An Example of Bad Journalism
This is the worst case of journalism I’ve ever seen. The purpose of the article is obvious: paint Wal-Mart as big, greedy, evil and naughty-naughty. Let’s analyze what actually is going on.
The contract with Wal-Mart and the lady was that Wal-Mart doesn’t have to pay for your medical expenses if you get someone else to pay them. That makes sense. The CNN report calls that the “fine print”. BS. That’s not “fine print” that’s obvious. You don’t need to have medical expenses paid for twice.
The only reasoning given in this case for the lady (yes, I would say that this reporter tried everything in her power to flex a little influence for the “underdog” in this situation, regardless of the facts or contracts) is that “In 2007, the retail giant reported net sales in the third quarter of $90 billion.”
Read that again. Wal-Mart is a “Giant”. Understood — yet loaded language. Now seriously, go read it. Why was that sentence placed there? To show a comparison between the rich and the poor. Wal-Mart had a single spokesperson represented — the man had tons of ways to make his points, even though HE AGREED THAT WAL-MART WAS RIGHT.
The point of the story? The poor lady might not have a right to the money. She might not “need” it for medical expenses — but daggumit, she’s poor. Wal-Mart’s not. Oh, and Wal-Mart is evil.
Journalism my foot. That’s pure argumentation. Get a blog lady, and leave journalism for journalists.
Why I’m a Capitalist
A couple of months ago, I was with a group of radical anti-capitalists. They thought that government was the answer to life, the universe and everything. They thought that businessmen secretly cheat on their wives and beat their children, whereas the poor starving individual was heroically beaten down by the brutal financial leaders. Maybe I’m stretching it a bit. But when I announced to them that I was a capitalist, they just gave me a blank stare.
“Why on earth?“, was the simple question.
Here’s a paraphrase of what my answer was. First I defined capitalism as being a simple idea. It’s where the government leaves the corporate world alone, and doesn’t try to do business work in a senate committee with people who have never done business. Capitalism is economic freedom.
There are six reasons I like capitalism. They are as follows:
6. I like big business
Restrictive economic policies target big business. No, this doesn’t mean it’s good for the workers. Think about it. Hurting big business hurts the whole business — workers are part of the business.
Every restriction for big business ends up trickling down and hurting their workers, either through fewer pay upgrades or through laying people off to increase efficiency. Restricting big business is restricting the little guy.
Oh. And big business is actually good. Why? Because they became “big”. How did they become big? The market — or, for the socialists — society liked them. Big business only gets that way by offering the people nice stuff. If the people like it, then they aren’t evil.
It’s really not complicated. But we’ve been told by the restrictive forces of the world that big is bad, that little is good. I propose an alternative: both are good. Speaking of which, that brings us to reason number five.
5. I like small business
I work at a small business. My family runs a small business. This business is based on our family working hard. We’re not evil. We’re good. We help other business by helping them market their products and advertise to increase their profits.
By working hard, we only succeed through helping others succeed. Capitalism allows us to do that unhampered. But restrictive policies severely restrict our ability to do business.* Restrictions that might not seem like much to us on paper can be devastating in real life. Real people go under every time we pass another law. Every restriction destroys lives.
4. I like rich people
Rich people aren’t evil. I don’t care what Hollywood wishes me to think about “The Capitalists”. I won’t buy the commie propaganda. I like rich people. I don’t like snobs. There’s a difference. Poor people can be snobs. Rich people can be snobs. Rich people can be jerks. Poor people can be jerks.
The rich that I’ve met in my life are the hardest working individuals I’ve ever known. There’s a reason they are rich. And I appreciate their work, and recognize that their hard labor paid off both for them and the countless people who gained from the micro-economic impacts of their labor.
3. I like poor people
Liberals paint themselves as loving poor people. So they increase government programs, welfare, restrictions on the rich, etc. But their restrictions on business cause unemployment — liberalism causes poverty. Their welfare encourages dependence on federal aid, psychologically keeping the poor in their poverty. I am a capitalist because I hate poverty.
I am a capitalist because I hate poverty. I am not a liberal because I care about the poor enough not to buy into emotional arguments that realistically destroy the working class. Freedom brings prosperity.
2. I like justice
Capitalism is where everyone is allowed to unleash their minds in order to produce and achieve. You don’t get rich being a moron. You have to use your mind or muscle. Or, for most, a mixture of the two.
Capitalism rewards the hard-working and punishes the lazy. It’s the only economic system on earth that does this. This is why it works.
As Ayn Rand said:
“The moral justification for capitalism lies in the fact that it is the only system consonant with man’s rational nature, that it protects man’s survival qua man, and that its ruling principle is: justice.”
