The young man sounds articulate and intelligent to me, and as you put it so well, he was cultivated according to his passions in life.

Though in response to ER’s post, I find it silly and lazy that these thins are written off to “Human Nature” Now, BEFORE ANYONE CHEWS MY HEAD OFF (glances at BuckGalaxy), this is NOT a personal attack, so let me explain.

You are basically saying that having people choosing paths in time and space that benefit them more because they think that whatever is confluent with their ideals and wants, is not greedy or selfish, but rather “simply human nature”. By deductive reasoning, that means that “human nature” is at least partially selfish and greedy by definition. This also implies, however, that “human nature” is the same for every person, which it most certainly is NOT. Perhaps you could elaborate on your argument?

So true. Some of us fake it better than others. I never once had any doubt that my dad had everything under control. It was an aura he gave off, something I imagine he acquired, at least in part, as a 20 year-old Lancaster pilot flying missions out of Britain. After that experience, I’d imagine most things would seem managable.

My kids, otoh, saw through me at a pretty early age. But rather than pulling aside the curtain and exposing the failed wizard, they always played along–with the occasional wink and nudge behind my back, I’m sure. God bless ‘em.

“The major difference between those communities was that one was convinced its security, prosperity and freedom depended on the right to own slaves, the other did not.”

The bitch was that back then, this was largely true. Economics drove a lot of the tensions between North and South, and it was a lot more complicated than just slaves. There’s a pretty good article on it here. Sorry about the crappy formatting.

Example is far more important than anything you say. This isn’t a new idea either, but it’s critical. I found a purse once with my kids along, and we spent time figuring out where the owner lived and returned it. Another time, we found somebody’s cane in a parking lot. Fortunately, it had an address sticker on it.

I didn’t really say anything to my kids about these things, or give some inspiring lecture on honesty, or talk about what a swell bunch of folks we were for doing this. See kids? This is just what you do. Nothing exceptional or special about it. Like the right way to break an egg, or use a hammer.

I think we all know how bloody hard it would be for me not to give an inspiring lecture on something!

That is exactly the point I was trying to make, in fact, it’s the hidden nugget in my post (whether of gold or baser metal I leave for others to decide).

People, even honest people who are trying their best to do the “right thing”, will tend to see those policies that favor them as best for the community as a whole. It is not that they are evil, or hypocritical, selfish, or that they are fooling themselves. It’s just human nature. When judging the pros and cons on any question they have a stake in, they subconsciously weigh them differently.

Today, we consider slavery an abomination. But a century and a half ago a great war was fought to decide that issue. It would be absurd to believe the Union was filled with saints and the Confederacy with scoundrels. Public opinion and community pressure may have played a role in how people picked sides, but I’m sure it was mostly what people in each community perceived was best for everyone involved, even the slaves.

The major difference between those communities was that one was convinced its security, prosperity and freedom depended on the right to own slaves, the other did not.

Once you realize that, you can come to the understanding that your political opponents (even if you are convinced are totally mistaken) may not be monsters or fools. They just believe differently than you do, and they do so for a predictable and very human, (and for them, good), reason.

Incidentally, have you ever interviewed a lawyer or a mercenary on this issue?
I think the founding fathers understood this. And I think we have forgotten it.

Being a Libertarian, I leave people alone…unless it affects me on some level where my little voice becomes the elephant in my room of comfortable. I don’t sweat injustices on the grand scale like I used to. I still care. I just have to be selective if I am to survive my own convictions and moral compass. I have to fend off carrying too much.

Your Dad was right. I have written that very thing in my blog. This is not a difficult concept….however someone is always looking…ourselves.