Aug
27
27
Ayn Rand, Ayn Rand So Far Away
Nick “Bastiat Does Basquiat” Gillespie, Reason Online:
Ted Kennedy and the Death (Hopefully) of an Era:
The Controversial Senator Belonged to a Different Age, One Ill-Suited to Today’s Increasingly Decentralized World
- Here in the late 1990s, we know that deregulation of the global free market is fast ending the enslavement of the fit by liberal looter/moocherism — not that Ted Kennedy ever accomplished anything.
‘Shorter’ concept created by Daniel Davies and perfected by Elton Beard. We are aware of all Internet traditions.™
Nom de Plume said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:08
For that fuller bounce, and healthy sheen, I prefer Breck.
Slocum said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:12
He’s a live-action Lego dude. Someone knock the hair off and see if there’s a cylindrical bump on his head.
Evil Bender said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:16
Jeebus, aren’t these Randians even smart enough to pick a better example of big government intrusion than the Americans with Disabilities Act?
…I know, stupid question.
Substance McGravitas said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:20
Apart from NO YOU ARE WRONG “slightly more hellish” is an awfully funny way to put it. If you’re already living a hellish life you might want to consider that this whole libertarian bent was a waste of fucking time.
noen said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:28
That title should earn you an extra stay in hell. Now I have that song running through my head. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Snarla said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:29
Is that picture from the “What Sort of Man Reads Playboy” advertisement?
That Isn't Pork said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:36
When did the word “grok” come back? Are they all “Share water” at the Reason office? Does the Reason family name their children after Valentine Michael Smith?
J— said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:37
Would Salma Hayek approve of the comments to Gillepsie’s piece?
Smut Clyde said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:38
Virtually all Americans understand that if any sort of legislation actually gets passed, it will make their lives slightly more hellish
I would love to see that poll data.
ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:39
How long have you been saving this title, G.?
P.S. Let me congratulate you on your green conservation of conservative lack of values.
~
ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:41
Screw the poll data.
Let’s see the poll dance.
J— said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:42
Gillespie’s piece
tigrismus said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:43
Apart from NO YOU ARE WRONG
He’s right when you know that “virtually all understand” actually means “a minority imagine” on the Helmet Hair Planet.
Looch who has way too much time on his hands these days said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:44
So this feller goes on to say the best thing ol’ Teddy did was to deregulate airplane ticket pricing. I don’t know about the rest of you, but in the past ten years airline travel has gotten worse, not better. And the airline industry has done worse financially.
Smarter retards, please.
J— said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:46
We know we belong to Ayn Rand
And the Rand we belong to is grand
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:51
Ayn Rand
As rand as the grass grows
As rand as the wind blows
Ayn Rand to follow your hate
El Cid said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:54
In today’s decentralized world, Senators will no longer represent old, outdated entities called “states” with varying amounts of legislative power based on the amount of time they have been in office.
Nor will Senators of the future concentrate on passing big government federal “laws”; their new roles will be to merely coordinate the legislative activities of bipartisan groups who are represented at the state level, which of course, not being federal, is, like, super-ultra democracy filled.
I say this because I have never heard of a U.S. Constitution nor given much thought as to why things tend to be like they are.
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 2:56
Little known fact: Before the passage of the XXXIInd Amendment, Senators from rectangular states had five-thirds of a vote on all bills.
The wingers are simply trying to return to that era of national harmony.
Pug said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:01
Virtually all Americans understand that if any sort of legislation actually gets passed, it will make their lives slightly more hellish when it comes to cost, bureaucracy, and quality of care.
Because virtually all Americans understand this libertarians always garner at least 3% of the vote.
Tommmcatt said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:10
Using the word “Grok” does not make you seem cool.
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:14
Using the word “Grok” does not make you seem cool.
Heinlein uncool? Never. He was all about cool.
And fascism.
And, in his later books, breasts.
The Tragically Flip said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:15
Wheelchair ramps are theft.
Smut Clyde said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:17
In today’s decentralized world, Senators will no longer represent old, outdated entities called “states”
The honourable senator for Microsoft is out of order!
