Wednesday, June 27, 2007

We will get there, all civilizations that have proceeded us have.

We have a strong civil society that could, in theory, overcome the entrenched interests of the armed forces and the military-industrial complex. At this late date, however, it is difficult to imagine how Congress, much like the Roman senate in the last days of the republic, could be brought back to life and cleansed of it endemic corruption. Failing such a reform, Nemesis, the goddess of retribution and vengeance, the punisher of pride and hubris, waits impatiently for her meeting with us.

— Chalmers Johnson, The Sorrows of Empire [2004

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Jefferson knew how to run a country.

Having seen the people of all other nations bowed down to the earth under the wars and prodigalities of their rulers, I have cherished their opposites, peace, economy, and riddance of public debt, believing that these were the high road to public as well as private prosperity and happiness.

— Thomas Jefferson

Monday, June 04, 2007

Government double speak

Compassionate conservatism pretends the state does not raise its own money via coercion and harsh threats against taxpayers. Compassionate conservatism presumes that since the government just happens to have all this cash in the treasury coffers, why not do some good deeds with it? Handouts become symbols of generosity rather than acts of redistribution at gunpoint. Compassionate conservatism portrays government as a front of moral greatness, rather than a primary source of corruption, manipulation, and degradation

— James Bovard,