Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Radical Stupidity and the Second World of the Left

One of the keys to understanding the left is Voegelin's concept of "second reality" or "orientation toward the unreal." It is one obvious reason why leftism always fails and always must fail, because one can banish reality with a pitchfork, but it always comes roaring back.

But what is the deeper principle by virtue of which this process of unrealization takes place? And why is it that, alone among the animals, man has this capacity to inhabit his own abstractions and relax in the comfort and safety of his own delusions?

It isn't only leftists who do this, of course. Rather, it is the essence of any ideology -- of ideology as such -- to create an inverted world of which the real world then becomes mere shadow. This is quintessentially true of Marxism, but one can say the same of Islamism, scientism, positivism, evolutionism, and most forms of radical atheism (i.e., anti-theism as opposed to indifference).

There are also people called "right wingers" (not classical liberal conservatives) who live in second realities, e.g., the Ron Paul cult (not the casual voter, but the hardcore messianics), certain fundamentalist groups, and some of those Lincoln-hating southern agrarians.

The first and last step of unrealization involves reducing the world to a single level and pretending that the other levels don't exist. Again, think of a neo-Marxist such as Obama, for whom the world is always seen through the simplifying lenses of racial grievance, class envy, or an omnipotent and tyrannical "social justice" that justifies the exercise of raw power.

When the world becomes wholly immanent, it loses all sense, precisely. This is the metaphysical irony of the left -- that it robs the world of its intrinsic meaning in order to impose a faux substitute. They pretend to have reduced reality to a single world, oblivious to the fact that this ideological switch has taken place, and that they are living in a world of phony transcendence. Hence their counterfeit spiritual virtues such as sanctimony over sanctity, state appropriation over charity, scientism over wisdom, and idiot compassion over spiritual discernment.

The plain fact of the matter is that we live -- on pain of not living at all -- in certain irreducible mysteries, which include existence, life, man, and history. To pretend that these mysteries don't exist, or that any ideology satisfactorily "explains" them, is to inhabit an unreal world. Any unambiguous explaining-away of the Mystery leads to tragic falls, for the answer is the disease that kills curiosity. What is really real is O; we are all just special cases.

All spiritually normal men know that "the end of all human action does not lie within this world but beyond it," and that the fulfillment of time is beyond time. There is simply no way to get around this formulation and remain "man." "Man, while existing in time, experiences himself as participating in the timeless." Again: ideologues only pretend to violate this principle, for no one is more beholden to a transcendent fantasy than the ideologue.

Speaking of what took place in pre-Hitler Germany, Voegelin writes of a specific type of spiritual decline resulting in "radical stupidity," which is the "radical refusal to actualize one's participation in the transcendent." (I remember reading somewhere of another definition of fascism, the violent rejection of transcendence; since the Jews are responsible for bringing this awful transcendence into the world, it makes perverse sense that they would be the prime targets of primitive immamental cases. The more things change....)

To turn it around, as we were saying last week, our most quintessentially human capacity involves "the quest for the truth of the right order of existence and for living justly in accord with that truth." In short, we bow before reality, not try to dominate it with some simplified scheme, for reality is always more complex -- and real! -- than any such scheme.

Note that when the world is collapsed to a single level, the possibility of (real) transcendent truth is denied in favor of its faux substitute, whether leftism, scientism, evolutionism, etc. Perhaps without even knowing it, the ideologue replaces truth with will, which is for Voegelin the "fundamental stupidity," for the de-divinization of man "leads all too quickly to a dehumanization."

I hope this isn't overly abstract. To the contrary, the "big story" of the 20th century was this de-divinization and therefore dehumanization of man, so that as you read these sentences you should be having images of millions of bodies stacked like cordwood in common graves. In fact, ideologies have consequences, usually grave upon grave.

Please note that (proper) Christianity cannot be an ideology, because it isn't an idea at all. Rather, it is a person, and a person is a rational being intersubjectively linked to others via transcendent love. A person is trimorphic logophilia incarnate; realizing this is the cure for ideology, and for pneumopathology more generally.

