One modern trend often blamed for Europe's lack of cultural confidence is relativism, both philosophical and cultural. The transmission of what you have inherited , and the act of defending yourself against dangers, seems to require a belief in the worth of what is to be transmitted and defended: and relativism radically undermines that.
-Theodore Dalrymple. The New Vichy Syndrome: Why European Intellectuals Surrender to Barbarism. (page 45) Encounter Books. 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Saturday, September 25, 2010
BALLGAME!
It has been eleven years since the Texas Rangers have won the American League West. But at approximately 6:15 pm CDT on September 25, 2010 they clinched. Certainly not without a lot of drama and unusual heroes. Jorge Cantu, an acquisition from the Marlins, who seemed a total bust, drives in his first RBI as a Ranger, and then follows up with his first home run. We even had a flashback to the bad old days. With one out in the ninth, Neftali Feliz on the mound going for a rookie record 38th save, the Oakland player hits a fly to right center. Jeff Francoeur (a great acquisition from the Mets) and Julio Borbon do the old "I got it, you take it." But the Rangers prevailed.
Knowing the North Texas fan base, there will be a serious sale on deer antlers this week.
It is still early to talk about postseason awards, but the Rangers should have some numerous contenders. The General Manger, John Daniels, no longer the Boy Blunder, with all the acquisitions he has made, not just this summer, but in building this team from nothing, should be the Executive of the Year. Note to Jerry Jones: See what a difference a real general manger can make.
There has been plenty of talk about Ron Washington as Manager of the Year. He certainly has pushed the right buttons, set the appropriate attitude, and is the poster model for the second chance. Here is a man who had to endure the public revelation of a failed drug test in the off season. Nolan Ryan stuck by him and it paid off.
Speaking of second chances, there is Josh Hamilton, a player of immense talent, a real-life Roy Hobbs. A player whose career was on the skids due to drugs. But he got a second chance and announced to the baseball world his return with that fantastic display in the Home Run Contest at the All Star Game. He may be the MVP.
Then there is Michael Young, 1502 games in a Ranger uniform, no playoffs. And Darren Oliver, a starter back in the "glory days", picked up in the off season as a middle reliever. The list goes on.
Knowing the North Texas fan base, there will be a serious sale on deer antlers this week.
It is still early to talk about postseason awards, but the Rangers should have some numerous contenders. The General Manger, John Daniels, no longer the Boy Blunder, with all the acquisitions he has made, not just this summer, but in building this team from nothing, should be the Executive of the Year. Note to Jerry Jones: See what a difference a real general manger can make.
There has been plenty of talk about Ron Washington as Manager of the Year. He certainly has pushed the right buttons, set the appropriate attitude, and is the poster model for the second chance. Here is a man who had to endure the public revelation of a failed drug test in the off season. Nolan Ryan stuck by him and it paid off.
Speaking of second chances, there is Josh Hamilton, a player of immense talent, a real-life Roy Hobbs. A player whose career was on the skids due to drugs. But he got a second chance and announced to the baseball world his return with that fantastic display in the Home Run Contest at the All Star Game. He may be the MVP.
Then there is Michael Young, 1502 games in a Ranger uniform, no playoffs. And Darren Oliver, a starter back in the "glory days", picked up in the off season as a middle reliever. The list goes on.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Responsibility (part 2)
We can tolerate celebrities being irresponsible by asking "does it really affect me"? Only if you pay attention to it. But there is an area of irresponsible behavior that affects each and every one of us daily: government. Governments at all levels, national, state, and local have been engaging in irresponsible behavior for years. Like Lindsay Lohan's producer, we have been the enablers. Do we really care if government is irresponsible? As long as a majority of people believe they are receiving more than they are giving, the behavior of government officials will not change. We are at the point where we need to revisit the question of what is the purpose of government?
Here in Dallas, county and city budgets are being debated. Revenue is down due to the collapse of the housing market. There have been some budget cuts to close the shortfall but now there is talk of raising taxes. The dividing lines are clear. Property owners are against it. Renters are for it. Why? Both pay taxes. The property owner feels the increasing tax bite directly. The renter only indirectly. The owner of the rental property gets it both ways: He must pay the increased tax, and then his tenants blame him for raising the rent. The renters are better organized than the owners and pressure government to maintain services. It is those services that cut to the heart of the question what is the purpose of government?
