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Life After Congress May 25, 2008

Posted by Resident Egoist in : Politics , comments closed

Most people in this country lead their daily lives with the illusion that there exists some sort of fundamental difference between our two major political parties; namely the Republicans and the Democrats. Here’s and interesting passage from an article by Congressman Ron Paul that should put an end to the entertainment of this folly – not that I’m naive enough to think that it actually will:

[After leaving office, former members of Congress] find it quite convenient to associate with other former members of the opposing party and start a lobbying firm. What might have appeared to be contentious differences when in office are easily put aside to lobby their respected party members. Essentially no philosophic difference of importance exists — it’s only a matter of degree and favors sought, since both parties must be won over. The differences they might have had while they were voting members of Congress existed only for the purpose of appealing to their different constituencies, not serious differences of opinion as to what the role of government ought to be. This is the reality of bipartisanship. Sadly our system handsomely rewards those who lobby well and in a bipartisan fashion. Congressional service too often is a training ground or a farm system for the ultimate government service: lobbying Congress for the benefit of powerful and wealthy special interests.

This article from the Washington Post, though a bit old, offers greater (financial) perspective on the subject as well. Don’t miss it.

Gas Prices and the Problem of Evil May 22, 2008

Posted by Resident Egoist in : Culture, Philosophy , comments closed

There’s a man going around the country organizing prayer stations at Gas stations asking God to “deliver us from these high gas prices”. Whatever you think of him, you should credit the man for his novel approach to a rather vexing problem.

Religious people stubbornly lack the ability to recognize that everything about God is one gigantic contradiction. Instead of having anything to do with evil, Diana Hsieh has undeniable proof that high prices, being part of God’s plan and will, are the greatest good we could ever wish for. It goes as follows:

…as an omniscient being, God must be already perfectly aware of the high price of gas. As an omnipotent being, he must be capable of lowering gas prices. Since he’s all-benevolent, he wouldn’t allow gas prices to remain as they are if that was an evil. Ergo, high gas prices must be all for the best.

Can’t argue with that, can you? This, in fact, has opened my eyes to the fact that for anyone who believes in an all-knowing, all-good, all-powerful and all-[insert favorite attribute here] deity, it is impossible to logically admit in the existence of any kind of evil since everything is part of God’s will, which is all-good.

Don’t believe me? The Holocaust is considered by many in our society to be the greatest act of evil ever committed. Just recently, a sermon from televangelist John Hagee (a former endorser of John McCain) has surfaced which essentially makes the claim that Hitler was nothing but an instrument of God’s omnibenevolent will.

This twisted view of the nature of good and evil is rather commonplace; just look up Fred Phelps or the Reverend Pat Robertson.

Who said THAT? May 12, 2008

Posted by Resident Egoist in : Philosophy , comments closed

Objectivists and all rational individualists, this one’s to your benefit:

“It is philosophy that makes man understandable to man, explains human nobility, and shows man the proper road. The first defect appearing in any nation that is headed toward decline is in the philosophic spirit. After that deficiencies spread into the other sciences, arts, and associations.”

[...]

“Philosophy is the escape from the narrow sensations of animality into the wide arena of human feelings…In general, it is man’s becoming man and living the life of sacred rationality. Its aim is human perfection in reason, mind, soul, and way of life….It is the foremost cause of the production of knowledge, the creation of sciences, the invention of industries, and the initiation of the crafts.”

Go here and prepare to be shocked. You’ve been warned!