The ideologue replaces this ontological fact with a Lie, such as that man is merely another animal, or that religion is an opiate, or that class determines consciousness. This Lie, because it is tied up with Will, becomes a real power, and assenting to it becomes a way to partake of worldly power. To become an "elite" generally means to assimilate the Lie and reap its rewards, such as they are.

Thus, the Lie "is a social power which heavily burdens each of us and threatens each with lasting spiritual deformation." Resistance to it "demands a corresponding measure of spiritual passion, intellectual discipline, and hard study," but this is only a "first step" in extricating ourselves, for "it must be followed by the passionate work of daily resistance against the lie of existence -- the work is lifelong."

In a letter to Thomas Mann, Voegelin wrote that "Resistance to a not merely ethically bad but religiously evil satanic* substance can be performed only by a similarly powerful, religiously good force. One cannot combat a satanic force with ethics and humanity alone."

And Satan said to him: All these things I will give to you if you will fall down and worship me.

*Voegelin has a specific definition of satanic in mind, which has to do with the creature essentially claiming ownership of transcendental goods that can only come from the Creator (think of Adam "becoming as God"). Again, it is the radical stupidity of collapsing the world hierarchy and reducing truth to power.

(All of the quoted material is taken from Voegelin's Hitler and the Germans)

69 comments:

Tony said...

think of a neo-Marxist such as Obama, for whom the world is always seen through the simplifying lenses

Or EU shills, for that matter. I had occasion to meet another one yesterday. It was extraordinary to see him participate in a meeting with exactly zero facts. All he had was pollyannish assertions, -- but not assertions about Our Glorious Future, but "our missed opportunity in 1990-91" to change European forms of governance radically. To him, it is all about "We" (the elite) who just made a mistake. If the Yahoos in these pitiful and obsolete nation-states would just fork over ALL their money, and ALL the power of decision to "us" (the educated compassionate and sophisticated ones) all will be better.

You reap what you sow. With radical stupidity, you get entire forests of fools.

Cond0011 said...

"This Lie, because it is tied up with Will, becomes a real power, and assenting to it becomes a way to partake of worldly power. To become an "elite" generally means to assimilate the Lie and reap its rewards, such as they are."

Absolutely. At the core of many power structures' (racket) is a lie.

As long as the lie is not known to the people trapped within the said hierarchy, they will conitue to be beholden to it. Teach the person the mechanics of what makes the power structure work and they are free to stay - or leave.

One litmus test I have observed of those who are power-oriented is that they have secrets - they never explain themselves (or are selective) of their explanations of beliefs and actions.

This is the mark of a confidence man (con man) and they look just as 'normal' as you and me.

"And Satan said to him: All these things I will give to you if you will fall down and worship me."

Dealing in lies (at the expense of the 'flock') is a tell as to whos allegiance the leader follows.

Gagdad Bob said...

To not be made sick by the lie is itself a kind of sickness.

Cond0011 said...

"To not be made sick by the lie is itself a kind of sickness."

I have been fooled by people and their rackets before. The fury I have felt ....

God gave our bodies the emotions of hate and anger for a reason: but it is really merely a sensor to tell you that you put your 'hand' on the stove and need to remove it as soon as possible. Soemtimes you can't and must reamin in the said racket until you can escape (or dismantle it).

Vengeance is never good, so biding ones time for the reckoning (or escape) is sometimes the only option.

Sometimes we just have to take the pain - for a while.

julie said...

Cond -
"I have been fooled by people and their rackets before. The fury I have felt ...."

Yep, I think pretty much everyone has been there, done that. Just think of the millions upon millions who fall for the various pyramid schemes, believing they're actually going to make money or even get fabulously rich like the folks at the top.

The key is to learn from the experience, the sooner the better, and thus be innoculated before you have much to lose. Some never get it, though - I know of at least a few who skip from scheme to scheme, always thinking that this time it's going to work... In some ways, they're sadder than slot machine addicts, who at least get a payout now and then to keep them hooked.

Cond0011 said...

"Some never get it, though - "

So true, Julie. There have been times where I would try to save a person and they just.don't.get.it. - like William and 'Unknown'.

Its frustrating, sometimes.

julie said...

