Quote of the day -- on the path to progress

''Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don't learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. But saying 'yes' begins things. Saying 'yes' is how things grow. Saying 'yes' leads to knowledge. 'Yes' is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say 'yes'.'' 

—Stephen Colbert

Quote of the day--on cynics, cynicism, life and progress

“Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. 

Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly just cynics. Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a rejection of the world because we are afraid it will hurt us or disappoint us. Cynics always say no. 

But saying 'yes' begins things. 

Saying “yes” is how things grow. Saying “yes” leads to knowledge. “Yes” is for young people. So for as long as you have the strength to, say 'yes'.” 

― Stephen Colbert

Inspiration

A New Story of the People from Sustainable Man on Vimeo.

Quote of the day

"Cynicism is the greatest enemy of reform." --Robert Reich, American political economist, professor, author, and political commentator

Links: https://www.facebook.com/messages/504376805#!/RBReich

http://robertreich.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Reich

Don't give in to cynicism

It's as Robert Reich keeps saying, we can't be lazy and we can't give in to cynicism.

I miss my Calvin & Hobbes.

Our form of government?

This is the way an associate of mine signatures his emails:

Faux Democracy brought to you by the plutocratic oligarchs.

It's pretty difficult to debate, too, I think.

Enjoy the warmer weekend and sun, y'all.

Quote of the day--on Michelle Bachmann

"Michelle Bachmann for President.  For those who think Sarah Palin is too much of an intellectual."  --Bill Maher, "Real Time with Bill Maher"

On cynicism

Having gone over this morning to Midtown Miscreant's blog for another reliable good read (If you haven't seen it, you might want to as it's good, he's funny and he's right, I think:  http://midtownmiscreant.blogspot.com/2011/01/fast-eddie-friday-house-cat-with.html)

It got me to thinking about cynics and cynicism so I looked up a formal definition of cynicism.  I found this on Wikipedia:

Cynicism (Greek: κυνισμός), in its original form, refers to the beliefs of an ancient school of Greek philosophers known as the Cynics (Greek: Κυνικοί, Latin: Cynici). Their philosophy was that the purpose of life was to live a life of Virtue in agreement with Nature. This meant rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, health, and fame, and by living a simple life free from all possessions. As reasoning creatures, people could gain happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way which was natural for humans. They believed that the world belonged equally to everyone, and that suffering was caused by false judgments of what was valuable and by the worthless customs and conventions which surrounded society. Many of these thoughts were later absorbed into Stoicism.


Check that out:  "the purpose of life" is "to live a life of virtue in agreement with nature."  


Zounds.  


That doesn't sound very cynical, at least not by our current usage of the word, does it?  And "rejecting all conventional desires for wealth, power, health" (I don't understand that last one) "and fame, and by living a simple life free from all possessions."  "...happiness by rigorous training and by living in a way which" is "natural for humans."  "...the world belonging equally to everyone..." and "...suffering...caused by false judgments of what was valuable and by the worthless customs and conventions which surrounded society."


Far from our current ideas of cynicism, this sounds positively virtuous, positive, supportive and democratic (in the bigger, older form of the word, having nothing to do with any political party).


How did this word turn in usage?


Or, to be more specific, how did we get so cynical?


Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynicism

Don't look now but the health insurance companies are going to screw us--again

This is rich. This is perfect for the health insurance companies. I see online just now how the health insurance companies are going to A) raise their rates yet again and B) blame it on the health insurance reform that just got passed this year in Congress. Man, that is a beauty. That is so maniacally wonderful for them so they can get higher rates and profits but also so they can say "I told you so" and blame this President and Congress for trying to pass meaningful, helpful health care reform in this country. Wow. Machiavelli would be proud. This rate hike totally serves their purposes. It can put more pressure on President Obama and the Democrats AND it gives political ammunition and "talking points" to the health care industry's best friends--the Republicans. I can hear them now, going on Fox "News" saying how it's all the President's and this Congress' fault for doing it--and for doing it without them. Baby, that is some cynical, callous, beautiful moves. You can't get too much more cynical or devious than that without out-and-out killing someone. Link to original post: http://finance.yahoo.com/insurance/article/110602/health-insurers-plan-hikes?mod=insurance-health