Philosoraptor Asks If We Should Be Happy That Things Are Awful in Iraq
Philosoraptor provides an example of the kinds of things that pot-smoking philosophers find time to think about: Is it good that Iraq has been a disaster? He answers with a qualified affirmative, and I’m not sure I can find any flaw in his argument.
June 20th, 2005 at 7:16 am
The best paragraph is the last:
“It is possible, then, that the best outcome we can hope for in Iraq is a costly and painful victory. That is exactly what we seem on course to achieve. Paradoxically, such a mixed blessing may be the very best thing we can hope for. “
June 20th, 2005 at 9:08 am
Leftbehind:
Do you honestly beleive that this endeavour has made America safer in the world? Are you winning the hearts of Muslims?
Costly? Yes. http://www.costofwar.com
Painful? Yes.
Victory? We shall see. But I would already mark this invasion down as a massive failure. Just watch the news every morning.
June 20th, 2005 at 10:48 am
Rise Against- I don’t think I made any statement other than I believe the last paragraph of the article was the best. If this alarms you, I suggest you take it up with Philosoraptor, who is the author of the piece, not me.
June 22nd, 2005 at 7:02 am
If this guy doesn’t think that bush will spin the war into a clear-cut easy win, he’s insane. The 45% who approve of how Bush is doing his job will buy it all too.
Thus far, the most we’ve ever heard from the Bush administration (regarding the difficult war in Iraq) is that “it’s hard work”. And his greatest folley…”we won too fast”. So according to Bush, we’re so fucking good, that our own awesomeness is our greatest problem….and we still re-elected his dumb ass.
I also strongly disagree with Philosoraptor’s assessment that the average American is uninformed about policy. I have a really hard time believing that some bureaucrat’s assessment of both policy (especially domestic policy) is smarter than anyone else’s. I mean, all of the policy issues are up for debate, and there’s no ‘right’ way to do it — especially with all of the partisan muck in the way. Maybe Joe Carpenter doesn’t care, and if that’s the case, Philosodude doesn’t account for that. However, if Dubya can grasp onto some sembelance of his own policies, forget about Joe Carpenter, he’s light years ahead of Bush — even Johnny Special Olympics should be able to get it.
This stuff isn’t difficult to understand, it’s just difficult to make everyone happy. Plilosoraptor’s comments are akin to saying that people are too stupid to think for themselves and need an ‘educated’ group of professional politicians to think for them (who are somehow magically smarter than the rest of us). I tend to disagree. Does anyone here think that American politicians are the cream de la cream when it comes to American intellect? People can definitely decide which policies that they like, and which they don’t — it doesn’t take any special stroke of genius. Just because he doesn’t agree with how they vote doesn’t make them too stupid to make their own judgements.
-Ethan P
June 22nd, 2005 at 11:42 am
I agree with Philosoraptor’s assessment that most of us are ignorant of what goes on in our government. I pay more attention than most, but I’ve still got a day job, a wife, and my own pursuits to attend to.
I have no idea what I was voting for in the last election. I’d only heard of one name on the ballot (the frontrunner for governor). So I did what I assume most people do: I voted for the party I assume will represent me the best.
None of the candidates had said anything that I agreed or disagreed with, because I’d never heard of them before. I’m not stupid, I’m just ignorant.