I guess in the same way it takes all kinds if people it also takes all kinds of countries.
That said I am curious how so many western countries seem to be initiating the same kind of censorship laws to outlaw misinformation. Makes me think there's some kind of invisible hand at play. Or maybe, they just all employ the same political consultants.
The elite class sees themselves as citizens of the world, not any country in particular. And so we're experiencing the great leveling of countries and cultures as a political leader in California finds that they have more in common with a wealthy politician in Paris than the average voter in their constituency.
There are books about this exact phenomenon. I may indulge in said books at some point.
New Hampshire drink while driving , no problem . At least it was not when I lived there 1976 to 1980 live free or die Not many places in the US you can do that today I got busted for having a few buddies drinking beer in my parked pickup in Kanada . What can you do ? pay the fine and move on , wish i had a camera back in the day to take pics of all the cops smoking a joint in back alleys in the cop cars
Hahaha one can wish... Heard a story like that, just some guys drinking beers on the steps of their house and a cop gave them all tickets because they were "in public." Stupid fucking shit like that drives me crazy about America.
My Uncle also told me a story like what you said. He said that in the 70s if you got pulled over for drunk driving the cop would ask, "well how much further have you got to?"
So true a thing called common sense and judgement calls were a thing back then . Now it is by the book and things have not gotten better . finny when I first read your byline I thought it said unhinged Capitalist sort of how I,m feeling these days . Keep IP the writing , very interesting read thanks
Thanks Hulverhead, I promise I won't be stopping anytime soon. When I poke fun in the mirror I like to call myself the "unhinged corpulence." Life is no fun without a good laugh 👻
I enjoyed hearing your take on freedom. Australia can be pretty rules based etc. even more so than America is. However, because of the mandatory voting system. You’ll be fined if you don’t vote. The political environment is a lot milder.
That's really interesting, me best mate is from Cronulla but he never told me about the voting thing. So is "fines for no votes" a contentious issue or is it just part of Australian culture and nobody thinks twice about it?
Jul 6, 2023·edited Jul 6, 2023Liked by The Unhedged Capitalist
Reading Dick Gregory's Political Primer. What he wrote in 1972 is little different from today. "I shudder to think what one nation, under the Devil would be like if we're one nation under G-d."
I live in a moderately small Texas town in the Panhandle, and it's pretty laid back here.
And this, coming from a fourth generation Texan, when people call Texas a “red” state, we think it more “Libertarian” than say, red conservative Florida. Is it more rule oriented and conscious than say an Asian country like Thailand? Yep. Especially in terms of driving and things one can do in parks and public places. But that's ok, I personally don't want people living in a tent or BBQing in the small park down the street. So, in my mind at least, these type of petty rules are ok.
Along with you, I have pondered the meaning of “freedom”. I have especially thought about a country like China. I am currently sick of the political chatter for the 2024 election, and it's due to get much worse. But if I lived in China, there would be no political chatter – and would that be such a bad thing? Most of the freedoms mentioned in your piece, driving nude with no helmet, etc. apply in China as well.
It's my understanding that people are much more free in China to do personal type things than in the US. All one cannot do in China is criticize the government or the current great leader. So I think, is this a bad thing? Given all the wasted time, effort, and money given over to politics, red vs. blue, and worthless bla-bla in the US, is this a bad thing?
Given the coming 4th of July, and the Texas flag flying over our little neighborhood, I will take the somewhat limited freedoms and petty rules – along with the political bla-bla America has to offer over most other countries. But with a caveat.
I, too, have had the privilege of travel in my life, though granted I've only lived in the US. Given all that is happening in America currently, I would not live in the Northeast or the West Coast – they have too many private and governmental Karens running around. And I would not live in Florida (too muggy and hot. No, for the rest of my life, and for those of my children, we choose to continue to live our happy lives in the (mostly) free state of Texas!. Have a great 4th and enjoy that Thai beer. :)
Great comment, ty. You make a really interesting point about China. The way I would look at it is: yes maybe the political system works 95% of the time. It's not messy, it is undeniably more efficient in getting shit done since there isn't constant infighting. But that 5% of the time when the government goes haywire and the citizens have no power to choose new leaders, that 5% of horror might outweigh the 95% of good times. Like when I ran a guesthouse, the 5% of horrible tenants more than outweighed the good vibes from the 95% of normal people.
I tell you, I am bloody THRILLED to be living abroad during election season. Political ads and all that horrible vitriol is toxic sludge for the soul and one's faith in humanity.
Sounds like you've got a pretty good setup there in Texas. Happy 4th of July right back to you 🥳
Thanks for the thought provoking article. Freedom is my highest value but it only works if people don’t abuse it. The golden rule might be the most important guide to a free society.
If you can’t count on others to be respectful of your rights and freedoms you end up with a society of petty tyrants trying to enforce their preferences on everyone else. Freedom is not for the faint of heart.
No, freedom is not for the faint of heart. Freedom also entails responsibility, as you said. The responsibility to act reasonably. Just because I can drunkenly drive my motorcycle with a 4-year-old on back doesn't mean I should.
One thing that happens here is mob justice. For example, someone gets caught shoplifting and it's relatively common for a group of people to form up and beat the shit out of the shoplifter. Or two years ago a drunk driver in a car hit someone on a motorcycle then drove away.
Well ~15 people gave chase, eventually forced the drunk off the road and were on the verge of ripping him out of the car and beating him to a pulp when the police arrived and put an end to the gang.
Not saying this is necessarily the right way to handle things, but it is interesting. It shows that societies can regulate themselves without the constant watchful intervention of the state.
I guess in the same way it takes all kinds if people it also takes all kinds of countries.
That said I am curious how so many western countries seem to be initiating the same kind of censorship laws to outlaw misinformation. Makes me think there's some kind of invisible hand at play. Or maybe, they just all employ the same political consultants.
