Comment by Benny the Icepick on March 4, 2013 at 9:37am

I don't really understand the argument against horse slaughter.  Isn't it the same as any other slaughterhouse operation?  It seems to me the opposition is grounded in emotion rather than reason.

Comment by Benny the Icepick on March 4, 2013 at 9:41am

Also, good riddance to Jim Villanucci, though my beef is less with him than it is with the whole talk radio format in general.  No matter who is behind the mic or what their political leanings might be, it always seems as though they sacrifice integrity for ratings via feigned outrage and lack of any rational thought.  Sure, it's nice to give a voice to the people, but when there's no accountability, no fact checking, no expertise, and really no one to call out logical fallacies, it's just a bunch of hot air and misinformation.

Comment by shotsie on March 4, 2013 at 10:48am

I finally got to stop by Rebel Donut on Saturday, and was going to try the BB donut - but - it's planted on a damned cake donut!  I realize that there are two groups of donut-eaters out there - cake and raised, but I would think they would make both, just to keep all parties happy...  (So, I got a French toast donut and the world's cheapest double expresso - $1.25..)  Also, I'm willing to bet they get the blue rock from the Candy Lady, and, if they do, they should share the love and let the media know - you know what happens when you cut out suppliers...

Comment by Aaron Greenwood on March 4, 2013 at 12:09pm

@B_the_I Sorry to paraphrase your words but it makes the start of my response easier since your words are apropos and general enough to fit what I have to say.

Feigned outrage and lack of any rational thought is a characteristic of politicians of any stripe from the White House on down.  Talk radio is no different than any other broadcast media and as well as print for that matter. There is no accountability, no fact checking, no expertise and no one to call out logical fallacies.  Media and ideological entities deliberately produce a bunch of hot air and misinformation.  It all tends to propaganda.

Giving a voice to the people is not for anyone to give.  Freedom of speech exists outside of authority.  What others can do is silence people and infringe on their right to speak as a human being.  The First Amendment starts with the words "Congress shall make no law prohibiting .."  Such language precludes any infringement, including requiring that in order to exercise that right it is contingent on supervision of any kind, such as being rational or having accountability.  Such things are arbitrary and subjective and lead to Inquisitions of either ideological or religious flavor. (McCarthyism)

The elitist view is that the people are incapable of making decisions for their own lives without supervision. It is called the collective spirit.  We are not responsible for ourselves, thus others are.  This kind of thinking gives the state power over the individual.  It is that mentality that powers the expansion of government control.  Too many favor the supremacy of the state over the individual.  It is why I choose libertarian/egalitarian philosophies.  Freedom of speech is in danger.

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