Comments on: My Favorite Liberal Review of Freedom in Chains http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/ Author James Bovard Thu, 17 May 2012 04:40:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: D. Saul Weiner http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27861 D. Saul Weiner Wed, 28 Feb 2007 17:58:18 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27861 If you in fact stated that the NIH had done some good in this book, I would say that you were being charitable! If you in fact stated that the NIH had done some good in this book, I would say that you were being charitable!

]]> By: americanintifada http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27841 americanintifada Wed, 28 Feb 2007 16:19:06 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27841 Jim, This review has the odorous stench of a poorly written book report by a high school English student who failed to actually read the book, depending solely upon cliff notes and blarney for content. One cannot expect much more from an alleged journalist who would stoop so low as to work for LA Slimes. By the way, I HAVE been to Oklahoma City and they are still fighting the "Injuns" back there. It's the only city in America that had a non-union GM plant and they used to brag about that! In that town, they would mis-pronounce your 'chilling Pole-Mick' and regard it as a racial slur, thinking that you meant someone's ethnic background on a cold, wintery day! Jim,

This review has the odorous stench of a poorly written book report by a high school English student who failed to actually read the book, depending solely upon cliff notes and blarney for content. One cannot expect much more from an alleged journalist who would stoop so low as to work for LA Slimes.

By the way, I HAVE been to Oklahoma City and they are still fighting the “Injuns” back there. It’s the only city in America that had a non-union GM plant and they used to brag about that!

In that town, they would mis-pronounce your ‘chilling Pole-Mick’ and regard it as a racial slur, thinking that you meant someone’s ethnic background on a cold, wintery day!

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27762 Jim Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:33:24 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27762 Larry - I'm glad to hear that you common sense has swayed all so far. It's a good principle, and I hope more people are open to it. Larry - I’m glad to hear that you common sense has swayed all so far. It’s a good principle, and I hope more people are open to it.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27761 Jim Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:31:33 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27761 Tom - on the bright side, at least my paranoia of government drives me to drink - the one thing I have to thank politicians for. Tom - on the bright side, at least my paranoia of government drives me to drink - the one thing I have to thank politicians for.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27760 Jim Wed, 28 Feb 2007 04:27:06 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27760 Don - some of the less emphatic reviews of the book noted that it sought to tie closely together ideas and their policy results. I can understand why Statists would find this riling. Thanks for the kind words on A.D.D. I hope the book is also good for a few laughs. Don - some of the less emphatic reviews of the book noted that it sought to tie closely together ideas and their policy results. I can understand why Statists would find this riling.

Thanks for the kind words on A.D.D. I hope the book is also good for a few laughs.

]]> By: Don Bangert http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27755 Don Bangert Wed, 28 Feb 2007 03:44:14 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27755 Jim, I think the answer to your question of what Mr. Day thought of your book can be found in his comment, "The reasons for his opposition lie not in an inquiry into the facts but in his ideology..." (Except you have to turn it around.) Mr. Day opposes your book because he feels you've threatened his ideology by presenting an inquiry into the facts. Good book! I've just started Attention Deficit Democracy... So far: Excellent! Thanks for going where many dare not tread. Jim, I think the answer to your question of what Mr. Day thought of your book can be found in his comment, “The reasons for his opposition lie not in an inquiry into the facts but in his ideology…” (Except you have to turn it around.) Mr. Day opposes your book because he feels you’ve threatened his ideology by presenting an inquiry into the facts.

Good book! I’ve just started Attention Deficit Democracy… So far: Excellent! Thanks for going where many dare not tread.

]]> By: Tom Blanton http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27596 Tom Blanton Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:52:37 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27596 "Bovard doesn’t think much of civilized society." Apparently, Mr. Day thinks civil society and government are one and the same thing. This guy is a real hoot - I laughed so hard that I had an attack of political paranoia. But, you're still an evil bastard, Bovard - you and your chilling polemics that rile up the militias. Not to mention your quivering hatred of government. “Bovard doesn’t think much of civilized society.”

Apparently, Mr. Day thinks civil society and government are one and the same thing. This guy is a real hoot - I laughed so hard that I had an attack of political paranoia.

But, you’re still an evil bastard, Bovard - you and your chilling polemics that rile up the militias. Not to mention your quivering hatred of government.

]]> By: Larry Ruane http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27589 Larry Ruane Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:02:52 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27589 It has taken me many years, but I finally realized that it is impossible to convince people like this reviewer that their love of big government is misplaced. They consider us to be a threat to something they consider to be very valuable; they view us as destroyers. So, lately I've begun to say: If you are satisfied with your relationship with your government, be my guest; don't let me stand in your way. Create as many "programs" (Social Security, Medicare, etc.) as you like. Best of luck! (And I really do mean that.) But if some of us disagree, and don't want to belong to the club, please leave us out of it! Each person should be free to decide which (if any) government he wants to contract with. And I don't want to have to have to physically move to switch -- I can change my cell phone service provider without having to sell my house. Of course, this also implies that anyone should be able to start competing governments (within the same geographic area). You can get even lefties to agree that monopolies are bad. Government by the consent of the governed, literally! So far, no one I've put this to has been able to come up with a counter-argument that even he thought was sufficient or convincing. It has taken me many years, but I finally realized that it is impossible to convince people like this reviewer that their love of big government is misplaced. They consider us to be a threat to something they consider to be very valuable; they view us as destroyers.

So, lately I’ve begun to say: If you are satisfied with your relationship with your government, be my guest; don’t let me stand in your way. Create as many “programs” (Social Security, Medicare, etc.) as you like. Best of luck! (And I really do mean that.)

