When it comes to Friedmans, I’ll take Milton every time. Especially when the other one - the one who writes for the New York Slimes – extols the virtues of autocracy,
Watching both the health care and climate/energy debates in Congress, it is hard not to draw the following conclusion: There is only one thing worse than one-party autocracy, and that is one-party democracy, which is what we have in America today.
One-party autocracy certainly has its drawbacks. But when it is led by a reasonably enlightened group of people, as China is today, it can also have great advantages. That one party can just impose the politically difficult but critically important policies needed to move a society forward in the 21st century. It is not an accident that China is committed to overtaking us in electric cars, solar power, energy efficiency, batteries, nuclear power and wind power. China’s leaders understand that in a world of exploding populations and rising emerging-market middle classes, demand for clean power and energy efficiency is going to soar. Beijing wants to make sure that it owns that industry and is ordering the policies to do that, including boosting gasoline prices, from the top down.
I want to park here for a moment and ask a fair enough question: When did Friedman resume his crack-smoking habit? Seriously. He makes it sound as if China is this up-and-coming world leader in environmentally-friendly “green” technologies. Has he seen China? The China where the rivers are so polluted you grow a third eye just by eating a fish pulled from one of them? The China where you get your daily nutritional allowance of cadmium merely by breathing? The China that makes the old Soviet Union look like an environmentalist paradise? THAT China?
And I find it appalling – A.P.P.A.L.L.I.N.G. – that he thinks that a political oligarchy that uses slave labour, executes petty criminals so that their organs can be harvested, bullies its neighbours (Taiwan, India) with overt threats of military aggression, and denies its citizens even basic civil liberties is “a reasonably enlightened group of people.” What a sick puppy.
But I digress.
Our one-party democracy is worse. The fact is, on both the energy/climate legislation and health care legislation, only the Democrats are really playing. With a few notable exceptions, the Republican Party is standing, arms folded and saying “no.” Many of them just want President Obama to fail. Such a waste. Mr. Obama is not a socialist; he’s a centrist. But if he’s forced to depend entirely on his own party to pass legislation, he will be whipsawed by its different factions.
Look at the climate/energy bill that came out of the House. Its sponsors had to work twice as hard to produce this breakthrough cap-and-trade legislation. Why? Because with basically no G.O.P. representatives willing to vote for any price on carbon that would stimulate investments in clean energy and energy efficiency, the sponsors had to rely entirely on Democrats — and that meant paying off coal-state and agriculture Democrats with pork. Thank goodness, it is still a bill worth passing. But it could have been much better — and can be in the Senate. Just give me 8 to 10 Republicans ready to impose some price on carbon, and they can be leveraged against Democrats who want to water down the bill.
Ayep, here we go. Here’s why Tommy (un)Friedman has suddenly become so enamoured with autocracy – it would let people like him more easily impose their idiotic economic, social, and environmental agendas onto us, without those annoying relics of democracy like “political opposition” and “debate.” Since the Republicans just aren’t playing ball, maybe its time to scrap that whole democracy thing, and find ourselves a charismatic, lovable autocrat around whom we can all rally.
And I’m sure he already has one in mind.
Shoot, it’s not like the Democrats haven’t already been headed that way. When you have Democrat Congressmen who basically tell their constituents point blank that it doesn’t matter what the people want, they’re gonna get the Democrat agenda shovelled down their throats regardless – that’s a sign that you have a problem. I’d like to say that it’s nothing a good election couldn’t solve, but hey, since we’re already on the whole autocracy kick anywise, who needs elections? I wish I could say that I’m just kidding, but with the direction the Democrats have been taking anywise, I can’t.
Once again, it’s stuff like this that shows why you simply cannot trust people on the Left – period. They do not support American values. They do not support consensual debate. They do not support representative democracy. They do not support the people voicing their will. They do not support leaving the people alone to live their own lives. They do not believe in freedom. They are un-American, in the deepest and most fundamental ways possible.