1. I like money
I know. I’m supposed to pretend like the only thing on earth important is people and puppy dogs. But guess what? I like nice stuff too. And so does the liberal. And Obama. And Edwards. Especially them. See, they like being commies in theory. But in reality, they like “capital”. They like money. They like private jets, private islands, nice food, nice clothes and $500 haircuts.
And you know what? That would have been fine, if only they didn’t pretend that it was evil. In their hearts, they know there’s nothing wrong with working hard and establishing a fantastic house, expensive car and great lifestyle for your kids. They know there’s no reason to think that we should restrict business owners, or try to go against wealth.
But in policy, they stop. They pretend that greed is wrong, because other people want your money (read that a few times, and see what’s amiss). But when it comes down to it, they know that capital is good. They live like rich cats.
Ironically, it’s for the same reason as me. There’s nothing wrong with material wealth. The whole goal of economics is understanding how to get our wealth to be maximized. Well, I have news for the news people and the politicians of the world:
Try Capitalism. Capitalism sets mankind free to work and achieve his values. It lets people barter in peace and choice rather than being manipulated by Washington elites. Capitalism works because it’s based on that age old principle that the human mind works best when it’s set free. Capitalism works because freedom works.
So that’s why I’m a capitalist.
*Our family business is an oldies radio station. The FCC’s policies are often random, restrictive and expensive. They hurt our customers and communities by forcing us to keep prices artificially higher than they would be if we didn’t have the nearly random restrictions.
My Last Words
So the other day I was thinking about what I would say if I knew that I could write one letter, or a note, to the whole world, and know that they’d read it.
Well, there’s so much that I want to say about all of the important things that make life what it is. Something tells me that the “Christian” last letter would be to say something about living for God, but I know that it’ll take a hey of a lot more than this note to convince anyone of anything like that. I know the “freedom” loving letter would be something along the lines of asking for a defense of social and economic liberty, but that’d take even longer than talking about religion.
So when it comes right down to it, I guess there really isn’t any cliche statement that needs to be said that can be said in just a few paragraphs. So instead of convincing the world of any idea, instead of addressing you all as people who need convincing — I’ll just say some words to the people that probably could use some encouragement.
The people that I’m writing to are the heroic individuals who aren’t blind followers. I would expound a little more, but, that’s just exactly who I’m talking to. So here we go:
Whenever you see a group of people laughing at you because they think your shoes just aren’t quite up to par, it’s okay. Their shoes probably suck as well, and the people in charge of fashion and trends just don’t know it yet. Give it 12 months, and the popular opinion will be on your side.
Whenever you see a politician talking out of his rear, making up stuff so that the fools of the world will give him a few more months of that sweet power, just know that something is terribly amiss. You’ll be heads above the rest if you do that, at least. Most people don’t even know that there’s something wrong with the man. Or woman.
Whenever you see that pastor asking his people to be blind, and to be proud of their ignorance, or when you see him arrogantly defending some doctrine that doesn’t matter at all, while he props himself up in his little empire that they call the church… it’s okay. By his own standards, he’s going to get what he deserves for it all in the end.
Whenever you see that person that puts a bad taste in your mouth, but you know that they have hundreds of “friends”, and they could destroy you and make you look bad without even trying…just remember: they’re more miserable than all the people they hurt for sport.
Whenever you feel like you just can’t do something, and you feel down about yourself, and you are beating yourself over the head, and you wish you had someone to give you a hug, but no one wants to hug you… chances are, you deserve the pain. There’s no place for pointless self-pity. Get over it. Happiness is a choice. Be who you want to be, then deal with the consequences.
Whenever you see a Christian reference a popular junk-food “devotional” book, while they say that faith doesn’t make sense, that God is above “human logic” and that we have to utterly “abandon ourselves”…and then they walk away and buy some nice pants, and a shirt that they saw some famous person wear, and then they go back to their life and their pursuit of that Mac and the nice cell-phone, and they can’t wait for that wonderful drink at Starbucks, and they keep on living so differently than the trash they read — it’s okay. They know you’re right. They just don’t know it yet.
Whenever you’re in a crowd of people, and you feel funny because everyone is expecting you to do something, and you aren’t quite sure what that is, and then they end up laughing at you because you used a word in a way that they weren’t expecting, or you blurted out an obvious truth and they want to play their cowardly little games — it’s okay. The jokes on them. They just don’t get it yet.
In the end, just remember that it’s okay to be you and to not be everyone else. It’s okay to start your sentences with “I” instead of “We”. It’s okay to laugh at the guy who has the big audience, and is making a lot of money with some lies to the people who just want something easy to believe.
You’re on the right track. Just don’t fall away, and join the ranks of the people who actually think that if you wear the right kind of pants you’re a cool person, or if your glasses don’t look nerdy then you really aren’t, or that your car makes you something, or that saying the “right” thing is really the right thing at all. Just don’t give in to them. You haven’t yet. Ideas do matter. You are right. It’s okay to be a “just me”.