But if some of us disagree, and don’t want to belong to the club, please leave us out of it! Each person should be free to decide which (if any) government he wants to contract with. And I don’t want to have to have to physically move to switch — I can change my cell phone service provider without having to sell my house. Of course, this also implies that anyone should be able to start competing governments (within the same geographic area). You can get even lefties to agree that monopolies are bad.

Government by the consent of the governed, literally!

So far, no one I’ve put this to has been able to come up with a counter-argument that even he thought was sufficient or convincing.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27581 Jim Tue, 27 Feb 2007 04:43:39 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27581 The only problem I had with the L.A. Times piece was that I wondered what the reviewer really thought. The reviewer's diffident manner made it difficult to get a sense of his real feelings for Freedom in Chains. Actually, the mindset shown in this review is probably very widespread. I think this helps explain why the Friends of Leviathan cheered on Bush after 9/11 for one legal atrocity after another. The only problem I had with the L.A. Times piece was that I wondered what the reviewer really thought.

The reviewer’s diffident manner made it difficult to get a sense of his real feelings for Freedom in Chains.

Actually, the mindset shown in this review is probably very widespread. I think this helps explain why the Friends of Leviathan cheered on Bush after 9/11 for one legal atrocity after another.

]]> By: Jim http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27580 Jim Tue, 27 Feb 2007 04:38:03 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27580 I fear that my books fail to bring about the moderate disposition lurking in reviewers' hearts. I fear that my books fail to bring about the moderate disposition lurking in reviewers’ hearts.

]]> By: Adam S. http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27577 Adam S. Tue, 27 Feb 2007 04:29:21 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27577 This review was just pitiful because it begs the question in the fifth to last paragraph with the "civilized society" comment. Societies form first, they then create governments. Under the reviewer's own logic, the United States was formed, like Athena from Zeus' head, straight from the heart of Washington,D.C., and it is only because the drones in the bureaucracies clock in every day that the U.S. isn't descended upon by Mongol hordes. I beg to differ. When I wake up in the morning, I don't pound my chest, take a deep breath and go "Gee, I wonder what's going on in Washington today?" I should have to care as little about the federal government as I do about the roadkill I see on my way to work. Furthermore, does it even make sense to talk about the "public interest" or the "common good"? The public good is "...defined tautologically as the interest of all the people considered as a whole rather than any interest of any particular group of them..." No one can talk with any due seriousness about government providing goods and services. The bulk of American history shows that government has not always, and should not, much less cannot, provide anything for anyone. Beyond running the military, the government is so myopic an entity that I want to entrust as little as possible to them. The reviewer's attitude is, again, absolutely condescending. He really views all people as puppets. They should all turn around and bend over so he can put his hand up their backside and make them talk the way he wants to. This review was just pitiful because it begs the question in the fifth to last paragraph with the “civilized society” comment. Societies form first, they then create governments. Under the reviewer’s own logic, the United States was formed, like Athena from Zeus’ head, straight from the heart of Washington,D.C., and it is only because the drones in the bureaucracies clock in every day that the U.S. isn’t descended upon by Mongol hordes. I beg to differ. When I wake up in the morning, I don’t pound my chest, take a deep breath and go “Gee, I wonder what’s going on in Washington today?” I should have to care as little about the federal government as I do about the roadkill I see on my way to work.
Furthermore, does it even make sense to talk about the “public interest” or the “common good”? The public good is “…defined tautologically as the interest of all the people considered as a whole rather than any interest of any particular group of them…” No one can talk with any due seriousness about government providing goods and services. The bulk of American history shows that government has not always, and should not, much less cannot, provide anything for anyone. Beyond running the military, the government is so myopic an entity that I want to entrust as little as possible to them. The reviewer’s attitude is, again, absolutely condescending. He really views all people as puppets. They should all turn around and bend over so he can put his hand up their backside and make them talk the way he wants to.

]]> By: Adam S. http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27574 Adam S. Tue, 27 Feb 2007 04:03:29 +0000 http://jimbovard.com/blog/2007/02/26/my-favorite-liberal-review-of-freedom-in-chains/#comment-27574 The reviews of Mr. Bovard's books are almost always the same, outside of the Libertarian press. Dismissive (that is most)reviews sound something like this: "Mr. Bovard, in another rabid Libertarian broadside, unnecessarily attacks our benevolent and providential government as an evil, cancerous excrescence that must be trimmed back. He does not understand that all men have a childish side and loved being talked down and dirty to. Therefore, we must have an iron-fisted, patronizing state to lead us by the hand. The very thought of freedom gives most sheepish, opium-smoking intellectuals like me the willies. This book is first-rate garbage because it isn't despairing in its prospects for the future of America. It tells the truth instead of giving us hatred. Big Government is a good thing if we all just manage it well and elect virtuous people to office. Why who will give us cheese and third-world, second-rate goods and services, other than the government? Anyone who opposes the way our exploitative social arrangements are made is a baby-eating, terrorist-loving, enemy of the STATE. So there Mr. Bovard!" The reviews of Mr. Bovard’s books are almost always the same, outside of the Libertarian press. Dismissive (that is most)reviews sound something like this: “Mr. Bovard, in another rabid Libertarian broadside, unnecessarily attacks our benevolent and providential government as an evil, cancerous excrescence that must be trimmed back. He does not understand that all men have a childish side and loved being talked down and dirty to. Therefore, we must have an iron-fisted, patronizing state to lead us by the hand. The very thought of freedom gives most sheepish, opium-smoking intellectuals like me the willies. This book is first-rate garbage because it isn’t despairing in its prospects for the future of America. It tells the truth instead of giving us hatred. Big Government is a good thing if we all just manage it well and elect virtuous people to office. Why who will give us cheese and third-world, second-rate goods and services, other than the government? Anyone who opposes the way our exploitative social arrangements are made is a baby-eating, terrorist-loving, enemy of the STATE. So there Mr. Bovard!”

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