Checksum Arcanius

For a while, I have thought that a newspaper, news channel, or another news outlet called something like “The Obfuscated Times” would be a good thing for showing people how much bias can change the outlook on simple facts.

For example, read this commentary on the state of affairs in Iraq. Compare that to what you are used to hearing. And the only difference is a little bias in one direction or another.

The Obfuscated times would put these differing viewpoints on news items side by side, so that you could read them and have a fuller picture of what was actually going on.

A funny comment at Colorless Green Ideas, and some good discussion, led to this, another comment-turned post. Also check out the new post and my comment!)

In response to the above (this comment), you don’t seem to realize that socialism neccesarily requires totalitarianism. It is no coincidence that the Soviets were brutal and totalitarian.

Most people don’t give up what they’ve worked for voluntarily, unless what they are getting in return is worth it to them in their view. Thats why free market capitalism works so well, and why all attempts at widespread socialism fails so miserably.

I’m all for socialism that people enter into consentually. But every proposal of the Greens, for example, require that I support something that I do not believe in, against my will. But thats ok because its for my own good, because, of course, they know better than I what’s good for me.

When you say nobody you knows believes in brutality, what you really mean is that nobody you know understands that socialism requires totalitariansim. And I’m not sure if that is scarier than those that understand this yet still want socialism.

Over at Colorless Green Ideas, Bob transcribed Green party presidential candidate David Cobb’s plan for Iraq. It is interesting and sounds quite convincing upon first reading – although admittedly it would be hard to swallow “reparations” for a war I ultimately supprotted, however conflicted and confused I am on that. But after thinking about it for a while, I think Bob choose the wrong title (“Ending the Destruction In Iraq”). A more fitting title would probably be “Ensuring the Destruction In Iraq”.

Cobb says his plan will work, but coming from someone who thinks high minimum wages somehow don’t lead also to high unemployement; that univeral healthcare increases its quality; that corporations do only evil and government social programs do only good, you may not want to take such a statement at face value.

I try look at most things from an incentives point of view. When you implement a policy, pass a law, or otherwise change the political landscape, you change the incentives people have to make their choices. What would you do if you were power hungry and the most powerful nation on the planet offered whoever the were the “civil leaders” billions of dollars of reparations and control over an oil-rich country with “legitimate” internationally recognized authority? Well, you would do anything in your power to get it, thats what you would do. This would almost certainly lead to complete civil war.

In the event of civil war, the Kurdish element might draw in Turkey, which, thanks to Bob, I understand systematically represses its Kurdish population and is very afraid of an Kurdish nation arising out of the Iraq situation. So Turkey, a Nato “ally” moves in, and then the whole region is royally screwed.

Or his plan works. Just like socialized medicine. And “living wage.”

I guess feel free to take your chances. After all, its not your life you’re gambling with. Or is it?

I have filled in 29 bubbles out of 30 choices on my absentee ballot. The secret ballot is supposed be be a great tool of democracy, but I will share my selections with you, and my reasons behind them, in the off chance that somebody actually cares how I vote. I will also ask for your help on the bubble that remains unfilled.
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Hopefully you made it outside tonight to see the Total Lunar Eclipse.

Too bad it couldn’t have waited six days. But this does kind of put everything in a bit of perspective. As the conversation went:

Ryan: kinda puts things into perspective, you know
Erik: ppl say that, I never get it :) …
Ryan: like, Bush or Kerry? Who cares? The moon could crush them both in a heartbeat AND it looks better too
Erik: lol

This is another blog that started out as a comment on someone else’s blog, and grew out of control. But thats why we have pingbacks.

In a comment on this post on Instant Runoff Voting on Colorless Green Ideas, It seems to me that the “clumsiness” as Adam sees it is elegance as I see it. With IRV, a candidate can never win without a true plurality. If plurality is not reached in the first round, the only the lowest candidate is released, and the votes that went to that candidate are distributed among the second choices of the people who voted for the eliminated candidate as first choice. Its an elegant way to replace the primary and elect people that more closely reflect what the people want, rather than what the people aren’t as afraid of.

I’d like to see IRV in action in one state (why not mine), just to see how it works. Fortunately, people in other states, such as Adam in Kansas, can see how it works for us without actually risking anything themselves. Thats why we need more power to the states and power almost eliminated from the feds – this way, states can experiment with new ideas, and many fewer people get screwed over when a bad idea comes along.

Take universal healthcare, for example. Lets pretend I’m wrong (since that is as close to me being wrong ont his one as you will ever come), and univeral healthcare is one of the best ideas ever. Then some state (say, Kansas) implements it. When everything goes really well (since its a pretend good idea) all the other states will see the light, and take steps to implement a similar system.

However, if if its kept at the federal level, then when the more “progressive” party finally gets their agenda across (I think its only a matter of time), the entire nation will be screwed over at once with very little recourse (ie, I can’t just move out of state to avoid being screwed over by a rapidly degrading healthcare system).

Lets give IRV a chance. Lets give state rights a chance. Instead of advocating national socialized healthcare, do it at a state level. Observe its utter failure at that level. Move on to better things. The most destructive and scariest event in this day and age is the concentration of power in the other Washington (DC), something which, no matter your party affliation or belief system, I think you need to fight against. Implement your progressive or conservative or liberal or socialist or facist or communist ideas in your own state, thank you very much. The only party that wants to give you that right, that responsibility, that power is the Libertarian party at the national level. Let your state govern as the people there see fit, not as the people across the country see fit. Thats what America is supposed to be about.

World’s Shortest Political Quiz – I pegged out the Libertarian side of things. Find out where you stand.

Specer Garrett, 8th District Libertarian for Congress – Fun to read his one position paper…. But I’ll wait for IRV before I give him a shot.

Speaking of which… Washington State Instant Runoff Voting Initiative – Lets give it a shot and see what happens in this state. Bob also has a good blog on IRV. Check out my comments, while you’re at it.