TNC is wonderful, no doubt. But I'm not so sure a libertarian would say that no government would automatically lead to no slavery. Bad government can certainly make it worse by legally protecting slave owners. However, there is no reason to think that with a neutered or nonexistent government slavery wouldn't exist. I think the true libertarian argument would be more along the lines of liberty - that government should protect our liberty and that no just government could protect the rights of so called slave 'owners' over the rights of a man to be free. Of course libertarians are a diverse bunch so some might very well say what you're saying here.
Re: government being on the side of angels...well...again, it just depends - on the government, on the time period we're talking about. Was government on the side of angels in the Gulags? In the Nazi death camps? In the South? That other governments have stepped into right the wrongs of these governments hardly places government on the side of angels - it places government on the side of angels and demons. It just depends. A good government tends to be a limited one - limiting itself and the abuses of powerful men on the weak.
All the coolest things that have happened in my life happened after I became a father, often times with one or both of my children present and helping. I feel sorry for people who let these tropes about parenthood (or marriage) thoughtlessly fall out of their mouth.
Tony, same here. And I've only been a father for three and a half years...
Yes nationalism is a pejorative here. Good alternatives would be patriotism, faith, loyalty, community, etc. The French revolution is a good example of a society slaughtering its own customs. The death that followed fits my hypothesis.
But not merely oppression - there also needs to be an inability to properly reconcile with the fallout. A great deal of the nationalism we'be seen in the past came after oppressors have left.
I think custom is certainly a function of stability but not only a function of stability. Disrupting traditions, especially through force, creates internal chaos so that external control can be imposed.
Indeed, as a long-view issue the Democrats are quite wise to support gay rights. They are much wiser to support immigrant issues and their success with minority voters is extremely important to their electoral success. This may be the only bump in the road when it comes to SSM. The labor and minority vote may not be the die-hard social conservative base of the GOP, but they do tend to vote more socially conservative than many in the Democratic party. I'm not sure if support for gay rights has hurt Democrats much with black or blue-collar voters, however. Bread and butter issues tend to be more important.
First of all this is a tremendously lovely post. I share quite a few of your views on taking root. My wife and I married young, started a family young, and nothing has so formed me as having children. My wife stays at home, we purposefully stay close to family. Both our sets of parents live here. Incredibly, both are still married (I say incredibly in statistical terms - though, of my mothers' seven siblings and my father's three siblings only one of either brood was ever divorced...). I also share your near-absolutist view of divorce, though perhaps it stems from a rather different background. Then again, I think creating a society which values commitment more is far more sustainable and meaningful than any outright ban on divorce. Perhaps the high rates we see these days are merely growing pains as society realigns.
I’m not at all stressed about giving up a career. It’s been a long time since I viewed work (in the formalized, non-household, taxable sense) as anything other than pragmatic. Don’t get me wrong: I believe in hard work and I believe in doing good work. But work is transactional; I do my best to achieve the goals of my organization because they are paying me to do so. My identity is not in the least tied up in what I do, and I don’t take the same kind of personal pride from a job well done as I would from raising a good and close-knit family. Many, if not most, families require at least two incomes to make ends meet. We’re fortunate enough that, if we don’t expect luxuries and limit our travel to a few days at the beach each year, we will likely be able to get by with one. That’s an easy trade-off when it allows a child to have a full-time parent.
I think this is a good ambition. I grew up around lots of ambitious people. I just don't see the point of placing one's hopes in one's work. Beyond working hard and putting bread on the table, work to me is a means to an end rather than an end in and of itself.
Have you heard of the unlearning movement by the way?
Homeschooling isn't the worst thing but at least do it with a collective. I was homeschooled a bit, went to Montessori school, attended public school in Canada and the states, and attended Catholic school, and homeschooling was pretty great - but mostly because we lived in family housing at the time so there was an abundance of playmates and possible social interactions regardless.
On “…and to all a good night”
Merry Christmas, Kyle!
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merry Christmas, North!
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Merry Christmas!
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Merry Christmas Greg. Jaybird I think it will be. A good Christmas for the kids pretty much ensures a good Christmas for the parents.
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"Myth, magic, and shopping..." I will most assuredly drink to that!
