Posted by hank,
Fri Jul 11 01:24:00 UTC 2008
Ayn Rand brings up an interesting point about Robin Hood in Atlas Shrugged. She argues that Robin Hood is remembered for robbing from the rich and giving to the poor based on need, and that this is not the correct way to think about the tale. Robin Hood indeed did rob from the rich and gave to the poor, but not because the poor simply needed money, but because the money had been stolen from them by the rulers. This is a subtle, but extremely good point. Robin Hood was simply giving people back their property, which they earned, that was stolen using overbearing taxation. In fact, theoretically, he should have been robbing from the ruling class and giving to all taxpayers the same amount they paid in taxes, assuming a progressive or income-proportional tax system. This would include people from the middle class, such as merchants, as well as the poor.
Tags: books
Posted by hank,
Sun Jun 29 15:36:00 UTC 2008
Here’s some nice bookmarks to remind you of the beliefs of the great Thomas Jefferson:
Update!
An interesting turn of events - it seems you really can’t trust quote sites!
See here
Originally, I had this quote:
A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.
This, apparently, is a false quote. I apologize. The new quote:
If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered.
was given by Matt Platte - thanks!
Pure democracy is a distribution of responsibility though, with none but a crowd (the largest crowd, in fact) holding the noose after a hanging. This is why we have representatives, because blaming the majority for wronging someone is dangerous in a democracy.
Tags: books
Posted by hardwarehank,
Sat Jan 27 17:19:00 UTC 2007
This book is about a guy who reads the entire encyclopedia. The format is a little unexpected: each section is based on a word, and may contain commentary from his life while reading the Brittanica, or the actual definition of the word with some humorous notes. I had a lot of fun reading it, and I think it’s the perfect read for people who aren’t interested in reading one large story, but about 1000 small ones.
Score: 9/10
Tags: books
Posted by hardwarehank,
Sat Jan 27 02:09:00 UTC 2007
Today, I’d like to recommend a book called Freakonomics. Now, I must say that this book has lots of opinionated material, but all of it is backed with sound statistical information that is explained in detail. From abortion effects on society to the internal financial workings of crack dealing, the authors do a very good job of filling your head with tons of information you’ve probably never even considered finding out.
Score: 9/10
Tags: books
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