From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Mon Jun 06 2005 - 13:21:31 BST
Dear Wim,
Another "analysis" of the European constitution vote by an American
columnist that I'd appreciate your comments on. But first . . .
Platt (previously)
> > Actually, as
> > I've pointed out, today's progressives look a lot like a bunch of new
> > Victorians, trying to preserve static government welfare programs.
Wim:
> You are right 'progressive' may not be the right
> label for those still promoting policies which their political ancestors
> with that label where promoting 50 or 100 years ago. Also progressive
> intentions do not guarantee progressive politics.
Agree.
> How yould you strive to
> decrease (not necessarily eliminate) the differences in chances between
> blacks and whites in the USA?
I have no idea. Some blacks believe getting an education is anti-black.
> > So today's educational system doesn't give everyone an equal chance.
> > Right? If so, the solution is .... ??
> Education combined with the rest of society, yes. If you agree, can we
> search for solutions together? I certainly don't have THE answer.
Me neither. I don't even know where to begin.
> > So a business woman making a profit by supplying a service that others
> > willing pay for in a free market is not serving the "common interest?"
> She is. Where did you read in my words that she isn't??
The words "common interest" set me off as they are often used by leftists
to justify socialism. That's why I asked the question. Thanks for your
clarification.
Now, about another American view of the recent EU vote, this by David
Brooks of the NY Times. Some excerpts:
"Forgive me for making a blunt and obvious point, but events in Western
Europe are slowly discrediting large swaths of American liberalism. Most
of the policies advocated by American liberals have already been enacted
in Europe: generous welfare measures, ample labor protections, highly
progressive tax rates, single-payer health care systems, zoning
restrictions to limit big retailers, and cradle-to-grave middle-class
subsidies supporting everything from child care to pension security. And
yet far from thriving, continental Europe has endured decades of relative
decline."
"Right now, Europeans seem to look to the future with more fear than hope.
As Anatole Kaletsky noted in The Times of London, in continental Europe
'unemployment has been stuck between 8 and 11 percent since 1991 and
growth has reached 3 percent only once in 14 years.' "
"The Western European standard of living is about a third lower than the
American standard of living, and it's sliding. European output per capita
is less than that of 46 of the 50 American states and about on par with
Arkansas. There is little progress of growth returning any time soon."
Lots more in the article about Europe's aging population, the threat of
Turkey, etc., too much to reproduce here. But, here's the summary that
supports Pirsig's criticism of socialism in Lila as lacking in Dynamic
Quality:
"The liberal project of the postwar era has bred a stultifying
conservatism, a fear of dynamic flexibility, a greater concern for
guarding what exists than creating what doesn't."
The complete article can be found at:
http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=97176
Looking forward to your appraisal.
Best,
Platt
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archives:
Aug '98 - Oct '02 - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
Nov '02 Onward - http://www.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/summary.html
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Mon Jun 06 2005 - 13:19:48 BST