It is, especially when it's people you care about. Hard to witness, and hard to stay out of it sometimes, too.

I learned, maybe a little too early, that you can't save people from themselves. All you can do is let them know you love them, while trying not to help them make things worse.

Cond0011 said...

"To not be made sick by the lie is itself a kind of sickness."

Bob -

I'm guessing that you said this as a salient point to this:

'Teach the person the mechanics of what makes the power structure work and they are free to stay - or leave.'

Yea, It is a bad sign if they choose to stay. All we can be is the messenger. If they actually understand what we are saying (which is really bonus points as all we are required to do is give them the 'good news') and yet stay, that is their choice - demented and sad that it may be.

son of a preacher man said...

"Do you know any agnostic/atheist creationists?"

David Berlinski

Cond0011 said...

"Ignorance is not confined to any one location, but it seems to be owned by one side of the political aisle."

Like Glo-bull Warming, William?

"Those pushing this debate to discredit science in American education are 100% unanimously conservative Christians..."

Yawn... Strawman... again.

"Do you know any agnostic/atheist creationists?"

William... your creationist argument is ... geez, man... another strawman.

Definition of Strawman: : "a weak or imaginary opposition (as an argument or adversary) set up only to be easily confuted "

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/straw%20man

Question: Do YOU believe it possible to believe in both Evolution AND Creationism simultaneously?

(...and knock off the stupid Strawman Arguments)

Cond0011 said...

"100% an invention of conservative christians... not many issues today you can attribute 100% to."

You've forgotten the Catholic Church, William.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_evolution

Catholic take up ... 68.5 million registered members, in the US of A, William.

Thats ALOT of registered christians. So get off the 'stupid' christian crap, m'kay?

Typical, liberal: always bringing up the weakest and most fringe members...

Unknown said...

It would be nice if the people who insist that they don't support teaching the Bible as science, would go one step further and admit that the reason it shouldn't be taught as science is because it is all nonsense that never happened.

William said...

It has crossed the line and become law in my state... . What side of the aisle do you think these laws come from?

That IS the point.

Kind of makes the title of this post rather absurd and quite the contrary.

Cond0011 said...

"It would be nice if the people who insist that they don't support teaching the Bible as science, "

'Unknown' (aka William):

Did any of us here ever say that the Bible should be taught as Science?

Again, Strawman argument.

"...would go one step further and admit that the reason it shouldn't be taught as science is because it is all nonsense that never happened."

Thats your faith, 'Unknown' (William). Now you are simply Trolling.

Get Lost.

Unknown said...

There will probably come a day where Bob will feel like a complete dumbass for writing all this stuff.

That'll be funny to see.

Cond0011 said...

Get lost, "Unknown" Coward.

You offer nothing but ridicule and your arguments are superfluous.

Unknown said...

This blog deserves nothing but ridicule.

Unknown said...

To laugh at you.

Cond0011 said...

"This blog deserves nothing but ridicule."

So, Tell me, what blogs don't deserve ridicule.

I'd really like to know.

John Lien said...

"Note that when the world is collapsed to a single level, the possibility of (real) transcendent truth is denied in favor of its faux substitute,..."

I sort of kinda get it. Like projecting a 3D object onto 2D and then thinking the 2D image is the object. But maybe that isn't it either because at least the projection is accurate and the faux substitute is worse.

julie said...

John - you're on the right track. There's a great example here in Unwilliam, but I'll have to post it later after the boy is asleep.

Cond - never argue with a man's content when his container is so messed up...

Cond0011 said...

Well, at least I was able to reveal 'why' UnWilliam is here, Julie.

I don't mind being dragged through the mud, as long as my words have weight.

Cond0011 said...

Thanks for the Headsup, Unwilliam.

Now that I know your points are insincere and you are merely here to cause trouble and 'break' stuff, I will now ignore you.

cya round.

mushroom said...

Welcome to the Cosmic House of Pancakes.

mushroom said...

Willie and his sock-puppet -- it's like Dueling Banjos!

Too bad they cain't get no Deliverance.

Cond0011 said...

Thanks Shroom.

