The discussion was about gambling, but the larger question arose, "Is this a free country or not?
To which I replied, "Yes, it is, Gail, yes it is."
"We are all perfectly free to eat Cheez Doodles™ and drink beer until we weigh 400 lbs., to sit on a couch and watch American Idolatry until we're lobotomized, to gamble in casinos until we're a million dollars in debt to VISA, to repeat fascist excuses for wholesale larceny and making war on all Muslims and vote Republican, to become addicted to tobacco and smoke it till we cough our lungs out, and to be fat, dumb, and happy.
"Or we're free to choose, as I have, to do none of those things. Some people say this is far-left radicalism and political correctness, but I call it self-preservation.
"And it really comes down to that simple question, would you rather live or die?"
--30--
3 comments:
Indeed, lately I heard McCain say we should do more to back the Libyan rebels. I get reminded of Charlie Wilson and the then freedom fighters, later to become the Taliban.
--
Casino operators use freedom to take advantage of people. Libertarians don't understand the consequences of their ideology, from what I can tell. Society is founded on caring and trust, in contrast to jungle law.
Joe, I'm sure you're aware that the cooperative enterprises of tribal societies are regarded as "primitive" by the new and supposedly improved human race.
Dave, indeed, it reminds me of the Cuban move toward laissez faire. Caveat Emptor, marketeers say. They do that after predatory marketeering has left the world economy in the Great Recession.
It makes me think of the notion of embracing the "hated thing," because familiarity often makes he dangerous less scary. Or maybe it is more psychologically akin to the forbidden fruit. It tastes good in this case, but the eater knows it's poison.
Post a Comment