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Re: Railroad Metaphor?
Author: OldPoleBurner
Date: 08-22-2013 - 12:03
> When you have to explain your metaphors to your reading public,
> you are not a very good writer!
Especially so, when the metaphor he uses, actually runs counter to his own assertion. But that's OK, it only served to help trigger my own B.S. Filter! And that proved to be a very interesting and instructive exercise indeed.
His assertion that we need to abandon all federal controls in order to have a free market, is not supported by the railroad metaphor he uses. He probably does not understand how railroads work; that it is by predictable and immutable natural laws of physics that they operate; that it is only strict adherence to that law that makes railroading even possible.
But that he doesn't understand railroading is OK too; as he also does not understand the role that "rule of law" plays in making the so-called free market work. Indeed, it illustrates a common myopia on the right - that a free market can govern itself. Trouble is that the free market he envisions, has never actually existed - ever. Except perhaps as an illusion - or in dens of thieves.
Just as the rails and switches guide the train, providing predictable results and indeed making motion even possible at all; federal "regulation of commerce among the states"US Constitution actually facilitates freedom of the marketplace, and the creation of economic wealth, by providing credible predictability to any proposed economic activity.
The metaphor not only shows us his rightwing myopia, but it also shows us the myopia on the left. The notion that an arrogant, self aggrandizing, elitist ruling class, can successfully regulate anything at all, or "provide for the general welfare"US Constitution, without first subjecting themselves and their government to the strict rule of law; is just as myopic and absurd.
As the metaphor suggests, the rails and switches (representing the rule of law) provide the means to control your own destiny, at your own will. People making informed credible choices in such an environment, of their own free will, are indeed free. This is possible only when they act with correct knowledge (no hidden facts - no surprise gotchas), on a known playing field. While the market ain't really free, the people then are!
But he was advocating the notion of a free market, as a netherworld where there are no credible facts to be found and no credible rules. Those on the left side of the isle advocate a similar thing, except that it is the power of government that is to be exercised without reference to credible facts, nor to clearly understood rules, nor are they even to be known when they are voted on. The rule of law is passe - anything goes!
Hence either way you go politically, there is no credible guideway, no rails, no switches, which anyone could use to guide their own destiny by their own free will. And if not by their own will - then by who's will? .......Yep - by a tyrant's.
He, and the left, fail to see that where there are no credible expectations to be had for any given action, all such economic action will of necessity, cease. Just as we are now beginning to see, with the tens of thousands of downgrades to part time, layoffs, and outright firings (really nice ain't they), that have been announced just this month - on the eave of new unfathomable laws taking effect.
These layoffs are beginning to happen in both the private sector and in public employment (with the public sector actually leading the way), and it IS direct evidence that we have indeed gone off the rails (as in the metaphor); The very rails he advocates we abandon; those rails which represent the rule of law, which we have indeed abandoned - as our pathetic leaders increasingly do whatever they please whenever they please, contrary to law or not! Even if the law was written by them, it is to be ignored at their whim!
Thus the train is now in the ditch. And in accord with the metaphor; none will again have control over any aspect of life, nor prosperity, nor security; until the train is put back on the rails, the track repaired - and the rule of law re-established.
And that will not happen until voters loose their own myopia; that keeps them voting for their own selfish interests or partisan biases, instead of for correct principles.
OPB
> you are not a very good writer!
Especially so, when the metaphor he uses, actually runs counter to his own assertion. But that's OK, it only served to help trigger my own B.S. Filter! And that proved to be a very interesting and instructive exercise indeed.
His assertion that we need to abandon all federal controls in order to have a free market, is not supported by the railroad metaphor he uses. He probably does not understand how railroads work; that it is by predictable and immutable natural laws of physics that they operate; that it is only strict adherence to that law that makes railroading even possible.
But that he doesn't understand railroading is OK too; as he also does not understand the role that "rule of law" plays in making the so-called free market work. Indeed, it illustrates a common myopia on the right - that a free market can govern itself. Trouble is that the free market he envisions, has never actually existed - ever. Except perhaps as an illusion - or in dens of thieves.
Just as the rails and switches guide the train, providing predictable results and indeed making motion even possible at all; federal "regulation of commerce among the states"US Constitution actually facilitates freedom of the marketplace, and the creation of economic wealth, by providing credible predictability to any proposed economic activity.
The metaphor not only shows us his rightwing myopia, but it also shows us the myopia on the left. The notion that an arrogant, self aggrandizing, elitist ruling class, can successfully regulate anything at all, or "provide for the general welfare"US Constitution, without first subjecting themselves and their government to the strict rule of law; is just as myopic and absurd.
As the metaphor suggests, the rails and switches (representing the rule of law) provide the means to control your own destiny, at your own will. People making informed credible choices in such an environment, of their own free will, are indeed free. This is possible only when they act with correct knowledge (no hidden facts - no surprise gotchas), on a known playing field. While the market ain't really free, the people then are!
But he was advocating the notion of a free market, as a netherworld where there are no credible facts to be found and no credible rules. Those on the left side of the isle advocate a similar thing, except that it is the power of government that is to be exercised without reference to credible facts, nor to clearly understood rules, nor are they even to be known when they are voted on. The rule of law is passe - anything goes!
Hence either way you go politically, there is no credible guideway, no rails, no switches, which anyone could use to guide their own destiny by their own free will. And if not by their own will - then by who's will? .......Yep - by a tyrant's.
He, and the left, fail to see that where there are no credible expectations to be had for any given action, all such economic action will of necessity, cease. Just as we are now beginning to see, with the tens of thousands of downgrades to part time, layoffs, and outright firings (really nice ain't they), that have been announced just this month - on the eave of new unfathomable laws taking effect.
These layoffs are beginning to happen in both the private sector and in public employment (with the public sector actually leading the way), and it IS direct evidence that we have indeed gone off the rails (as in the metaphor); The very rails he advocates we abandon; those rails which represent the rule of law, which we have indeed abandoned - as our pathetic leaders increasingly do whatever they please whenever they please, contrary to law or not! Even if the law was written by them, it is to be ignored at their whim!
Thus the train is now in the ditch. And in accord with the metaphor; none will again have control over any aspect of life, nor prosperity, nor security; until the train is put back on the rails, the track repaired - and the rule of law re-established.
And that will not happen until voters loose their own myopia; that keeps them voting for their own selfish interests or partisan biases, instead of for correct principles.
OPB
| Subject | Written By | Date/Time (PST) |
|---|---|---|
 Railroad Metaphor?
|
pdxrailtransit | 08-21-2013 - 14:07 |
|
Re: Railroad Metaphor?
|
R Ruiz | 08-22-2013 - 09:46 |
|
Re: Railroad Metaphor?
|
Pdxrailtransit | 08-22-2013 - 11:25 |
|
Re: Railroad Metaphor? |
OldPoleBurner | 08-22-2013 - 12:03 |