Do not think about, write about or deal with human behavior until determining the effects of incentives.
Some Americans are rejoicing over the health care bill just passed. The philosophy behind this notion is “Since we need it, we can pay for it.” As Gust, in Charlie Wilson’s War said in his parable, “we’ll see.” The entitlement programs are so bankrupt, a new word should be invented. Politicians believe they are putting policies in place. They don’t know they’re starting a process.
George Washington said this about a national debt: "We should avoid ungenerously throwing upon posterity … the burden we ourselves ought to bear." (John Stossel).
And then there was the embarrassment of the Ann Coulter visit to the University of Ottawa to which Coulter, deservedly so, applied the description “bush-league”. The farce played out like this.
This is part of the article:
“After protesters at the University of Ottawa prevented Ann Coulter from giving a speech Tuesday night, the American conservative writer said it proved the point she came to make — free speech in Canada leaves much to be desired.”
“Since I’ve arrived in Canada, I’ve been denounced on the floor of Parliament — which, by the way, is on my bucket list — my posters have been banned, I’ve been accused of committing a crime in a speech that I have not yet given, I was banned by the student council, so welcome to Canada!”
“The “accusation” of which Coulter speaks is a reference to an e-mail she received from University of Ottawa vice-president and provost Francois Houle on Friday, warning her that freedom of speech is defined differently in Canada than in the U.S. and that she should take care not to step over the line.”
“The problem with Ann Coulter . . . is that the arguments that she uses don’t necessarily promote good debate, they promote this,” he (a student) said, glancing at the chanting crowd.”
The student blames Coulter for the quasi-riot. This reminds me of an indignant German woman in the waning days of The Third Reich. A British unit was occupying a German town which had been knocked about by artillery, bombing or both. Standing in front of the ruins she said, “If you had surrendered in 1940, this could have been prevented.”
Canadian students believe strongly in social justice, but not for everyone. They believe strongly in free speech, but not for everyone. They’ve been well taught to have a plummy sense of entitlement and superiority.
Coulter’s bodyguard nixed her speech on the basis of safety. This could have been a publicity stunt, but she’s never done it before. University of Ottawa students who protested her–bush league indeed.
Cheerio and ttfn,
Grant Coulson
Cui Bono–Cherchez les Contingencies
March 25, 2010 at 1:51 am |
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