George Carlin: You Don’t Need a Formal Conpiracy
Comment: "There is no national conspiracy to buy elections and control America."
George Carlin: "You don't need a formal conspiracy, right? When interests converge, these people went to the same universities and fraternities are the same directors. They're in the same country clubs. They have like interest. They don't need to call a meeting. They know what's good for them. They're getting it. And there used to be seven oil companies. There are now three. It will soon be two. The things that matter in this country have been reduced. In choice. There are two political parties, there are a handful of insurance companies. There are about six or seven information [companies] but if you want a bagel, there are 23 flavors, because you have the illusion. You have the illusion of choice."
https://x.com/LightOnLiberty/status/2005792249175822799
The Powerful Urge to Censor
Harvey Silvergate, co-founder of FIRE:
The sexual drive is the second most powerful human instinct. The urge to tell our fellow humans to "shut up" is first. As long as men and women hold positions of power, they will abuse that power. So the problems we face are eternal, which means we must always have a watchdog to keep that power in check. Thank goodness we have that in FIRE.
[From Mass-emailing Dec 23, 2025]Cancel Culture, Again
Today I felt compelled to post this on Facebook, where it will probably fly over the heads of the intended targets:
When I read something I disagree with, it has never occurred to me to engage in ad hominem attacks, in other words, to call the author names or to characterize them as morally repulsive or suspect. I don't comment on posts and articles that I haven't actually read. And when I read something I disagree with, I put some effort into giving the author his or her best foot forward. I work hard to avoid characterizing people as "good" or "bad." "Good" people often make errors or have lapses in judgment. "Bad" people often say things that are true, even wise.
If one disagrees with a post, there's always the option of disagreeing with the content (foregoing the ad hominem attacks). One can also ignore the post or even stop following that person. To the various people on this site who prefer ad hominem attacks to civil discourse (they might not realize who they are), I suggest "The Canceling of the American Mind," an excellent book by Greg Lukianoff. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Canceling-of-the-American-Mind/Greg-Lukianoff/9781668019153
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