Rational Nation USA

from: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Tidbits of wisdom from the ancient past. Since happiness is an activity of soul in harmony with virtue, we must consider virtue to see if she can help us to understand happiness. The student of politics studies virtue above all else since he wishes to make his fellow citizens good and obedient to the laws. Aristotle Our American politicians obviously did NOT study Aristotle. Source

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Words have consequences as Clippers owner Donald Sterling found out in a very large way. His 80 years of life experiences should have taught him this lesson. But old beliefs and habits die a hard death. If his bi-racial (eye candy) ex girlfriend V. Stiviano is telling the truth it confirms Sterling's racism as well as his social awareness stupidity (or perhaps senility) to boot. Sterling's reported remarks give a glimpse not only into the innermost feelings of Donald Sterling, but into a greater reality as well. A reality many refuse to recognize or admit, even if they recognize it exists. The reality that bigotry, racism, and intolerance does indeed still exist in 21st century America. There has been criticism from fringe right buffoons with all the misinformation and BS that accompanies totally agenda driven rhetoric. As typical the truth lies beyond the rhetoric . Mr. Sterling, banned for life from assoc...

from: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth In Georgia open carry on display. The NRA , and politicians bought by the NRA can be proud of the lunacy they have worked to create. Read the article BELOW THE FOLD. Via: Memeorandum

From: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Freedom of speech is a right all free people are entitled to. Using good judgement in the exercise of that right is prudent. If making public addresses requires a permit it is advisable to do so. Paul Weston, chairman of the party Liberty GB found this out first when a women, hearing Mr. Weston quote something she found offensive used the fact he did not have a permit (authorization) to get him arrested. Liberty GB - Today Paul Weston, chairman of the party Liberty GB and candidate in the 22 May European Elections in the South East, has been arrested in Winchester. At around 2pm Mr Weston was standing on the steps of Winchester Guildhall, addressing the passers-by in the street with a megaphone. He quoted the following excerpt about Islam from the book The River War by Winston Churchill: "How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a...

From: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth One of the better reviews IMO of the Piketty book “Capital in the Twenty-First Century” is by David Brooks in The New York Times . Excerpt - ... Politically, the global wealth tax is utopian, as even Piketty understands. If the left takes it up, they are marching onto a bridge to nowhere. But, in the current mania, it is being embraced. This is a moment when progressives have found their worldview and their agenda. This move opens up a huge opportunity for the rest of us in the center and on the right. First, acknowledge that the concentration of wealth is a concern with a beefed up inheritance tax. Second, emphasize a contrasting agenda that will reward growth, saving and investment, not punish these things, the way Piketty would. Support progressive consumption taxes not a tax on capital. Third, emphasize that the historically proven way to reduce inequality is lifting people from the bottom with human capital re...

From: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Time to shed the right -vs- left, socialism -vs- capitalism hyperbole and purchase Thomas Piketty's new book " Capital in the Twenty-First Century. " PARIS — Thomas Piketty turned 18 in 1989, when the Berlin Wall fell, so he was spared the tortured, decades-long French intellectual debate about the virtues and vices of communism. Even more telling, he remembers, was a trip he took with a close friend to Romania in early 1990, after the collapse of the Soviet empire. “This sort of vaccinated me for life against lazy, anticapitalist rhetoric, because when you see these empty shops, you see these people queuing for nothing in the street,” he said, “it became clear to me that we need private property and market institutions, not just for economic efficiency but for personal freedom.” (emphasis mine) But his disenchantment with communism doesn’t mean that Mr. Piketty has turned his back on the intellectual ...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Debbie Wasserman Schultz, that bumbling Congresswomen and Chairperson of the Democratic National Convention doesn't believe politics or political considerations will play any part in Obama's final decision on the Keystone XL pipeline. Righto... and we have a bridge to sell ya Debbie. In you case it would be "A Bridge To Nowhere" because that is obviously where you spend most of your time already. We do have to give this however, she certainly is the willingly obedient sheeple that the President knew she would be. Se certainly is not disappointing her BOSS. POLITICO - Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz doesn’t believe President Barack Obama’s decision on the Keystone XL pipeline will be swayed by politics. “As a member of Congress who represents hundreds of thousands of people in south Florida, I want to make sure the right decision is arrived at and that the president mak...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Came across an article in the FEDERALIST that is intriguing and thought provoking. It is one particular women's response to and article in the Atlantic and talks about risk taking and feminist perceived insecurities. Why Are Feminists So Insecure? 6 Reflections On The Confidence Gap I read the piece and was completely flummoxed by it, for a variety of reasons. Here are six reflections on the most serious problem of our era week: The Confidence Gap. 1) It isn’t about confidence. The article is really about risk-taking and how men differ in their risk calculations from women. To give just two examples from the article, and to give you an idea of its tone: “We watch our male colleagues take risks, while we hold back until we’re sure we are perfectly ready and perfectly qualified.” “If a woman walks into her boss’s office with unsolicited opinions, speaks up first at meetings, or gives business advice above her pa...