Yama, Lord of the Dead, Speaks

Happy Hallowe’en, three days late –

me as Yama, Lord of the Dead - photo credit to Keren Gorodeisky

– or Happy Vote-for-some-bozo Day, a day early.

What is the attitude of the democrat when political rights are under discussion? How does he regard the people when a legislator is to be chosen? Ah, then it is claimed that the people have an instinctive wisdom; they are gifted with the finest perception …. When it is time to vote, apparently the voter is not to be asked for any guarantee of his wisdom. His will and capacity to choose wisely are taken for granted. … Is there a class or a man who would be so bold as to set himself above the people, and judge and act for them? No, no, the people are and should be free. They desire to manage their own affairs, and they shall do so.

But when the legislator is finally elected – ah! then indeed does the tone of his speech undergo a radical change. The people are returned to passiveness, inertness, and unconsciousness; the legislator enters into omnipotence. Now it is for him to initiate, to direct, to propel, and to organize. Mankind has only to submit; the hour of despotism has struck.

(From Bastiat’s The Law.)

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10 Responses to Yama, Lord of the Dead, Speaks

  1. Anon73 November 4, 2008 at 12:12 am #

    That sounds very close to Enma, the Japanese lord of the dead. Looks like there was some cross-cultural pollination going on between India, China, and Japan!

  2. Administrator November 4, 2008 at 10:36 am #

    According to Wikipedia, “Enma” (not to be confused with his evil twin “Enema”) is a direct Japanese rendering of the Sanskrit “Yama.”

    To add to the confusion, the robe I’m wearing is supposed to be a Tibetan design, and the skull staff is from Key West.

  3. Richard Garner November 4, 2008 at 2:29 pm #

    I thought you must have joined the Skull and Bones!

  4. Administrator November 4, 2008 at 3:05 pm #

    I’m a poor little sheep who has gone astray.

  5. Anon73 November 5, 2008 at 1:08 am #

    I thought one of the most funny remarks was on a news show where a judge said “There won’t be any problems with long lines at election day. It’ll be just like waiting in line at the supermarket.” Then a leftist reporter responded “Excuse me? Are you comparing the act of voting to shopping for an ipod or groceries?!”

  6. Bob Kaercher November 5, 2008 at 1:21 pm #

    When you cast your “votes” (that is, your dollars) for a producer, you at least get something immediately in return, such as groceries or an iPod.

    When you cast a vote for a government office in an election, not only do you not get anything in return, but you’re ultimately more screwed than you were before the election.

    The leftist reporter was right to be indignant at the judge’s analogy, though for completely different reasons, I’m sure. There’s just no comparison.

  7. Bob Kaercher November 5, 2008 at 1:23 pm #

    I should’ve wrote above: “Though he was indignant for completely different reasons…”

  8. Administrator November 5, 2008 at 1:36 pm #

    It’s certainly not like shopping for an ipod or groceries. If you shop for an ipod or groceries, you get an ipod or groceries; I shopped for Ruwart and NOTA, but got neither.

  9. Administrator November 5, 2008 at 1:37 pm #

    Oops, I posted my reply before I saw Bob’s.

  10. Bob Kaercher November 6, 2008 at 2:58 pm #

    Y’know, if you turn the “w” in Ruwart upside down, you get Rumart. Did you notice that? Ru-Mart…

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