[/Pohl&Kornbluth]
The Tragically Flip said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:18
Oh, but this I like:
See, US health care doesn’t suck because insurance companies are sociopathic institutions of death-by-spreadsheet, but because they’re just ramping up on the whole “not leaving people to die” thing. They’ll get the hang of it soon, really!
Tommmcatt said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:18
Heinlein uncool? Never. He was all about cool.
Which is why trying to usurp that cool by using that word makes you lame.
Q.E.D.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:19
Ted Kennedy accomplished more good and was a more productive of society than all the libertarians that ever lived combined. Fucking greedy, stupid, little asshats aren’t worthy to kiss his day old stinking turds.
OneMan said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:19
In today’s decentralized world, with it’s teeny, tiny business interests, government should also be smaller, to reflect the increased power of the individual over his environment.
As well, individuals will continue to work together in enlightened self interest and will never use economic power to tilt the field so that they can get even more power.
This is entirely self-evident. I have no need to know anything of the Guilded Age or the Robber Barons. Libertarianism is logically infallible on its face.
Substance McGravitas said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:21
There actually is poll data linked in the paragraph I quoted, but it’s pretty easy to spot Gillespie’s spin.
Smut Clyde said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:21
the Guilded Age
That was about 1400-1600 CE, right?
Jeff Fecke said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:22
Heinlein uncool? Never. He was all about cool.
And fascism.
And, in his later books, breasts.
And incest. Lots and lots of incest.
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:23
In today’s decentralized world, Senators will no longer represent old, outdated entities called “states”
The honourable senator for Microsoft is out of order!
[/Pohl&Kornbluth]
Does this qualify me for my first “Ahem” or am I reaching:
http://www.sadlyno.com/archives/24246.html#comment-966058
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:23
Libertarianism is logically infallible on its face.
Libertarians worship Tinkerbell and magical fairy dust.
ron said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:24
kennedy had nice hair too.
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:25
And incest. Lots and lots of incest.
Thanks for reminding me. Which was his kiddie book where he has an endless description of who you can fuck in a closed society in order to avoid incest? Taught me the word “moiety” it did.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:27
One Rand to rule them all, One Randg to find them,
One Rand to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mammon where the Shadows lie.
SomeNYGuy said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:27
Screw the poll data.
Let’s see the poll dance.
Sorry, the pole refuses to dance, but the lithuanian has agreed to sing a little song.
g said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:28
The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, another law in which Kennedy played a major role, is the very definition of an explosively expensive government boondoggle that shuffled tax dollars from the relatively young and poor to the relatively old and wealthy.
Damn right!!! Just think of all those young children who are going without their blood pressure meds, their arthritis pain relievers, their beta blockers, and cholesterol drugs because those oldsters get to have it all! Not to mention hogging all the walkers and motorized scooters!
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:28
Taught me the word “moiety” it did.
Maybe I should use that in my Cultural Anthropology class.
The Tragically Flip said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:28
It occurs to me Terry Goodkind is a libertarian, and Sword of Truth has a big dollop of sado-machochism for some unfathomable reason.
I’m seeing a pattern here.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:31
Terry Goodkind is a libertarian
I knew that there was a reason I stopped reading science fiction and fantasy all those years ago.
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:31
Maybe I should use that in my Cultural Anthropology class.
I tried a little Heinlein googling to scratch the itch and I think the book was “Citizen of the Galaxy.” But it’s really not very good, even by the low standard of his juvie sci-fi.
El Cid said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:33
Also, that SOB Ted Kennedy ruined the small-government, township favoring brother nation of South Africa, while Dick Cheney worked so hard to protect us from that terrorist Nelson Mandela.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:35
But it’s really not very good, even by the low standard of his juvie sci-fi.
I was just thinking about the sex part. That is just about the only thing that wakes them up. Oh, and when I talk about the seven genders of the Chukchi, Muxe, Kathooey, Hijra, and the like.
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:37
I was just thinking about the sex part. That is just about the only thing that wakes them up. Oh, and when I talk about the seven genders of the Chukchi, Muxe, Kathooey, Hijra, and the like.
Try “The Gods Themselves” by Asimov. Despite his usual tin ear for dialog, he does a decent job describing an alien society with three sexes.
