Leftism

Political Will and Technology

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So, Obama plans to implement an auction-based carbon cap-and-trade system so onerous that it would bankrupt anybody that tried to build a coal fired plant. Not to worry, however, he will use the proceeds of the auction to fund alternative energy sources. [video, transcript] [h/t Instapundit]

Obama’s plan drives home a trait of leftists that I have noticed for several years: They do not seem to distinguish between altering human behavior (which requires nothing but the willingness to use force) and creating new viable technology (which depends on the laws of nature). In other words, they believe that if you have the will to create something, then can force people to create it. 

In this case, this trait leads Obama to set policy based on the assumption that he can order the creation of new, non-carbon-emitting power sources as easily as he can order the shutting down of coal plants.

We’ll, he can’t. It’s easy to destroy and threaten but it is very difficult to create.

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They Never Give Without Taking

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From the WSJ comes an article about opposition to Arizona Proposition 101. The proposition:

“Prohibits laws that: restrict person’s choice of private health care systems or private plans; interfere with person’s or entity’s right to pay directly for lawful medical services; impose a penalty or fine for choosing to obtain or decline health care coverage or for participation in any health care system or plan.
 
A “yes” vote shall have the effect of prohibiting laws that restrict a person’s choice of private health care systems or private plans, interfere with a person or an entity’s right to pay for lawful medical services, and impose a penalty or fine for choosing to obtain or decline health care coverage or for participation in any health care system or plan. Yes.
 
A “no” vote shall have the effect of retaining the current law regarding a person or entity’s health care choices. No.”

The opposition to Prop 101 reveals the ugly truth about leftism. It’s not about compassion, it’s about control. Free stuff from the government always come with limitations on personal choice and freedom. If they really cared about people first, they would just transfer money directly to people (either in cash or vouchers) and then let individuals make the choices. Instead, they dictate to people what they can and cannot do.

Prop 101 threatens advocates of socialized medicine because any system that gives people the legal power to choose their own medical care will not provide the control and dominance they so crave. 

I think it might be a good idea to put similar propositions up for many different areas, such as housing, power, transportation etc. It would reveal to people just how controlling the Left is at heart. 

Tit for Tat

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[Update (2008.11.1.18:49): It appears that “the Stranger” took down the offending page and redirected the link to “The Drudge Report”. I can’t find a cached version of the page. This is a blog entry at the paper apparently written by the guy who wrote the original offending article.]

 

“the Stranger” a leftist rag in Seattle, Wa. decided it would be funny to [update: the original page has been removed]  write a supposed review of local haunted houses in which the scariest houses where those that had Republican campaign posters in their yards. [h/t Instapundit] Presumably trying to be thorough, they displayed the addresses of the houses prominently in the article.

I figure that turnabout is fair play, so I did some Internet research and found the address of the paper’s editorial director. 

Daniel K. Savage

1146 16TH AVE E
SEATTLE, WA 98112

Here’s a map.

His Wikipedia entry is a hoot, especially the part about licking doorknobs.

The paper’s business number:
(206) 323-7101

is registered to:

Catherine Darkenwald
121 WOOD AVE SW
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, WA 98110

The paper itself is at:

1535 11th Ave. 3rd Floor
Seattle, WA 98122

If a reader in the Seattle area would like to swing by and take pictures, we could post those, you know, just to be thorough.

[Update (2008.11.1.19:07): Just to be clear, the problem here arose from the ability of a media outlet to focus the attention of an entire community (tens of thousands of individuals in the case of this paper in Seattle) onto one or two people and then to single those people out as evil. They neglected to take into account that some unstable person might decide to act out the hatred in the article. The media demands special privileges but with those privileges come responsibilities.]

[Update (2008.11.1.19:07): Hey look scary photos:

Here’s the building at 1535 11th Ave. 3rd Floor Seattle, WA 98122 where “the Stranger” offices are located.

Here’s close up of their door (it looks kind of seedy).

 

Here’s the house at Daniel K. Savage 1146 16TH AVE E SEATTLE, WA 98112 where Dan Savage, the paper’s editorial director lives:

Lastly let me just reprint these thoughts about the morality of putting up these addresses and photos of the houses of people you disagree with politically:

And for anyone who thinks we secretly want somebody to go vandalize those houses—seriously, don’t. It was just a joke.

I could not have put it better myself.

Why the Really Rich Love Socialists

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This article [h/t Instapundit] shows that the U.S. has a more progressive tax code than the democratic-socialist states of Europe. 

Such a state of affairs should not come as a surprise. Our own history shows that the very wealthy benefit from leftist policies of high tax rates, “targeted” taxation and industrial policy.

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