Archive for 2020
February 14, 2020
THE FEW BECOMING MUCH FEWER: Paul Farnes, 1918-2020.
MEANWHILE, OVER AT VODKAPUNDIT: Florida Man Friday: Fake Bernie Sanders Gets Real Dirty.
FROM “NOT REAL SOCIALISM” TO “NOT A SOCIALIST”: Ed’s post below is amusing to me given that I have a book about socialism in America coming out this summer. It’s astonishing how often socialists deny* socialism or being socialists.
In one example, socialists regularly says that actual existing examples of socialism aren’t and never were socialist. As Kristian Niemietz demonstrates in his brilliant book (unpriced download here) Socialism: The Failed Idea that Never Dies, the progression goes:
- Avowed socialists set up brave new socialist world
- The wheels start to come off. This is blamed on “wreckers” and foreign agents. The economy seizes up. Eventually people starve and the gulags get set up.
- Socialists explain this was never a real socialist system in the first place
Krugman’s intervention appears to be a different form of denial that I identify in the book:
- Socialists set out to win an election
- Recognizing the unpalatability of a socialist platform, socialists claim they actually only want to be “like Denmark or Sweden.”
- Socialists deny desirability of a thriving Nordic free market model that includes things like school choice in Sweden.
- Socialists unveil a platform that looks more like traditional socialism than anything currently on offer in Scandinavia.
- People who point out the discrepancy between 3 and 4 are vilified as supporting inequality, racism, etc.
If the socialists-but-not-socialists-really then win an election, expect things to progress as in the first progression.
Or, as Toby Young puts it, “socialism always begins with talk of the international brotherhood of man and ends with having to eat your own pets.”
*And of course, the only real “deniers” are climate deniers.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: Fighting Outbreak, China Urged Open Borders. Even Allies Are Resisting.
In Beijing and elsewhere, Chinese diplomats have pitched the crisis as a test of friendship, calling on foreign governments not to suspend travel links with China or to evacuate their citizens—measures Beijing decries as unnecessary, fear-inducing and unfriendly.
“True friendship emerges in times of adversity,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying has repeated in recent weeks.
It generally hasn’t worked. Three of the biggest U.S. airlines— American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines—have suspended passenger flights between the two countries, as have the national carriers of France, Britain, Egypt, Qatar and Vietnam, among others. More than a dozen countries have slapped entry restrictions on Chinese nationals or people who have recently been in China. . . .
Despite Beijing’s pleas, a number of countries—including governments that China counts as close partners—have put domestic concerns first.
North Korea, whose isolated government counts Beijing as a vital ally, was the first country to seal its border with China in January. Russia, another friend, closed land crossings with China and suspended visa-free travel between the two countries.
China has influence, but it fades when the chips are down.
Officials: No ‘Plan B’ for Tokyo Olympics amid coronavirus outbreak in China.
Exclusive: Senior China Diplomat Concedes Challenge of Coronavirus, Slams ‘Overreaction.’
Wall Street slips as coronavirus dampens optimism.
Consumer sentiment rises in February even amid the coronavirus outbreak.
First US coronavirus recuperating at home after receiving experimental anti-viral treatment.
Taxi driver diagnosed with coronavirus after driving Chinese tourists.
WHO team headed to China as coronavirus cases climb.
Jim Cramer hears globetrotting business leaders are ‘personally worried’ about coronavirus exposure.
NEWS YOU CAN USE: What to Look for in Defensive Firearm Training.
I’M SHOCKED — SHOCKED! — TO DISCOVER THAT GASLIGHTING IS GOING ON AT THE GRAY LADY: Hilarity Ensues After Paul Krugman Claims Admitted Socialist Bernie Sanders… Is Not a Socialist.
Related: Believe Bernie, he’s a socialist.
CREEPY PORN LAWYER UPDATE: Michael Avenatti found guilty on all counts in Nike extortion case.
Eagerly looking forward to CNN’s take on how this minor setback affects his 2020 presidential chances.
WELL, THIS IS THE 21ST CENTURY, YOU KNOW: NASA expects thousands to apply for astronaut jobs ahead of moon missions.
IT’S ALWAYS IN THE LAST PLACE YOU LOOK: Woman visits toilet at vegan cafe, finds ‘satanic sex cult’ meeting.
THE WICKER WOMAN: Woman visits toilet at vegan cafe, finds ‘satanic sex cult’ meeting.
SO MUCH FOR EXPERTS: Twice as much food is wasted as experts thought. But given the worldwide obesity epidemic, isn’t that good?
NEW SOCIALIST “IT GIRL” MEETS THE EDUCATION APOCALYPSE: Ocasio-Cortez Joins De Blasio In Call To Punish Asian Students.
OVER A WEEK IS TOO LONG: New Study Indicates How Long Coronaviruses Can Survive on a Surface.
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE TO GO BACK IN THE WATER: Venomous Snot Helps These Jellyfish Sting Without Their Tentacles.
I WAS EXPECTING AN EARTH-SHATTERING KABOOM: Just Before Our Sun Dies, Its Light Will Shatter The Asteroid Belt to Dust.