Topic: Libertarianism
Literary Feuds on Nolan Chart Shooting at the Diverse Choir in These Here Partsby Random Outlier
(libertarian)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
(A version of the originaI incorporating enhanced documentation, including two or three actual links!)
I love literary feuds.(1)
In callow youth I got a kick out of haunting the dreary old magazine stacks in the local library and reading the 1930s and '40s dustups among men of letters and statesmen, both real and wannabe. (2)
"Saturday Review," "The Reporter," and others gave space to guys like Mencken, Shaw, and other razor-tongued mavens of the Left and Right who used their Underwoods as full-auto weapons -- often capable of bench-rest accuracy -- in the ideological wars. (3)
The came the Dark Age Of The Teevee. (4)
Literacy joined attention spans in a downward spiral until, at last, Hannity and Holmes came to be recognized as a duopoly of opposing genius in the great national debate. (5)
Personally, I almost gave up, sold out the little ranch, loaded the buckboard with my paltry intellectual possessions, and bid adieu to the valley, en route to early retirement in some land of pliant senoritas, tequila, and anonymity. (6)
But then, glimpsing the western horizon I thrilled to the approaching vision of a fiery horse with the speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty hi-yo, Silver, away!' The Lone Ranger! (7)
Well, I'll be damned, it turned out to be the Sainted Walt Thiessen astride a mighty white steed. Reining to a rearing halt, he flung at our feet the magical gold-filled saddle bags which have grown into Nolan Chart, a raucous saloon peddling straight redeyes of political thought.(8)
In a place like that you expect to sniff black powder fumes and slip on the occasional puddle of blood seeping through the cracks of the rough plank floors. (9)
---
Anyone who hasn't enjoyed much of the current shootout between Walt the Libertarian and a liberal adversary calling himself Master C is missing a lot. A sharp blue pencil would improve things here and there, especially for the latter, but despite the occasional profligacy of words, it's a timely battle well worth notice. (10)
The world asks, "What's money?" Master C answers, "Why, money is money, of course because we say it is." Walt notes the fatuousness and re-frames the query into a more profound and useful, "What's wealth?" (11)
All in all -- despite a few bad turns in box canyons-- it's quite entertaining, interesting, and important, especially in recent installments where Walt notes that the Fed, some 50 years ago, conceded fiat money value depends on trust. (12)
I am absolutely certain that our libertarian colleague will follow that up with the quite obvious "Trust in what?" And the equally apparent answer, "Why, in our politicians, of course." (13)
Now, there's a feud-worthy concept for you.(14)
I shan't wade further in to the substance of the debate. Walt's doing fine for our side. I will, however, make a small stylistic observation to Master C, to wit: (15)
Noting your devotion to the density of bold-face, I suggest you ponder the chance that over-reliance on pure typography hints at a want of confidence in the power of your logic -- something like yelling at your opponent at a scholarly colloquium. (16)
---
And then there's my occasional and gentle critic Jahfre Fire Eater. Folks, this guy knows how to take a fellow to task inoffensively. (17)
At least twice the Fire Eater has chided me for passiveness in libertarian endeavor, suggesting I merely preach to the choir. (18)
Let the feud, therefore, begin with my retort that Jahfre's detraction occurs (1) without necessary context which is quite natural because I don't recall ever having asserted any personal bona fides here and (2) with a certain misunderstanding of how large politics is played by long hunters. (19)
As to the first, my weathered hide bears scars of political Paschendales, dreary trench warfare enlivened by periodic charges up the ladder and over the top, into the statists' Maxims. (Vickers and Brownings too, come to think of it., statism having no national boundaries.) (20)
Prior to the neocon age of GOP barbarianism I wore Republican colors. Later the Libertarian kerchief graced the Outlier lance. Most lately I fight as a semi-solitary libertarian, my tactics and strategy undone by Libertarians. (21)
A complete vita would mention door-knocking, fund-raising, organizing, convention-attending, and a respectable series of campaigns for good (or nearly so) guys from the school board to the U.S. Senate. Further -- and I expect to be denounced as a liar for saying this. So be it. -- the next summons to a White House meeting won't be the first. (22)
As to the second, note the Hundred-Year War quip. Political change occurs when the political climate permits, when people are persuaded in sufficient quantities to make up a large constituency for an idea. It is largely a protracted process of almost pure education, and that's where I choose these days to perform my duties. (23)
Conceding a portion of Friend Jahfre's point, ideological argument does need, in order to have practical results, direct help in sorting out the snake ball of practical electioneering. I have fang marks, and please read that as a metaphor for enemies. I am as pround of having them as I am of my friends. (21)
My hat size increased embarrassingly the day Paul Weyrich demanded I be fired and was, by my boss, told politely to go to Hell. (24)
But now I'm leaving that kind of heavy outdoor work to you youngsters. (25)
---
Hatfield, this is McCoy. Over. (26)
---------------------------
Footnotes:
1. Report of Left-Brain Neurons 22,000-69,060 Week of Nov. 9, 2008. (personal communication to author.)
2. Geiger, Bernice, Librarian Fort Dodge Public Library, Seance in Smugly, IA, Nov. 9, 2008.
3. Ibid
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton_N._Minow. N.B. - While the careful approver will note that the actual phrase was "vast wasteland," the author deemed extant paraphrase more euphonious in current context and expresses regret if is determined by higher aurhority that said judgment was erroneous.
