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Conservative Affirmative Action
I believe that people should be judged on their abilities alone. I admire people of all persuasions who do well at their chosen path. Mostly I am talking about people's ability to do a job well. Be they in business, be they a bureaucrat, be they a lawyer, doctor, or architect, be they warriors, be they athlete, artist, writer, scientist, teacher, or politician (well not many of those). I don't wish to sound too high-flying here because there are many economists, activists, socialist, and progressives whom I don't respect though they may be considered to be doing well what they do. I don't like them for what they do. To avoid being criticized by the nit-pickers for minor chinks in my broad statement, no I don't like dictators, criminals, and crazy fundamentalists, Et cetera.
In other words I believe in meritocracy, the kind of thing that de Tocqueville admired about America, one of the things that has contributed to our greatness as a people. I don't care for people who are proponents of mediocrity at almost any level of our society. Or those that get ahead by political pull, or nepotism, or criteria other than competency. Or those who discriminate against other because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, physical disability, thus not giving people who may be competent a chance to demonstrate what they can do.
This article isn’t about Dancing With The Stars or Bristol Palin. It’s about meritocracy, the conservative movement, and Sarah Palin. I don't watch this show, but I have to start with Bristol.
It is with regret that I must disapprove of Rush Limbaugh on his glee at the support Bristol Palin received by the phone-in audience which resulted in a superior dancer, Brandy, being kicked off "Dancing With The Stars." His glee related to his belief that the callers were mostly conservative Sarah Palin supporters and "Tea Party activists" and that "liberals" and "Progressives" were outraged by this turn of events. He believes that the majority of Americans are supporters of Mrs. Palin and anything they can do to irritate liberals and the "drive-by-media" is a good thing.
While it is difficult to disagree with the irritating liberals part, I believe he does a disservice to the conservative cause. Bristol Palin is clearly a mediocre dancer and Brandy was clearly a fine dancer. This is not about Mr. Limbaugh, whom I respect, it's about people supporting mediocrity for ideological reasons. It's not right. It is a kind of conservative affirmative action whereby people of lesser abilities are given support and credence though they are clearly unqualified.
I believe Mrs. Palin is a mediocre politician and generally uniformed and ignorant of the reasons behind the ideals she espouses, but that she gets paid a lot of money to say them as the Mama Grizzly to her fans. Many of my readers were unhappy with my recent criticism of Mrs. Palin. I've lost a few readers but actually have gained quite a few more as a result. Now that I am being critical of Mr. Limbaugh as well, I suppose I'll lose some readers and gain even more. Whatever.
I think my real point is that if we conservatives and libertarians are willing to accept mediocre leaders and politicians, then we will lose ground to the left and yield the field to the Obama Regressives. We do need charismatic, articulate, intelligent, and informed leaders. I believe Mrs. Palin gives us charisma and she reads speeches well, but she is avoiding tough interviews. She has demonstrated that she is mediocre, uninformed, and cannot well articulate or argue the issues underlying complex ideals which guided our Founders.
By setting the bar too low, and opening our arms to Mrs. Palin we will get what we deserve. I think even George W. Bush is more competent than Mrs. Palin, and he trashed the Republican Party and turned into to a movement of conservative Christian social values instead of traditional Republican values.
I believe such affirmative action shows that we are failing to live up to ideals that made this country great, which is to support people of merit and ability who support, understand, and can be effective advocates of our ideas of freedom, free market capitalism, individualism, and tolerance. I intensely dislike Mr. Obama's politics, economics, and general world view. But the guy is bright and articulate and can think on his feet, even if his world view is entirely wrong for America. He is persuasive, but he falls on his ideas. I am not suggesting we support losers like Jimmy Carter, John Kerry, Al Gore or Michael Dukakis. But I think we need the whole package. I believe we need to demand higher standards of our politicians and not settle for mediocrity.
