Of Anthony Weiner and Geddy Lee.. the Achilles heal of Progressivism

Well.

Have we had enough of Anthony Weiner yet?

Frankly, I think this dufus has had more than his share of attention.. though, as always, I think it is worthwhile to look at the stupidity of others and use that as a learning moment.

What can we learn from some Democratic Congressman who decided it was a good idea to send pictures of his, well..   wiener.. on Facebook.. to strangers?

Well.

Now it appears that Mr. Weiner is in rehab.  Isn't that special?

But curiously, it gives us a chance to think about what is to a great extent the central theme of progressive politics - namely, that no one is truly responsible for their actions, that they are essentially, a pawn in a world for which any wrong they perpetuate is the responsibility of either:

a) Someone else; or
b) The government.

Noted to be missing from the mantra of progressivism is the idea of personal responsibility.

That when you do something wrong, you accept responsibility and move forward.

But not Anthony Weiner.  He's doing the tried and true "Hollywood Cure" for major screw ups.  You blame you're stupid actions on an "illness" and you get "treatment".

Because nothing we do, at least nothing we do that brings us discredit or pain or discomfort, is our own fault.

But the problem with that is that while it allows us to avoid responsibility for our mistakes, it also robs us of full credit for our successes.  Though that is also an apparent aim of progressive thought.

No more trophies for winners - we want to give everyone medals for just showing up.  By rewarding those who work hard and make sacrifice to succeed we are making those who don't succeed feel bad.

We want to muddy the waters, creating a world where no one is really good and no one is really bad.. we're all just passive pawns in the game of life.  Puppets.  Poor players who strut and fret their moment upon the stage and then are heard.. no more.  Or something like that.

I prefer the sentiments of Geddy Lee to Shakespeare, personally - at least on this score.

There are those who think that life is nothing left to chance,

A host of holy horrors to direct our aimless dance.

A planet of playthings,

We dance on the strings

Of powers we cannot perceive.

"The stars aren't aligned

Or the gods are malign"-

Blame is better to give than receive.

You can choose a ready guide in some celestial voice.

If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.

You can choose from phantom fears and kindness that can kill;

I will choose a path that's clear-

I will choose Free Will.