Jon Stewart

[swake]

Oh! You got me!  I am indeed a classical liberal.

Did it really take you this long to figure that out?

A classical liberal. That tripe.

The modern classical liberal is an American invention that mixes Ayn Rand and the Austrian "School" of Economics. The philosophy of selfishness and narcissism created by a crazy woman mixed with a so called economic theory that dislikes math and actual history.

[Gaspar]

A classical liberal. That tripe.

The modern classical liberal is an American invention that mixes Ayn Rand and the Austrian "School" of Economics. The philosophy of selfishness and narcissism created by a crazy woman mixed with a so called economic theory that dislikes math and actual history.

You always seem so angry, and that is sad.  The departure of Jon Stewart has obviously had quite an impact on you. I apologize if my political beliefs offend you, but at least they offer a welcome diversion, allowing you to vent some of that pain. 

I'd like to empathize with you, but I can't.  I don't see any selfishness or narcissism in libertarian thought.  On the contrary, liberty by definition must be devoid of such things.  I am a giving person, as are most of my libertarian friends, the difference is that our giving does not involve, or require taking from anyone else.

Rand had nothing to do with the creation of libertarianism, she was simply a student, flawed and inquisitive as we all are, and as we all should be willing to acknowledge.  She does offer the progressive a broad and clichéd target though.  If you want to find the foundation of libertarianism, you need to go back much further.  It's application has never failed to produce the widest and most diverse prosperity, and its abandonment the greatest malignancy of corruption. 

It is unfair to accuse someone of selfishness because they refuse to dictate the welfare of others.  Goodwill and charity does not come at the point of a gun. 

"For your own good" is a persuasive argument that will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction. --Janet Frame

The history of liberty is the history of limitations on the power of government, not  the increase of it. When we resist, therefore, the concentration of power, we are  resisting the processes of death, because concentration of power is what always  precedes the destruction of human liberties. – President Woodrow Wilson

The difference between libertarianism and socialism is that libertarians will tolerate the existence of a socialist community, but socialists can't tolerate a libertarian community. – David D. Boaz


Libertarians are intolerable and incompatible with modern collectivism.  We cannot win, and we know that. Our only hope is to stay the tide for a short time so that our children may enjoy some of the freedoms we did.  As I have said before, we exist in a cycle that repeats itself over and over again. As a civilization becomes more prosperous a swelling majority will demand that prosperity for diminishing exchange of value, and will indenture themselves to any politician who promises them the "free" but not the freedom. The productive will insulate themselves and wealth will become concentrated until everything collapses. 

The goal of libertarianism is not victory.  It is preservation.

[Hoss]

You always seem so angry, and that is sad.  The departure of Jon Stewart has obviously had quite an impact on you. I apologize if my political beliefs offend you, but at least they offer a welcome diversion, allowing you to vent some of that pain. 

I'd like to empathize with you, but I can't.  I don't see any selfishness or narcissism in libertarian thought.  On the contrary, liberty by definition must be devoid of such things.  I am a giving person, as are most of my libertarian friends, the difference is that our giving does not involve, or require taking from anyone else.

Rand had nothing to do with the creation of libertarianism, she was simply a student, flawed and inquisitive as we all are, and as we all should be willing to acknowledge.  She does offer the progressive a broad and clichéd target though.  If you want to find the foundation of libertarianism, you need to go back much further.  It's application has never failed to produce the widest and most diverse prosperity, and its abandonment the greatest malignancy of corruption. 

It is unfair to accuse someone of selfishness because they refuse to dictate the welfare of others.  Goodwill and charity does not come at the point of a gun. 

"For your own good" is a persuasive argument that will eventually make a man agree to his own destruction. --Janet Frame

The history of liberty is the history of limitations on the power of government, not  the increase of it. When we resist, therefore, the concentration of power, we are  resisting the processes of death, because concentration of power is what always  precedes the destruction of human liberties. – President Woodrow Wilson

The difference between libertarianism and socialism is that libertarians will tolerate the existence of a socialist community, but socialists can't tolerate a libertarian community. – David D. Boaz


Libertarians are intolerable and incompatible with modern collectivism.  We cannot win, and we know that. Our only hope is to stay the tide for a short time so that our children may enjoy some of the freedoms we did.  As I have said before, we exist in a cycle that repeats itself over and over again. As a civilization becomes more prosperous a swelling majority will demand that prosperity for diminishing exchange of value, and will indenture themselves to any politician who promises them the "free" but not the freedom. The productive will insulate themselves and wealth will become concentrated until everything collapses. 

