Sunday, December 7, 2008

Ben Stein's Smarts and God's Wisdom - Ben on Friday's Medved's Show

Michael Medved was surprised in a discussion of federal stimuli and bailouts on Friday, to hear the reaction of Ben Stein who is accomplished on many fronts and traditionally a Republican. He is also the son of noted Republican economist, Herb Stein. I was not surprised. Stein supports both a huge stimulus and a bailout of the auto companies. Taxes or debt aren’t necessary: just print the money, he says. I have heard Stein say these things many times. He also says the very wealthy must be taxed to provide health care for those who can’t afford it. That’s a noble sentiment, but it has practical problems. It’s a disincentive to achieve and a disincentive to attentive and innovative health care. But I think there is a conflict buried at the bottom of Stein’s sentiments on this and the matter subsequently discussed.

There was also a brief discussion about one specific (there were many, Republican and Democrat) criticism of Republican politicians like Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal who supposedly do not accept evolution. I say supposedly because I haven’t heard Jindal opine on the matter (perhaps he has, but surely any uncertainty about that reflects the absolute FACT that the question is utterly irrelevant to national politics) and Palin has said specifically that evolution should be taught in schools. I agree that it should be, simply as a matter of understanding Western culture. But whatever any politician may say, let’s just bring the matter home. Though I think schools should teach evp;ution (though not as FACT in my school district), I explicitly do NOT believe in evolution as a sufficient explanation for all of life on earth. I will also say that I am not philosophically resistant to the possibility of evolution being an explanation for all earthly life. Yes, I believe in God and the truths of The Bible. But, I wouldn’t lose those beliefs if I thought the case for an evolutionary explanation was compelling. I simply don’t find it compelling at all but rather find it feeble as persuasion. I’m not forced to cling to it by a philosophical commitment to deny creation.

Stein of course finds the evolution case at least eminently questionable, for those of you whose heads have been so otherwise occupied as to be entirely unfamiliar with the movie, “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,” which Stein hosted and which laments the resistance of the public science establishment to even the SUGGESTION of the possibility of an intelligent designer of either life or the cosmos. If I say a (now non-existent – I’m not holding my breath) demonstrable truth of evolution would not disturb my faith in God, it appears the same cannot be said of the doctrinaire evolutionists as to their faith. That just affirms that for them the issue is not one of empirical data, but rather one of naturalist philosophical dogma: intelligent design is beyond their consideration because the idea challenges evolution. I don’t, but many noted scholars who advocate intelligent design, believe that design was expressed through evolution.

Anyway, I question Stein’s sincere conviction that there must be a huge stimulus and bailouts of large industries on the basis of my belief that the prods of a free market are part of God’s design, just as is biological life. Let’s stipulate some things: Ben Stein is intelligent and accomplished. I’m a disabled ex-salesman. They shouldn’t command it anyway, but in this case clearly I’m not pleading credentials. Just as in any other case, I only plead consideration of my words, themselves. I have heard Stein express several times that the very rich have the money to finance what are some worthy needs, and these specific actions are necessary to avoid economic pain. He’s correct about that, but that isn’t the entire story. However he might distinguish it, this is essentially the argument advanced by liberals to defend most all of the projects they find so urgent. In fact, when Medved pressed Stein to name a politician who agrees with his prescription, the only name that he mentioned was Barney Frank. Ouch!? Stein admitted creating the money would be inflationary, and it is so by definition. But, he said the effect was outweighed by the urgency of sparing the pain of the alternative, whether unemployment or tight credit.

After Stein’s schedule dictated his departure, Medved did say that he opposed those economic matters advocated by Stein because they reward failure and punish success, which is true. Medved also said that what rich people do with their money if they keep it, is invest it. Stein countered that there is enough money to invest out there, but it is held because of fear. He's right that money would be freed if fear were relieved. But incremental money above what some projects demand, is also invested. The only thing better for an economy than money invested is more money invested.

But there are more reasons that I believe inhere in human nature that those prescriptions are wrong. Specifically, I believe there is no prod to achieve success and/or to avoid failure like the very pain that Stein seeks to alleviate. I’m not saying that those who are experiencing difficulty should not be helped. They should be, by private individuals and organizations; but not by government. To make such aid the presumptive duty of government removes the urgency to succeed or avoid failure. On a micro scale, it’s the same reason that government bailouts and subsidies are not constructive things for large commercial organizations. This is a disincentive to achieve for one’s family, which both will reduce the general product of society and also preclude the pride and accomplishment of having done so. All of that in addition to the monetary inflation and generally weak monetary policy.

