Comments on: My Favorite Part Of McCain’s Speech http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:53:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: gsarcs http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186682 gsarcs Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:35:43 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186682 Hmmmm...I re-read the passage to be sure I understood the gist of the message and deconstructed it using your analysis. Least efficient: government service, armed forces, public office More efficient: enter the ministry, feed a hungry child (I assume through charitable means), teach an illiterate adult to read (volunteer service?), comfort the afflicted (church volunteer?), defend the rights of the oppressed (individual initiative), become a teacher (this one could go either way in my estimation). By my count, only 3 of the 9 suggestions were slanted towards the least efficient manner for producing results. I took that passage as a call for participation in something greater than oneself and in a manner that would produce results. I do agree with your observation that altruism without results is an empty gesture. I can't decide which is worse, investing resources without results, or talking about "how it oughta be!" without taking any action. Hmmmm…I re-read the passage to be sure I understood the gist of the message and deconstructed it using your analysis.

Least efficient: government service, armed forces, public office

More efficient: enter the ministry, feed a hungry child (I assume through charitable means), teach an illiterate adult to read (volunteer service?), comfort the afflicted (church volunteer?), defend the rights of the oppressed (individual initiative), become a teacher (this one could go either way in my estimation).

By my count, only 3 of the 9 suggestions were slanted towards the least efficient manner for producing results. I took that passage as a call for participation in something greater than oneself and in a manner that would produce results.

I do agree with your observation that altruism without results is an empty gesture. I can’t decide which is worse, investing resources without results, or talking about “how it oughta be!” without taking any action.

]]> By: HispanicPundit http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186625 HispanicPundit Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:05:49 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186625 I don't like it - if altruism is your goal, don't do it through the least efficient means possible - the government - do it through charities, or Churches, or other means where the efficiency is much higher. Altruism without results is just as empty. I don’t like it - if altruism is your goal, don’t do it through the least efficient means possible - the government - do it through charities, or Churches, or other means where the efficiency is much higher.

Altruism without results is just as empty.

]]> By: gsarcs http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186616 gsarcs Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:40:45 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186616 This was my favorite part: If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you're disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself. I think that idealism without altruism is empty rhetoric. The last sentence in this passage makes that point. This was my favorite part:

If you find faults with our country, make it a better one. If you’re disappointed with the mistakes of government, join its ranks and work to correct them. Enlist in our Armed Forces. Become a teacher. Enter the ministry. Run for public office. Feed a hungry child. Teach an illiterate adult to read. Comfort the afflicted. Defend the rights of the oppressed. Our country will be the better, and you will be the happier. Because nothing brings greater happiness in life than to serve a cause greater than yourself.

I think that idealism without altruism is empty rhetoric. The last sentence in this passage makes that point.

]]> By: LaurenceB http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186488 LaurenceB Sat, 06 Sep 2008 13:58:00 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186488 I actually suspect McCain's speech was very effective. After all the craziness of Romney, Giuliani and Graham, I think McCain did an excellent job of convincing regular Americans that McCain is not one of them. His speech delivery is never good, but the calming effect of having someone who isn't implicitly (and angrily) calling the Democrats baby-killers and traitors really cannot be over-estimated. Just my opinion as a "regular American". I could be wrong. I actually suspect McCain’s speech was very effective. After all the craziness of Romney, Giuliani and Graham, I think McCain did an excellent job of convincing regular Americans that McCain is not one of them. His speech delivery is never good, but the calming effect of having someone who isn’t implicitly (and angrily) calling the Democrats baby-killers and traitors really cannot be over-estimated.

Just my opinion as a “regular American”. I could be wrong.

]]> By: Kelly http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186471 Kelly Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:43:58 +0000 http://hispanicpundit.com/2008/09/05/my-favorite-part-of-mccains-speech/#comment-186471 My favorite part was when it was over! My favorite part was when it was over!

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