The American Human: Big Lie #2: We Believe in Liberty

Monday, November 21, 2011

Big Lie #2: We Believe in Liberty

We don't believe in liberty. We believe that peace and freedom comes at the barrel of a gun. We may believe in free capital markets (something we should not), but we don't believe in the free market of ideas.

If we did, we wouldn't crack down so heavily on protesters, most especially non-violent ones. Let's go to the video. As you watch, ask if this is your America.

UC Davis last Friday:

Here's UC Davis Chancellor Katehi walking to her car:

Seattle last week:

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Cops beat Iraq War veteran Kayvan Sabehgi at Oakland last month:

The same police action:

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I enjoy reading comments, so I encourage them. I don't want to tell you how to speak your mind. I'm often blunt about my feelings, but I do ask that you avoid hateful remarks. We all basically know what those are and why we should limit them. Please don't make me a civility cop. That's no fun. Police thyself. But have at it! One point: "anonymous" is a cowardly handle. Give a name, take credit!

My General Principles

1. Civilized societies require the rule of law.
2. Science is my preferred method for examining and understanding reality.
3. Religion is superstition.
4. An educated society is a healthy society.
5. Democratic governments are by their very nature socialist.
6. Market economies are by their very nature capitalist.
7. Markets are not (entirely) efficient or rational and thus require regulation.
8. Don’t confuse politics with public policy.
9. Civil discourse requires rational argument, even if yelling or stomping your feet or name-calling is more fun.
10. If you consider making stuff up a viable tactic, you are disallowed from civil discourse.
11. Puritanism is America’s original sin.
12. Income redistribution is good for society, hoarding is not.
13. Everybody, from time to time, needs help.

About the American Human

The American Human is written by Calvin Ross, a retired teacher who at various points in life has been a musician, woodworker, restaurateur, narrator, English teacher in Japan, novelist, technology journalist, and private tutor to Japanese children here in the U.S.

Happily residing in the wine country of Sonoma County north of San Francisco, Calvin has lived in the Philippines, the Netherlands, and the aforementioned Japan, as well as in Chicago, Colorado, Georgia, and many different towns in California, including, of all places, the Mojave Desert.

Calvin, you may note quickly, is a liberal progressive who doesn't think being called a socialist is all that bad, especially since he sort of would like living in Denmark if it weren't so cold. He blogs because he can.