5. Fox News; See them week nights!
6. "Happy Valley Weekly Times," Sept. 11, 2001, p.1 et seq.
7. Ibid, Sept. 18, 2001.
8. Personal communication from B. Tender Jake and Miss Kitty.
9. HVWT, op cit.
10. http://www.nolanchart.com/topic130.html (or, if you're just in from a month on Uranus, look over to your left a little and click "debate.")
11. Ibid
12. Ibid
13. Ibid
14. "Nazereth World News Weekly and Shopper," Nazareth, Tennessee, July 5, 1903, "Conceptual Conflict Destroys Shaky Truce Following Failed Hatfield-McCoy Camp Meeting Accords; 12 Dead; p. 1 et seq.
The views expressed in this
article are those of Random Outlier only and do not represent
the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates. Random Outlier is
solely responsible for the contents of this article and is not an
employee or otherwise affiliated with Nolan Chart, LLC in his/her role as a columnist.
Just to clarify some of your observations, I would say that you almost reversed some of the things Walt and I were saying, although I realize that you were referring more to the actual pugilism than to any of the blows that were landed.
In my attempt to explain some of the merits and advantages of FIAT CURRENCY, I found that Walt was often more intent on merely TEARING DOWN the system than debating its merits. Whenever I made a philosophical point it would usually be met with pages of statistics and data that was tantamount to saying that you like VANILLA MILKSHAKES only to find that you were then forced to explain chemical formulas, varying types of measurements and additives, and a variety of LINGUISTIC trivia about what actually constitutes a "milkshake". I think we both benefited from realizing that we were not going to find any intellectual common ground between his IMMOVABLE WALL and my elusive CLOUD OF SMOKE, so we have gone on to making our cases separately. Although I think my "Holy Grail" article really knocked a few bricks out of his fortifications!
With regard to my use of typographical highlights, I think you totally miss the point. The CAPITAL LETTERS and BOLDFACE are as much a part of my writing style in internet publications like these as are my use of clever, pompous, and often flamboyant metaphors. I am emphasizing points I don't want people to miss AND I am providing visual placeholders for ease in reading my articles. If you look at a loooooooong page of unembellished print, it fatigues you just to think about reading through it. But, if it has places where you can pause to think, or refer to later, it makes the piece much more approachable.
Of course, there are ALWAYS a few places where an effective SCREAM is warranted, too. When you're one of the UNARMED LIBERALS sent into the gladiatorial ring to survive an assault by the LIBERTARIAN LIONS, you have to muster all the defenses and weapons at your disposal. About the only advantage we LIBERALS have is that we've got BARACK OBAMA, who's young, healthy, and fast while all the LIBERTARIANS have is RON PAUL who's old, feeble, and as frail as the DEAD SEA SCROLLS!
Posted By: Jahfre Fire Eater
Date: 2008-11-24 07:02:41
Hey R.O.
This was a fun article. I have not been following the back and forth between Walt and Master C. The couple exchanges I did read didn't interest me, not due to the content but because I've been involved in similar exchanges over the years and I didn't see anything new being added to the debate.
Logic and Faith are like oil and water. You can put them in the same container but they don't mix without a lot of agitation. I already know my own views on the subject so I find the agitation tedious and unnecessary. Everyone is at their own place and comes to new perspectives at their own pace. I'm glad Nolan Chart readers, like yourself, are enjoying the Walt/Master C exchanges.
Finally, thanks for having some thick skin. I've been writing for 30 years, always facing the same struggle...I have a seriously sharp pen and I don't really want to use it to cut people up. I prefer lay into bad ideas with the enthusiasim of a sushi chef on a side of Ahi Tuna. Occasionally though I may slip in a personal jab and not remove it during editing.
I regret when that happens because as you pointed out, I don't know you, or anyone else on Nolan Chart. I endeavor to focus on specific ideas and use them as a basis for making my very redundant points. If I get personal, you know I'm off track. My goal is to base my comments on specific ideas communicated by authors I reply to.
