Russia’s Sukhoi is ready to rock the 50th Paris Air Show at Le Bourget with the premiere of its cutting-edge Su-35 fighter.
When faced with all the problems created by government, some people think that if only we could get some more government, then we could fix the problems created by government. Hey, that guy is drowning - let’s give him a glass of water.
Do you ever wonder why people believed in the divine right of kings, despite the fact that the monarchs of their time were patently not the type of individuals an all-knowing, all-good god would choose to reign over them? They believed in it because they were taught to believe in it and because they could imagine that it was so, regardless of all evidence to the contrary. We no longer believe in such silly things as the divine right of kings. We believe that government is necessary for an orderly peaceful society and that it can be made to function according to the rule of law. We believe this because we have been taught to believe it from infancy and because we can imagine that it is so, regardless of all contrary evidence.
One should never underestimate the power of abstract concepts to shape how human beings see the world. Once one accepts the idea that government is necessary for peace and order and that it can function objectively, one’s imagination will allow one to see the hand of government wherever there is law, police, and courts and render the non-political provision of these services invisible. But if you lay aside this conceptual framework long enough to ask where these services originated and where, to a large extent, they still come from, the world assumes a different aspect. If you want the strongest argument for anarchy, simply remove your self-imposed blinders and look around.
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| — | John Hasnas |
The designs for more than two dozen major weapons systems used by the United States military have fallen into the hands of the Chinese, US Department of Defense officials say.
Who cares?
This memorial day, let’s take a second to think of all of the single-celled organisms that fought off infections to ultimately evolve into more complex forms of life so that millions of years later you could wave a flag.
Get ready for the deluge of statist, militarist, and nationalist drivel from arm-chair “patriots” this weekend, parroting the phrases they’ve been conditioned to regurgitate when prompted by certain symbols or phrases. Wave a flag or thank a vet, but whatever you do, ask no questions.
The state meters out “progress” so as not to upset the status quo. Like letting people vote. Wow, what an amazing gift from the government! Today, even women and people with black skin can help white males pick who is going to rule us from a pre-selected list of candidates. It’s like feudalism, but with one or two more options. Now that’s what I call progress.
War is not fucking cool. Stop glorifying it. There is nothing romantic about people killing each other. There is nothing heroic about bombs and tanks and fighter jets - it all represents money stolen from people, and people’s sons and daughters sent to kill people they’ve never met and never had a problem with, all because the people stealing the money said so. Stop.
Most Americans are ineligible to join the military, either because they’re drug users, obese, medically unfit, failed to graduate high school, or have criminal records.
Good.
It is curious that so many soldiers think that they are Christians. Christianity is incompatible with military service, if any Christianity is meant that Christ would have regarded with other than repugnance.
The explanation of course lies in the soldier’s moral compartmentation. Within his own tribe or pack, these usually being denominated “countries,” he is the soul of moral propriety—doesn’t knock over convenience stores, kick his dog, or beat his children; speaks courteously, observes personal hygiene, and works tirelessly for the public good in the event of natural disasters. A steely gaze with little behind it and a firm handshake amplify the appearance of probity.
In conflict with foreigners, he will burn, bomb, rape and torture indiscriminately. His is the behavior of feral dogs, which humans closely resemble.
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| — | Fred Reed |