Mrs. Palin said yesterday in unequivocal language that she is a candidate for the presidency. Personally I don't think she is serious. I believe it may be a tactic to keep her in front of the Republican Party, appear to be a power in the Party, and to enhance her status and appeal as a saleswoman for herself. Selling herself to America is something she does very well (see, "Sarah Palin's America") and you will see what I mean. I enjoyed the series and found her to be likeable, but that doesn't mean I would want her finger on the trigger or on the economy as my president.
But, in the off-chance that she would see it through to mounting a serious campaign for the presidency, then I believe that would be a big mistake for America's right wing to fall in behind her. Folks, we can do better than that. Demand excellence.
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The Greeks only allowed "citizens" -- ie. landowners -- to vote. Same for the FFs.
In all fairness, a land owner was a traceable criterion for determining citizenship. There just weren't good records to be sure that those not citizens were voting. That handicap has been fixed, but there are still a lot of people who don't have any civic education making some serious election decisions. I, for one, do not have a solution to that, let alone one that would be socially/politically expedient.
Like I said...I would never vote for her.....you have any real suggestions? Please don't give me Ron Paul......
Stop voting. It just encourages them. And then secede. Just don't announce it or shell a fort or anything.
I am no Sarah Palin fan (other than my igloo fantasy with her)...but she is in a long list of people I would not vote for. Right now, there is not one politician or politician wannabe that I would vote for.
Dear Econophile,
I have enjoyed most of your posts and think you have a good grasp of economics- especially Austrian. That being said, is this to drum up readership? This is political puff pastry with a filling that reeks of simplemindedness.
Palin is unelectable, but more important, she lacks any credibility. That happened the moment she opened her mouth and then when she resigned as governor. Why go down that road?
There are more important issues regarding meritocracy and you could paint with a brush as broad as every party and politician in America and the world. It has nothing to do with labels of liberals, conservative, republican or democrat. They are names pulled out of a hat and fashioned to herd the sheep to each new pasture. We paste new faces on the placards and parade them at the parties in hopes of convincing , once again, the populace to give legitimacy to criminals through the democratic process.
If you want meritocracy, the issue to address is responsibility for the actions of each individual. Whether voter, citizen or politician, we have a responsibility to nominate people of merit and then follow through with our condemnation for a job that continues to degrade the Republic. Not just vote them out, but brand them for the treasonous dogs they are. Shame them in their neighborhoods. Write a history that truly reflects their actions in pursuit of a corporate slavery. Or glorify the ones that benefit and move our country forward in a way that benefits the vast majority of the population without ever turning to minority tyranny.
Unfortunately, we don't. We allow the media to forgive there traitorous acts and only leave us with an impression of how well they did for their "team". We provide a residual base of acceptance because they belong to our "party" or "ideology".
Meritocracy requires intelligent consideration, a fair assessment of the facts and the courage to call a spade a spade and then act upon it. Watching Dancing with the stars is not going to go along way in moving us forward. If you hope to lead, you need to do better than this.
The rest of your points are well reasoned, but I have to take issue with:
the guy is bright and articulate and can think on his feet
Too much att'n gets paid to her.
Dude, you just don't understand.
If you want to understand this is what you have to do.
1. Vacation in Alaska, That will tell you more about Sarah Palin then any MSM paid-off crap speader will ever tell you.
2. The only impression you have of Sarah Palin is the impression the MSM allows you to see..... can you say "E" "D" "I" "T" "I" "N" "G".... Let me me film you for 1 hour and let me edit it and I assure you will look like a dumbshit...
Books
Yep
F the left, but f the redneck agenda too...
Redneck agenda:
Shoot animals large enough to feed my family and share with my neighbors.
Grow enough vegetables to can for the winter to feed my family and share with my neighbors.
Work at unsatisfying job to purchase the guns,ammo and mason jars for the aforementione purposes.
WTF is so wrong with this?
Nothing at all, and I recommend it. But nothing you said sounds like any government agenda I've been sold. Those are things we do "in spite of" government, not "in support of"...
