You walk into a crowded barroom and hear the customers complaining about oppression. In response, you begin asking them questions, much as a gadfly might do -- even Socrates.
Instead of answering, they get quiet. You can hear a pin drop. You sense the mood shifting from outraged to sullen.
And you know there'll be two answers forthcoming.
One: Who invited you to come in here and ask me to back up my opinions with facts?
Two: How'd you like to get your ass kicked?
To hear the little people respond like this isn't surprising, seeing as they were raised to think that "injustice" is a term that applies only to tax rates and user fees.
To watch elected officials behave in the same manner is sad, but so dysfunctionally New Albanian.
With answer one, you just grew the "little" population by an order of magnitude our community isn't yet ready to address.
ReplyDeleteHow's that economic restructuring coming along anyway? Might there be some policy issues in need of attention? Might addressing them affect the possibility of desired outcomes?
Nah, couldn't be. Sorry to have alarmed anyone. Go back to sleep. We need the rest to do the same thing over again tomorrow. It's tradition.
How about this? I will let you barrow my books about Socrates and you will let me barrow yours. Then we will find out if we are reading the same things.
ReplyDeleteSocrates avoided arguments and he used "reason" to find the "truth" not "facts" in the constext your using.
Nice angling, Rog.
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ReplyDeleteborrow
ReplyDeleteHappy Randy?
Can't be good at everything can we?
The great things is I can always improve my spelling.
ReplyDeleteBe back later I have to wash my hair.
The stakes for New Albany might be higher than some think. Warren Buffet issued a warning concerning municipalities not meeting bond obligations, calling the problem "a 'dangerous business.'”
ReplyDeleteWhat happens when a city of 47,000 doesn't honor it's bond debt on time?
In a recent article in Bloomberg News, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania was one of the cities used as an illustration:
"In Harrisburg, the City Council voted down a proposal on Feb. 13 to sell assets, including an island in the Susquehanna River, to cover debt services on bonds issued to build the (city's) incinerator, some of which are insured by Assured Guaranty’s Financial Security Assurance unit.
The city guaranteed some bond payments, which total $68 million in 2010, or $4 million more than Harrisburg’s entire proposed operating budget. Officials have said they may not meet the obligation.
There has never been a default like this in Pennsylvania municipal finance history,” Carol Cocheres, bond counsel for the Harrisburg Authority, told a City Council meeting Dec. 14. “This is all new territory.”
Ratings Repercussions
Harrisburg was downgraded to five levels below investment grade by Moody’s Investors Service on Feb. 9. The city’s general obligation bonds were cut to B2 from Ba2 and a negative outlook on the community of 47,000 was maintained.
The Bloomberg News article can be found at:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a8ChhVLkubxA
I'm glad to see RemCha is so interested in Socrates as we'll be hosting Socrates Cafe sessions at Destinations starting next month! Dr. Barry of the IUS Philosophy department might stop by, some of his students of the IUS Philosophy Club have shown a lot of interest as well. I invite RemCha to come down and join us for some philosophical discussion!
ReplyDeleteThanks Andy,
ReplyDeleteI saw that advertised not to long ago and thought it sounded like a great idea. Let me know when and I'll see if I can make it.
But seriously, you will have to promise me that Roger will not go crazy and attack me like he did Ms. Denhart or yell like he did at last Thursday's council meeting. Seems to get angry with people who disagree with him. Call them names and such. I think he may have an anger problem.
Yawn.
ReplyDeleteIt isn't anger. It's disgust. But what I DON'T have is a passive aggressive problem.
Not that anyone reading this does ...
Everyone has his or her own style of writing.
ReplyDeleteWhen have you ever seen me lose my temper? Ask yourself the same question.
When have I made fun of you or anyone of your friends other than the comment in this thread? Ask yourself that question.
I found this blog by reading your columns and what appeared as an invitation for readers to exchange ideas on local topics. What I discovered is people like you who are very hypocritical. There comes a point when even I tire of trying to work past others who live by double standards.
You have talked about me doing things were other people have tried and failed. I saw it early but wanted to give you and others the benefit and what I saw is the failure has a lot to do with this group here.
It is as simple as this I don't think you want to see anything improve because then you won't have anything to complain about and you will be left with reflecting about yourself. For me, as long as I live in New Albany I will truthfully want to see it improve. I'm well rounded and I don't fear change. You are the "unjust" you only do what is necessary to give the perception that you are just.
"Injustice is strife which arises among the three principles-a meddlesomeness, and interference, and rising up of a part of the soul against the whole, an assertion of unlawful authority, which is made by a rebellious subject against a true prince, of whom he is the natural vassal-what is all this confusion and delusion but injustice and intemperance and cowardice and ignorance, and every form of vice?"
If you like Socrates it is only because he gave you a model of an unjust person that you are. Gadfly? To call you that would be an honor. Disappointment is more like it.
Goodnight Thrasymachus
I guess the charm offensive is over.
ReplyDeleteSee today's first marquee posting.
ReplyDelete