Tags: Democratic Party, Leftists, Liberal Fascism, thomas friedman
it looks like august was bad for the dems, maybe we avoided autocracy of the left
if this holds, then the protests at the meetings has won,
and by extension, all of america has won
The left pays homage to the likes of Castro and Chavez.
I suppose they’d cheer the Lockerbie Bomber too.
if t friedman thinks 0 is a centrist, then friedman needs his head examined.
but, i’m not smart enough to read the NYT, so i really shouldnt post here.
maybe i’ll order a chiaobama and worship it. it can be the god ofhopeeeechange
Yes, you quite nailed that one. I see this with all the Liberals I speak with here in L.A. They know best, I’m stupid, they shouldn’t have to deal with me, when I voice a contrary opinion I am just being difficult – end of story!
If you don’t submit to the liberal agenda then you are unamerican!
Gee where have I heard people complaining about that charge before?
As a former lgf’er Hello to you all. I rarely posted there so you wouldnt know me. But, I recognize alot of you, its so good to be able to read your thoughts again. Havent been banned from 1.0, sooner or later I won’t be able to keep my mouth shut though.
Today the piling on of snappedshot really bugged me. Chuck really does think he is king of the blogs. He is so full of himself, so obnoxious.
Anyway I’ve really been enjoying this blog and hope to participate more than I ever did at king chuckles site.
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” Thomas Jefferson.
Chalk this clown as one of the tyrants.
re: #5 by Toodles
welcome aboard, toodles.
you’ll find we arent so bad
re: #5 by Toodles
Welcome. We can speak our mind here so you don’t have to worry about walking on eggshells much.
Please feel free to Chuckie-bash. I enjoy it every time when people vent about that worthless sack of crap.
re: #5 by Toodles
WELCOME! It is wonderful to have you. Jump right in.
re: #5 by Toodles
Welcome aboard. We have had lively conversations here from time to time, but we aren’t so bad.
Thanks for the warm welcome:)
re: #5 by Toodles
On behalf of the 2.0 nation I offer this laurel and hearty handshake.
re: #5 by Toodles
Welcome aboard, Toodles!
You know all that stuff that you heard about us over here at 2.0? Don’t believe a word of it.
Unless it was good stuff. Then you can believe it.
I’m a Socialist,
He’s a Socialist,
She’s a Socialist,
We’re a Socialist,
Wouldn’t you like to be a Socialist too?
Be a Socialist, think like a Socialist
Be a Socialist, think like a Socialist
re: #13 by tqcincinnatus
Oh, Ive been reading here since you guys started or shortly thereafter.
2.0 lost me along time ago and especially with the creationist hate theme. I mostly read there for amusement, how low can chuck go.
The difference between the 2 blogs is night and day. I prefer the light here:)
re: #3 by coldwarrior
Friedman thinks he’s a centrist, as well. So does Champion.
I think we may be onto something. It’s pretty hard to accurately categorize a politician’s stance when you don’t even understand where your own beliefs fall on the political spectrum.
Tom Friedman is walking excrement. Let’s not let anyone forget how he responded to the thuggish actions of Billy Jeff and Janet Waco with their attack on the Constitution and common decency:
Friedman, like all Liberal Fascists, is in love with human suffering and death. If he thought he could get away with it, he would be at one of Castro’s torture chambers right now gleefully “helping” with the “cause.”
What George Orwell wrote about this totalitarian filth still holds true:
I suspect Thomas Friedman was probably saying the same crap back in 1993 and 1994 when the Democrats tried to shove HillaryCare down our throats.
And when George W. Bush was in office, he was likely condemning autocracy. In other words, Friedman is being selective depending on which President is in office, in my opinion. Unsurprisingly predictable.
re: #18 by Morgan
its called ‘nuanced’ morgan, ‘nuanced’.
Sorry to go off topic – but… I want this message heard. And I know it’ll get where it needs to go….
