A Terrible Idea
Chip Gibbons on generosity.#
It is my firm belief that the greatest attributes of human nature cannot be mandated. Once they are required by law, they no longer exist because they all stem from what man does with his freedom.
One of the greatest attributes of man that he can freely choose to do good for himself and others. Once he is not free, he cannot be good or generous--only obedient.
Requiring individuals to give what they have earned to others does not make them generous people, any more than requiring them to jump off of buildings makes them a bird. Generosity requires a free choice for there to be a gift. A gift implies something that is given. When generosity is mandated by law their is no gift because nothing is given. Everything is taken. The use of force erradicates the good will and the generosity.
Kristin from Madpony writes about her summer vacation on Tony's blog.#
When I arrived at the event, I was immediately grabbed by the campaign staff. Apparently, some members of the Boren family had been unable to attend, and they desperately needed people to sit at the table by the stage which was completely empty. I sat down at the table, reserved for family of Dan Boren, and gathered hundreds of curious stares from the people sitting around me. I was later joined by Carrie Boren, Dan's sister, and President Boren, who gave me a curious stare himself. I assured them all that I was not a long lost cousin, rather just an interning seat-filler. Regardless, my short stint as part of the Boren family was definitely a highlight of the internship.
Dr. Ron Paul, a Republican member of Congress from Texas, writes about the party conventions.#
Modern political conventions are nothing more than taxpayer-funded infomercials for the major parties. It's been nearly 30 years since a real nominating process took place at a presidential convention, and the party platforms themselves are not debated at all. Since the only purpose of these events is to cast the host party and its nominee in the most favorable light, surely the two campaigns — which have raised tens of millions of dollars already — should foot the bills.
Perhaps the worst thing about party conventions is the rhetoric. Conventions lend themselves to pandering, as few politicians can resist the temptation to tell a national television audience how well they will run the country if elected. The problem is that government is not supposed to run the country — we're supposed to be free. Conventions bring out the worst passions in voters, passions based on the fatal conceit that government is the solution to all of our problems.