I had thought I would have an entertaining dialogue with a sincere opposition, instead I got this:

http://redwing.hutman.net/~mreed/warriorshtm/enfantprovocateur.htm

Well... that can be entertaining, I suppose...

Cond0011 said...

LOL, Shroom!

Hey, UnWilliam!

Squeal like a pig, would ya, boy?

mushroom said...

I was thinking this would be off-topic, but the trolls have the place reeking with the smell of desperation.

A shot across the bows via Joan of Argghh!

A little Free-Breeze doesn't seem out of place.

Joan of Argghh! said...

There's always room for Truth, 'shroom.

Joan of Argghh! said...

@Julie, LOL at the yelling caps! Totally merited.

In fact, you went easy on him.

:o)

Van Harvey said...

Unless you want the FLOTUS after you for contributing to the obesity of the unnoun, you might want to stop feeding that particular troll.

That's a fate I wouldn't wish on... on a troll.

Just sayin'.

Unknown said...

How many people here do you think have rubbed one out to Julie's picture? I'd say at least five.

Gagdad Bob said...

And Churchillian wit to top it off. I must have the most elevated trolls in all of cyberspace.

Cond0011 said...

Sorry about that Van.

The signal to noise ratio is real bad in this comment section. I thought I'd give the Troll a chance. I've already told William-Troll (on his blog) that I will take my constructive criticism to his blog as long as he does it here.

Kinda selfish of me, considering it is not my blog.

Van Harvey said...

Wo.

I've got my notepad filled up with quoting nearly every paragraph [mumbles to himself counting...one, two, three... five... nine...] eleven of 'em, and that was with slowing down towards the end. Too many to post and I'm late to the party anyway... I see the trolls were too wounded to let it go either... easy enough to see why.

I guess if I had to pick one to sum 'em all up:

"...And Satan said to him: All these things I will give to you if you will fall down and worship me.

*Voegelin has a specific definition of satanic in mind, which has to do with the creature essentially claiming ownership of transcendental goods that can only come from the Creator (think of Adam "becoming as God"). Again, it is the radical stupidity of collapsing the world hierarchy and reducing truth to power."

The central core of the proregressive left, the faux fruit from which it sprung and spread like the intellectual weed it is, is through modern philosophy's method of doubt and its ability to substitute what IS, for what they wish it was, which results in nothing less than remaking the cosmos in their own image.

The most productive method they've found yet for doing this is Pragmatism, which they've convinced nearly everyone to believe to be what it most definitely is not, 'common sense'. In reality, it is the misosophical means of denying principle, on principle, the means of discarding timeless principles for momentary 'solutions', the means of legitimizing and propagating their disintegrated lies, as being the Truth.

Fascism, IMHO, is the political implementation of hyper-pragmatism under the powers and principals of a charismatic Leader, for the purposes of re-forming the world in their own disintegrated image.

It IS satanic.

julie said...

Hi John - as I said earlier, Unwilliam has beclowned himself today by providing a near perfect example of the points made in today's post:

The first and last step of unrealization involves reducing the world to a single level and pretending that the other levels don't exist.

In marches our hapless troll, screeching about creationists ruining schools in Tennessee. The errors he makes here are numerous, and demonstrate a profound inability to grasp fundamental logical principles: in his mind, creationists (and note well the "-ist" ending there, since it refers to the type of ideology mentioned in the post, paragraphs 3 & 4) are representative of all Christians; in fact, he has demonstrated again and again that he cannot grasp that any Christian might also be someone who has a healthy respect for science. Stated in simple logical terms, he has failed to understand that even though all "A"s are "C"s, not all "C"s are "A"s; therefore "A" is a subset of "C". Having failed at this simple task of logical deduction, every argument he builds on the faulty foundation is bound to fail - and yet, he cannot see it. He has reduced the world of Christianity to a single level, pretending that the others don't exist. Then he proceeds to make attacks against that single level by striking out at people who don't inhabit that level, so that what was intended as ridicule really just comes across as profound stupidity.

It is as senseless as if we were to go to his blog and mock supermarathoners or tout the superiority of using a Wii for training over working out at a track with the intent of insulting William, since he is a runner and his blog is about running. The fact that he is a competitive sprinter would make such arguments look simply retarded. All sprinters are runners, but not all runners are sprinters.

julie said...

