Can we talk?

I've been pleased in recent weeks to have some thoughtful responses to this column. They contrast to some I'll mention here just to make us thankful for the civil discussion we treasure.

Civil discourse does not include personal attacks or one line rebukes with no supporting information.

Star Parker, a famous conservative columnist, had written that there was no constitutional conservative in a recent presidential election. I wrote to her with no response. So I called her on the phone. She answered! When I pointed out that presidential candidate, Ron Paul interpreted the Constitution literally, she screamed at me that he didn't support Israel. She would not shut up, totally ignoring what I said to support Ron's dedication to the document he pledged to support. I eventually had to hang up on this influential columnist.

Syndicated columnist, Jay Ambrose responded to my column about some hippies basing their worldview on responsible individualism: “Hip-pies were spoiled brats with no respect for anyone but themselves.” I wrote back, offering to discuss his contention with no further response.

Another reader called my treatment of the story of George Floyd's death “callous.”

I think my response is appropriate to recall here (with some editing to keep my friend anonymous):

“I didn't mean to be callous. I think every life is precious, even dope addicts'. So I think I was unclear. Here is my clarification: In my research I found out about a thing called excited delirium. It is uncontrollable rage and superhuman strength that can occur near the end of a fatal opiate overdose. I wasn't there and videos can only show so much. So I was only speculating on what could have made the event happen the way it did, with all possible ingredients. Try to look at it that way and know that we are really on the same page.

The heartening thing is that maybe Floyd's death will lead to reform of the police. I bet I've seen more police brutality and corruption than you have and I can't imagine a more secure network than these police unions. It will be hard to break. The police union fights for every one of their own no matter how low-life they are. That's their job. There are also laws that give immunity to cops, as if they would be powerless to fight crime with-out them. Nobody has a higher incentive to perpetuate the war on drugs than the police unions. There was a study done in Chicago in the 70s that showed legalizing all drugs could lead to an 80% reduction in their police force. Ever hear of that? I'm not surprised.”

Trade associations and unions have done more to impoverish this country than any other element. As Bastiat describes it, “the unseen” is the part where the most vulnerable people pay higher prices and then blame those who have to raise prices to survive in an economy distorted by regulation and cronyism.

A quote from Tony Bouza, past Minneapolis police chief regarding the union, would guide us best in dealing with police brutality: “I was never able to fire the alcoholics, psychos and criminals in the ranks.”

Please keep the discussion of these issues open and civil. We are not 1930's Germany but we are more susceptible to such a stifled dialogue than ever before.

Any responses to The Alternative may be sent as a letter to the editor or to Fritz’s email address 4selfgovernment@gmail.com. His blog, www.alternativebyfritz.com, is now being updated regularly. It's diverse, like the universities claim to be.