Easy Opinions: An Intellectual Program
Intellectual: We must adopt policies … any normative concept of a just society. [applause]
Mike: He must have a great mind. I didn’t understand much of what he said, but I find myself agreeing with him.
Jim: He’s not so great. Either he is intentionally confusing, or he can’t figure out how to explain it to us.
Keep that third response in mind. It’s the accurate one.
About Bill Quick
I am a small-l libertarian with conservative leanings on most issues, except on many traditionally conservative social issues, where my stance would be regarded as hopelessly liberal by most social conservatives. My primary concern is to increase individual liberty as much as possible in the face of statist efforts to restrict it from both the right and the left. If I had to sum up my beliefs as concisely as possible, I would say, "Stay out of my wallet and my bedroom," "your liberty stops at my nose," and "don't tread on me." I will believe that things are taking a turn for the better in America when married gays are able to, and do, maintain large arsenals of automatic weapons, and tax collectors are, and do, not.
Sounds like the reaction to a typical Greenspan speech. Obfuscation taken to the highest level. Like astrologers and feng shui scammers.
Ayn Rand used to harp on this sort of crap in her works; it drove Richard Feynman nuts as well.
What’s not to like. This is a useful tactic. Say whatever you want and follow it with a sound bite that the audience can relate to. Instant agreement. Especially effective on those with little or no education, or those with selective hearing like reporters and news ANALysts.