Apparently berating, belittling, threatening, stalking and bashing on his own readers isn’t enough for Charles Johnson. That’s the climate on his own blog, his own threads… he’s reaching out by proxy.
I guess some people like that climate – like a restaurant where it is avant garde for the waiter to insult the patrons.
Look, Dude, leave the people alone after they leave. It’s none of your business where they read, where they comment, what blogs they follow, what they say on their own blogs, who they link to, or what they say on other blogs, even if they are criticizing you. What do you expect? Leave us alone.
re: #19 by coldwarrior
Ahhh, that’s what it is, huh? Thanks for enlightening me about the “enlightened” ones.
re: #20 by Rose
hey rose!
maybe yer looking for the open thread —>
re: #21 by Morgan
not a problem.
nuanced is a word i learned at npr.
eh hem
re: #24 by waldensianspirit
How many academic papers has Chuckles published?
Yeah, that’s what I thought…
re: #24 by waldensianspirit
which is why spencer is the goto guy on islam…
lets see your bona fides cj, i’ll show you mine and i bet i win that one!
i cant recall any published work form the poster…
I’ve been to China: was there on a business trip about 3.5 years ago.
The air in Shanghai was so dirty that from my high-rise hotel, I couldn’t see more than a couple blocks out of the window…on ANY day.
It was so bad, that my nose was bleeding and my eyes watered incessantly the whole time I was there. Once I got out in the country between Shanghai and Hangzhou, it wasn’t too bad, but still….
I agree: Friedman appears to be under some kind of narcotic for him to write something like this.
Moreover, I would wager that Friedman will absolutely adore the rule of the soon-coming Anti-Christ…for about the first three and a half years, that is.
After that?
Eh…not so much.
Oh, by the way: Anyone notice that Obama is now going to chair the Security Council at the UN?
First time ever that an American President has done such a thing.
Seems to me that there is enough on President Obama’s plate as it is. Should he be taking on even more tasks when America is in such grave trouble? Prudent minds would say ‘no’. So why is he?
One other thing: did anyone notice that the UN is now supporting a One World Currency? Predictions are now being made that the American dollar is going to crash in 1-2 years.
Guess what happens then? All that paper you have stuffed in your safe becomes worthless (unless it has been converted to gold). Guess what China is now doing with its dollars? Yeppers: converting them to gold, securities and other financial instruments.
Word to the Wise: Don’t be the last one standing when the music stops.
***EDIT:***
Whoopsie! It appears a lot of this has already been posted and commented on. Sorry about that! It’s been a while since I’ve been able to comment….
~Norsk Troll
re: #25 by lobo91
Science? 0
{fill in the blank} 0
Up against:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/spencer/
According to his bio, Spencer holds a M.A. in Religious Studies. While selrahC holds … well this is a family blog.
re: #29 by Infidel
ruhhh-ro!
bona fides!
this debate is over
re: #30 by coldwarrior
I thought it was known already when I said eh hem. Sorry for being confusing.
re: #31 by waldensianspirit
i was totaly confused….my bad
i gotta a 7 month old here that is on my lap and really wants to post on this blog. squirmtasatic!
re: #31 by waldensianspirit
from where is spence’s MA?
re: #33 by coldwarrior
From his link
Religious Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
I’ve never been there so I don’t know the place
re: #24 by waldensianspirit
and i do intend on getting two copies of spencers new book. one for me and one for my parents.
i just looked at spencer’s bio…thats plenty of bona fides. i never looked before.
re: #32 by coldwarriorThat’ll do it:-)
The point is, talking level of education is not a very good position for Charles to attack anyone yet alone Spencer.
re: #36 by waldensianspirit
yep…and UNC chapel hill is a fine institution.
their divinity studies center is quite respected.
re: #27 by Et Norsk Troll
i heard it was bad over there. but nosebleeds? that is off the charts!
they need some environmentalists!
re: #24 by waldensianspirit
To Charles: Na und? Self-taught is quite effective; most of what I know is self-taught.