The Tragically Flip said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:40
The Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit, another law in which Kennedy played a major role,
Maybe I’m missing something here, but Kennedy opposed Medicare Part D in 2003.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:42
Try “The Gods Themselves” by Asimov. Despite his usual tin ear for dialog, he does a decent job describing an alien society with three sexes.
I actually like Leguin’s Left Hand of Darkness for its treatment of gender. I actually read all of Heinlein and Asimove when I was younger, but that was a very long time ago. I actually read Stranger in a Strange Land when it first came out.
gocart mozart said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:43
OT but I struck gold.
http://christwire.org/
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:45
I actually like Leguin’s Left Hand of Darkness for its treatment of gender.
I just finished “Matter” by Banks and noticed, again, the way he approaches this topic: his advanced society (the Culture) has no gender-based differences. You can judge how advanced he thinks a society is by its gender roles.
He’s also a better writer than the guys I spent my hard-earned quarters on in the early 70s.
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:46
Definitely Citizen of the Galaxy. I grew up on Heinlein’s juveniles and they helped turn me into the raging lefty I am today, so I really don’t know where the “Heinlein as Fascist” bit comes from. But then again, I only tried to read one or two things he wrote after his stroke and gave up. I want to remember him going out on The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:47
OT but I struck gold.
Oh dear sweet crack baby Jeebus! How, where, and more impotantly, why did you find that motherlode of hate and stupid. That place makes Redstate look sane.
Michael G. said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:48
I knew that there was a reason I stopped reading science fiction and fantasy all those years ago.
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
There’s lots of good new stuff. People who are past the libertarianism and fascism of the past.
Like Cloud Atlas by David Mitchel and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel by Susana Clark. Plus Gene Wolfe has only been getting weirder.
g said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:50
Soviets Create New Berenstain Bear Porn To Lure Children into Sin
Yes!!
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:50
so I really don’t know where the “Heinlein as Fascist” bit comes from
(1) His military fetishism. Most obvious in “Space Cadet” but it shows up a lot of places, including the best of his juvies “Starman Jones.”
(2) His often-stated belief that full citizenship was something one had to earn, preferably by military service.
Just my opinion…
gocart mozart said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:51
Soviets Create New Berenstain Bear Porn To Lure Children into Sin
http://christwire.org/2009/08/soviets-create-new-berenstain-bear-porn-to-lure-children-into-sin/
Heh indeed
Ghost of Mary Jo said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:52
Maybe all the libs on here should save the tears for Mary Jo and her family, and the millions of innocent unborn babies murdered every year thanks to Teddy Kennedy, or the way our nation was ruined when he passed the 1965 Immigration Act, or how he supported Communist dictatorships in the ’70s and ’80s. That’s the man you’re lionizing tonight. A murderer, drunkard, obese slob, baby killer, and comsymp.
Major Kong said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:53
I really don’t know where the “Heinlein as Fascist” bit comes from.
Starship Troopers. Bigtime.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:54
There’s lots of good new stuff. People who are past the libertarianism and fascism of the past.
I started reading science fiction and fantasy when I was about 12 in the early 60s. My father and uncle were avid fans (both engineers BTW) and I devoured all their books. Started out with A.E. van Vogt, Asimov, Heinlein, Philip K. Dick (one of the best ever!) and others. Even read all the Conan books and the Edgar Rice Burroughs stuff. Somewhere, about 15-20 years ago, I just lost my appetite for it. some of it was the rising libertarian and cryptofacism in the genres, but some of it was also a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology, which makes even some of the better stuff a bit hard to take. Still like the Wizard of Earthsea series, however.
gocart mozart said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:54
“We The People”
By Marie Jon
http://christwire.org/2009/08/we-the-people/
The Tragically Flip said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:55
M’ari’e J’on is posting there
falkjds;jld;fjdksalhfdslkjfd;jask;lgja;lkfds flkjdsafjds!!!
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:55
Maybe all the libs on here should save the tears for Mary Jo and her family
Actually, we will shed them for your family for having to put up with such a hateful and stupid nutter.
The Tragically Flip said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:56
Sorry I just momentarily lost my ability to communicate in english, there was a massive logical short circuit in my brain after I tried to comprehend what Marie was saying.
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:57
I just lost my appetite for it. some of it was the rising libertarian and cryptofacism in the genres, but some of it was also a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology, which makes even some of the better stuff a bit hard to take.
