Okay, I’ve missed a few “Monday Miscellany” posts. So here’s some Thursday Miscellany to make up for that.
- We already know that even mild pressure from authority figures can make most people commit evil acts. And we know that placing ordinary people in authority over helpless others can be just as disastrous. (Although some skeptics question specifics of that experiment). Now, a French documentarian shows us that the power of TV can do the same. Humans are scary critters.
- On the other hand, it’s amazingly good news when the most mainstreamy of mainstream media suddenly gives respectful treatment to the 10th-amendment movement.
- Speaking of that, can anybody come up with a better term than “states’ rights”? That term just sucks. Aside from its dire (even if partly unfair) connection to ancient racism, states just can’t have rights.
- And be still my beating heart! Another major media outlet gives fair treatment to “wing-nut fringe-oids.” This time the issue is the census — and why some perfectly sensible people want nothing to do with it. This is the first mainstream article I’ve seen on the 2010 census that hasn’t read like a propaganda release from the Census Bureau
- Finally, this comes a day late for St. Patrick. But it’s never too late to remember the San Patricios. And learn more about them. Some staunch militarists may still want to hate them 160+ years later because they deserted the U.S. Army. But they’re revered in Mexico as freedom fighters.
- And just this month, the inventive Irish group the Chieftans and the equally inventive Ry Cooder released a musical collaboration
with a variety of other musicians to tell the sad story of the Irish heroes of Mexico. Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
I’m not sure anything can take the place of states’ rights. “State” is a political entity, which holds sovereign sway over us, the next step down for the Founding Fathers.
(BTW, several libertarians have mentioned “sovereign” in regard to individual rights, but according to wikipedia’s definition, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereignty , “sovereign” doesn’t even apply to individuals.)
I think it may be time for americans (not Americans) to declare local “contractural rights,” the right of the individual to live within the boundary he makes for himself, alone or with others in contract, while denying all geographical boundaries.
The American Revolution never fully succeeded; the Constitution has kept us one step away from that freedom Jefferson, et al were striving for in the Declaration of Independence… in the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions… in the the Mecklenburg Resolution… in the the Bill of Rights… in Patrick Henry’s fiery speeches and in every anti-federalist debate: the right of individuals to determine for themselves what is good and proper, and how to best deal with others. We never reached our real goal.
It is time to come to grips with the fact we ARE individuals, and that “society”, at whatever level, is not sacred. We must establish control of the community in which we live; representative society doesn’t work.
I’ve never liked the term ‘states rights’. States have powers. (Yeah, I know, that’s a subject of much debate, but the status quo is.)
If San Patricio is even half as good as Buena Vista Social Club (which I need to watch again), it’ll be worth having.
“Speaking of that, can anybody come up with a better term than “states’ rights”?”
Ummm… Federalism?
Heh. Good one, Dave. Federalism. What a concept! Maybe the U.S. should, like, actually TRY that.
(Unless, of course, federalism was just a Hamiltonian con from the get-go …)