Sometimes trolling 'listserves' has more value than the usual time spent responding to all the experts out there. Occasionally you come across something interesting, unlike an Alan Chartock opinion piece. Mr. Chartock does entertain us on some level by letting Dr. Herb London do a weekly thing on his WAMC radio. Occasionally I respond to what I consider his buffonary.
As the citadels of thought are now assailed by a dynamic information age, it's hard to imagine what place types like Dr.'s C and L will have in decades to come. Already shrill hacks like Coulter begin to replace the likes of George Will in terms of 'conservative' rhethoric in the media.
Perhaps that's why you see Mr. London on a Yahoo list. Maybe the media is too crowded or saturated. Why bother with a list of 86 people ? This humble site takes in about 800 folks a day now, surely the movable type license isn't that expensive. It seems to be him and he has given his address and phone numbers. Due to the nature of list, I don't feel like playing my hand there when this table deals so much better. So I was indeed bemused to find this little gem:
"Perhaps the overarching issue for libertarians is the batle against radical Islam and the necessary steps to impede its influence.Is the ACLU an ally or an impediment in this struggle? This issue , certainly more than gay marriage, will define the future of this movement."
' Herb London' (from a Yahoo list).
Now perhaps this is not the erstwhile Dr. and I shouldn't jump to conclusions. The statement however could easily be assailed by a Libertarian 'net-guy'. It sounds like him though.
I was thinking plain old liberty is at risk when radical Judeo-Christian folk are on the otherside of what I would consider a strawman threat. I personally don't feel the influence of this radical Islamic 'threat', other then the reaction of those in power to it. Sure Osama's bad guys took advantage of poor security and intelligence and made bad things happen here, but do I look at the Islamic stewarts of our local convenience store any differently ? I should think not.
I worry about the pervasive aspects of wiretaps, pork laden Homeland Security, illegal imprisonments and how that reflects on us etc (Patriot Act too). Most importantly it is the reaction of the entire world to the Texas junta that has made us unclear, unsafe and unreliable. The ACLU ? Get religion and government out of co-habitation preferences and for that matter strategic global iniatives. Perhaps tsunami's, earthquakes and the spread of disease aren't as glamorous as 'Global Warming'. But more concern to how they may effect Liberty is certainly due. When the global commons is effected by individual and group behavior we all have a stake and an idea.
But gay marriage ? Holy left field. Good grief, it's not an over riding issue. I suspect that's not true for Mr. London however. Hope he finds this, he won't find my reply post on that dinky list.