I’m about a decade younger, but followed a similar path of reading. As has been said, there’s good new stuff. I guess I don’t see an overall difference in cultural description between sci fi and other types of fiction. (Note that I exclude Tom Clancy and his ilk from my definition of sci fi. There work is a form of torture pr0n.)
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:59
Their, too. Rassin’ frassin’ dead brain cells.
The Tragically Flip said,
August 27, 2009 at 3:59
Ok, I have to hand it to the organizers of this all-gay Alaskan cruise. Advertising at “Christwire” must reach a motherlode of self-hating closeted Christophobes. It’s like advertising chocolate cake at Weight Watchers.com.
Ghost of Mary Jo said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:00
What do you think Mary Jo thought about Kennedy as he abandoned her to drown, after driving drunk off a bridge?
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:01
Can’t believe I have to have badgers dancing over Teddy, but here we are.
Mary Jo said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:02
I couldn’t be reached for comment on Kennedy’s death.
Major Kong said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:02
What do you think Mary Jo thought
Probably the same thing Michael Dutton Douglas thought when Laura put the pedal to the metal.
Chappaquiddick said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:03
I’m the real legacy of Teddy Kennedy.
The smoking crater that used to be Baghdad said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:05
I’m the real legacy of George W. Bush
25 Million Liberated Iraqis, Millions of Liberated Afghans said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:06
Nope, I’m the legacy.
25 Million Liberated Iraqis said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:07
If Teddy Kennedy had had is way, we’d still be living under a vicious dictator.
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:08
I used to prop up that vicious dictator.
The Ayatollahs said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:09
Only because he was fighting us. We were the greater of two evils.
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:10
When I wasn’t busy selling missiles to that nice Ayatollah feller.
Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:11
Probably the same thing Michael Dutton Douglas thought when Laura put the pedal to the metal.
And that kid that Gee Dumbya had aborted.
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:11
But at least I cut and ran from Lebanon.
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:11
Iran-Contra was a liberal fishing expedition, a witch hunt for my head that was an utter failure as they never found any wrongdoing on my part, or the part of my Vice President who whipped Dukakis’s liberal Greek ass the next year.
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:13
It was really awesome when the Guatemalan death squads bashed the kid’s heads on the rocks.
Teddy Kennedy said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:14
I was a proud supporter of Soviet Communists like Daniel Ortega.
Nancy Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:15
I blew Frank Sinatra, and more than once!
Oh, uh, what were we talking about…?
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:15
Hell, I created Al Qaeda and the Taliban!
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:15
I just blew….
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:16
I won in two landslide elections, presided over years of economic boom, and killed Communism ending the Cold War.
What exactly have Democrat Presidents done lately?
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:17
It was really awesome when the Guatemalan death squads bashed the kid’s heads on the rocks.
And when the rightwing death squads I financed killed all those nuns.
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:18
I raised taxes. Three times.
Communist "Nuns" said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:18
You really believe that?
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:19
I was a net tax cutter.
SomeNYGuy said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:21
Someone is out of con-troll.
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:21
More jobs were created in Carter’s one term than both of mine.
1 Million Dead Iraqis said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:21
We would be alive if not for George Bush.
Jimmy Carter said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:22
Wow, somebody is finally defending my economic policies! I believe that hasn’t happened in, oh, 30 years! If ever. And no proof to back it up, either.
999,999 Dead Iraqis said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:22
That 1 million number is an exaggeration!
Saddam Hussein said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:23
I’d still be alive, living the high life in my palaces. if Ted Kennedy had had his way.
A PRESIDENT said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:23
I DID SOME SHIT, AIGHT? BEST BE REPPIN
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:23
Unlike wrongwing trolls, I believe in the facts. Those are that Reagan did far worse on the economy than Clinton (of whom I am not a fan), subsidized some of the most brutal rightwing thugs in Latina America, created the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and had little directly to do with the fall of communism which was largely a consequence of a grossly bloated defense structure which sucked all the resources out of the economy.
Uday and Qusay Hussein said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:23
Us, too. Getting drunk and raping women for fun, and killing them. Wow, we really DO have a lot in common with old Teddy! No wonder he loved us.