There is no Left, there in no Right. Only people that believe it. The left now is the extreme right of 30 years ago. Get a clue. It's about dividing and conquering. You want to lose this country, keep thinking that way. Oh fuck it, it's already lost.
For a second there, I actually thought you were about to tell me something I didn't know... Same shit in different packaging... No shit.
It's as old as the sun. Like cockroaches and Cher.
If you take away illegal war, the fed, corporate welfare, public welfare, homeland security, illegal immigration, don't ask don't tell, wall street lobbyists, corporate campaign financing, the drug war, deficit spending, ear marks, consitutional violations, and debt... I might be able to see a very slight difference. But you have to look really, really close.
Sincere apologies to all "rednecks" out there in ZH land... Trailer or no trailer, you're an American too damnit... And should the shtf, I'll be first to say, "Lemme hear ya guns". Sub "neocon" in for "redneck"... Used to mean something when Bush was lead warmonger... Now with Murdoch, Koch, and Koch, who needs "rednecks" they said...
Should you hear our guns it may well be the last thing you hear.
We dont like you either Sparky.
Big shocker, Elmer.. And who is it you actually do like?
The problem is: who really cares who the latest puppet on a string is? Everyone on the site knows wherein lies the real power in this country, and it aint some asshole named Obama, Bush or whomever. For God sakes, the friggin teleprompter knows more about economics than either Obama or even Bush. BTW, Palin had considerable exec. exprience as Governor and did an excellent job negotiating with the oil elites, all to Alaska's benefit. Bush would have screwed the people of Alaska, Obama would have never let the pipeline or drilling commence.
Would I vote for Palin; hell no; but I think she's less corrupt and delusional than most politiicians.
The problem is, people hate on here like Ronald Regan but he got things done and so can she but the reason her and him rub people the wrong way is that they can get things done and aren't afraid to try, So can Obama but his lived like some athelete whoes been told hes great his whole live so doent know how to live in the real world . Lets hope she or someone with as much spunk gets in there and holds the government and banks to account for what they have done :)
Hear here.
Oh, and it was such was coincidence that that was the time when oil hit the monster high and Alaska has oil. Wow, what a master. And a quitter of her office to make millions on bullshit books and her TLC program. She is more delusional than all politicians combined. As for corrupt, I'm certain she can be bought and paid for faster than a speeding bullet.
There are several features of Palin that need comment.
1. She, as well as George Bush 43 have a shared bad habit. They have a stupid grin that comes in the wrong moments and makes them look like imbeciles. In addition, Palin has a casual language that makes her seem uneducated. Also, giving up the Governor's office was inexcusable.
2. She was entirely wrong in her campaign and what she does now. Her skill is in cutting budgets and remaining popular, at which she is quite skilled. Had I been her campaign manager, I would have asked that she never smile while speaking, that she would use longer and more erudite sentances and use a slower and lower tone of voice.
And I would have every speech be the same theme. Democrats spend money, and waste it. It is your money. I will get it back for you by eliminating Democrat waste and graft. And after that, I will make plans to keep government the right size, and yet I will not cut the benefits of folks who worked hard and earned the benefits (social, Medicare)
3. She needs to have a weekly interview with a conservative talk host where she discusses something in government in detail, and then the conservative medium needs to take positive excepts and broadcast them everywhere.
4. She can continue to raise money and support candidates, but only as a loyal Republican, with Tea Perty leanings, not a Tea Patry member who may hurt Republican chances.
Look like an imbecile? Seem uneducated?
What you see is what you get.
What about the winking? She's a sideshow from Barnum and Bailey. A circus act is all she is.
Corrupt, Unintelligble, Nasty, Tart. Gee, I found my acronym.
snicker.
nice acronym.
