Insert Coin for Dancing Monkey (4)
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I’m paraphrasing, of course. But only just.
We can’t allow you to talk on campus about the importance of free speech because we’re worried that our students will try to assault you.
First they came for Milo…
First they came for Milo…
And bear in mind the above is arguably the more flattering construal of their position. The obvious alternative being that the university administrators are every bit as dogmatic and intolerant as the students – the ones who by implication will pose a threat to a speaker’s safety.
Romantic dinner, anyone?
I think I see a crack in the glass…
The obvious alternative being that the university administrators are every bit as dogmatic and intolerant as the students…
That, alas, is not the alternative that is the default. Any other position is a freak of nature.
NPR this morning was interviewing a panel of “experts” on the problem of (mostly) white rural poverty. Much was said about class and race and keeping communities from becoming wastelands (because of evil capitalists, natch.)
However, what struck me was the subtext that some serious government and societal programs were needed to help with the problem. I immediately wondered “Gee, are these the same sorts of programs that have been so successful at solving the problems of poor urban (mostly) blacks in the US?”
Modern definition of terror: The crawling sense that somewhere, a government and an NGO are turning their helpful intentions in your direction.
Of course, the not-so-subtext was “why do those benighted rural whites persist in voting against their class interests?” i.e. the whole “What’s Wrong With Kansas?” thing all over again.
Fred,
The left is always complaining that conservatives want to return to 1950 (or whatever mid-20th century time period they think is “nightmarish”), yet they appear to assume an imagined rigid class society of 1850 still exists today.
Fred,
Out of curiosity, and because I live in a (mostly) white rural area in South Flyoverlandia, how did they define “white rural”, and “poverty” ? One of the things I have marveled at is the often flakiness of of leftist definitions, one of my favorites being “food desert” defined as being X miles form a decent supermarket. By that metric, some of the folks in my neck of the woods fit that definition (and the nearest supermarket is in a – gasp – WalMart) though they are surrounded by chicken, cattle, and other farms.
OTOH, if they are talking about Appalachia, the poverty there is largely a result of government intervention, particularly in the coal mining areas.
… food desert …
I’ve not heard of those for a few years. According to Guardianista folklore these phenomena blighted the inner city and its impoverished denizens, causing all manner of physical, social and psychic trauma. As far as I could make out, it signified an area where it was necessary to walk past half-a-dozen grocery stores (usually Indian- or Pakistani-owned, selling fresh food cheaply) in order to reach a fried-chicken establishment.
Romantic dinner, anyone?
For some reason, that made me think of the movie The Ritz.
You’ve probably all read this since it’s from The Guardian but I didn’t see it posted:
OMG! My partner voted for Brexit!
OTOH, if they are talking about Appalachia, the poverty there is largely a result of government intervention, particularly in the coal mining areas.
Well in areas further south in Appalachia, where I have some experience with the poverty and such there, it seems to be far more driven by laziness, drunkeness, meth, and out of wedlock births than anything we can blame the government for.
Also…a tuppance for you and the monkey. Hope to resume more substantial Guild of Evil, LLC dues when that damn ship finally shows up.
Read about Appalachia here, by Kevin Williamson at NRO: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/367903/white-ghetto-kevin-d-williamson
Most conservatives see welfare abuse not in the inner cities (where we don’t live) but in rural areas, where we do.
So, you know, RAAAAACIST!
far more driven by laziness, drunkeness, meth, and out of wedlock births than anything we can blame the government for.
Gubmint welfare enables that behavior. People don’t starve to death if they make bad decisions, so bad decisions will be made. QED
Farnsworth, sorry, I didn’t catch the first part of the show. If you are really curious, there’s probably a podcast or similar on their website.
Meth was mentioned, as was the phenomenon of Appalachian poor moving to cities in clusters, forming “hillbilly ghettos”.there was a lot of talk about “wastelands” which seemed to mean a non-urban area which had once been dominated by 1 or 2 factories but which was now broke because the factories had shut down. the “rust belt” was mentioned. Really, I think by “rural” they meant “not NYC or Silicon Valley or Dallas or NOLA or LA or Chicago or a college town”.
Fred – thnx – Really, I think by “rural” they meant “not NYC or Silicon Valley or Dallas or NOLA or LA or Chicago or a college town”. I kind of figured that was where they were going.
Meanwhile…
Nazis Are Bad, and the SJW Political Spectrum Chart.
Oleg Atbashian might be the best thing the US ever imported from the former Soviet Union. 😉
Oh, yeah and… PING.
I immediately wondered “Gee, are these the same sorts of programs that have been so successful at solving the problems of poor urban (mostly) blacks in the US?”
Speaking of same, the jolly fellows of “Black Lives Matter” have now presented a list of their demands.
Their wish list of “free shit” is quite extensive, as is a big section on “reparations”, including a “lifetime minimum income.” Somehow, they managed to miss demanding the location of the Big Rock Candy Mountain. An oversight that will be corrected, I’m sure.
Great blog. Tipped accordingly.
Small donation from a big fan. Keep it up.
A small token of appreciation left in an envelope tucked behind the ornament on the mantel.
Coin inserted.
*hits tip jar*
*waits for nipple-rubbing*
Ok, ok. This thing has now appeared for a while and has finally worn down my resistance, so a token of esteem is on its way. And given that my unit of account is the US dollar and the pound has weakened since Brexit, I feel like I’m getting more for my contribution. No doubt many other market participants are getting the same boost, thus improving Great Britain’s current account and putting paid to the overwrought concerns about the consequences of the British electorate’s bloody-mindedness. Well done.
This thing has now appeared for a while and has finally worn down my resistance,
[ Strokes white cat, smiles cruelly. ]
I’ve added my coin. Please ensure that it is spent on quality wine and chocolate.
-S
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Been reading this blog since 2010. Tip jar finally hit. Better late than never. 🙂