Tocqueville

Generally speaking, people are not very ardent or indomitable or energetic in their affairs when their personal passions are not engaged. Yet their personal passions, however vivid they may be, do not propel them either very far or very high unless these passions keep growing before their own eyes, unless they seem to justify themselves by being related to some greater cause for the service of mankind.

It is due to our human sense of honor that we should be in need of this stimulant. Add to passions born of self-interest the aim to change the face of the world and to regenerate the human race: only then will you see what men are really capable of.

That is the history of the French Revolution.

Its narrow-minded and selfish nature led to violence and darkness; its generous and selfless elements made its impulse powerful and great.

— Tocqueville, Quoted in John Lukacs, Alexis de Tocqueville: A Bibliographical Essay

Good Article on John Lukacs

The Lettered Reactionary, by John Rodden and John Rossi. Thanks to ibergus.

Letter from the CBO on Costing Single Payer Health Care

In answer to the question, Is CBO costing H.R. 676 or other Single-Payer legislation?


Sun, Sep 6, 2009 at 6:01 PM

CBO produces formal cost estimates of bills when they are reported out of committee. As no committee has announced plans to vote on that measure, I am not aware of any plans to provide a formal estimate. If there is a vote on an amendment containing the text of that measure, it is possible we would provide the members with some understanding of its fiscal impact. That could be in the form of a letter or memo or table; I do not know.
I hope this helps.

Melissa Merson
Director of Communications

Looking into the Future — and the Past

Requisite Organization, 2008 Presidential Election Information

See also: Alison Brause, December 11, 2000: New Research Explains Dilemma in 2000 Presidential Election

About Elliott Jaques.

On Elliot Jaques: Art Kleiner, Elliott Jaques Levels with You
 

Redistribution of Wealth

Why does the phrase raise a red flag?

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.
— Acts 4:34–35

A Conservative for Obama

A Conservative for Obama, by Wick Allison

Comments

Straining and Swallowing

Many supposedly Christian supporters of John McCain are blind voters, who strain out a man who has sat down with sinners (as who, including Jesus and John McCain, has not?) and swallow an adulterer.  These blind do not sin by their blindness, but since they say "We see," their sin remains.