A lengthy discussion of tribalism
A lengthy discussion of tribalism and its relation to the Arab world and the European socialist welfare state. Lengthy passages from Ayn Rand.
The government of a mixed economy manufactures pressure groups--and, specifically, manufactures "ethnicity." The profiteers are those group leaders who discover suddenly that they can exploit the helplessness, the fear, the frustration of their "ethnic" brothers, organize them into a group, present demands to the government--and deliver the vote. The result is political jobs, subsidies, influence and prestige for the leaders of the ethnic groups.Speaking of Ayn Rand, I've heard it said that a lot of people are turned off of her because her writing style is so formal. It is that; but it is precise and accurate, and worthy of being read and re-read until you really understand them.This does not improve the lot of the group's rank and file. It makes no difference to the hard-pressed unemployed of any race or color what quota of jobs, admissions and Washington appointments were handed out to the political manipulators from their particular race or color. But the ugly farce goes on, with the help and approval of the intellectuals, who write about "minority victories."
Posted by Matt at April 2, 2003 1:50 PM
