Of peaceniks, Astroturfing and outside meddling

As it is in places like Iran and Myanmar, so it is in the United States: ordering of society by government's shining stars could be so great, so smooth...if it just weren't for the interfering activists on the wrong (authority-questioning) side of the ideologic divide.

Future GM Model Name Suggestions

- Chevrolet Edict
- Cadillac IOU (in red only)
- Buick Teknokrat
- GMC Leviathan
- Chevy Coercer
- Cadillac Anchor
- Buick Bloodsucker
- GMC Truck Product #8Q722326.3

Government's Fundamental Job?

"[South Carolina's] top educator said Sanford was obstructing government's fundamental job of educating children."

Background here.

Reuters: Not funding X same as banning X

It's nice that in the third paragraph the writer of this news article finally gets around to stating what actually is at issue after grossly misstating it in the opening paragraph. (The headline is also false, but editors, rather than reporters, are often to blame for these.)

Hey, I'm all for embryonic stem cell research. I feel no compassion for small clumps of cells in petri dishes. But, no matter how many times it is stated this way in articles and editorials, refusing to fund something is not the same as banning it. In fact, government funding for a thing means every taxpayer is forced to pay for that thing, including those who oppose that thing.

If most citizens understood these two truths, we would have ourselves a more peaceful world:

• It is perfectly consistent to oppose a practice and oppose banning that practice.
• It is perfectly consistent to support a cause and oppose government funding of that cause.