(continued...)

Unwilliam further demonstrates his lack of understanding of basic logic by holding the Bible to the measure of science, and insisting that since they are not exactly the same, the Bible must be nonsense that never happened. Again, he starts by reducing something to a single level - this time, a literalist's perspective on the Bible, presumably reading it as he would a history or science textbook - and having done so, finds that it doesn't make logical sense. Instead of examining his logic and asking himself whether he might have made a fundamental mistake somewhere, he can only conclude (since he is pretending that the other levels don't exist) that anyone who believes the Bible must also read it literally as he does, and must therefore be either insane or stupid. If his foundational assumption were right, he would even be correct as far as that goes.

But of course, he's not right, so again he's the one who comes across as either insane or stupid.

Cond has posed the question of what it is he's doing here. He thinks he's here to mock. However, since there's no atheist audience to speak of, and since his jabs continually miss given that he's always hitting on the wrong plane, I suspect that's not the real reason at all.

I don't think he knows why he's here; that lack of knowledge, combined with the fact that he can't stay away, must really drive him bonkers...

julie said...

@ Mushroom - dueling banjos, awesome!

@ Joan - thanks! I thought of saying much worse, but am trying to curb my speech, even while typing. My kid hasn't dropped any f-bombs yet, but if I don't practice using creative alternatives, there's still plenty of time...

John Lien said...

Thanks Julie. I always appreciate your thoughtful replies.

William said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
William said...

"he cannot grasp that any Christian might also be someone who has a healthy respect for science."


False .. never said that

"demonstrates his lack of understanding of basic logic by holding the Bible to the measure of science, and insisting that since they are not exactly the same, the Bible must be nonsense that never happened. "

False ... never said that

Any other strawmen you'd like to burn?

julie said...

Point A)
Of course you never said that; I highly doubt you ever gave your opinions that much thought. If you had, you would have realized how patently stupid were the arguments you wished to make, and presumably would not have made them. However, the fact that you continually and repeatedly attack this blog for beliefs which it has continually and repeatedly noted that it does not hold demonstrates all too clearly that in fact, your foundational conviction is that religious belief, specifically Christianity, is incompatible with science.

Point B)
"It would be nice if the people who insist that they don't support teaching the Bible as science, would go one step further and admit that the reason it shouldn't be taught as science is because it is all nonsense that never happened." - Unknown

If that's not you well... frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. Please refer to Point A, above.

William said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gagdad Bob said...

William has proven time and again that he cannot be shamed, that he is illiterate in the deeper sense of the word (to be explained in subsequent posts), that he is devoid of irony and self-awareness, and that he is ineducable. In short, he has renounced -- for we have not revoked it, nor would we -- his humanness. On one level this thread has been unedifying in the extreme, but on another level it confirms all of the key points of Hitler and the Germans, about which I will be posting in the coming days. William is obviously not an interesting person, in that he has nothing novel, much less creative, to say. However, the principles he embodies -- the archetype he unwittingly lives out -- actually is, as we shall see.

William said...

" However, the fact that you continually and repeatedly attack this blog for beliefs which it has continually and repeatedly noted that it does not hold demonstrates all too clearly that in fact, your foundational conviction is that religious belief, specifically Christianity, is incompatible with science."

Is that why I quoted the Vatican on their support of evolution in past comments?

Speaking of foundational convictions... the above post that refers to "the left" and "leftists" as one indivisible homogenous group. Kind of the way bigots refer to "Muslims," "blacks," or any other group they despise.

When I refer to Christians in regard to promoting creationism in the classroom, I am specifically refering to those that support it, believe it, and most importantly - those of one political party that proposed and legislated it .... namely - Republican fundamentalist christians.

Educated republicans are in an unenviable position. You can never admit too loudly the role played by some members of the Republican base in science denial. Many view this as a science vs religion debate ... particularly christian fundamentalist creationists.

Like the 'birthers' - you can not risk alienating the creationist fundamentalists. You NEED their votes. The belief that Obama is foreign born is not some outlandish position from delusional extremists, but actually quite mainstream in the GOP, and certainly representative of some of those that comment here. You need the 'birther' votes too.

