This is a downright dangerous principle, and a contradictory one that many proponents of “liberty,” “freedom” and other warm and fuzzy buzzwords will shout down your throat until you stuff another drink down theirs.
These are probably the same people who know nothing about mathematical, scientific, or logical processes, yet are absolutely certain that their “beliefs” are god’s [sic] own truth.  I assume this because any skill in figures, the scientific method, or symbolic logic would immediately reveal that this idea is a) semantically loaded and b) paradoxical in nature.

This proposal is, at face value, a lie.  Especially in le corps politique, though many are convinced that the principle of “majority rule” is the cornerstone of our democratic system.
Unfortunately, the aforementioned drunk analogy may allow too much leeway—many of the advocates of this mob mentality needn’t be drunk to asseverate such a logical fallacy.  In fact, I am dismayed to find some who obviously consider themselves academics, and yet continue to believe this claptrap.

Fearing an epidemic of misunderstanding, I hope to impart to you, dear reader, some concept of the fallacy inherent to such logic.  It is incorrect, most exceptionally in the way our world is relayed to us by those who have enough money to pay for mass media coverage.

In the December 3, 2008 issue of the Branding Iron Wiley Combs column “Big business … just plain lazy?” happened to catch my attention. I believe Mr. Combs’ idea of a perfect world, where no one would have to work, is contradictory to the examples he uses to support his argument.

He claims to know a person that has claimed bankruptcy twice, but has received no assistance from the federal government like the auto industry in Detroit is currently seeking. If his friend has declared bankruptcy twice, the blame should be put directly on his shoulders. Maybe he has taken Mr. Combs’ approach to being lazy and not having to work for a living too much to heart. I mean, America was founded and made successful by the workingman and woman. The people that work 40 hours a week making so- called “useless products” as Mr. Combs refers to may not enjoy their jobs. But they do their job because they know they have to provide for themselves and their families.

On the same note, I am a college kid going to school full-time. What would I know about work? Right. Well I am currently enrolled in 14 credit hours at the university, while working a custodial job for the university putting in around 30 extra hours of work a week. This job may be one of the ones Mr. Combs believes “produces essentially nothing.” But if more people like Mr. Combs appreciated the hard work and sweat that go into the products that they use every day, he, as well as others, might have a little more respect for the custodian that cleans the restrooms, the assembly worker that builds the car or the farmer that harvests the grain that goes into their food every day.

Dean Houchen

Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management