Just as Stein believes as I do that the biological world evinces a stunning complexity and elegance reflective of design, so these prods and rewards are inherent in human society, having been built into the system of human society by the very same designer. None of this is accidental or without purpose. As in most things, when government imposes itself upon the system it more often than not corrupts it. It not only corrupts but devalues the system: the true fulfillment and reward of work is diminished and the value of true charity is all but lost.

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Though I think schools should teach evolution (though not as FACT in my school district), I explicitly do NOT believe in evolution as a sufficient explanation for all of life on earth.

You're not qualified to make that decision because you're scientifically illiterate.

Anonymous said...

bobxxxx :

Man, what a novel response! Actually it's an utterly predictable and yes, illiterate one in itself. I have no idea who you are, but chances are well over 99% that I have more familiarity with the literature on both sides of the discussion than you do.

What most people who make statements of the sort that you have are doing is asserting what is for them, a tautology: Because a priori they believe as you do, they suppose that any question of evolution is by definition iliterate. Here's what I know for a fact: Many, many people on both sides of the discussion are indeed very literate and even genius. If you are not aware of that it is you who is literarily impoverished, notwithstanding that your statement coarsely mirrors that of a few supposed "luminaries," like Richard Dawkins. I believe there are many much more lucid and thoughtful proponents of evolution than is Dawkins, who I find argumentatively feeble.

If you are assured of your perspective and happen to return, you are quite welcome to actually put forward your best case, which is thus far entirely absent.

Before I posted this comment, I foll;owed your ID to the TalkOrigens web site which I have seen many times before. But I could not identify you, specificaly, though the link to the site suggests that you are likely at least incrementally more exposed to data than the average individual, however low a bar that may be to clear. In any case, my invitation to elaborate and engage stands.

Anonymous said...

bobxxxx :

I did Google bobxxxx and found some...amusing...links, which also suggested some wandering through the evolutionist brush. But, I was still unable to ascertain more than that you are 59 years old, which at least makes you the elder that this 51-year old should honor: that's honor, not blindly believe.

Anonymous said...

Larry,
"Don't cast your pearls before swine." Bobxxxx is a troll, and adds absolutely nothing to any argument. I have run across him before. His idea of an intellectual exchange is "I don't believe in the Tooth fairy either." And the like. He is like junk mail in your inbox...just delete him and no one will loose any sleep...he even makes the evolutionists look bad.

Anonymous said...

Joseph Borghese, B.S. Physics John Carroll University 1986. M. Arch. Ohio State University 1989.
Scientifically Literate, but this is actually about the Philosophy of Science, more about how we know what we know. By "sufficient explanation" I expect you mean more than the highly improbable mechanisms to also include the why, meaning of life, existence of conscienceness, soul, all that stuff. You will find that scientists outside of their fields of specialty are as ignorant as anyone else, which always may me scorn the "Union of Concerned Scientists" mis-applying their authority to social/political issues. It is actually similar to actors/actresses (sometimes experts at projecting emotions and technical stagecraft) opining about whatever else.

Anonymous said...

Joseph:

You're correct of course, that the debate over ID is about the philosophy of science and the construction of epistemologies and ontologies, but it is the secularists themselves who argue that this as about science and/or the ignorance thereof. Some of these, like Daniel Dennett, surely know better. Christopher Hitchens has piddled around philosophy but I think is prevailingly motivated by animosity more than reason. Richard Dawkins, alas, appears mired in ineptitude in that regard. If not, he is not much letting on. The better to intimidate the layman reader who certainly does not know better?

Walt said...

For those of you with a desire to learn, check out the works of Dr. Robert Gentry. His works do not address evolution directly but he does bring more than serious doubt to the scientific community and the assumptions they base their theories upon. His findings relegate the "Big Bang" theory to the shelf of wisdom that is occupied by other bright ideas like bleeding the sick, and the earth being flat.

Anonymous said...

Hey, there's nothing like a pint bloodletting from the Red Cross followed by a glass of good wine or fine ale to adjust the Humours. Then I just lay on my back and watch the sun revolve around the earth.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Walt. I have a page open on Gentry.

I've been mostly reading, for the past few days. But, I was just reading some remarks on Colin Powell's comments about what The Republican Party needs to do. Powell seems like a good and decent fellow. But particularly socially wise or politically lucid, he is not. Anyway, I'm still busy reading. But, I'll probably post a quick comment onm Powell and counsel such as his. He isn't the only one with short-sighted and foolish advice for The Republican Party.

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