Everything But the Apathy

Micha Ghertner, over at Catallarchy, gives “a hearty “Hell Yeah”,” after reading a Fred Reed piece titled “This Ain’t Fifth-Century Athens.”  In the piece, Fred casts his eye on voting and democracy, and he puts forth some very fine reasons not to vote, for example,

“Voting in particular is an embarrassment, being a public display of weak character and low intelligence. Let us face the truth: Democracy, like spitting in public or the Roman games, is the proper activity of the lower intellectual and moral classes. It amounts to collusion in one’s own suckering.”

Further into the piece, Fred proposes the following, in regards to how to react, or contend, with government.

“First, and most important, stop regarding yourself as part of government. Government doesn’t concern itself with you; why should you concern yourself with it? The change of attitude provides both relaxation and perspective.”

Not bad advice, per se, but Fred also proposes developing the following.

“Finally, cultivate apathy, which is cheaper than Prozac and works better. You do not worry about what you do not care about. I do not propose a depressed scowl at life, but merely a wholesome indifference toward those forces malign and otherwise over which you can have no influence.”

Once again, I don’t necessarily think this is bad advice, but, I cannot embrace a wholly apathetic attitude toward government.  I cannot wholly embrace Fred’s suggested apathy towards government, because I cannot bear to see MY country’s continuing degeneration into the morass of socialism, especially when I consider the future of my children.  Though preceding generations have left me with an increasingly nannying and more intrusive government, I cannot bear the thought of leaving the same to my children.  I want to give them something more.

Additionally, apathetically allowing the government to continue to pick my pockets, or license me for this, that, or the other thing, is akin to allowing myself to be rounded up and put on a boxcar for resettlement in a camp where work will set me free.

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/08 at 04:16 AM

  1. Apathy …? You’re kidding me right?

    Try Apathy the next time someone tries breaking into your house.

    Try Apathy the next time someone is raping one of your daughters.

    Daddy – Help Me!

    cultivate apathy, which is cheaper than Prozac and works better. You do not worry about what you do not care about.

    Sorry Darling … but you’re not my concern.

    a wholesome indifference toward those forces malign and otherwise over which you can have no influence.

    I guess if you can’t beat the rapists, you might as well join them?

    Rapists, Murderers – criminals, they love (your) apathy. But what is one to do? A single man cannot stand against the mammoth relentless system. You are merely the hapless victim of Fate … ehh Mr. Venlet?

    I apologize for disturbing your slumber.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  07/08  at  09:10 AM

  2. I look at it, if nothing better, than neutralizing the vote of one statist which might count, otherwise.

    To participate in your own hanging, is not a bad idea if it weakens the rope critically.

    Giving up the ghost without a struggle is ‘apathetic’ without the first ‘a.’

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  07/08  at  09:51 PM

  3.   I don’t know, I really enjoyed that piece by Fred, as I do most of his writing. It had that Carpe Diem ring to it—a day-to-day philosophy I like to agree with. The question lurking in his advice, if you want to read it as advice, is why struggle against what you can’t change only for the sake of struggle?

      Which is not to counsel capitulation against all evil, only that one ought to focus one’s resources on personal fulfillment rather than pissin’ in the wind. Sounds to me notably egoistic and wise.

      Voting? Seems like a glorious waste of time, particularly for us here in Alaska, at least as far as presidential elections go. Typically the outcome will have been decided hours before the polls open here.

    Posted by RKN  on  07/08  at  11:04 PM

  4. If you ain’t part of the solution…..

    Posted by bithead  on  07/09  at  10:49 AM

  5.   Solution?

    Posted by RKN  on  07/09  at  11:59 AM

  6. Why, sure.

    Is it logical to toss away the only lightbulb, and live in the dark, all because the bulb you don’t htink the one you have, to be bright enough?

    Why give up the only real voice one has?  Sure, I agree the choices aren’t perfect…(What choices ever are?)

    However, all one does by refusing to vote realisticly, is to cede power to the poeple who will move things in *EXACTLY* the wrong direction.

    This is helping?

    Posted by bithead  on  07/09  at  12:32 PM

  7. To what solution do I contribute by casting a vote for X or Y?

    Posted by RKN  on  07/09  at  01:17 PM

  8. Wouldn’t you aree with me that the drift toward socialism is an issue?

    Posted by Bithead  on  07/09  at  08:33 PM

  9.   Sure, but my vote for this or that republicrat will not stop the drift toward increased socialism. Worse, it would sanction it.

    Posted by RKN  on  07/09  at  09:16 PM

  10. I can’t beleieve you don’t see any difference on the matter between Clinton, for example, and Bush. Let’s take some figures…

    Non-Defense, Non-Homeland Discretionary spending under George W. Bush

    15 percent in 2001 (Proposed by President Clinton)
    6 percent in 2002
    5 percent in 2003
    4 percent in 2004
    0.5 percent for 2005


    I’d say that’s a pretty substantial difference, and a serious motion towrd the reduction of the socialist state, wouldn’t you?

    Posted by Bithead  on  07/10  at  10:22 AM

  11. Um, everyone’s aware that their vote for President is worthless, right?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  07/10  at  12:14 PM

  12. I can’t beleieve you don’t see any difference on the matter between Clinton, for example, and Bush. Let’s take some figures…

    Oops

    Uh Oh

    Say What?!

    No, Can’t Be!

    Arggh!

    Unf—-ing Believable!

    Bastards!

    Egads—All Of Them Are Socialists!

    Posted by RKN  on  07/10  at  01:22 PM

  13. Sorry, no sale.
    You do your cause no help by using such a broad brush, I’m afraid.

    Posted by Bithead  on  07/10  at  10:03 PM

  14. And try something other than Cato, next time.

    Posted by Bithead  on  07/10  at  10:22 PM

  15. And try something other than Cato, next time.

      Why, do you have evidence that their data is wrong?

    Posted by RKN  on  07/10  at  11:09 PM

  16. The data I posted, for one thing.

    Posted by bithead  on  07/12  at  08:18 AM

  17. bithead,

    Surely you aren’t suggesting that Republicans are not responsible for leading us straight into hell, are you?

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  on  07/12  at  08:42 AM

  18. The data I posted, for one thing.

    Which came from where, you didn’t state your source. Cato isn’t known for spin, you know.

    Regardless: My last word on the subject.

    Posted by RKN  on  07/12  at  09:42 AM

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