"I have hitherto been assuming that such teachers as Gains and Titius do not fully realize what they are doing and do not intend the far-reaching consequences it will actually have. There is, of course, another possibility. What I have called (presuming on their concurrence in a certain traditional system of values) the trousered ape and the urban blockhead may be precisely the kind of man they really wish to produce.
The differences between us may go all the way down. They may really hold that the ordinary human feelings about the past or animals or large waterfalls are contrary to reason and contemptible and ought to be eradicated. They may be intending to make a clean sweep of traditional values and start with a new set."
C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man
Or do not so much believe it, as they simply do not care, in sincerity, pathology, or as a matter of convenience.
And that is why there is a need for law and regulation. Not because people are no better than trousered apes, but because there are those who, while they may not necessarily think it about themselves, certainly consider you and yours to be trousered apes existing for abuse and exploitation.
Martin Shkreli's recent Bloomberg interview comes to mind.
Granted, if people were as rational and self-effacing as angels then there would indeed be no need for rules, and the markets would sort everything out naturally with perfect justice and efficiency. But alas, they are not, as is well known to anyone of age who is not being paid to say otherwise, and base high sounding theories on such risible nonsense.
Speaking of which, this market is sleepwalking in a very narrow range now.
And judging from the number of cars on the interstate, and especially the large number with out of state license plates, it appears that the holiday weekend has begun.
Have a Happy Hanukkah, and a very Merry Christmas.
And of course, a very pleasant weekend.
