tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post9176429801478134508..comments2024-03-19T07:48:54.021-06:00Comments on Gus Van Horn: 9-25-10 HodgepodgeGus Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-53714537525418168742010-09-25T19:46:04.506-06:002010-09-25T19:46:04.506-06:00It sounds like those schemes combine the worst of ...It sounds like those schemes combine the worst of "get rich quick" AND "high effort success." Sad and infuriating, both.<br /><br />This reminds me of a couple of vignettes from my time when in the submarine force, believe it or not.<br /><br />Once, a fellow JO was getting ready to take leave for what he vaguely said was a "meeting." I cracked wise and asked whether it was "an Amway convention," not imagining in a million years that was possible. <br /><br />"As a matter of fact, yes," was his reply. I didn't know what to say to that. <br /><br />Another JO I knew from nuke school fell for it, too. I liked him then, and once we were both stationed in Norfolk, he came over to visit me and my wife at the time, which sounded great to me -- until the "visit" morphed into an Amway sales pitch.<br /><br />Both gentlemen were college educated and I know that at least one of them progressed fairly far through the submarine officer career path.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-66213821236241912202010-09-25T17:17:25.738-06:002010-09-25T17:17:25.738-06:00In regards to the idea of overworking a task, a go...In regards to the idea of overworking a task, a good case in point would be multilevel marketing schemes (Amway, ManCave, health juice nonsense, etc). A recent episode of Penn and Teller: Bullshit laid this out really well. Such schemes *rely upon* the employee's sense of genuinely trying to work hard to advance. But all they do is exploit this earnestness in order to perpetuate their pyramid schemes. They speak to a number of good, hard working employees who simply don't know any better, and then when things don't go well they blame *themselves*. It's truly infuriating to see the entire scam.Richardnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-15754966859599207842010-09-25T16:49:42.486-06:002010-09-25T16:49:42.486-06:00They (meaning the GOP) are unlikely to, but intell...They (meaning the GOP) are unlikely to, but intellectual activists will have to put forth that type of argument (be it to politicians at appropriate opportunities or to voters in editorials or to other people in conversations). <br /><br />For an excellent example of what has to be done, in terms of arguments, see the <a href="http://www.westandfirm.org/articles.html" rel="nofollow">various writings of Paul Hsieh and other FIRM contributors</a> on that issue. For the overall strategy, consider the historical example of the <a href="http://gusvanhorn.blogspot.com/2008/01/indeed-indeed.html" rel="nofollow">abolitionists</a>.<br /><br />The GOP are probably thinking only in the sort term and will probably get nowhere, but that doesn't mean we have to.Gus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-6669616229300206262010-09-25T16:15:55.830-06:002010-09-25T16:15:55.830-06:00if they were to oppose it on moral grounds what do...if they were to oppose it on moral grounds what do you think they would or should say ?<br /><br />would they just say: "before we discuss the needs of the uninsured and those who need health insurance we must first talk about the rights of the healthcare providers. The providers are free to offer or deny their services to whomever they wish. Furthermore we must ask the important question: should some have to pay or provide for the healthcare needs of others ?"<br /><br />I Imagine that the uproar will be quite loud and they will be painted as meanmonoreply@blogger.com