Comment Archives: stories: Voices: Hoppe
Re: “Shining light on what we eat”
As the devastating impact of industrializing animals becomes increasingly evident, these Bills reveal the unprecedented extent Agribusiness will go to perpetuate agriculture’s “anything goes” attitude concerning animal welfare. 2/3’s of Americans support undercover investigation by welfare organizations to expose animal abuse on industrial farms. Meat producers respond by “manipulating our legislative process so that it can continue to abuse animals and workers while jeopardizing public health and our environment.” (BruceFriedrich: http://www.huffingtonpost.co/ /Anti-Whistleblower (AgGag) Laws Threaten Human Health, the Environment and Animals.)
When ittakes 25 gallons of water to make a pound of wheat compared to 5,214 (!) gallons for one pound of beef in California (http://www.ethicalvegetarian.com/), how we do we rationalize costly imprisonment of millions of animals?
By what authority we deny farm animals the life they have evolved to live. Citizens are asking, “Is it ethical to continue producing meat?” Change is inevitable, cruel systems self destruct.
Re: “The cost of cool: guns and cigarettes”
Enjoyed your writing.
And you got covered in reddit today:
http://www.reddit.com/r/GunsAreCool/comments/18w5dm/the_cost_of_cool_guns_and_cigarettes_the_story_of/
Re: “Shining light on what we eat”
Thanks for bringing some attention to this important bill. This bill would limit our right to know what is in our food supply and how the animals are being treated. Having no oversight is good for business, but terrible for consumers! If they don't have anything to hide, why are they so worried about this.
For instance, one Indiana farm, Rose Acre Farms, was exposed for horrific abuse just a few years ago. We would have never known about this if it weren't for these videos.
http://www.humanesociety.org/news/news/201…
Re: “The 10 worst college majors”
I think you are wrong to assume that a liberal arts education is a prerequisite for learning how to think. Fewer people of your generation went to college and employers took the mere fact that one had graduated as sufficient evidence that one could think and work. That does not mean that those without a college education could not think. In fact, many of them might have been hired as well. Once hired, you learned the ropes, and your degree began to be unimportant.
Today's employers don't wish to spend (waste) time and money training a liberal arts grad. They expect a prospective employee to have provided for his own training prior to applying for the job. That much of this shift in attitude is happening on the "boomers' watch" is intriguing.
Factory jobs have gone away and even some "high-tech" jobs are endangered. There are only so many jobs for the untrained and many more people are looking for those jobs. In that context, your concern about the declining value of liberal arts doesn't make the list of top priorities for most people.
Re: “Gun violence: A Constitutional showdown”
Liberals like Hoppe seem to think the 2nd Amendment has to
do with hunting or type of gun as the source of violence.
They are unwilling to look at mental illness, single parent homes, bullying, and a variety of other independent variables.
Size of magazines, type of weapon these are the real causes they postulate.
Violence in the inner cities go unresolved as most of the criminals use handguns to settle personal disputes. No liberal dares go there so when white kids are ambushed, they feel free to step up and blame guns. Typical double speak.
Re: “Gun violence: A Constitutional showdown”
The Founders of this country *wanted* the People to posses Military-Grade weapons. That's the point of the 2nd Amendment. It's not about Hunting or Target Shooting.
Early laws in the Colonies (at the time that there was no standing army) required all men to own a rifle, powder, and ammunition. Often, they were required to bring the rifle to church for inspection. They were fined if they didn't have the weapon and associate materiele.
"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American...[T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people." - Tench Coxe, Delegate to the Continental Congress in 1788-1789
"... God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty.... And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to the facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure." - Thomas Jefferson
"The great object is that every man be armed." - Patrick Henry
"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people Liberty teeth, and keystone under independence, from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to ensure peace, security, and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable, the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that is good." - George Washington
"Arms in the hands of the citizens may be used at individual discretion for the defense of the country, the overthrow of tyranny or private self defense." - John Adams
"The strongest reason for the people to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, is to protect themselves against tyranny in Government." - Thomas Jefferson
Of course, they were keen on self defense:
"Laws that forbid carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted, and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." - Thomas Jefferson
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not." - Thomas Jefferson
"The greatest danger to American Freedom is a Government that ignores the Constitution." - Thomas Jefferson
In Search of the 2nd Amendment film: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFAB…
A humorous, but correct, explanation and look at the 2nd Amendment from the Libertarian view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XrNzE39J8E
The term "Assault Weapon" is, at best, a misnomer since true Assault weapons are illegal without special permits from the Federal Government. At worst, the term is a scare tactic stalking horse for a deeper agenda of disarmament.
What is an "Assault Rifle"?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yATeti5GmI8…
More on the differences between an Assault Rifle versus the type of weapon used in Sandy Hook (the type there is talk of banning): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8YuPPWuGW8
Also: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ix_ed4YxUT8
Re: “Thomas Easterly. Again.”
Indiana: The Mississippi of the North.
Re: “Is local food trumping art?”
Thanks for bringing this discussion to the table, David.
