Quotes

"Fascism and communism both promise "social welfare," "social justice," and "fairness" to justify authoritarian means and extensive arbitrary and discretionary governmental powers." - F. A. Hayek"

"Life is a Bungling process and in no way educational." in James M. Cain

Jean Giraudoux who first said, “Only the mediocre are always at their best.”

If you have ten thousand regulations, you destroy all respect for the law. Sir Winston Churchill

"summum ius summa iniuria" ("More laws, more injustice.") Cicero

As Christopher Hitchens once put it, “The essence of tyranny is not iron law; it is capricious law.”

"Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." Ronald Reagan

"Law is where you buy it." Raymond Chandler

"Why did God make so many damn fools and Democrats?" Clarence Day

"If I feel like feeding squirrels to the nuts, this is the place for it." - Cluny Brown

"Oh, pshaw! When yu' can't have what you choose, yu' just choose what you have." Owen Wister "The Virginian"

Oscar Wilde said about the death scene in Little Nell, you would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh.

Thomas More's definition of government as "a conspiracy of rich men procuring their own commodities under the name and title of a commonwealth.” ~ Winston S. Churchill, A History of the English Speaking Peoples

“Laws are like cobwebs, which may catch small flies, but let wasps and hornets break through.” ~ Jonathon Swift

Monday, January 16, 2012

England To Scotland: Hurry Up And Leave!

Is Wales far behind, and what about the Cornish?

England To Scotland: Hurry Up And Leave! | Via Meadia

Water Russell Mead - Jan 15, 2012 - full short post

England To Scotland: Hurry Up And Leave!

As Scottish nationalist leader Alex Salmond prepares for what could be a historic meeting this week with British Prime Minister David Cameron to discuss the timing and content of a referendum on Scottish independence, some new poll numbers are shaking up elites on both sides of the border.

The English, the polls seem to be saying, want the Scots out of the United Kingdom, while the Scots want to stay in. 43 percent of the English want the Scots out, according to an ICM poll in the Daily Telegraph, and only 32 percent want them to stay. Since 52 percent of the English want a referendum “as soon as possible,” it appears they can’t wait for the kilts and the bagpipes to be gone.

The Scots, meanwhile, seem to be getting cold feet. 43 percent want the Kingdom to stay United, and while 40 percent want to go it alone. On one subject the voters in both places appear to agree: Scotland would be worse off on its own.

A separate poll in the Daily Mail showed lower support for Scottish independence in both England and Scotland, but there too the English were more favorable to the idea than the Scots.

Dr. Johnson would have known what to say.