Econophile I think your article was excellent. I was for a very long time a "liberal" ideologue and espoused all the communist and socialist mantra. I believed that the only way a person could make money from someone else's work was buy taking advantage of them. I thought that everyone deserved a living wage, a free education, free health care, and all the other safety nets that I felt were necessary for government to supply. In essence I believed in the power of the State over individual rights.
My first true insight into conservative and true libertarian ideals came from Ron Paul. The reason why I agree with you is that Ron Paul was able to open my eyes and change my point of view because of his ability to articulate not the face of the problems we face but the root of the problems we face. Without a doubt if a politician doesn't understand the ideology they are parroting then everything they say just becomes noise to the opposition as everyone recognizes problems at their face value, say like unemployment. Everyone knows we want to increase employment, but few understand or agree upon the root causes. Without a full understanding a person will simply talk up irrelevant points that do nothing to shed light on the problem and hide only their ignorance.
"I think this whole system needs to be crashed and rebuilt before we can expect excellence in office."
So you don't believe in this kind of subversive thinking?
Sarah- better than this, but I don't care for fundamentalist political thinking, so, I don't know.
All of the Pauls-yes... Just stop it and back off!!
Dancing with the stars... come on!
I have no idea how anyone can be a Democrat, because they don't really exist anymore.
Pick a side Libertarian(right) or Republican(left).
you replied to the wrong person
My point exactly ANVILL, well said.
I don't care a fig about dancing with the stars, and I Don't respect Limbaugh, but I find the author spot on, on all other counts.
I do not profess to read minds, but Palin gives every impression of being an ignorant creationist. The fact that she has not gone a step out of her way to dispel that image is cause for concern in itself.
And Bush the Younger did pretty much what he is accused of in the article. If he had not held back the Greenies, for 8 years, by himself, I would say he did nothing good.
If the Republicans keep falling into the trap of either nominating a yahoo, or a carefully groomed big government machine shill (the only two kinds who seem to be able to win their convention), they will keep failing, either not winning, or winning when the other guy is so bad the mess is past fixing in 4 years.
Yes, they'll win in 2012. They could run a complete moron and run in 2012.
And so they probably will.
"If any parties keep falling into the trap of either nominating a yahoo, or a carefully groomed big government machine shill (the only two kinds who seem to be able to win their conventions), then we will keep failing, either not winning, or winning when the other guy is so bad the mess is past fixing in 4 years."
Fixed that for you.
Palin is a creationist which makes her ignorant by definition. And fuck all of you who think she sees Russia from Wasilla. Look at a map. She's a fear mongering, racist whore that gets off on inciting hate and gets ignorant crowds riled up with her nonsense. I can't believe any person on this blog would feel safe with her in charge of this country, let alone a Neiman Marcus credit card. Have you all gone insane?
And if you don't like my language:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02lXLiFsRtE&feature=related
+100
Although I think she will say whatever sells. They test market it on facebook , if it's well received then she becomes what sells. There simply is no substance to her, but her greed is on par with Blankenfein
+1000
C'mon people!
I just cannot believe the denizens of Zerohedge - people who have a beadiest, most cynical eye for all things politics that I've ever encountered on a blogsite - can take Palin seriously. Look past the facade - she's a neocon puppet just waiting to happen. She'd be worse than Bush or Obama.
Just reading about "Dancing with the stars" makes me want to stick a fork in my eye.
The dilemma is too big.
An uninformed and ignorant person is much more easy to turn into a puppet by Wall St than a caring person with intelligence and knowledge. But you NEED the campaign money from Wall St because of the high cost of campaigning and the voting population being influenced by the number of ads shown on TV.
I think this whole system needs to be crashed and rebuilt before we can expect excellence in office.
Orly, I'm shocked that you would watch dancing with the stars!!! There must have been truly "nuthin else on" the teevee.
That being said, I don't plan to vote until after TSHTF and we can get some ZH'ers at the helm, after all didn't a survey find that more children could identify Ronald McDonald rather than the president anyway? I liken this to the MSM attention always given to Sara Palin & co, gotta pepper jane and joe sixpack's psyche with lots of media images of whatever politician the coorporate/media machine feels will best represent "change they can believe in".