Blackwater said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:25
What Uday and Qusay did would have been a slow Sunday morning for us.
gocart mozart said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:25
Chinese Invent Sinful Boob Scarf
March 5, 2009 by Tyson Bowers III
Filed under Faith Links, Heathens Against Holiness, Sinister Internet Sites
As if the Chinese weren’t the most veil people already, they have invented a new scarf called the “Boob Scarf.”
What sick and twisted people they are. No wonder our good friend Amber post the great story “I Am Extremely Terrified Of Chinese People.”
I guess the scarf is suppose to be humorous and I guess it is if you’re a sin ridden, freedom hating Chinaman!
Women’s breasts are for one thing only and that is to feed a newborn. Not to be shown off in a sexual or humorous way!
These commie, sex crazed, child abusing wackos need to be nuked. To bad our Christian leader George Bush still isn’t in office. He would wipe these low lives out with a holy nuke from GOD!
BOO China! BOO!
http://christwire.org/index.php?s=boob
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:26
Getting drunk and raping women for fun
Hell, St. Ronny RayGunz, paid people and trained them to do that at the School of the Americas. Said it smelled like freedom.
The Death Squads said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:26
They said we were the moral equivalent of your founding fathers.
Ronald Reagan and Teddy Kennedy said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:27
You know, we were actually friends.
Ronald Reagan said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:27
My excuse for selling weapons to a country run by people who despise America, and using the proceeds to illegally fund terrorists in central america is that I had Alzheimers, and in between pretending I liberated a concentration camp, and not knowing my own son at his graduation, I just plum wasn’t paying attention to what the scheming criminals in my administration were doing.
So, not guilty by reason of criminal negligence and mental ineptitude.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:29
Not to mention St. Ronny is responsible for crack cocaine (thank you Iran-contra!).
gocart mozart said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:29
Communist “Nuns” said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:18
“You really believe that?”
Our troll is now attacking murdered nuns. He is an asshole of a “human”.
Oliver North said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:31
I lied under oath, and bragged about it, and the right wing gave me my own TV show.
The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:32
Hey, Troofus:
Iran-Contra was FUCKING TREASON!!!
Reagan should have been impeached, convicted, removed from office, tried for treason, and shot.
The minute Bush took over, he should have been impeached, convicted, removed from office, tried for treason, and shot.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:32
gocart mozart -
By the way, I prefer the boob milk bottles to the scarf thingee.
Oliver North said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:32
I did it all to protect this nation that I love.
Democrat Congress, 1987 said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:33
Iran-Contra was such a flimsy “case” we didn’t even TRY to impeach Reagan.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:33
What The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge said.
Bill Clinton said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:34
Of course I illegally raised money from Communist Chinese and later they just happened to be able to successfully spy on Los Alamos. Hmmm…
gocart mozart said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:34
When Marie Jon & Evil Chinese Boob Scarfs can’t get you people’s attention away from ’80′s foreign policy, something has really gone awry in the universe.
Troofie said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:35
I hate nuns for the same reason I hate all other women: they don’t line up to fuck me. Not that I even like women.
g said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:37
I predict
LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
Sometime soon.
The Tragically Flip said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:38
gocart,
I tried too. That place is something else. I’m not entirely convinced it isn’t satire. Did Marie Jon just register and post there uninvited? Hers is the only column I’m sure is genuine right wing nuttery.
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:38
When Marie Jon & Evil Chinese Boob Scarfs can’t get you people’s attention away from ’80’s foreign policy, something has really gone awry in the universe.
Well maybe if you had pictures of Marie Jon in just an Evil Chines Boob Scarf fellating the gipper (like our troll is), we would pay more attention.
Colonel Moroni said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:47
from the same site (http://christwire.org/2009/08/mormon-city-creates-new-dangerous-solar-battery-coorstek/ )
“Drafted by a company named CoorsTek, the battery promises to destroy our fossil fuel industry by exploiting solar energy generated by the Sun. The solar powered cell threatens our way of life by marginalizing the life blood of the American dollar: fossil fuels. Oil.
Anything that is anti-oil is anti-America and anti-God. It is anti-Christ.”
It can’t be real, can it?
DrDick said,
August 27, 2009 at 4:57
It can’t be real, can it?
