Friday, April 4, 2008

Burke vs. Reason (the magazine)

Reason recently named its '35 heroes of Freedom' (madonna made the list, believe it or not)but ironically the 'freedom' reason advocates- or much of it at least, has meant less real freeom and less certainly less reason (small r)

Burke vs. Reason

by Kevin Michael Grace | Jan 18, 2004

Reason believes that the world has become "groovier" since 1968, the year of that magazine's founding. Not merely "groovier," mind you, but "groovier and groovier." In celebration, it has nominated "35 heroes of freedom," freedom apparently being synonymous with grooviness. This list, and the reasons given for the selection of the "heroes" therein is sufficient to persuade me that modern libertarianism, at least as exemplified by Reason magazine, is not a philosophy suitable for adults.


Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites...in proportion as they are more disposed to listen to the counsels of the wise and good, in preference to the flattery of knaves. Society cannot exist, unless a controlling power upon will and appetite be placed somewhere; and the less of it there is within, the more there must be without. It is ordained in the eternal constitution of things, that men of intemperate minds cannot be free. Their passions forge their fetters.



Other news, probably one of the most under-rated and under-read magazines in the US - the American Conservative - finally has a blog (where I found this) ... the magazine often has 'thinkers' from the left side of political spectrum - but ones that don't simple parrot the mainstream media/establishment dogma...anyway here's the link and this week's nugget:
“NATO is no longer a static alliance focused on defending Europe from a Soviet tank invasion. It is now an expeditionary alliance that is sending its forces across the world to help secure a future of freedom and peace for millions.”
–President Bush, April 2, 2008

I could hardly believe my eyes when I read that...'nuff said.

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