In one of those old cartoons that — for better or for worse — taught moral lessons to a couple of generations of Americans, Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck come across a Middle Eastern cave filled with treasure. Searching every corner to make sure that he hasn't missed a penny, Daffy comes across a magic lamp, and its jinni does what jinnis do and offers him wishes.
But Daffy fears that the jinni is really after his gold, so he stuffs him back into the lamp... temporarily, before the jinni shoots back out and declares that there will be consequences. The duck dismisses the threat, saying, "Consequences, schmonsequences, as long as I'm rich."
The cartoon ends with Bugs' finding a pearl in a seaside oyster and a miniaturized Daffy appearing to claim it. "Mine! Mine! I'm a happy miser."
Two essays on very different topics, both by conservative stalwarts, brought that scene to mind — especially the part about consequences.
Continue reading on the Ocean State Current...
[Deleted. Commenters should be careful about the "you" whom they baselessly accuse of being "despicable." - JK]
Posted by: Sammy in Arizona at January 15, 2013 5:10 PMThanks Sammy,
Well said.
Here's one adapted from Alice's Adventure in Wonderland which political cyclops JK cannot see since he has no left eye. If we introduce Porky Pig as Capital we may have him saying:
I passed by the Market
And saw with my eye
How Capital and Labor were sharing a pie.
Capital took pie crust and gravy and meat
While Labor had the dish for its share of the treat.
When the pie was all finished, Labor, as a boon,
Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon;
While Capital took knife and fork with much savor,
And concluded the banquet by devouring Labor.
OldTimeLefty
I'd like to thank this blog for removing Sammy the Troll's irrelevant nonsense from Andrew's post last week. Long overdue. This would be another good opportunity.
Posted by: Dan at January 15, 2013 5:19 PMOTL - Are you really at the low point in your troll career where you have begun recycling your material like Sammy? Zero substance, but that goes without saying.
Posted by: Dan at January 15, 2013 5:22 PMDan,
Good to hear from you. Glad you remembered the post. It's very encouraging to know that you have a memory; now try learning something.
As to recycling old stuff. You sing the same song every post - "government bad, business good". "Sammy bad, Dan good". "Virginia good, Rhode Island bad".
Obviously, nothing gets below your neck. Wonder when the last time you smiled???
OldTimeLefty
OldTimeLefty
*Yawn* wake me up when you have something besides silly poems. Rhode Island has enough court jesters.
Posted by: Dan at January 16, 2013 7:53 AMDan,
There are people who believe in infinite growth, in an economy which forever expands and brings consistent wealth if only government would step aside and let a mythical thing like "The unseen hand of the so called free market" take care of all of us. These hocus pocus believers are well represented by you in this blog.
The only appropriate response to such nonsense is Alice in Wonderland.
Humorless people are dead from the neck down, and that particular shoe fits you very well. You are among the walking dead and no attempt at waking you will succeed until you open your eyes and your heart (assuming you have one) and look with heart and soul. So, no, I don't think that anything I say here will penetrate your self imposed and solipsistic happy ignorance.
OldTimeLefty
OldTimeLefty
OTL,
I expect almost all readers of these comments will recognize the rubber-and-glue factor with your comments, but you're well beyond the line to personal insult. Time to reel it in.
Posted by: Justin Katz at January 16, 2013 10:59 AMOTL - Never once have I advocated for "infinite growth" or anything even remotely resembling that ridiculous concept. The only fiction here is the imaginary character you've created to tear down for your own amusement. You're wrong - I do appreciate humor; it's laziness I abhor. Ring me when you have something to contribute.
Posted by: Dan at January 16, 2013 11:21 AMI find it amusing when demonstrably closed-minded people tell others they are closed-minded...
Posted by: Mike at January 16, 2013 3:34 PMHey, I feel bad for Kimball. No one wants to get bad news. You hope for a pain-free outcome but- you are presented with - well- a reality. His house was claimed by Sandy. A natural disaster. His house became a bay of seaweed and silt. By all means just rebuild as though nothing has happened. Right? And more federal disaster money? From all of us? No changes? So you want lax regulation that allows Kimball to do what ever he wants and when the next storm comes- well he can pick up another check?
Posted by: David S at January 16, 2013 6:29 PMAli Baba Bunny? Better than your conservative stalwarts.
Posted by: David S at January 16, 2013 6:45 PMAmazing that Warrington Faust's racist comment from some days ago does not get any sanction from the contributers here, but the heavy hand is applied to Sammy and OldTimeLefty. Justin you indicated that you were also troubled by the racist comments of one "Warrington Faust" and would soon address those comments. Well?
Posted by: Phil Spadola at January 16, 2013 7:35 PMSince you get no comments on Ocean State Current ( I would argue that instead of Current more apt would be to substitute eddy or backwater to describe the current situation of that flow of ideas and information) you might as well answer here.
Posted by: Phil Spadola at January 16, 2013 7:49 PMPhil,
I guess we are more tolerant of other viewpoints, thus don't attempt to silence others as you evidently feel duty bound to do. I note there was no celebration, either. Perhaps silence itself is a statement? I also find you amusing, by the way.
Posted by: Mike at January 16, 2013 8:18 PMPhil - It's not a difficult distinction. This blog generally tolerates unpopular or dissenting content as long as it is substantive and not solely intended for the purpose of disrupting the exchange of ideas. Tolerance is not endorsement. If you want rampant and arbitrary censorship of viewpoints that don't conform with the blog owner's ideology, go post on RIFuture.
Posted by: Dan at January 16, 2013 8:18 PMDan,
By its nature capitalism demands an ever expanding market. You are a capitalist true believer, that is why I say you believe in infinite growth.
You imply it so often that your stating it outright is unnecessary.
Care to comment on this. Don't get personal or Justin may intervene.
OldTimeLefty
P.S.
Please don't ask me to wake you up. You have to do that for yourself.
OldTimeLefty
"By its nature capitalism demands an ever expanding market."
Total Marxist nonsense and propaganda. You cannot support this statement.
"You imply it so often that your stating it outright is unnecessary."
I have never implied this. Infinite growth is a ridiculous concept. You can't address my arguments at face value, so you make things up.
Posted by: Dan at January 17, 2013 7:17 AM