Food is trumping buying and collecting art. I have noticed this problem & contribute to it - being both an artist & food lover.
Maybe the restaurateurs could consider expanding their art-like food creations to their walls via collecting. In other words, Art in restaurants should be a conceptual continuum of their creative food output & processes. Usually there is a huge disconnect between the art they have up and/or they think its okay to consign artists' art work (it's not).
Easy fix: Hope to see more restaurants BUYING art. Especially since the local "... quality of work on offer gets more interesting all the time".
LZ
Re: “Michigan, meet Indiana: Blaming unions”
I'm an apprentice in local 157 in Terre Haute In. I joined this union because it was string before Mich came and offered "right to.work", a bunch of BS if you ask me. I've noticed its a cummunity that makes a town a better place for our children and unions donate every year to there cummunities. Now you have us competiting with unskilled workers with no benefits and little pay?! So we have to bust ass harder to prove were better?! Its a dangerous game these political officials play with the working class man. I just want to provide for my family. Isn't that what its about?!
Re: “Michigan, meet Indiana: Blaming unions”
TIED FOR #10 TOP WELFARE STATE:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/31910310/page/6
Re: “Michigan, meet Indiana: Blaming unions”
What they don't realize is, NO ONE IS GOING TO GO WORK IN INDIANA BECAUSE THEY WON"T WANT TO LIVE IN INDIANA!. What does a family man do? He looks for stability, he looks for a safe neighboorhood, good school districts, etc etc. Indiana ranks terrible in everything.
Seriously, drive across northern indiana, and tell me you would EVER consider living there. Unsafe, terrible air quality, filthy, etc etc.
Re: “Michigan, meet Indiana: Blaming unions”
Who ever made that comment has got to be either stupid or just an idiot....maybe you should go back and reread ....oh wait ...guess you are Republican aren't you?
Re: “Michigan, meet Indiana: Blaming unions”
You had to be so depressed writing this article. It comes across in your text. Are you Ok...should we feel sorry for you...would you prefer a Democrat like the President run our state so that we could have deficits (oh yeah our constitution doesn't allow it), could be known as a welfare state (like our country is becoming), and have a leader who never leads and only blames?
Re: “Used bookstores at risk with copyright law”
Not to worry. A decision against Kirtsaeng will not affect
used books bought and sold in good ole' USA. He clearly
was making a huge profit from his grey market import of goods, much like folks who sell mass produced cheap DVDs
made in China. That is also illegal. As is taping a movie in
a theater.
He poked his head above the radar and got smacked. Had
he just got a few books for himself, no problem. But he
got a little too greedy.
You will still be able to buy/sell/trade all books in USA. Don't
over hype the situation, like Vitamin peddlers did a few years
ago.
High priced text books are another issue.
Re: “The 10 worst college majors”
Mr. Hoppe, I think you define the liberal arts too narrowly. My undergraduate majors in math and physics from a small liberal arts college taught me critical thinking, analysis, and logical skills. Paired with extensive courses in the humanities, I learned to express myself, listen to others, and understand the relationship of science to society. Looking the other direction, an English major working in journalism in 21st century should have a solid understanding of math and statistics given how much data analysis and understanding is often needed for stories about politics or medicine.
I think the best educations are as broad and well rounded as possible with the minimum specialization required.
Re: “Memo to Pence: Legalize it”
I've said before if you have a political candidate that took a strong stand against a few different laws we have like Gay Marriage, or the legalization of Marijuana, then they could gain a lot of trust within those groups. Because lets face it if a presidential candidate stood up and said the first thing they were gonna do once in office is to legalize marijuana nationwide, or make every state honor Gay marriage rights, the pot heads and the GLBT community will be quick to listen seeing how in the core of each of those community's that's all they really want. I should know what I'm talking about seeing I fall into each of those community's.
Re: “Women in jeopardy”
Donnelly supports the right to an abortion in cases of rape, incest or the mother's help. I thing Gregg is pretty close to that.
Regarding this column, it is right on the money. The new Tea Party/GOP motto should be "It's gonna happen anyway, so lie back and enjoy it!"
Re: “Women in jeopardy”
Aren't the democrats in both statewide races pro-life? The Donnelly for Senate and Gregg for Governor campaigns have both said they are Pro-Life and proud of that record... That makes Libertarian candidate for Governor, Rupert Boneham, the only 100% Pro-Choice candidate.
Re: “Public art erased again”
Smug white guy Hoppe thinks a sculpture depicting
slavery should be "given a chance". Do you think blacks
need to be reminded? How about a sculpture about the accomplishments of blacks in sports, media, and politics. Maybe give the young kids something to look up to and not be reminded of something horrible in the past.
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Re: “The soul of an ex-president: Bush paints”
Lame column. Reminds of a restaurant reviewer who goes on and on about the personal details of their evening out and finally almost as a casual mention, comments on the food.
Continue to hang on to your hate for Bush as you turn your gaze away from Obama's (you know, the guy currently in office) atrocities.