He's got a good point. The latter sounds like me. The former sounds like every idiotic do gooder I've ever heard argue for a new law or a tax raise on "the rich".

There is nothing more frightening than someone who really really knows what's good for you.

The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who divide the multiplicity of human personalities into a simplistic dualism, and those who don't.

Kudos to Cousin Dave for his most salient point! Heinlein's quote "sounds" good but it's pure nonsense. Way too many of the social engineers on the Left are NOT acting with the highest motives in any way, shape, or form.

Let me share a perfect example with you:

A few years ago a buddy of mine in Seattle and I were having dinner with a Leftie lawyer there named John. He grew up in a wealthy family in San Francisco, was educated at Yale, and then moved to Seattle to pursue his career. In terms of money, John never wanted for anything ... ever. Yet during this dinner conversation he asserted that in order to save the planet, it was absolutely necessary to bump up the price of gas with at least $5.00 per gallon worth of taxes.

Hearing this, my friend was fuming but to his credit kept a calm exterior and said: "John, you are wealthy enough to be able to live close to downtown and commute in a variety of ways. So increasing the price of fuel would have little to no effect on you. But what about the poor Mexican fellow who works at my company's cafeteria during the day and then works at night at a Mexican restaurant in order to support his family? He can't afford to live close to work so has to drive in about an hour to the first job and then another 30 minutes to the second job. If we were to invoke your plan, this fellow wouldn't be able to drive any longer and commuting that distance by bus simply isn't a feasible option. Why would you suggest doing such a thing to the likes of him?"

Absolute silence.

"Heinlein's quote "sounds" good but it's pure nonsense."

Well, when you did this,

"Way too many of the social engineers on the Left are NOT acting with the highest motives in any way, shape, or form."

...you used a political tag.

Can you name a leftist, as you use the term, who isn't professing to do what's best - for you? The point isn't what YOU see them doing. It's what THEY think they're doing.

And on the Right, the Senator doesn't believe your sexual activity should be private.
In the original version of the AP story, Santorum was quoted as saying:[1]

"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."

Speaking of trying to control your life ...

Heinlein's quote "sounds" good but it's pure nonsense. Way too many of the social engineers on the Left are NOT acting with the highest motives in any way, shape, or form.

I think the quote will make more sense to you if you turn your irony detector on.

Gog -

So-called "social conservatives" are nothing more than progressives with a religious bent. All progressives want people to be controlled "for their own good". The only real difference is that the leftists want to make our lives on Earth perfect, and the evangelists want to make sure we get to heaven.

Both have goals that are, of course, unachievable. But don't try to tell them that.

Brian--WHOO HOO--I'm not alone. I've been making this point for years (though I now put it more crudely; most social conservatives are anti-abortion liberals.)

Reminds me of a great quote by C.S. Lewis:

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. Their very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be ‘cured’ against one’s will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals."

"If the Supreme Court says that you have the right to consensual sex within your home, then you have the right to bigamy, you have the right to polygamy, you have the right to incest, you have the right to adultery. You have the right to anything."

What is he, nuts??? I get a date, I can't bang her in my own house (assuming her consent)? IS HE NUTS???

I'm not voting for him in the primary, needless to say.

I'm supprised Santorum still shows his face in public given the international joke Dan Savage made of his name.

I saw this bumper sticker today:

Democrats
People before Profits

I first read it as saying people are only democrats before they earn a profit. Then later I decided he probably meant for it to say Democrats prioritize people over profits.

I'm in favor of the rule of law. An abscense of authority will bring about chaos.

Saving the world is tough. Just ask Al Gore. It requires carbon indulgences and private jets.

The authoritarian class gets no pass on its motives, nor the results of its meddling. They've earned my ridicule, and they shall have it.