So what would you say? Pour your guts out. 
Total Makeover?
As many of you know, I love blogging about Making Money Online — it’s a great hobby and part-time job for me. I’ve bought a lap-top and some other cool stuff with my income generated through my blogs. I’m the main author and operator of Reason and Capitalism, Rebirth of Freedom, Money Talks, Rational Christianity and several other blogs.
However, I’m thinking about merging several of them. My “Money Talks” blog is located at ShaunConnell.com/make-money-online. The URL is, well, obviously hard to remember. So I’m thinking about doing the following:
1. Turning “ShaunConnell.com/make-money-online” into a static tutorial on making money online. The blog part will be zapped out.
2. Turning ShaunConnell.com into a blogging-blog — a blog about business, money, making money online and the like.
3. Having 1-2 off-topic posts per week on ShaunConnell.com, both to spicen the site up, and simply as an outlet for my random ideas that I think the readers might appreciate.
4. All political writings will go to the RoFF.
5. All philosophical/religious writings will go to Rational Christianity.
6. All personal writings go to my facebook account.
Thoughts? I’ll obviously have to rename the blog to something else, like “Money Talks” or something similar. Any suggestions?
Government and Morality
I present a challenge to any Christian who believes that governments have more of a right to use violence than everyday citizens. I want you to point out a verse, somewhere in the New Testament, that gives government an /exclusive/ right that the citizenry don’t have. Then tell me exactly what that is, from the Bible.
Be careful. If you are conservative, your entire political philosophy rests on this. Otherwise, you have a lot of explaining to do.
“There is in all a strong disposition to believe that anything lawful is also legitimate. This belief is so widespread that many persons have erroneously held that things are ‘just’ because the law makes them so.”
-Frederic Bastiat
Be a Savior
I have really strange taste in music. I like Irish Punk, classic rock, classical music period, heavy, and pretty much everything in between. The following song by My Chemical Romance is one of my favorites. It’s about a man who’s on his deathbed, and is thinking back on his favorite memory, when his father took him to a parade, and asked him to use his life to help others. The first lyrics are simply incredible.
Welcome To The Black Parade Lyrics
When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.
He said,
“Son when you grow up, will you be the saviour of the broken,
The beaten and the damned?”
He said
“Will you defeat them, your demons, and all the non believers, the plans that they have made?”
Because one day I leave you,
A phantom to lead you in the summer,
To join the black parade.”
When I was a young boy,
My father took me into the city
To see a marching band.
He said,
“Son when you grow up, will you be the saviour of the broken,
The beaten and the damned?”
Sometimes I get the feeling she’s watching over me.
And other times I feel like I should go.
Through it all, the rise and fall, the bodies in the streets.
When you’re gone we want you all to know We’ll Carry on,
We’ll Carry on
Though your dead and gone believe me Your memory will carry on
Carry on
We’ll carry on
And in my heart I cant contain it
The anthem wont explain it.
And we will send you reeling from decimated dreams
Your misery and hate will kill us all
So paint it black and take it back
Lets shout it loud and clear
Do you fight it to the end
We hear the call to
To carry on
We’ll carry on
Though your dead and gone believe me
Your memory will carry on
We’ll carry on
And though you’re broken and defeated
You’re weary widow marches on
And on we carry through the fears
Ooh oh ohhhh
Disappointed faces of your peers
Ooh oh ohhhh
Take a look at me cause
I could not care at all Do or die
You’ll never make me
Cause the world, will never take my heart
You can try, you’ll never break me
Want it all,
I’m gonna play this part
Wont explain or say i’m sorry
I’m not ashamed,
I’m gonna show my scar
You’re the chair, for all the broken Listen here,
because it’s only
I’m just a man,
I’m not a hero
Just a boy, who’s meant to sing this song
Just a man,
I’m not a hero
I — don’t — care
Carry on
We’ll carry on
Though your dead and gone believe me
Your memory will carry on
We’ll carry on
And though you’re broken and defeated
You’re weary widow marches on
We’ll carry on
We’ll carry on
We’ll carry on
We’ll carry
We’ll carry on
Dying Professor’s Last Lecture
This is long, but it’s incredibly amazing. You need to watch it. A professor discovered that he only had a few months to live, and is prepared to deliver his last lecture. He doesn’t pout, or whine — he says he wants to have fun with the rest of his time on earth. Incredibly encouraging. Incredibly inspiring. It’s no wonder, because he’s an incredible man.
The Church is Lame
Warning: Random Rant Following.
I’m currently reading the book “Starving Jesus”, written by the guys at XXXChurch.com. These guys aren’t afraid of doing the right thing, even if it offends someone, or makes them go “omgosh! they talked about porn/sex/booze”. The book has been incredible so far, and the honesty that they write with is simply amazing.