You have to suck up to the crazies and the ignorant if you wish to be electorally successful.

Truly sad and pathetic.

Unknown said...

A good rule of thumb is never to trust anyone who talks about "leftists".

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

When the world becomes wholly immanent, it loses all sense, precisely. This is the metaphysical irony of the left -- that it robs the world of its intrinsic meaning in order to impose a faux substitute. They pretend to have reduced reality to a single world, oblivious to the fact that this ideological switch has taken place, and that they are living in a world of phony transcendence. Hence their counterfeit spiritual virtues such as sanctimony over sanctity, state appropriation over charity, scientism over wisdom, and idiot compassion over spiritual discernment."

Well said! The phony transcendence is also a decendence or spiritual devolution.

Certainly a soul killing exercise in futility and definitely dehumanizing.

It's no wonder that we can't reason with people that believe that wrong is right and down is up.
I reckon that is the only principle they have: illusion or The Lie.

It's a very rare thing to find someone who is living in this satanic sfear who even understand on a basic horizontal level language as such, let alone reason and logic.

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Fundamental lefties are far more numerous than fundamental Christians (not all of whom wanna impose their beliefs).
Thus the fundylefties cause far more damage and have been for nearly a century before a few more bad laws were passed in TN.

USS Ben USN (Ret) said...

Mushroom: LOL! These trolls have some purty lips don't they?

Cond0011 said...

I'm gonna make you feel pain, William.

The Pain of Truth.

Day in and day out. 24-7. You will not know when the comment comes, but it will- and I will continue with the truth until you play nice on Bobs blog (answer questions asked and treat people here respectfully) or you close your blogs. Either way - you will suffer until you stop with your trolling.

Even though you will delete my comments as fast as they come(as you did earlier), I KNOW you will read some of what I write. THAT is satisfaction enough for me. YOU are the target and I want that to sink entirely into your soul, dirtbag. You wanna know what the venom of truth is? Here it comes.

Pain William.

Though you may not feel it at first, you're gonna have such a caustic truth-fest nobody is gonna WANT come to your blogs. It'll be worse than a bad marriage.

I am tireless, troll. Slowly and surely, I am gonna show you what psychic pain is all about.

I am coming.

Cya soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1oPYpF6DqE

Unknown said...

There is irony here.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Peyton said...

Ben, this from "The Splendor of Truth", section 101:

Today, when many countries have seen the fall of ideologies which bound politics to a totalitarian conception of the world -- Marxism being the foremost of these -- there is no less grave a danger that the fundamental rights of the human person will be denied and that the religious yearnings which arise in the heart of every human being will be absorbed once again into politics. This is the risk of an alliance between democracy and ethical relativism, which would remove any sure moral reference point from political and social life, and on a deeper level make the acknowledgement of truth impossible. Indeed, "if there is no ultimate truth to guide and direct political activity, then ideas and convictions can easily be manipulated for reasons of power. As history demonstrates, a democracy without values easily turns into open or thinly disguised totalitarianism".

Cond0011 said...

Dear "Unknown Coward",

The only reason you exist on Bobs blog is due to his sufferance (I'm guessing that's the 'irony' you are referring to): All he has to do is 'flip a switch' and all the 'unknown' trolls disappear.

*poof*

But then, on a metaphysical note, we are all living on Gods sufferance by merely existing and we should all be grateful that god just doesn't flip a switch and make us go ... poof (But you would 'know that, being that you don't believe in God).

So, really, "Unknown", you are here for Bob's amusement and entertainment, and when the time is right, you will be gone. So enjoy your fun, while you 'exist' here, Troll. You may not Know Gods wrath, but you may, someday, feel Bobs wrath - or should I say Reckoning.

Have a nice day!

Unknown said...

No, the irony is that you're threatening to troll the blog of someone who is making perfectly valid points, but you label a "troll" because you don't like what he says.

But anyway, should my posts be deleted, I'll be okay. You're all just a bunch of circle-jerking assholes with stolen pictures as your avatars. How Godly.

