Letters to a Young Progressive: How to Avoid Wasting Your Life Protesting Things You Don't Understand by Mike S. Adams
Authors: Mike S. Adams
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came back in the store to talk with another representative, who would then fix things immediately. I came in to the store only to hear a faceless representative tell me over the phone that we could not work things out. That is, she could not offer the lower rate. When I told her to cancel my service, the girl tried to negotiate a new deal. That’s when I just lost my temper and let loose with something like the following:
“You know, you’re not really an Internet provider. You’re nothing like one. You’re more like an abusive spouse. You treat me disrespectfully until I threaten to leave you and then you promise to make things better. But they only get better for a while because you don’t change. You just lie to me to get me back because you can’t live without me. But this time I mean it. We’re through!”
There were two employees in the store when I unleashed that little salvo. One was simply speechless. But the other was actually laughing because she knew that I was right. I really do enjoy using humor—especially when I feel like I am about to have a stroke. But Zach, there is a serious point to be made here. The question is, what the heck does it have to do with the political problems we’ve been discussing? Well, everything. Please allow me to explain.
When the government gets involved in trying to solve a problem, it invariably makes things worse. Your cell phone provider—my previous Internet provider—is subsidized by the federal government. For that one reason, and that one reason alone, you are unlikely to ever get good service from them. Because the federal government has built a safety net beneath it, it is not afraid of falling. That is why its employees behave so carelessly towards you. Doesn’t that make sense, Zach? It’s basic human psychology.
Furthermore, when the federal government gets involved in something, it’s even worse than when the local government gets involved. The reason for that is simple—the greater the physical distance between the problem and problem-solving entity, the less likely you are to find an effective solution. Local problems can’t be efficiently solved by national agencies.
So far in college you have been exposed to a lot of theory. But I want you to get a healthier dose of reality. So I have a little assignment for you—two assignments, actually:
1. Take a notebook with you the next time you go off campus to get your driver’s license and vehicle license plates renewed. Those renewals are handled by two separate agencies. One is run by the government. One is privately operated. Take notes and tell me which agency was more efficient in their dealings with you. Then I will tell you which one was privately operated.
2. Take that same notebook with you every time you go to the admissions office, parking office, or financial aid office here at UNCW Two of those offices are controlled by the state government. One office is controlled by the federal government. Record enough information about your experiences to report back to me with a reasonably detailed evaluation of each experience. Then I will tell you which one is run by the federal government.
Thinking about these issues will actually help you navigate the current political climate. Our politicians are increasingly asking us to trust the government with ever-greater involvement in our affairs. However badly government messes things up, the solution is always more government.
Zach, in my opinion, these politicians sound a lot like your federally subsidized cell phone provider. They keep saying that things will get better if you just give them one more chance. But deep in your heart you know they’re lying—and they’ll just make you look stupid all over again.
LETTER 18
We Don’t Need No School of Education
Zach ,
Just last semester I terribly offended an education student who was enrolled in my introduction to criminal justice class. I know I offended her with my split
“You know, you’re not really an Internet provider. You’re nothing like one. You’re more like an abusive spouse. You treat me disrespectfully until I threaten to leave you and then you promise to make things better. But they only get better for a while because you don’t change. You just lie to me to get me back because you can’t live without me. But this time I mean it. We’re through!”
There were two employees in the store when I unleashed that little salvo. One was simply speechless. But the other was actually laughing because she knew that I was right. I really do enjoy using humor—especially when I feel like I am about to have a stroke. But Zach, there is a serious point to be made here. The question is, what the heck does it have to do with the political problems we’ve been discussing? Well, everything. Please allow me to explain.
When the government gets involved in trying to solve a problem, it invariably makes things worse. Your cell phone provider—my previous Internet provider—is subsidized by the federal government. For that one reason, and that one reason alone, you are unlikely to ever get good service from them. Because the federal government has built a safety net beneath it, it is not afraid of falling. That is why its employees behave so carelessly towards you. Doesn’t that make sense, Zach? It’s basic human psychology.
Furthermore, when the federal government gets involved in something, it’s even worse than when the local government gets involved. The reason for that is simple—the greater the physical distance between the problem and problem-solving entity, the less likely you are to find an effective solution. Local problems can’t be efficiently solved by national agencies.
So far in college you have been exposed to a lot of theory. But I want you to get a healthier dose of reality. So I have a little assignment for you—two assignments, actually:
1. Take a notebook with you the next time you go off campus to get your driver’s license and vehicle license plates renewed. Those renewals are handled by two separate agencies. One is run by the government. One is privately operated. Take notes and tell me which agency was more efficient in their dealings with you. Then I will tell you which one was privately operated.
2. Take that same notebook with you every time you go to the admissions office, parking office, or financial aid office here at UNCW Two of those offices are controlled by the state government. One office is controlled by the federal government. Record enough information about your experiences to report back to me with a reasonably detailed evaluation of each experience. Then I will tell you which one is run by the federal government.
Thinking about these issues will actually help you navigate the current political climate. Our politicians are increasingly asking us to trust the government with ever-greater involvement in our affairs. However badly government messes things up, the solution is always more government.
Zach, in my opinion, these politicians sound a lot like your federally subsidized cell phone provider. They keep saying that things will get better if you just give them one more chance. But deep in your heart you know they’re lying—and they’ll just make you look stupid all over again.
LETTER 18
We Don’t Need No School of Education
Zach ,
Just last semester I terribly offended an education student who was enrolled in my introduction to criminal justice class. I know I offended her with my split
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