How can you say that?
Sure, I watch Dancing. Why not? There was never anything on Monday nights anyway, except lame football, so I decided to just check it out. I won't say that it is addicting or amazing or something silly like that. Instead, it is a show where accomplished people, just as the author of the article points out, successful in many walks of life, come to see how well they can do in another, completely unknown venue. The really bad ones get eliminated pretty quickly. David Hasslehoff and (the very disappointing...) Michael Bolton come to mind.
By their nature, these successful people are very competitive, yet most haven't danced once in their lives. Steve Wozniak, Rick Fox, Emmet Smith (awesome dancer...who knew?), actors, sportcasters, models. The competition steeps into them midway through the season and you see the character they are made of. They either want it or they don't, and most of them want it more as the show goes along. You can see what they are made of right there on the screen and the evolution of their spirit over the show is something to see.
Speaking of sportscasters, look at Erin Andrews. I'm thinking, "What? The girl with the peep-hole? How embarrassing is that?" It showed her character to come on live television and perform to something she had never done before. I will say that her transformation really was amazing. What a beautiful woman is Erin Andrews! How should stood up to some leering fuck who would steal her naked image and post it on the internet! My God! Can you imagine? Hadn't it been for Nicole Scherzinger of the PussyCat Dolls, she would have won that competition.
In this instance, we look at Brandy. She showed a facile understanding of the idea that these are accomplished people and they came to play ball. She preferred instead to be certain of the win. While she stood there admiring herself, others came up behind her and overtook her position. Is Bristol Palin a better dancer than Brandy? No. Did Brandy deserve to go home before Bristol? I think so.
Dancing With the Stars really is an interesting study into the human psyche, especially of really, really talented people.
You should check it out next season.
OMFucking G.
I've heard it all on here.
Self-rightious defence of a brain dead mind numb media zone out.
OMG Go read a book. any book.
She likes dancing with the stars. There are many like her in this land of my birth.
You know, this idea that I cant have multiple aspects of my life is ridiculous. I can trade 4X while I'm watching Dancing With the Stars.
Why are you limiting your lives because of some stigma? I got over that a long time ago. I can't watch pop-TV because it might make me look stupid? Not up to your intellectual standards? So do you walk around all day with one eyebrow raised and your hand clucthing you chin like in your "serious" photos? Is that how you roll?
"Gee, better DVR it for later when no one is watching. Let me sneak my entertainment."
Ha! I don't think so. Is there a reason a woman can't be smart and sexy at the same time? Is there some reason I can't be anything I want? Who is more free, me or you? Ask yourself that question- again.
Are you trying to get me in trouble?
Not at all. I'm just trying to express that there are different aspects to my life. I love Mediterranean food but I like a good pan pizza once in a while, too. You can keep your foie gras and champagne. (I'll stick with Braunschweiger and a white wine spritzer. It's a hella lot cheaper and it's basically the same thing...)
My point was by limiting your perspective, you channel yourself into a hole. One needs a broader, more open perspective. They want you thinking left/right, bad/good, divided. That way, they can conquer more easily.
So by that rationale, it may be said that NOT watching Dancing With the Stars is stupid and un-American.
Put me down as stupid and un-American. Just as with food, we are what we eat, the results being that we are cheap and easy. Our brains are what we feed it, inarticulate and glazed. I agree that a pizza occasionally is fine, but I just don't like dancing! I'd rather watch Stargate Universe or Caprica and wonder what improbable crap they'll come up with next. Frak it all.
That's okay, too. How can we all be so serious all the time.
My point about the show was that it is actually a very interesting look into the competitive spirit of the talented person. It is surprising who shows up and who bails out quickly. And when the going gets tight, these guys step up their game.
It is really a study in excellence more than anything.
Oh! I get it. Just like our last election cycle. Thanks for the elucidation!