice enough to grace us with their presence."
"Whenever you hear people talking about 'a living Constitution,' almost invariably they are people who are in the process of slowly killing it by 'interpreting' its restrictions on government out of existence."


I went looking for Christmas cards last week. Yes, I still send Christmas cards with a newsletter and decorated envelope through the U.S. Postal Service. I used to buy wonderful cards at the paper outlet store in Draper, Utah. They moved from there a few years ago, and I have been unable to find the new location. I have come to the conclusion that the paper outlet store has gone where so many small businesses in the last four years have gone - out of business.

"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." Groucho Marx. The only Marxists I can stand are Groucho, Chico, Harpo, Zeppo, and Gummo! They were capitalists!


The Marx brothers with their parents in 1915: Groucho, Gummo, Minnie, Zeppo, Sam, Chico, and Harpo

"Serving God is doing good to man. But praying is thought an easier service and is therefore more generally chosen." Benjamin Franklin. Too many people today neither pray nor do good to mankind.

Thomas Sowell for President

I read a great article by Thomas Sowell yesterday, "The Fallacy of Redistribution." I have been pondering the straight forward logic of his arguments. He is one of my favorite commentators because he is intellegent, knows what he is talking about, and writes so darned well that anyone can grasp the depth of the topic. This article should be shouted in every ear of every American. While progressive liberals will refuse to listen, maybe some of those whom the Progressives are trying to decieve will comprehend the futility of redistribution of wealth. The propaganda is that redistricution raises the poor, the so called level playing field that President Obama keeps touting, but redistribution of wealth has never raised the poor; it has only eliminated the wealth. It has never worked and never will. While Progressives may agree that it hasn't worked in the past, they foolishly believe that they will be able to make it work this time. After all, they are more enlightened and capable than the rest of us, because they are Progressive.

Here is a quote from Sowell's article (emphasis added):

The history of the 20th century is full of examples of countries that set out to redistribute wealth and ended up redistributing poverty. The communist nations were a classic example, but by no means the only example.


In theory, confiscating the wealth of the more successful people ought to make the rest of the society more prosperous. But when the Soviet Union confiscated the wealth of successful farmers, food became scarce. As many people died of starvation under Stalin in the 1930s as died in Hitler's Holocaust in the 1940s.

How can that be? It is not complicated. You can only confiscate the wealth that exists at a given moment. You cannot confiscate future wealth -- and that future wealth is less likely to be produced when people see that it is going to be confiscated.

The entire article may be read at  http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2012/09/20/the_fallacy_of_redistribution

"Thomas Sowell was born in North Carolina and grew up in Harlem. As with many others in his neighborhood, Thomas Sowell left home early and did not finish high school. The next few years were difficult ones, but eventually he joined the Marine Corps and became a photographer in the Korean War. After leaving the service, Thomas Sowell entered Harvard University, worked a part-time job as a photographer and studied the science that would become his passion and profession: economics."