December 17, 2006
It's Scottish, and It's Crap
Strange, I would have thought that the citizens, or at least a subset of the victims of crimes would be their customers:
ACCUSED murderers, rapists, robbers and other criminals are being referred to as "customers" by Scottish court officials in a move last night condemned as "stupid" and "inappropriate".
The Scottish Court Service (SCS) has ordered staff to refer to all accused criminals awaiting trial as customers under a new strategy to make sure everyone's needs are taken into account. But victims' groups and politicians have condemned the move as an example of corporate-speak at its worst.
But, philosophically speaking, what this means for the term "civil servants" is somehwat unclear to me if we are now the government's customers instead of its masters.
An Observation
Senator Obama has peaked way too early.
Meet the New Boss, Same As the Old Boss
I wonder how many stars Ahmadinejad had from SAVAK back in the '70s?
University authorities in Iran have adopted a "star rating" system for politically-active students as part of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's crackdown on dissent within the academic elite.
"Here's Johnny!"
John Edwards is running for President. Again.
The resemblance to Jack Torrance is eerie.
December 12, 2006
December 11, 2006
Gravitas
As I gaze in shock and awe at the Big Media lovefest surrounding Senator Obama:
Sen. Obama Encouraged to Seek Presidency
I recall that in 2000, according to many pundits, a Yale graduate, Harvard MBA, former fighter pilot and sitting governor of Texas lacked the gravitas to be President. So, what sort of gravitas does Senator Obama bring to the table? Or isn't that important any longer?
Folks, what we are witnessing is a textbook case of what psychologists call projection. I have a great respect for true leadership, but this fawning over someone whose primary qualifications are to have no qualifications to please take over and guide us poor souls to the promised land scares the bejeebus out of me.
The individual is dead! Long live the collective and our Dear Leader!
The Feeling Is Mutual
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the UN in all it's transnational progressive glory:
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in his farewell address, criticized the Bush administration, warning that America must not sacrifice its Democratic ideals while waging war against terrorism.
And what exactly does Mr. Annan know about Democratic ideals? Unless, of course, he's referring to Democratic National Committee ideals. Gee, and what does Mr. Annan think is important, aside from world class family graft?
Annan summed up five principles that he considers essential: collective responsibility, global solidarity, rule of law, mutual accountability and multilateralism.
Noticeably absent are any reference to freedom and individual liberties. Needless to say, our first principles don't have much in common. Here are a few stock phrases from our nation's founding Mr. Annan might want to familiarize himself with before lecturing Americans on Democracy: "the tyranny of the majority" and "consent of the governed."
Pardon my lack of diplomacy in responding to your fare not so well speech Mr. Annan, but go to hell.
December 10, 2006
The Enemy
Gee, what would FDR think of this post Pearl Harbor Day commentary?
NYT RICH: 'WE HAVE LOST IN IRAQ'
Or so says our brave theater critic. But, no, Mr. Rich. We only lose if we dishonor our ideals, our integrity, and all those who have served and sacrificed and leave before we are done. But, of course, that's the "It's Vietnam, man" game plan, isn't it? I wonder what kind of war Mr. Rich and those who think like him could ever win -- ever.
It took Edward Gibbons ten years and six volumes to document the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. I fear our demise from the highpoint of the post World War II era will not take nearly as long to document. You can hear your chains rattling long before they make contact with your skin. Folks, our civilization is dying.