The goal of libertarianism is not victory.  It is preservation.

And some are obviously more flawed than others...

[Gaspar]

It seems my initial analysis is being echoed in liberal realms as well.
"The idea that what Jon Stewart and his team did was journalism always rankled some journalists, but that's exactly what it was. At its most fundamental level, the purpose of journalism in a democracy is to build a more informed citizenry. For many Americans, especially younger ones, Stewart fulfilled that task. "

Very good article in the Atlantic. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/02/the-house-that-jon-stewart-built/385399/

So, allow me to predict a political future for Jon now. In fact, I think if he were to run for office today, he would utterly transform the political landscape. I think the void he leaves will also have a transformative effect. Perhaps he will first become a part of someone else's campaign?

The timing is certainly appropriate.

[heironymouspasparagus]

(1)
I'd like to empathize with you, but I can't.  I don't see any selfishness or narcissism in libertarian thought.  On the contrary, liberty by definition must be devoid of such things.  I am a giving person, as are most of my libertarian friends, the difference is that our giving does not involve, or require taking from anyone else.

(2)
If you want to find the foundation of libertarianism, you need to go back much further.  It's application has never failed to produce the widest and most diverse prosperity, and its abandonment the greatest malignancy of corruption. 

(3)
Libertarians are intolerable and incompatible with modern collectivism.  We cannot win, and we know that. Our only hope is to stay the tide for a short time so that our children may enjoy some of the freedoms we did.  As I have said before, we exist in a cycle that repeats itself over and over again. As a civilization becomes more prosperous a swelling majority will demand that prosperity for diminishing exchange of value, and will indenture themselves to any politician who promises them the "free" but not the freedom. The productive will insulate themselves and wealth will become concentrated until everything collapses. 

(1)
Of course you don't.  That's kinda the whole point - as with von Mises - he didn't understand either.

(2)
Doublespeak.  Libertarianism by definition celebrates the accomplishments of the individual, when the reality is absolutely opposite that - it is "society" of people working together that has never failed to produce the widest and most diverse prosperity, and its abandonment the greatest malignancy of corruption.  The "lone wolf" accomplishes little of lasting value on his/her own....with some very rare special cases in the field of arts.  

(3)
The "productive" accumulating the wealth are not the ones creating the wealth - they are, as always riding on the backs of the people doing the work.  Yes, it will collapse, exactly like a Monopoly game collapses due to accumulation of wealth - that's where we are very strongly headed today.  And how is it you would fix that again - stop the collapse created by the accumulation of wealth??  Let the rich keep getting richer perhaps??   Oh, wait....

[patric]

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/full-episodes/8omwbs/february-10--2015---david-axelrod

...and did anyone catch the remarks about Senator Tom Coburn?

[guido911]

You always seem so angry, and that is sad.  The departure of Jon Stewart has obviously had quite an impact on you.

Just give him time to grieve....

[Gaspar]

Bette Middler's response today:
"Jon Stewart leaving The Daily Show?! NOOOOOOOO! Say it ain't so!  What better platform could he find? an election year? What will I think?"

Some have suggested that she try one of the news channels.  CBS has some nice programming. Morning Joe is entertaining and informative if you can stand pinch-face girl. Someone will fill the void when Jon goes.  I doubt there will be the hopeless wandering that some envision.

[Townsend]

Considering Mitt could get the crazies to overlook his faith, Stewart could be the new GOP front runner.

[guido911]

Who could cover this "incident" nearly as good...

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/8j4n7k/the-dick-swett-incident

[guido911]

A pretty thorough takedown of Jon Stewart, with mention of the "Bush lied" meme.

http://nypost.com/2015/02/15/how-jon-stewart-turned-lies-into-comedy-and-brainwashed-a-generation/

[Hoss]

A pretty thorough takedown of Jon Stewart, with mention of the "Bush lied" meme.

http://nypost.com/2015/02/15/how-jon-stewart-turned-lies-into-comedy-and-brainwashed-a-generation/

The Post?  Might as well be Fox News doing it..

[swake]

The Post?  Might as well be Fox News doing it..

It IS Fox, or at least it IS Newscorp. Uncle Rupert doesn't like to be mocked.

[Hoss]

It IS Fox, or at least it IS Newscorp. Uncle Rupert doesn't like to be mocked.

That was my point Swake.   

[swake]

If you read the editorial the writer is upset because people believe that Bush lied and it's all Stewarts fault.