On “A thought, a farewell, and a song.”
Pretty much. I was never bothered by the lack of quantity, William, all your posts were so damnably good. And also what Will said.
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I miss that, too, Rufus.
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Very nice post William, I'm sorry it's your last.
On “Captain Robert Smalls, Bona Fide Hero”
TNC is wonderful, no doubt. But I'm not so sure a libertarian would say that no government would automatically lead to no slavery. Bad government can certainly make it worse by legally protecting slave owners. However, there is no reason to think that with a neutered or nonexistent government slavery wouldn't exist. I think the true libertarian argument would be more along the lines of liberty - that government should protect our liberty and that no just government could protect the rights of so called slave 'owners' over the rights of a man to be free. Of course libertarians are a diverse bunch so some might very well say what you're saying here.
Re: government being on the side of angels...well...again, it just depends - on the government, on the time period we're talking about. Was government on the side of angels in the Gulags? In the Nazi death camps? In the South? That other governments have stepped into right the wrongs of these governments hardly places government on the side of angels - it places government on the side of angels and demons. It just depends. A good government tends to be a limited one - limiting itself and the abuses of powerful men on the weak.
On “Marriage as Another Country”
Rufus, this is why I read this damn blog. Posts like this. Good stuff, thanks.
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Tony, same here. And I've only been a father for three and a half years...
On “The death of custom ctd.”
Yes nationalism is a pejorative here. Good alternatives would be patriotism, faith, loyalty, community, etc. The French revolution is a good example of a society slaughtering its own customs. The death that followed fits my hypothesis.
On “I suppose the political is personal too”
I agree. Deleted.
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Hi bucky. We have a commenting policy. Please abide by it. Thanks.
On “The death of custom and the rise of nationalism in the post-colonial state”
Absutely. Great example.
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Exactly. When the guidance tradition provides is erased you see cultures turning aimlessly to the past. the entire middle east is a case in point.
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But not merely oppression - there also needs to be an inability to properly reconcile with the fallout. A great deal of the nationalism we'be seen in the past came after oppressors have left.
"
I think custom is certainly a function of stability but not only a function of stability. Disrupting traditions, especially through force, creates internal chaos so that external control can be imposed.
On “Economic Commands are Different from Political Commands or Taxes”
Jason - liberals aren't bothered by crony capitalism when the ends justify the means.
On “Do Gay Rights Hurt Democrats?”
Indeed, as a long-view issue the Democrats are quite wise to support gay rights. They are much wiser to support immigrant issues and their success with minority voters is extremely important to their electoral success. This may be the only bump in the road when it comes to SSM. The labor and minority vote may not be the die-hard social conservative base of the GOP, but they do tend to vote more socially conservative than many in the Democratic party. I'm not sure if support for gay rights has hurt Democrats much with black or blue-collar voters, however. Bread and butter issues tend to be more important.
On “I suppose the political is personal too”
Lisa,
First of all this is a tremendously lovely post. I share quite a few of your views on taking root. My wife and I married young, started a family young, and nothing has so formed me as having children. My wife stays at home, we purposefully stay close to family. Both our sets of parents live here. Incredibly, both are still married (I say incredibly in statistical terms - though, of my mothers' seven siblings and my father's three siblings only one of either brood was ever divorced...). I also share your near-absolutist view of divorce, though perhaps it stems from a rather different background. Then again, I think creating a society which values commitment more is far more sustainable and meaningful than any outright ban on divorce. Perhaps the high rates we see these days are merely growing pains as society realigns.
I think this is a good ambition. I grew up around lots of ambitious people. I just don't see the point of placing one's hopes in one's work. Beyond working hard and putting bread on the table, work to me is a means to an end rather than an end in and of itself.
Have you heard of the unlearning movement by the way?
"
Homeschooling isn't the worst thing but at least do it with a collective. I was homeschooled a bit, went to Montessori school, attended public school in Canada and the states, and attended Catholic school, and homeschooling was pretty great - but mostly because we lived in family housing at the time so there was an abundance of playmates and possible social interactions regardless.
On “DADT Open Thread”
Civility works for me. Thanks.
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Jack tone it down. We have a commenting policy for a reason.
On “All Apologies”
Well you can waste time at the League...
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.