None of this is rocket science, big themes run through politics, economics and cultural trends. They repeat themselves endlessly in all frames of reference. I try to help people in one frame of references see through the veil into a frame they, and their logic, cannot exist in. Its All Related.
The trick is to find incentives. How can I get someone who disagrees with me on 95% of what I stand for, help me elect a candidate who promotes my principles? If I can find a way to make this result important for others, my work is easier.
No LP member can help at all in any of this so I appeal to the force of logic and reason to help them see the most valuable investment of their time is to pull the legs out from under the GOP's liberal leaders. You know, those who advocate rule of men, not laws, oppression of individual liberty to empower the State, big government solutions to all problems, no free enterprise except within the narrow constraints of the big government solution and persecution of individuals who dare to mount a defense of liberty.
No independent can help promote candidates who can promote liberty within the GOP, so I appeal to their sense of outrage and emotional attachment to fairness and fiscal responsibility. I don't care what any individual believes, so long as they can help promote liberty by getting a different strain of politician elected.
Similarly, if an individual simply cannot or will not participate in promoting liberty loving candidates in the GOP, I don't care what they believe or what they do. They are irrelevant to my cause...except to provide fertile ground for my next Nolan Chart article.
I am, quite frankly, surprised to see MasterC has the ability to support his arguments. In all of his criticism he launches at my articles, MasterC has resorted to the "Nu-uh" argument and name-calling to suppot his posiions.
Honest and frank discussion on topics is wonderful and a healthy expression of debate. The true debate winner, however, is the one that can support his positions. Name-calling and just simply saying, "No it's not!" is much less effective and lacks logic.
Most of the Neocons I know simply belittle their debate opponents and try to steer them off course by misdirecting anger. Very little supporting evidence can be found in these tirades and is further proof that they do not understand what they are saying. In fact, liberals and neo-conservatives often resort to the default argument of "It's really complicated" for most of the positions that a libertarian can provide. Seems like the liberals wish to take the same positions of their so-called conservative friends.
While the pointing of one finger at a libertarian seems like fun to people such as MasterC, they don't realize that their faulty arguments simply point four more of their own digits back at themselves.
To each his own, but I have yet to find anything I agree on with MasterC. I find his political positions humorous and lacking any insight beyond what the talking heads tells him to say. I enjoy seeing him respond to my articles, as I know he loves them. I support this argument on the old "thin line between love and hate” argument.
So enjoy the discourse MasterC. You always make my day to know that you read what I write.
Reading your articles is like using the TOILET ~ they're full of a lot of things I want to eliminate from my system. The only pleasure they bring is RELIEF when I'm done.
The truth is hard to debate. My 8 year old daughter uses the same tactics as Master C when confronted with the truth that she wishes not to hear.
I was especially happy that Master C responded the way that he did. He served himself a dose of exactly what I was talking about.
Enjoy the continued socialism Master C. More government, as was found through the most recent Republican expanssion of government, was just as deteriorating to our country as the upcoming Democrat's plans for government expansion will be.
It strikes me odd that more people do not want to have the freedom to keep all of their income. If more people did wish this to be the case, they could easily see who is the main culprit of this crime against humanity. It is both democrats and republicans alike and they love their "free" money from the Federal Reserve.
When I say wake-up people, I am specifically talking to Master C. Surely he would see that his arguements lack substance, while the libertarian viewpoint is grounded in sound knowledge and love for freedom, both civil and economic.
Do you do ANY thinking before you start typing? It's like you just wind up and let 'er go!
For comments like "It strikes me odd that more people do not want to have the freedom to keep all of their income. If more people did wish this to be the case, they could easily see who is the main culprit of this crime against humanity. It is both democrats and republicans alike and they love their "free" money from the Federal Reserve."
Let's just swat a few of these flies. WHO among us is getting "free" money? I work for mine. I assume you work for yours. And, I dare say that there are a few others you may know who either do, or did, WORK for theirs. Is that what you call FREE MONEY? Why don't you explain where this FREE MONEY is so that we can ALL go out and get it!
If people kept ALL their money, as you suggest, where would money come from for all the PUBLIC SERVICES that I mentioned? Fire, police, bridges, highways, courts, prisons, water and sewer, etc., etc.? Only someone completely OBLIVIOUS to the many things all around them that are provided by TAXES would even will be willing to write something that so clearly admitted to the shallowness of their thinking, the selfishness of their point of view, and the recklessness of their concern for others. If you want to live in a LAND without TAXES, you'll have to live in the WILDERNESS because there isn't any other place you can go. But, then, as a FERAL CHILD, I'm sure you would feel right at home.
You need to stop reading those Libertarian comic books that you got from the last LOSING Libertarian rally you attended. That less than 1% voting record isn't going to change many viewpoints ~ especially not MINE.
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