Correlation Does Not Imply Causation

 I have some observations about slavery. Humans throughout history have been enslaved, even by their own culture and race. It was only in the colonial era, seemingly, that slavery has taken on racial overtones. I think this is for a few reasons.

1. The southern regions of what is now the United States, or the southern colonies, was rife with malaria. Africans had a natural immunity to malaria, having evolved and adapted to malaria in Africa. Therefore, black farm workers were less likely to be taken down by malaria. Southern plantation owners sought out these more reliable farm workers. Since slavery was still generally accepted in the world at that time, they bought African slaves. I'm not saying it's okay, just that it was. Today, they might hire African farm workers, which I believe would still be considered acceptable today.
2. Once Negro slavery became the common form of slavery in North America, we suddenly had a natural way to distinguish freemen from slaves. The skin color and other racial properties became a sort of uniform. Again, I'm not saying it's okay, but it was the case. In the industrial north, of course, black people were not assumed to be slaves, although they might be considered fugitives. That's not a given, however. 

This excerpt from Intellectuals and Race by Thomas Sowell describes some of the pertinent issues.

Important Principles to Reflect on For Independence Day

Read this first: What the Declaration of Independence Said and Meant, by Randy E. Barnett.

This should be required reading for all Republicans and by all school children. Mr. Barnett comments on the text of the Declaration of Independence, which we supposedly celebrate on Independence Day. Maybe. Here's the preamble, in case you forgot:

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, 

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

 

Charity, Prosperity and the Great Society

LBJ's Great Society created a massive increase in government welfare and oppression, in the name of helping the less fortunate. There is no question that any great society would voluntarily help the less fortunate. What is not so great is the government demanding that we help the less fortunate, imposing taxes and inflicting penalties for not doing so. A society that has to be forced by government to help the needy isn't a great society; it is pathetic.

A free and prosperous society will have more resources all around to help the needy. Even if capitalists spend all of their time and money working for themselves, the generated wealth spreads automatically, and no less equally than if government does it.

Charity is necessary to help those who are willing but unable to participate in the free market. A great society cares for these people. However, we are less likely to be charitable when we feel that our government has already taken 30% of our earnings, especially when they spend it on causes that we feel are unworthy. If those who would try to use the force of government to enslave us to further their own agenda, would instead exercise their first amendment right to free speech, they might convince more of us voluntarily to donate to charitable causes of our own choosing.