Trust me, I grew up among these whackjobs, it really could be.
zombie rotten mcdonald said,
August 27, 2009 at 5:11
Heinlein uncool? Never. He was all about cool.
And fascism.
And, in his later books, breasts.
and kitties. He clearly saw the future dominance of LOLcats
M. Bouffant said,
August 27, 2009 at 5:17
Sounds like Blogs For Brownback is back, & somehow managed to suck MJ in. Or will be looking at quite a lawsuit.
I especially liked the reference to “mouth sex” in this one.
M. Bouffant said,
August 27, 2009 at 5:18
Cool Fascist Breasts.
As good as “Worse Than Hitler.”
For band names.
zombie rotten mcdonald said,
August 27, 2009 at 5:21
Holy shit, can we ignore the troll and get back to quibbling about sci fi authors?
Dammit, I could use some new reading material.
St. Trotsky, Pope-in-Avignon said,
August 27, 2009 at 5:21
As good as “Worse Than Hitler.”
I think I’ve heard of them. That’s the skinhead tribute band that does nothing but covers of songs by Better Than Ezra, right?
zombie rotten mcdonald said,
August 27, 2009 at 5:22
Cool Fascist Breasts.
As good as “Worse Than Hitler.”
For band names.
wrong
Obviously an ALBUM name.
N__B said,
August 27, 2009 at 5:29
Dammit, I could use some new reading material.
I’ve just discovered Charlie Stross’s stuff and I’m in heaven.
Smut Clyde said,
August 27, 2009 at 5:30
Cover versions of every track from “Marble Index”.
Cato the Censor said,
August 27, 2009 at 5:31
Everyone who works for Reason Magazine is a worthless, smug, little reactionary twit. I saw that oaf Gillespie at a Tea Party in front of the White House and he fits every particular of the previously cited bill. If the Great Recession does persist, maybe one positive effect will be that this lunatic fringe rag runs out of donors and finally goes out of business. If it does happen, everyone please be sure to send all Reason staff members cruel, mocking e-mails. Turnabout is fair play.
Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist said,
August 27, 2009 at 6:02
Obviously an ALBUM name.
I think “Worse than Hitler” is most likely the name of a box set from a really washed-up band.
Joe Max said,
August 27, 2009 at 6:19
Glibertarians are famously Heinlein fans – it’s what they read in junior high before they discovered Ayn Rand.
Heinlein had a big military fetish and a libertarian streak, but to his credit he walked the walk, and was as much or more social libertarian than he was economic.
wiley said,
August 27, 2009 at 6:40
“In an increasingly flat, dispersed, networked world in which power, information, knowledge, purchasing power, and more was rapidly decentralizing…”
Sounds like we’re heading to the self-regulating utopia of a randroid. Yippee. It’s worked out great so far, hasn’t it? You ain’t free til you’ve crashed and burned into grueling poverty and insecurity while hearing the cry of a thousand Wall Streets moguls bitching about how hard it is to live on a quarter mil a year and arguments for why we should let New Orleans drown during the descent.
I feel t-totally empowered (because I still have a part-time job and a pension they couldn’t rob and I don’t live near a levee).
Are libertarians necessary, or are they punishment for something we did in our last lives?
J Neo Marvin said,
August 27, 2009 at 7:15
Cover versions of every track from “Marble Index”.
I’d buy that.
Major Kong said,
August 27, 2009 at 10:31
I illegally raised money from Communist Chinese
OK, you win. China’s evil.
Now can we stop moving our industry there?
Just Alison said,
August 27, 2009 at 13:05
I really don’t know where the “Heinlein as Fascist” bit comes from.
Starship Troopers. Bigtime.
Funny, I always saw ST as being anti-jingoism and a much more thoughtful coverage of military and government than is common in sci fi. After all, the bugs turned out to be just folks (albeit not human folks), which put a big spike through the ‘justified war’ fantasy that’s so common among, ahem, right wing elements.
And his ‘voting rights earned through military service’ idea had some merit, in that it could be generalised to non-military service. That is, if you don’t want to do something for your country/world, don’t expect to have much of a say. Worth having a discussion about, anyway.
