Month: March 2006

Grace & Virility Embodied

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Stanley Crouch appreciates that great Nebraskan, Fred Astaire, who

looms not because he seems more masculine than anybody else or more handsome or less corny. He remains more pure than all categories because of his ability, in motion, to transform all things through grace, which is the fundamental dream beneath the gaudy exterior of American civilization.

(Thanks to A&L.)

Meanwhile, over at WSJ, Kimberley A. Strassel laments the passing of the “real” hero. As Astaire showed, he didn’t have to be barrel-chested, though it helped – few could replace that weighty manliness with Astaire’s supreme grace. And Astaire shared with the “big” guys a sense of control, of wit & energy, of the manliness that comes with maturity, of the grace that comes with an assurance hard-won but real. Astaire projected the virility of style & class, of charm & harmony.

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Family Free-Riders

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Economically, every society needs children.

Children are the producers of the future This means that children are in a sense a necessary economic good. [Update: I mean “good” in the sense of a created product like steel, not in the sense of a positive or negative] A society that does not produce enough children, or that cannot produce enough children who grow into economically productive adults, is doomed to poverty. Every long-term investment we make, whether in the private or public sector, is predicated on the idea that there will be a future generation which will actually produce a return. It doesn’t matter what economic or political system rules the present, it will need children to secure its future. Even the most self-centered individual would eventual realize that if the next generation cannot produce, his own welfare will suffer.

So, collectively we all need children and benefit when they grow into productive adults, but the cost of raising children is increasingly being borne by fewer and fewer in the general population.

Childless adults are rapidly becoming economic free riders on the backs of parents.

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Another Example of Spin?

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Zogby International released a poll of troops serving in Iraq that has become rather controversial. The poll supposedly shows that an overwhelming majority of the troops (72%) think that the US should exit the country within the next year. They also report that only 23% said that the US should stay in country for as long as we are needed.

There are other issues that the poll covers. 93% of the respondents allegedly stated that removing the threat of WMD’s wasn’t sufficient reason for the Iraq invasion, and 68% said that the real reason was to simply depose Saddam. 85% said that the invasion was to punish Saddam for his role in 9/11.

I’m deeply suspicious of this poll for a variety of reasons. The most compelling is that none of the troops I’ve come in contact with have expressed these views. It could very well be that all of the people serving in the military that have spoken to me have a minority opinion, but this seems to stretch probability a bit.

Murdoc Online has been talking about the poll, and he has the same reservations that I do. The money shot is the assertion from Zogby that four out of five of the troops oppose using internationally banned weapons such as napalm and white phosphorus. Murdoc isn’t shy about voicing his opinion on this little nugget, and I agree completely with him.

As a firearm instructor I’ve had many conversations with people serving in the military about weapons that have been banned due to political considerations. Unless there is some compelling reason presented that will change my mind, the statement that the troops agree with these bans looks like a complete fabrication.

Another compelling reason for caution is that this poll seems to align almost perfectly with the Democrat’s talking points in most areas. This looks too good to be true so far as the Dems are concerned, and you know what they say about things that are too good to be true.

Murdoc is still tracking down the particulars, and anyone interested in this issue should check his blog regularly. The main issue now seems to be that it is very difficult to get Zogby to own up to any details about their methodology. You know, which questions were asked and how they were presented. They won’t even tell you if you pony up $20 USD for their big summary. Very strange.

If you are interested in reading what other milbloggers are saying then Glenn has a roundup.