More Random Thoughts
I understand pumpkin spice cookies, candy, drinks, even candles. But dish soap?
When I got my first job, it was my understanding that my employer had control over what I did at work. They could implement a dress code, require employees to speak courteously to each other and customers, insist that we be on time, etc. As soon as I left work at the end of the day, my life was my own. I could go where I chose, say whatever I wanted, dress as I liked, etc. When did that change? When did we, as a society, decide that an employer owns a worker's entire life?
I'm old enough to remember when Republicans said that communists were horrible because they controlled what people could say, and encouraged citizens to snitch on their friends and neighbors, and expelled people from their jobs if they expressed even mild disagreement with the regime.
I must be really old, because I can remember when presidents, vice-presidents, and members of congress tried to behave and speak with dignity.
For decades, we've been told, "There are two sides to every story," with the implication that both versions are equally valid (often with comparisons to two side of the same coin). This is utter nonsense. Sometimes there are three, four, or ten sides. Sometimes, there are no sides, just a big blob. Often one of the "sides" is the truth and the others are something else. If you're indoors and a person tells you it's raining outside, while another says it's dry and sunny, you don't think these are two sides of equal validity. You stick your head out to see for yourself.
Lies, Stupid Lies
There are actually better defenses for this, ones that don't require completely letting go of reality. If nothing else, he could use some variation of the "locker room talk" excuse. It wouldn't be hard to say, "This was over 20 years ago, in a different context, and we were all just joking around, and yes, some people probably got carried away and wrote things in poor taste, but it seemed funny at the time." That, at least, could be seen as plausible.
"Privatize It"
The purpose of a government agency is to provide a service. The purpose of a business is to make a profit. When public services are privatized, the quantity and quality of the service is reduced in order to maximize profit.
In a free market, you can leave a business that provides bad products and services. When a business has a government contract, you don't have that choice, and you are paying (through taxes) for that bad service.
Let Them Consider Cake
One of my elementary school teachers told this story.
A woman had three daughters. She was determined to show no favoritism, and had dedicated herself to treating them equally and fairly at all times.
One day, the mother baked a beautiful chocolate cake, and served it for dessert. She carefully cut three identical pieces and gave one to each of her daughters. The first daughter considered chocolate cake to be about as good as any other dessert, so she thanked her mother and ate her slice. Chocolate cake was the second daughter's absolute all-time favorite. She ate her slice with intense enjoyment, and still craved more. When she asked for another piece, the mother refused because it wouldn't be fair to give one daughter more than the others. The third daughter thought chocolate was about as yummy as cardboard. She set her piece aside and asked her mother for something different. But the mother refused because it wouldn't be right not to treat the girls equally.
How often do you suppose these girls felt that Mom was treating them fairly?
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