Awesome John Stuart Mill Quotes

"The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental or spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest."

John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859

"War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself."

John Stuart Mill

"The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant."

John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

"Over one's mind and over one's body the individual is sovereign."

John Stuart Mill, On Liberty

There's nothing I can add. How prescient that these things were said over 100 years ago. I guess it's true, those that do not study history are doomed to repeat it.

Life Imitating Seinfeld

I think that most of us, except the truly party blind among us, can agree that our current President really does not have the experience, nor the common sense, necessary to take our country back into the world leading economic and military powerhouse that it once was. So, I was pondering this predicament when I remembered an episode of Seinfeld. Kramer somehow found his way to the inside of a business, and managed to make people think he actually worked there. He wanted to become successful at this business, even though he wasn't actually employed. He was "fired" with the folowing conversation:

Kramer: "What did you want to see me about, Mr. Leland?"
Mr. Leland: "Kramer, I've been reviewing your work. Quite frankly, it stinks."
Kramer: "Well, I've been having trouble at home and, uh, I'll work harder. Nights, weekends, whatever it takes."
Mr. Leland: "No, no, I don't think that's going to do it. These reports you handed in, it's almost as if you have no business training at all. I don't know what this is supposed to be."
Kramer: "Well, I'm just trying to get ahead."
Mr. Leland: "I'm sorry, there's just no way that we can keep you on."
Kramer: "I don't even really work here."
Mr. Leland: "That's what makes this so difficult."

Now, try this version:

President Obama: "What did you want to see me about, American Public?"
American Public: "President Obama,we've been reviewing your work. Quite frankly, it stinks."
President Obama: "Well, I've been having trouble at home and, uh, I'll work harder. Nights, weekends, whatever it takes."
American Public: "No, no, I don't think that's going to do it. These reports you handed in, it's almost as if you have no economic training at all. I don't know what this is supposed to be."
President Obama: "Well, I'm just trying to get ahead."
American Public: "I'm sorry, there's just no way that we can keep you on."
President Obama: "I don't even really work here."
American Public: "That's what makes this so difficult."

The ease with which it overlays is almost eerie...

Random Thoughts

When driving away from a red light, your minivan should not be outrun by the fully loaded semi truck/school bus/cement truck in the lane next to you. The people that are behind you on their way to work know that, too, and that's why they used the lane behind you, and not behind the aforementioned large lumbering vehicle.

Despite common knowledge, you will not, in fact, get a large electrical shock if you use your turn signals to let your fellow drivers know your intentions.

If you run out of gas, and the gas guage reads empty, claiming that "the low fuel light never came on!" will only elicit guffaws by the guy working on your car when he points out that you don't, in fact, have a low fuel light.

If you are the only one at 4-way stop, it is your turn. The guy behind you knows this, too.

When driving on the highway, it is perfectly acceptable to leave the left hand lane to allow faster traffic behind you to safely pass you. You are not a traffic cop, trying to keep people from speeding. Unless you are a traffic cop, keeping people from speeding, then you are. Still, you should let traffic pass you on the left. It's safer that way.