As for new sci fi, I’ve been reading a lot of C J Cherryh: she has an underlying message of cultural and sociological difference that’s quite fascinating, in a geeky sort of way, and she occasionally slips in something that gives me a shock of recognition. F’rinstance, I’m currently re-reading the Foreigner series, and there’s quite a bit in there about reactionary elements, governmental corruption, a passive populace in the face of that corruption, and how the reactionary/conservative elements don’t really understand.
Sorry, I’m not phrasing this well. I used up all of my brain yesterday, and I’ve been running on drool ever since.
Smut Clyde said,
August 27, 2009 at 13:21
Funny, I always saw ST as being anti-jingoism and a much more thoughtful coverage of military and government than is common in sci fi.
Your next assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to reveal the concealed liberal message of Farnham’s Freehold.
tigrismus said,
August 27, 2009 at 14:51
And no proof to back it up, either.
Unlike every statement you’ve made.
OT but I struck gold.
That’s hilarious, and awesome that they sucked MJ’ in.
OneMan said,
August 27, 2009 at 16:31
GUILDS ARE THEFT!!1!!
Xecky Gilchrist said,
August 27, 2009 at 17:22
Your next assignment, should you choose to accept it, is to reveal the concealed liberal message of Farnham’s Freehold.
I was gonna say … I like a lot of Heinlein’s stuff, but that book is ipecac in print.
Xecky Gilchrist said,
August 27, 2009 at 17:23
…about the only thing I can think of from Farnham’s Freehold that isn’t pure racist/sexist/fascist dribble is the idea, expressed right at the very end, that books are valuable.
Trilateral Chairman said,
August 27, 2009 at 17:29
Funny, I always saw ST as being anti-jingoism and a much more thoughtful coverage of military and government than is common in sci fi….[H]is ‘voting rights earned through military service’ idea had some merit, in that it could be generalised to non-military service. That is, if you don’t want to do something for your country/world, don’t expect to have much of a say.
Agreed. To be fair, Heinlein didn’t particularly emphasize those other forms of service in the book, so I think a lot of people forget about it.
Worth having a discussion about, anyway.
Yes…and that, I think, was Heinlein’s point. I tend to think that people who see him as a fascist are falsely assuming that ST was his vision of utopia. I’ve always thought that if you sat down with Heinlein and discussed the book over a few beers, he’d quickly lay out all the reasons that it couldn’t work in real life and launch into a description of an entirely *different* society that he thought was better. Heinlein had about ten zillion such ideas, some of which are presented in other books (like The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which is, if anything, anti-fascist). I don’t think he was 100% serious about any of the themes he presented in his books (with the possible exception of boning redheads); they’re just there to break you out of your preconceived notions of what a free society looks like.
handy said,
August 27, 2009 at 17:33
Teh Black is scary.
Dan Someone said,
August 27, 2009 at 18:53
OK, that Christwire thing is a parody site right? I mean, come one: McDonalds Tries to Make Blacks Not Look Dangerous??? Is Marie Apostrophe in on the joke, or has she been taken in?
ObSF: Y’all need to go back and read some Jack Vance, quite possibly the most underrated (or undeservedly obscure) authors working in the genre. His stuff is classic space adventure stuff, a la Heinlein, but with all the incest and boobs and militarism/libertarianism replaced by mannered dialogue and detailed descriptions of alien cultures (some of which are human). He has also written terrific fantasy novels. For great old-school sf/f, there is none better.
TMK supported early deregulation efforts said,
August 27, 2009 at 22:36
Just read a blog piece about Ted Kennedy’s important role in supporting early deregulation efforts, starting with trucking. At TPM, or Yglesias, or some parasitic liberal blog.
I think most libertarians have turned into raving factless loons, but whatever, it may just be me.
Substance McGravitas said,
August 27, 2009 at 22:38
Note the post at the top of the thread.
Wen Ho Lee said,
August 28, 2009 at 1:44
I am Taiwanese. What would I have to gain at Los Alamos, Twoofie?
Sirius Lunacy said,
August 28, 2009 at 15:58
Surely the Christwire articles are all written by the crew from “The Onion”.
Also, I was just listenning to my Worse than Hiter album Cool Facist Breasts. Love the title song, but sadly they were just a one Hitler wonder.