Dear visionaries, Stan raises the interesting question of “tax breaks.” Note first that allowing an entity to keep its own money is being considered a “gift” from the government. And because it is considered a gift, it is not surprising that the principle that “he who takes the king’s coin becomes the king’s man” comes …
Lost in the Fog, But Making Good Time
Dear visionaries, What in blue blazes are you progressives all progressing to? You cannot by your relativism smash all the compasses and maps, and then cheerfully announce to us all that you are the “north-bound” party. What are you talking about? “Apologetics in the Void” are repostings from an on-going electronic discussion and debate I …
The Inescapable Trinity
Just finished Ralph Smith’s new book called Trinity and Reality. The subtitle says that it is an introduction to the Christian faith, which is quite true. But if I were trying to figure out what shelf to put it on, it would probably land on the “Christian worldview” shelf. And quite a cottage industry along …
The Miserables
Once there was a little boy who caught the miserables. It started at dinner, when his food was too hot and burned his mouth. So then he wouldn’t eat for a time, because he had the sulks, and when he finally got back to it, his food was too cold. He was so mopey after …
History for Everyman
The other evening we had my parents to dinner, and we had a delightful time at the table with them telling stories to our boarders. Most of these were stories I have heard my entire life, and some of them I had told on numerous occasions. As I listened, I was delighted to hear new …
Public Control of the Truth?
Dear visionaries, Janice wrote:”Public newspaper does not equal public education.Faulty logic! Shame on you.” I did not say that they were equal. But they are analogous. What argument can be brought against tax-supported newspapers that cannot also be brought against tax-supported schools? And such arguments would not work if applied to tax-supported street lights. …
Opting Out of Government Schools?
Dear visionaries, In talking about government schools, whether we should have to pay for asphalt that covers streets we never drive on is not a good counterexample. Of course we agree that collective societal action cannot be one vast time-share arrangement. The question is actually what criteria should we use to determine what kind of …
One Confused Puppy
A few days ago, I reviewed a volume of poetry by Rowan Williams, the current Archbishop of Canterbury. I knew a little bit about him before writing this, but a kind UK reader of that post sent me a couple links. One was the text of an address that Williams gave to a gay/lesbian organization. …
87 Billion
Part of the slipperyness of this presidential campaign can be seen in the taunts registered against John Kerry by the Republicans — “he voted for the 87 billion before he voted against it!” And I agree that Kerry’s explanations are lame, and that he is a flip-flopper, and so on. But none of this erases …
Another Crouton in the Salad of Pluralism
Dear visionaries, Morning, everybody. Time for that morning dose of vitriol! Gary was answered well on the statistical matters by Dale. Our discussion of this whole topic was not precipitated by the discovery that kids were coming into government schools at a “higher rate” than they were “pushing them through the doors of private schools.” …