The elite class sees themselves as citizens of the world, not any country in particular. And so we're experiencing the great leveling of countries and cultures as a political leader in California finds that they have more in common with a wealthy politician in Paris than the average voter in their constituency.
There are books about this exact phenomenon. I may indulge in said books at some point.
New Hampshire drink while driving , no problem . At least it was not when I lived there 1976 to 1980 live free or die Not many places in the US you can do that today I got busted for having a few buddies drinking beer in my parked pickup in Kanada . What can you do ? pay the fine and move on , wish i had a camera back in the day to take pics of all the cops smoking a joint in back alleys in the cop cars
Hahaha one can wish... Heard a story like that, just some guys drinking beers on the steps of their house and a cop gave them all tickets because they were "in public." Stupid fucking shit like that drives me crazy about America.
My Uncle also told me a story like what you said. He said that in the 70s if you got pulled over for drunk driving the cop would ask, "well how much further have you got to?"
A different time and age.
So true a thing called common sense and judgement calls were a thing back then . Now it is by the book and things have not gotten better . finny when I first read your byline I thought it said unhinged Capitalist sort of how I,m feeling these days . Keep IP the writing , very interesting read thanks
Thanks Hulverhead, I promise I won't be stopping anytime soon. When I poke fun in the mirror I like to call myself the "unhinged corpulence." Life is no fun without a good laugh 👻
I enjoyed hearing your take on freedom. Australia can be pretty rules based etc. even more so than America is. However, because of the mandatory voting system. You’ll be fined if you don’t vote. The political environment is a lot milder.
That's really interesting, me best mate is from Cronulla but he never told me about the voting thing. So is "fines for no votes" a contentious issue or is it just part of Australian culture and nobody thinks twice about it?
Reading Dick Gregory's Political Primer. What he wrote in 1972 is little different from today. "I shudder to think what one nation, under the Devil would be like if we're one nation under G-d."
If you want to read an interesting book about how many laws and regulations the US has, look up the book Three Felonies a Day.
I've heard of that book. I don't think it's in my interest area at the moment but I'll put it on the list for later. Thanks for the suggestion!
Did you also recommend Propaganda? I just finished reading that.
Yes, I did recommend reading Propaganda. Berneys is extremely applicable from a psychology perspective.
Indeed. It was a solid book, thanks for recommending it 🤙
I live in a moderately small Texas town in the Panhandle, and it's pretty laid back here.
And this, coming from a fourth generation Texan, when people call Texas a “red” state, we think it more “Libertarian” than say, red conservative Florida. Is it more rule oriented and conscious than say an Asian country like Thailand? Yep. Especially in terms of driving and things one can do in parks and public places. But that's ok, I personally don't want people living in a tent or BBQing in the small park down the street. So, in my mind at least, these type of petty rules are ok.
Along with you, I have pondered the meaning of “freedom”. I have especially thought about a country like China. I am currently sick of the political chatter for the 2024 election, and it's due to get much worse. But if I lived in China, there would be no political chatter – and would that be such a bad thing? Most of the freedoms mentioned in your piece, driving nude with no helmet, etc. apply in China as well.
It's my understanding that people are much more free in China to do personal type things than in the US. All one cannot do in China is criticize the government or the current great leader. So I think, is this a bad thing? Given all the wasted time, effort, and money given over to politics, red vs. blue, and worthless bla-bla in the US, is this a bad thing?
Given the coming 4th of July, and the Texas flag flying over our little neighborhood, I will take the somewhat limited freedoms and petty rules – along with the political bla-bla America has to offer over most other countries. But with a caveat.
I, too, have had the privilege of travel in my life, though granted I've only lived in the US. Given all that is happening in America currently, I would not live in the Northeast or the West Coast – they have too many private and governmental Karens running around. And I would not live in Florida (too muggy and hot. No, for the rest of my life, and for those of my children, we choose to continue to live our happy lives in the (mostly) free state of Texas!. Have a great 4th and enjoy that Thai beer. :)
Great comment, ty. You make a really interesting point about China. The way I would look at it is: yes maybe the political system works 95% of the time. It's not messy, it is undeniably more efficient in getting shit done since there isn't constant infighting. But that 5% of the time when the government goes haywire and the citizens have no power to choose new leaders, that 5% of horror might outweigh the 95% of good times. Like when I ran a guesthouse, the 5% of horrible tenants more than outweighed the good vibes from the 95% of normal people.
I tell you, I am bloody THRILLED to be living abroad during election season. Political ads and all that horrible vitriol is toxic sludge for the soul and one's faith in humanity.
Sounds like you've got a pretty good setup there in Texas. Happy 4th of July right back to you 🥳
Thanks for the thought provoking article. Freedom is my highest value but it only works if people don’t abuse it. The golden rule might be the most important guide to a free society.
If you can’t count on others to be respectful of your rights and freedoms you end up with a society of petty tyrants trying to enforce their preferences on everyone else. Freedom is not for the faint of heart.
Keep up the good work.
No, freedom is not for the faint of heart. Freedom also entails responsibility, as you said. The responsibility to act reasonably. Just because I can drunkenly drive my motorcycle with a 4-year-old on back doesn't mean I should.
One thing that happens here is mob justice. For example, someone gets caught shoplifting and it's relatively common for a group of people to form up and beat the shit out of the shoplifter. Or two years ago a drunk driver in a car hit someone on a motorcycle then drove away.
Well ~15 people gave chase, eventually forced the drunk off the road and were on the verge of ripping him out of the car and beating him to a pulp when the police arrived and put an end to the gang.
Not saying this is necessarily the right way to handle things, but it is interesting. It shows that societies can regulate themselves without the constant watchful intervention of the state.