The problem with minarchism is that there is no agreement on what the minimum activity of government is. I believe government has no role in human nature. So if we talk about going through minarchy as a step toward anarchy, that is unfortunately an ambiguous target. If we instead are using minarchy to mean less…
Author: Kilgore Forelle
Words Poorly Used #23 — Legalize
I am in favor of dis-legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is already “legalized” in all jurisdictions, where it is either outlawed or taxed and regulated. It’s just a plant, folks! Why can’t we just eradicate all “legal” references to marijuana. You can’t win against the state as long as you let them control the words. Legalization…
Re: The Reefer Bowl
Nobody asked but … It is only chance that has paired up Washington (state) and Colorado twice, as the two states that have legalized pot, and as the two states whose resident teams will be in the Super Bowl. And although I have often inveighed on conflation, this conflation seems to be a happy use! …
What We Should Do
Nobody asked but … In his speech on the NSA, Obama said this, “But America’s capabilities are unique. And the power of new technologies means that there are fewer and fewer technical constraints on what we can do. That places a special obligation on us to ask tough questions about what we should do.” (emphasis from original speech). And what…
An Inconvenient Man
Nobody asked but … The next time you have the idea that POTUS is the most powerful person on Earth, just think of these two contemporaries: Martin Luther King, Jr. and Lyndon Baines Johnson. Kilgore
Logic Fallacies
Nobody asked but … I have a few candidates for inclusion in any standard list of logical fallacies: The Time Bandits’ Fallacy — in this logic misstep, things are taken out of chronological sequence and set up to be causality observations. Examples are closing the barn door when the horse is gone, pre-crime where actions…
Impertinent Obstructions
Nobody asked but … There are times when I run across a phrase so wonderful that I must share it with you. The natural effort of every individual to better his own condition is so powerful that it is alone, and without any assistance, capable not only of carrying on the society to wealth and…
Words Poorly Used #22 — Etymology
Etymology, as a word itself, is poorly used in its neglect. Too many people do not know from where words make their way to our communications. An important part of using the right word to convey an idea is precision. It would be very difficult to understand a word precisely if one does not know…
Leading By Sharing
Nobody asked but … I am about to come around to my first anniversary here at EVC, and I cannot go further without emphasizing the obvious. This is a wonderful adventure to which Skyler has invited us all. Just a few moments ago, I read a share that Skyler offered on Facebook. I was delighted…
The Unjustice System
Nobody asked but … With the news still ringing in my brain that the Federal DOJ is raiding legal marijuana establishments in Colorado (I was not surprised but I still despair), I wonder how rational humans can attach themselves to something called by some name that has justice in its expression, and still perpetrate actions…