Another book review.

Manifesto of the Communist Party by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.

It is supposedly one of the most influential political statements in the history of political society. I seriously doubt it. I think the concept of communism has been influential. The basic principle of communism is equality. That principle has spawned a lot of politics - socialism, communism proper and syndicalism.

But the Manifesto itself isn’t all that influential, in my opinion. The ideas are just too offensive to most people. The word “equality” sounds nice, until you think about it. But when you think about it, and reach the same conclusions as Marx, you end up saying absurd things like:

In one word, you reproach us with intending to do away with your property. Precisely so; that is just what we intend.

Of course property has to go. All property, all private ownership. Private ownership of anything leads to inequality.

And:

Abolition of the family! Even the most radical flare up at this infamous proposal of the Communists.
Do you charge us with wanting to stop the exploitation of children by their parents? To this crime we plead guilty.

(more…)

The BBC likes to run “progressive” columns that promote the humanist perspective, on everything from evolution (humans are just like monkeys) to anti-war propaganda (people die, you know).

One column they ran recently was titled “Japan’s food crisis”. As a native of Tokyo, the headline honestly made me laugh. Ask Japanese about a food crisis and you’ll likely be met with a similar response.

The column spoke of - and I quote - Japanese “struggles to produce enough food to feed its own people”, and stated that Japan was 124th in Food Security.

Japan is facing a labor shortage. Nobody wants to work in farms, when they can work in comfy high-tech skyscrapers and enjoy a modern lifestyle. Farming and agriculture is seen as the epitome of bad fashion taste, and for the wealthy Japanese to sink to the level of farm work is a shame. Chinese immigrants can do that work.

The irony is that, while the BBC column was intended to be innuendo in support of population control, Japan recognizes a different kind of population problem - i.e., a population shortage. The wealthy Japanese are not producing enough people to sustain their booming economy, and the government has responded by bribing Japanese to procreate, as much as 100,000 yen per child.

And Japan isn’t alone. Several developed nations are now offering financial incentives to couples to procreate. Italy and Australia also offer rewards to couples who do their reproductive duty.

It would be nice, today, if we could finally tar and feather the population control proponents and put that hysteria to rest. With the technology we have today, the earth can support many, many more than the one billions that the pseudo-scientists claimed just a few decades ago.

Invalid Arguments in the Abortion Debate

Nothing is more vexing than have to debate dishonesty and disinformation, or a combination thereof. It’s supremely annoying.

To illustrate, the debate of communism versus capitalism. That right there is an honest debate. No semantic games, just very different values and perspectives on society.

But the minute you enter the abortion debate, you’re greeted with a wealth of misinformation and a good measure of dishonesty, from people who are often otherwise intelligent.

(more…)

A Book Review

How the Pro-Choice Movement Saved America - Freedom, Politics and the War on Sex by Cristina Page

“Devastating. This book exposes the anti-woman, anti-family, anti-American, and anti-democratic goals of the far right’s true agenda.” - Roseanne Barr

With glowing reviews from such intellectual giants as Roseanne Barr, how could I not spent a paltry $11.70 to enlighten myself?

(more…)