Free expression is essential, rules of limited value. by GT Slade
(libertarian)
Thursday, March 4, 2010
I dislike rules. In my book, rules are made to be broken.
On my blog, I test the boundaries of free speech frequently. Not to shock, but to arouse readers from their lethargy. I need to convey my anger or astonishment at the 21st Century, which is fine so long as I'm not interfering with others' rights. That's what freedom is for. If someone gets offended, too dang bad. I believe it was Spiro T Agnew who said sometimes people need to be offended. I had the speech on tape, years ago.
Why do I hate rules? They are usually arbitrary. Not always, the exceptions proving the rule.
I experienced such capriciousness with my germinating gtslade.com web site several years ago, when the web provider warned me of posting objectionable content or some equally vague affront. Nothing specific was cited, so I asked for clarification; none was forthcoming, just deletion from the server. Their right. Their server, their nebulous rules.
This column is part of a project, so rules are acceptable, if you subscribe to them. The Nolan Chart site rules seem reasonable, designed to facilitate open debate. I wouldn't be here otherwise. Lord knows, I don't need more web exposure.
Free expression is crucial to preserving a democratic government, even a republic. It is also the foundation of scientific progress, where stifling debate is tantamount to admitting your findings can't withstand scrutiny, making it difficult for anyone to warm up to them.
For its one-year anniversary, there is copious discussion about the nearly $1 trillion 2009 Stimulus bill. I won't rehash the arguments, just point out one thing. There is no way to prove it worked, or didn't. Jobs were created, saved and lost (lots). Assuming an accurate tabulation was feasible, you would need to know what would have happened had the legislation not been enacted. And factor in unintended consequences, like businesses that didn't hire because of uncertainty.
It being speculative, we're left with those who supported it toasting another "mission accomplished!" and those who opposed it complaining about a failure we can't afford.
Checking out of the supermarket... [this is related]. Checking out of the supermarket, the clerk told me, "You saved $12.34." The computer tallied it, so it must be true. Right? Problem is, I saved from the store's regular prices, which may be higher than elsewhere, so I cannot be certain I saved anything. Some things you must trust to faith, others to common sense.
So open your mind. Consider Henry David Thoreau's suggestion: Any man more right than his neighbors constitutes a majority of one.
Seriously, the stimulus didn't work. Everybody knows it, even the president. No one is fooled.
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The views expressed
in this article are those of GT Slade only and
do not represent the views of Nolan Chart, LLC or its affiliates.
GT Slade is solely responsible for the contents
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