"Exploring is delightful to look forward to and back upon, but it is not comfortable at the time, unless it be of such an easy nature as not to deserve the name." Samuel Butler Erewhon
The audio-only version is available here: [podcast title="Ask the Professor, March 16"]http://www.thejohnrobson.com/podcast/John2017/March/Ask_Professor_84.mp3[/podcast]
"It is lack of confidence more than anything else that kills civilization." Sir Kenneth Clark, quoted as "Thought du jour" in Social Studies in Globe and Mail February 6, 2007
In my latest National Post column I urge social democrats to talk to real people about real things, and listen to them. Things like that government isn't working very well.
"There are some people who say that they want Socialism, but do not want bureaucracy. Such persons I leave in simple despair. How any calculating creature can think that we can extend the number of Government offices without extending the number of Government officials and the prevalence of the official mind, I cannot even conjecture. Some people look forward to a splendid transformation of the general human soul. That is a good argument for accepting Socialism – and, when one comes to think of it, an even better reason for doing without it." G.K. Chesterton in Illustrated London News January 2, 1909, quoted in Gilbert Magazine Vol. 20 # 1 (Sept.-Oct. 2016)
"People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy after." Oliver Goldsmith, quoted as "Thought du jour" in Globe and Mail September 27 2000
If you're in the area I really hope you'll join us for "Meeting the Climate Change Challenge", the 2017 annual conference by the Economic Education Association of Alberta, in Calgary this coming Friday and Saturday March 17 and 18. We've got a terrific lineup of speakers including climatologist Dr. Tim Ball and Friday lunch keynote speaker Marc Morano. And I'll have something to announce during my own talk on March 17. The time is right to stand up to the hysteria, confront bad science and assess policy rationally. So please join us for two days of outstanding presentations and timely discussion on this crucial issue.