House of Eratosthenes

I’m hearing a lot of nitwits talk about what a “civilized society” does and doesn’t do lately. It usually has something to do with “civilized society doesn’t kill to show killing is wrong” or “civilized society doesn’t torture.”

It occurs to me that this is a way of summing up arguments that is so effective in its salesmanship, that the argument that underlies it doesn’t have to make any sense. Whatsoever. I mean, if you were to diagram this argument out logically it would come out to something like “things are the way they are because I say that’s the way they are; it’s uncivilized because I just called it that.” And it further occurs to me that it’s an argument used exclusively by the moonbat-side. Every time I hear about what a civilized society does, it seems to be a constant that 1) America isn’t doing it yet, and 2) if she did it, she would become even weaker.

Time to change that. After all, I have my own ideas about what a civilized society does. Some folks agree with me about some of ’em…and when we remain silent, we support the false illusion that the other side speaks for everyone. Well, they don’t.

A truly civilized society…

1. Places supreme priority on the preservation of the lives of the innocent, and the livelihood of the responsible.
2. NEVER apologizes for causing “outrage.”
3. Takes responsibility for the strategies and tactics used to defend itself as a nation; it does not mollify or customize those to please foreigners.
4. Drills for, harvests or mines what it needs domestically, before importing it.
5. Allows its citizens to take up arms, just like Thomas Jefferson said.
6. Punishes individuals for wicked behavior, much more quickly than punishing groups.
7. Looks upon those who work to build creative new things, and in so doing to look at life in a wholly unique way…with admiration and awe.
8. Understands that when adaptation to a changing environment involves embracing new weaknesses and jettisoning old strengths, it might not be good.
9. Enforces old laws rather than making up new ones.
10. Never allows those who write the rules, to say what they mean.
11. Allows buyers and sellers to negotiate financial transactions without interference from outsiders.
12. Saves the weak from extraordinary threats…
13. …but allows the inactive and irresponsible to endure ordinary consequences.
14. Is moved by common sense and logic, and not buzz words.
15. Celebrates the success of those individuals who are most productive. Or else leaves them alone.
16. Never tolerates intolerance.
17. Executes killers quickly, so the innocent may live.
18. Recognizes the most basic rights that are enjoyed by all; it does not play “musical chairs” with special rights among designated victim groups.
19. Allows free immigration until it culminates in harm to the economy or public safety, and then moves to restrict it.
20. Never allows those who say what the rules mean, to say where they are enforced.
21. Never ridicules its children — or adults — for knowing things, or knowing how to do things.
22. Ensures that children know how to live life as adults, before it is time for them to do so.
23. Acquits from all penalty, those who are found to have committed violence in self-defense.
24. Does not tax income, business or death.
25. Finds ways to make government smaller every year.
26. Makes public service a humbling, and if possible a non-compensated, occupation.
27. Leaves as little up to popular vote as it possibly can.
28. Never allows those who enforce the rules, to write them.
29. Sympathizes most passionately with the word that makes the most sense, not the one that travels the fastest.
30. Speaks with many free and independent voices before the policy is formed, but with only one voice afterward.
31. Obliges women to show discretion, chastity, modesty and good taste.
32. Obliges men to display good manners, and actively defend and assist those weaker than them.
33. Is filled with men and boys who regularly do demanding things that used to be necessary, but aren’t anymore. Just because.
34. Abstains from a fight, or jumps headlong into it — violently, unreasonably — “in it to win it.” It never fights halfway.
35. Places no importance at all, or very little, on a personal attribute of displayed harmlessness — legally, or culturally.
36. Worries about keeping children busy more than it worries about keeping children happy.
37. Works to preserve that which preserves, and destroy that which destroys — not the other way around.
38. Has one system of justice — one that cannot be bought.
39. Never bluffs.
40. Permits individual choice, even if it “discriminates.”
41. Places greater importance on clarity than on agreement.
42. Discerns what is true and just from the facts; not words of revered elders, ravings of mobs of popular will, or arbitrary ramblings of tradition.
43. Recognizes, and promotes, symbiosis between classes…
44. …but allows, and encourages, separate households to enjoy the fruits of their specialized labors.
45. Does not impose taxes to mold and shape individual behavior, or to punish people for being what they are, but simply to raise revenue.
46. Provides special punishment for whoever threw the first punch, not for whoever threw the last one.
47. Tolerates all points of view, save for those who desire or labor toward its demoralization, self-destruction or other demise.
48. NEVER exacts a price for its friendship.
49. NEVER provides a reward for its enemies.
50. Endures.

And while enduring does not, under any circumstances, allow a dog to be placed in a purse.
- vanderleun | 07/05/2008 @ 15:53
14. Is moved by common sense and logic, and not buzz words.

#14 is a great “comeback” for just about any of the “a civilized society does not …” … um… “arguments”.
- philmon | 07/06/2008 @ 23:06

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A Civilized SocietySaturday, July 5th, 2008

A Civilized Society
Saturday, July 5th, 2008