I have a lot of difficulty thinking that Charles said that. Even he isn’t that stupid. He was friendly with Spencer and thus would know that he is way outmatched when it comes to bona fides.
But here is what I said a while back:
re: #40 by WrathofG-d
excellent point, indeed!
Hey, are you questioning selrahC’s fact checking abilities? Consider yourself under report.
re: #14 by song_and_dance_man
Bravo, Pepperman. take a bow.
Shoot this work thing is really hampering my stay here. We got us some libs here now who will actually engage in debate, but they are gone when I get home. You guys have treated them very nicely and I see a civil tone from them as well bubbling up. They are still wrong mostly, but most welcome.
Mr. Obama is not a socialist; he’s a centrist. But if he’s forced to depend entirely on his own party to pass legislation, he will be whipsawed by its different factions.
That’s the funniest thing I’ve read all year.
re: #20 by Rose
Is this in regards to the coffee chat room?
Jello
re: #27 by Et Norsk Troll
How many Chinese were killed to make that “perfect” Chinese society today. Communism fails. The amount of people tortured there is even greater.
Goldberg and Steyn already took this tool apart. Hard to believe I once thought Friedman was a member of the reasonable opposition. Yeah, Tommy, no need for the liberty-thing, we’ll let the enlightened few handle all the details…after all, what could go wrong?
re: #48 by jas
Yeah, Tommy, no need for the liberty-thing, we’ll let the enlightened few handle all the details…after all, what could go wrong?
Barack Obama, Philosopher-King!
re: #49 by tqcincinnatus
It is amazing to watch their arrogance in action. And, call them on it, and you’re paranoid and extreme.
Holy Fucking hell.
35 million chinese killed by their own government is a bit of a drawback.
Says who?
he has a point though:
we could have infanticide, forced abortion, forced sterilization and all the enlightened policies Zeke and Holdren want.
re: #52 by Justa Joe
Apparently by Friedman’s standards…scary, isn’t it?
re: #54 by jas
Ever notice how libz feel that their proclaimation of something being true should be accepted without question.
I have worked in Shanghai as well. #1 It’s dirty by US standards #2 The Chinese are about as likely to honor Int’l carbon emissions protocols as they are to honor copyrights, trademarks, or patents. #3 Your average Chinese guy’s standard of living still doesn’t approach that of an American.
re: #55 by Justa Joe
We’re getting a first class education on that from this administration. This administration is a one-termer…but, the question is how much damage they can do in the interim?
re: #6 by Bill Jenkins
Looks like CJ is accusing you of threatening to assasinate Obama.
re: #57 by Bandito
It looks like cj didn’t read the post either. It was about Thomas Friedman and “the joys of autocracy” that was the topic. An autocrat IS by definition a tyrant.
I guess he’s also never heard of gravatars. You know, the little image that shows up next to EVERY post someone makes. (that’s his zero pic chuck. don’t be stupid)
re: #58 by m
I don’t think it was matter of Charles (life’s living example of failure) not reading the article. I think he is intellectually dishonest at best by portraying the post as a threat to Obama. He knows what avatars are but his sycophantic readers will swallow his reasoning hook line and sinker.
C.J. is becoming a world class misleader for the Progressive Communist Left, and probably being paid well for it.
re: #57 by Bandito
The funny thing about that is someone answers him on his blog by saying this:
Which is pretty much dead on. There is a guy extolling the virtues of an autocratic society… If taken further and that type of society would be imposed, the propaganda artists like Freidman would be one of the “tyrants” that need to go.
Charles is clearly a dumbass and is angered over the fact that I repeatedly insult him personally VERY frequently on many different forums.
Like I said, Charles is the Saddam Hussein of the blogosphere…promoting his brand of propaganda to his cult of followers while getting rid of anyone who shows .01% disloyalty to him.
Fuck you, Chuckie. You’re a lying sack of shit. But really… nothing new about that, eh?