For example, they didn’t go to church for years though they were in full-time ministry. I can completely understand, given that so many aspects of the church are random, irrational and unbiblical. Church has become a cult of tradition rather than a group of believers. Shame on it. At one point in the first chapter, the guys literally say, “Church sucks!” Dead on.
I’m probably going to write more about this at Rational Christianity, but I just wanted to rant a bit. The church is afraid of talking about sex, about porn, about movie content, about philosophy, about whether greed is okay, about materialism, about anything. The most radical churches I’ve ever seen (out of the dozens I’ve attended, ranging from baptist to reformed to dancing and screaming charismatics to uber-conservative-homeschool-shelter-groups ;-p) never tackled the important issues.
We seem to be lost in the doctrine and have lost focus in the people. Or we get caught up with the people and lose focus in the truth. I’m not condemning doctrinal studies — I’m eat up with doctrine. But I know that doctrine without action is not just pointless, it’s freaking /wrong/. But focusing on the people without understanding the doctrine is utterly stupid.
Most churches have a “mission” that they support. They might financially support the mission a bit, and some of the more biblical churches might go out of the country once a year. Once a year. What’s wrong with us? We hear the word “mission” and we think “third-world country”. Ladies and gentlemen, America has a need like we can’t believe for reform. The philosophy of America is collapsing. There’s more to being a missionary than building houses — note that I say /more/. I’m not saying we should stop the missions we’re on, I’m saying we should /add on to what we’re doing/.
There’s no such thing as a “part time mission” or “full time ministry”. That’s a damned philosophy of Satan. We’re all full-time here, whether we suck at doing spreading the message or not. Being a Christian isn’t a once-a-week or a something that happens with starving kids in Africa. It’s a question of loving God with our minds, which means we have to stop the intellectual slobbery that says “not everyone can think well”, and move past the idea that being a stupid Christian is more holy than a intellectual Christian.
Polls show that 50% of America has dumped protestant Christianity. Go to CNN, it was one of the top stories for days. Religion is dying in America, and there’s a reason. Christians are acting like idiots, are embracing blind-faith, are treating church like a little social subculture rather than an outreach.
Salvation
I woke up, startled, felt feverish. It was only three in the morning. The darkness was more potent than usual and I couldn’t see a thing. He was talking to me again. But I didn’t believe in the voices in my soul, because I knew they weren’t real.
Good God!, I screamed at those who didn’t exist. Why do you haunt me? Why can I not live on the basis of the rational truth? I felt the universe chuckle, as though this was a cosmic-wide joke. I knew what reality was saying to me, that I had no point, and that empty feeling didn’t exist, and that I was the happiest man in the world. It was a joke, and reality was laughing.
I didn’t lay back because there was no use in trying to sleep. I can never fall asleep again after waking up in the middle of the night. Sitting up, I pretended that my mind was not screaming in agony. I’ll shrug off self-denial as long as I can, and no one will ever know. Maybe I can even fool me.
What’s wrong?, He asked, knowing the answer. I decided to pray one last time, no one had to know that I prayed all the time. I’m sure they always prayed at night. Everyone prays when alone, just to give the idea a second shot, I justified.
God if you’re there, Oh my God, save me from me, save my life from being spent. I knew that He wasn’t there as he held my hand. I love you, said one shadow, figments of my imagination. What are you doing, I screamed, how dare you wrestle with my mind? Why have I gone mad, I cried, the tears had come again — I hate crying, because I know I’m not a weak person.
But my mind loved the frolic. It’s all just a game, I guess. The universe looked as though it were about to speak a profound truth, before uttering that which I knew was true as I lied to me. Then all spoke. You ask me who I am. Some men build houses. Some men paint pictures. I am the one who sets the captive free.
Then set me free oh my GOD! Don’t allow my burn in the hell of life, I am the one who asks to be set free, don’t pass me God, make me believe you, make me trust you, fulfill in me all that I cannot fulfill myself. Wretched chains, dirty rags, unbelieving soul — save me.
And our journey began.
The Philosophy of Rational Happiness
I believe that there is a universal reality that we are all apart of. Reality does not exist because we perceive, we perceive because reality exists. In order to understand reality we must use at least two basic means of reason — logic and sense. The two should never contradict and should be used to compliment each other.
Our purpose in life is that which we choose. I’m a Christian existentialist. At first this sounds contradictory, but given some thought it reasons out perfectly. I believe that man should find his purpose in life, and act accordingly. How to determine one’s purpose? Happiness.
Happiness is the emotional response to the achievement of one’s values. People who win the lottery experience at least temporary happiness because they valued the lottery.* People who love others achieve happiness through treating others as though they love them. It is not wrong to achieve one