Thursday, June 07, 2007
The unthinkable glacis
Polistra's Seventh Law: When the elites say X is unthinkable, it's time to think X.
= = = = =
When the elites nod sagely and murmur reassuringly:
Of course we can't bomb Mecca and Medina; it would be disrespectful.
Of course Iraq must remain in one piece; dividing it would offend Turkey.
Of course we must stay in Iraq; otherwise the turrists will follow us home.
Of course we can't just deport all the illegals.
Of course we must all condemn the "atrocities" of Abu Ghraib.
Of course we can never torture a ticking Mohammedan time bomb.
Of course we can't build a 50-foot wall; the illegals will bring a 51-foot ladder.
Of course we must have a large inflow of immigrants, legal or otherwise.
= = = = =
In EVERY case, ordinary logic plus a bit of historical knowledge tells us that the "unthinkable" action is not only thinkable but helpful; in SOME cases the "unthinkable" is NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL.
Lately the "unthinkables" are starting to break down. In the last few months, more and more people are disobeying the elites and applying plain logic and knowledge to reality.
Focusing here on the last two listed items, because I've talked plenty about the others.
Defending against ladders is not exactly new technology. Google 'glacis' and you'll see a wide variety of effective methods, most invented 2000 years ago, for slippy-sliding a ladder. I'll bet a team of young medieval-minded gamers and engineers could develop a modern glacis.
On the most basic question of needing immigrants, an interesting alliance is developing. I raved about Rohrabacher's speech in the previous entry; this morning our only honestly described Socialist, Bernie Sanders, was making the same point with the same facts, and the Black Caucus (eg Sheila Jackson Lee) have been saying similar things.
The essential distinction: Immigrants increase the wealth and mow the lawns of rich people. Immigrants take jobs from poor people and lower the wages of middle-class families and even some brainy jobs like programming. (Yes, I have a vested interest here!)
Rich people don't need nations or boundaries; they can move their hedge-fund holdings, private jets and private security forces to Dubai or Somalia when it gets too disorderly here. Middle-class and poor people need nations and governments, because they can't move, and shouldn't have to spend all their time defending against marauders. This is the whole point and meaning of civilization.
This new way of carving our political turkey leaves the disloyal representatives exposed. Those who serve China, Mexico and the rich can now be seen and identified, while those who serve lower and middle-class Americans can be seen and identified. ¶ 4:19 PM
Polistra's Seventh Law: When the elites say X is unthinkable, it's time to think X.
= = = = =
When the elites nod sagely and murmur reassuringly:
Of course we can't bomb Mecca and Medina; it would be disrespectful.
Of course Iraq must remain in one piece; dividing it would offend Turkey.
Of course we must stay in Iraq; otherwise the turrists will follow us home.
Of course we can't just deport all the illegals.
Of course we must all condemn the "atrocities" of Abu Ghraib.
Of course we can never torture a ticking Mohammedan time bomb.
Of course we can't build a 50-foot wall; the illegals will bring a 51-foot ladder.
Of course we must have a large inflow of immigrants, legal or otherwise.
= = = = =
In EVERY case, ordinary logic plus a bit of historical knowledge tells us that the "unthinkable" action is not only thinkable but helpful; in SOME cases the "unthinkable" is NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL.
Lately the "unthinkables" are starting to break down. In the last few months, more and more people are disobeying the elites and applying plain logic and knowledge to reality.
Focusing here on the last two listed items, because I've talked plenty about the others.
Defending against ladders is not exactly new technology. Google 'glacis' and you'll see a wide variety of effective methods, most invented 2000 years ago, for slippy-sliding a ladder. I'll bet a team of young medieval-minded gamers and engineers could develop a modern glacis.
On the most basic question of needing immigrants, an interesting alliance is developing. I raved about Rohrabacher's speech in the previous entry; this morning our only honestly described Socialist, Bernie Sanders, was making the same point with the same facts, and the Black Caucus (eg Sheila Jackson Lee) have been saying similar things.
The essential distinction: Immigrants increase the wealth and mow the lawns of rich people. Immigrants take jobs from poor people and lower the wages of middle-class families and even some brainy jobs like programming. (Yes, I have a vested interest here!)
Rich people don't need nations or boundaries; they can move their hedge-fund holdings, private jets and private security forces to Dubai or Somalia when it gets too disorderly here. Middle-class and poor people need nations and governments, because they can't move, and shouldn't have to spend all their time defending against marauders. This is the whole point and meaning of civilization.
This new way of carving our political turkey leaves the disloyal representatives exposed. Those who serve China, Mexico and the rich can now be seen and identified, while those who serve lower and middle-class Americans can be seen and identified. ¶ 4:19 PM
