Societies only tolerate the stupidity that they can afford.

[Diogenes]

There is a reason that crazy rich people are referred to as "Eccentric." If they were poor, they would be called nuts and loons, but because they are rich they are able to indulge insanity without any great misery occurring to themselves.






The same phenomena works for Nations or States. If you are prosperous enough, not only will you be willing to put up with all sorts of insane nonsense, (Gay Marriage, Routine Feticide, Non-Working Parasites, Drug legalization, ) the social dynamics are such that you will get some form of societal craziness whether you like it or not.

Something about having unearned (or too easily earned) money makes people Stupid and/or Insane. That's why New York and California are currently leading the stark raving mad contest.

[ScottL]

I get the distinct feeling you post material, often out of context, just to stir the pot.

[MSimon]

I get the distinct feeling you post material, often out of context, just to stir the pot.

He does. As another pot stirrer I find it amusing.

[MSimon]

The difficulty for D is that his Progressive Conservatism (Government centered) is a dying brand. America is (very slowly) returning to its libertarian roots.

One or two states will be RElegalizing marijuana today. If it is three I will be greatly surprised. But the trend is inexorable. The reefer madness generation D represents is dying out.

[Diogenes]

I get the distinct feeling you post material, often out of context, just to stir the pot.

Occasionally I do. In this case, it so happened that MSimon touched upon one of my favorite pet theories; That prosperity CAUSES irrational behavior.

People have long pointed out that the poor are called "insane", or "nuts", while the rich are referred to as "eccentric." (Latin for "off center.")

In the same manner that "Stud" is a complimentary term for males and "Slut" is a derogatory term for females, the term "eccentric" is a euphemism for what is normally a derogatory term.

The reason is the same in both cases. Both the male and the rich can afford their behavior, but for the poor and the female it is reckless and foolish.

Nations which are prosperous can afford colossal stupidity. Nations which are poor cannot. As a result, we see Wealthy parts of the country supporting policies which will eventually result in social collapse. The reason is that the Wealthy are insulated from the results of foolishness until the destructive fires they have kindled have grown so large as to burn through their firewall, at which point they look on with terror at the consequences of what their foolishness has wrought.

The French Revolution is an example of this.

[Diogenes]

The difficulty for D is that his Progressive Conservatism (Government centered) is a dying brand. America is (very slowly) returning to its libertarian roots.

You mean like when we executed homosexuals, possessed slaves, and women weren't allowed to vote? I don't think we are returning to those roots, and they also don't strike me as particularly libertarian. Could you be mistaken in thinking we had some sort of Libertarian roots?

One or two states will be RElegalizing marijuana today. If it is three I will be greatly surprised. But the trend is inexorable. The reefer madness generation D represents is dying out.

I beg to differ. The madness is growing, just as it has been growing for many decades, mostly since the baby boom generation. What you regard as a positive occurrence is just another manifestation of the foolishness of the spoiled rotten generation.

The Social/Economic bomb is still ticking.