The Meddlesome Priest :

“Wise one, what is the true nature of politicians and the masses?” Sure. Thanks for asking. Imagine if you will a remote planet in a distant galaxy that went extinct long ago. Marginally intelligent beings once lived there for many millennia.  Their many accomplishments were impressive even by our standards. So were their defects. They went extinct long before their planet fell into its life-giving star. Compared to us these beings had crude even barbaric ways. They had ways of killing each other frequently. Some of these ways were called, ''accidents'. Some were called 'murder'. Some were called 'war'. None of these ways were thought to be very healthy, but they did them anyway being a covetous breed. They even had something called ‘execution’ where whole groups decided to kill a single individual being for a wide variety of reasons thought to be healthy for the whole group. They called themselves 'humans'. “It seems these beings were...

Last evening, the Meddlesome Priest was invited to debate the question: “Does the American Dream Exist?”  Upon arrival his 15 minutes allotted time was inexplicably chopped to 10 minutes, and the other members of his affirmative team were batting for the other side. In reality, the debate event was a Bernie Sanders rally.  But it was all in good fun. And a good time was had by all. Here are my complete prepared remarks which I was not allowed to finish. Let them be written here for posterity. ____________________ Does the American Dream Exist? Debate: November 4, 2015 Santa Barbara City College Room PS-101, 5:30 pm For the affirmative: Professor Mark McIntire Prepared remarks: Mr. Chairman: Well. I’m delighted to defend the proposition ‘The American Dream Exists’. My argument is as un-nuanced as it is unapologetic. Tonight I get to practice what I preach in my Phil-111 course Critical Thinking and Writing course (good seats are still available i...

“M oral indignation is a standard strategy for endowing the idiot with dignity.”  --- Marshall McLuhan Economic inequality is a myth. It’s a chimera, a fantasy, a sour whine served with stale crackers and rotten cheese to hungry juveniles. Economic inequality is a tool of the inept and the incompetent trying, in vain, to compete against their betters. Yes, their betters. People who develop their skills, abilities, interests and temperaments are better people than those who depend on THE STATE to make their lives successful. We are born with equal rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Nature and the natural rights we enjoy because of nature cannot guarantee our success or happiness. Only we, as individuals, can do that. We are not all born with the same means to perfect those rights. Economic inequality is an excuse to debase one’s self and rescue pity from a lack of meaning. The myth of economic inequality is twice cursed; it curses those who fantasize it...

" The fear of death follows from the fear of life.  A man who  lives fully is prepared to die at any  time.”  ―  Mark Twain Physician-assisted suicide   will become legal in California in 2016 under a bill signed into law on Monday by Governor Jerry Brown. The 77-year-old Democrat and lifelong Catholic and former Jesuit seminarian said he had acted after discussing the issue with many people, including two of his own doctors. The South African archbishop and rights icon Desmond Tutu had spoken out in favor of it. "I do not know what I would do if I were dying in prolonged and excruciating pain," Brown said in a statement released Monday. "I am certain, however, that it would be a comfort to be able to consider the options afforded by this bill." (source: http://www.dw.com/en/california-governor-jerry-brown-signs-assisted-suicide-bill/a-18763052?maca=en-rss_en_news-14963-xml-mrss   ) Life is too long. Life can be unworthy of liv...