William said...

Let me introduce you to one of your own... Cond0010 from Minneapolis, MN. I must have touched a nerve with my last comment, he was so bothered by the truth of what I said that, instead of discussing what I said, he goes to my blog and childishly insults my house and threatens to "troll my blogs." 1) I have never 'deleted his comments" ... and 2) I simply don't comment here as often as he or many others. Perhaps one post of 10. Is that being a troll?

So, just wanted to show you how one of your own operates. I don't know whether it is meaness, jealousy, or simply the swallowing of inconvenient truth ... but it he is a pretty despicable sort. Instead of responding to my comments, he lashes out and insults.

Standard MO for the community here? I'd like to think not.

Unknown said...

I don't know whether it is meaness, jealousy, or simply the swallowing of inconvenient truth

Don't talk as though those are mutually exclusive.

debass said...

the violent rejection of transcendence;

I think it was Vieth in Modern Fascism.

Anonymous said...

I've read your site for some time. I have nothing to offer, but much to learn. I'd be happy to tell you what I don't know.

mushroom said...

What's sad is that this is an important post -- in terms of understanding what is going on, and the impact may have been partially mitigated by the comment frenzy. I hope not.

I have thinking about this, and the place where the rubber meets the road is economics. Paul Krugman and his ilk could be the poster children for the Second World.

Here you have educated people who seem to have no ability to grasp the relationship between money and wealth, no understanding of the most basic arithmetic functions, of even basic accounting. Krugman is as willfully stupid as the person who thinks they have money because they still have checks. The difference is that he writes for the NY Times and advises Obama.

julie said...

Mushroom - indeed, to all of it.

They aren't stupid, one presumes, but their intelligence has been placed in service of an ideal that is incompatible with reality. They love their map, and don't much care for the territory it's supposed to reveal. Until such time as they adjust their map to reflect the world as it is, they will be making plenty of logical conclusions based upon that faulty source, which cannot help but lead them to the wrong conclusions. The worst part is, though, that they give directions to trusting fools based on those wrong conclusions.

Van Harvey said...

Mushroom and Julie, exactly so on all counts.

And this especially,
"They love their map, and don't much care for the territory it's supposed to reveal."

In fact, they even resent the territory for thwarting the attractiveness of their map.

Tony said...

Because nothing is ever their fault, you see.

Cond0011 said...

No, no, William.

Not "Troll" your blog - just give you what you are giving here.

You offer the "liberal" view of things here, and I am going to give you the "conservative" view of things at your place. Lets see how long you can take what you've been dishing out here.

You've been told time and again that you are NOT welcome here (yet you remain) and so I will give you at your house what you've been giving here.

...and yes, you DID delete one of my comments and look forward to many many more opportunities of enlightening on your home turf.

cya at your blog soon.

PS: Yes, yes, I am sure you have plenty of info on where I live (yada, yada). I don't hide info from the internet so feel free to dig up ALL sorts of stuff (Plus pictures) to display.

PPS: Your comment "but it he is a pretty despicable sort" is not of the civil sort considering all I did was call your house ugly (it is ugly).

William said...
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William said...
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Cond0011 said...

"You have been reported."

No worries William -

If they do come to me about you I will tell them that I do not go to your blog while on ANY server at the University - thus not be a concern of theirs as the light reading I do is limited and trivial.

But as I said before:

Continue to Troll here and I WILL go to your blog (on my own server) be it politica, scientific, sports or what have you.

...and it will NOT be Trolling (like what you do here) but truthful and informed in my posting (and I am certain you will feel extra ordinary discomfort). I WILL show you how wrong you are on many things - until you start acting civily here at Bobs place.

Being that you took all of ... ten minutes... to find out who I am via the internet (ain't hard), if I receive any bodily threats, I will pursue finding out more about you and reporting you to the authorities.

Play nice, stop trolling, or leave Bobs Blog.

Got it, Troll?

Cond0011 said...

Hey William -

Even Bob (owner of this blog) calls you a Troll.

Take that as a hint.

Cond0011 said...

Hey William -

Even Bob (owner of this blog) calls you a Troll.

Take that as a hint.

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