Police, Fire, Water, Sewage. Those are the very basics to a healthy and safe city. That is why the bureaucrats always target them first for cuts. To scare people. What is the next level? Libraries and Recreation Centers. These are nice but do we need so many?
So the City Council has approved a tax hike, the highest in twenty years. Angela Hunt calls that "semantics". Perhaps. But her logic is weak. She states that taxes had to be increased to meet the level of revenue from two years ago. If revenue has decreased, it is either that the economy is bad or the tax base is shrinking or both. Growth is not encouraged but rather discouraged by increasing the tax rate. Perhaps we should sell WRR or Executive Airport. Are either of these businesses that the city should be in?
Here in Dallas, county and city budgets are being debated. Revenue is down due to the collapse of the housing market. There have been some budget cuts to close the shortfall but now there is talk of raising taxes. The dividing lines are clear. Property owners are against it. Renters are for it. Why? Both pay taxes. The property owner feels the increasing tax bite directly. The renter only indirectly. The owner of the rental property gets it both ways: He must pay the increased tax, and then his tenants blame him for raising the rent. The renters are better organized than the owners and pressure government to maintain services. It is those services that cut to the heart of the question what is the purpose of government?
Police, Fire, Water, Sewage. Those are the very basics to a healthy and safe city. That is why the bureaucrats always target them first for cuts. To scare people. What is the next level? Libraries and Recreation Centers. These are nice but do we need so many?
So the City Council has approved a tax hike, the highest in twenty years. Angela Hunt calls that "semantics". Perhaps. But her logic is weak. She states that taxes had to be increased to meet the level of revenue from two years ago. If revenue has decreased, it is either that the economy is bad or the tax base is shrinking or both. Growth is not encouraged but rather discouraged by increasing the tax rate. Perhaps we should sell WRR or Executive Airport. Are either of these businesses that the city should be in?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Responsibility
I plan on taking the opportunity of utilizing this forum to discuss responsibility. Now, one may note I have not been very responsible in keeping this up to date in recent weeks. Mea Culpa. Yet, my irresponsibility does not disqualify me from commenting on it.
We have a culture that increasingly rewards irresponsible behavior. One only has to look at the latest headlines to see evidence of this. The current poster child for irresponsible behavior is Lindsey Lohan. A minor star in the Hollywood firmament, Ms. Lohan is better known for her frequent encounters with the legal system than for any artistic endeavors. She is arrested on a drug charge, gets probation, violates probation, goes to jail, is let out early, violates probation again. The definition of insanity is repeating a behavior in hope of a different result. Ms. Lohan qualifies. But she is not alone. The producer of her latest film has said that he supports her and talent is what matters most.
Talent is what matters most
I wonder if the other investors in this project would agree. Do they mind the cost overruns due to her incarcerations? I doubt it. The producer is an enabler. He is allowing her to postpone the consequences of her actions. He is keeping her from hitting bottom.
To put it in perspective: If your surgeon was the best in the field but had a serious drug problem would you say "Talent is what matters most"?
We have a culture that increasingly rewards irresponsible behavior. One only has to look at the latest headlines to see evidence of this. The current poster child for irresponsible behavior is Lindsey Lohan. A minor star in the Hollywood firmament, Ms. Lohan is better known for her frequent encounters with the legal system than for any artistic endeavors. She is arrested on a drug charge, gets probation, violates probation, goes to jail, is let out early, violates probation again. The definition of insanity is repeating a behavior in hope of a different result. Ms. Lohan qualifies. But she is not alone. The producer of her latest film has said that he supports her and talent is what matters most.
Talent is what matters most
I wonder if the other investors in this project would agree. Do they mind the cost overruns due to her incarcerations? I doubt it. The producer is an enabler. He is allowing her to postpone the consequences of her actions. He is keeping her from hitting bottom.
To put it in perspective: If your surgeon was the best in the field but had a serious drug problem would you say "Talent is what matters most"?
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