My Crazy Life

Words to live by

Ξ October 8th, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Uncategorized |

“Belief is not a matter of choice, but of conviction.”

People seem to forget that in Capitalism, there are winners and losers.

Ξ October 1st, 2008 | → 0 Comments | ∇ Uncategorized |

“When I say ‘Capitalism,’ I mean a full, pure, uncontrolled, unregulated laissez-faire capitalism - with a seperation of state and economics, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation of state and church”

- Ayn Rand

While I usually limit my political discussions and pontifications to the Bully Pulpit of my website (plug, plug, but you must be a member of the site to see it), this current issue is moving me to no end.

I’m hoping that the measure fails in the Senate tonight.

Back in August of 1864, there was this little thing that was called the “Battle of Mobile Bay”. Imagine the scene, This was one of the final stands for the Confederate Navy; their Thermopylae if you will.

The Union fleet was led by an  Admiral David Farragut, literally a lifetime navy man (entering it when he was ten years of age….. Ten.) At age twelve, he was given his first command, bringing the USS Essex back to port from battle. While not really liberating Paris, or organizing the Surge, a lot to deal with for a child. Throughout the rest of his career, Farragut was known throughout the Fleet as a dependable, devoted commander, who was quite aggressive but not always one to fall right in line.

Sense a pattern as to where this is going?

So let’s skip back to Alabama. The Confederacy needed to keep Mobile Bay open to continue support for the war, and was one of the last three ports held by the Confederacy. Farragut’s mission was to take Mobile Bay for the Union with his fleet of 18 ships vs. 4 and cannon from Confederate positions. Between the cannon, or the guns from Confederates any assault would be difficult at best, but the addition of mines (called torpedoes at the time) made the whole attempt perilous at best. With the job presented to him, Farragut knew what he must do.

It was the monitor USS Tecumseh which struck the minefield first. By all accounts, it sunk within minutes claiming close to 100. The Fleet began to move about in disarray and would soon be lost if action was not taken. Farragut, onboard the USS Hartford (lashed to the ship mind you) was witness to all of the events, and the battle soon to be lost. He asked out why the ships were retreating.

“Torpedoes!”

His response has become historical. 

“Damn the torpedoes! Four bells. Captain Drayton, go ahead! Jouett, full speed!”

The Fleet manged their way through the minefield, and quickly took care of the Confederate cannon. End of Story. Make it a special on the History Channel.

But there is a lesson in this, for another man, who has a similar lineage to Farragut. This man is also running for President now, and has been charged by the residents of Arizona to represent them in the United States Senate, and now by proxy the Republican Party, and if successful, the citizens of the United States.

What is going on now is the economic version of the Battle of Mobile Bay, and it is McCain that is the commander of this Fleet. McCain has had a proven track record of voting against stupid spending for stupid projects, and this Bill that is being voted on tonight is full of these torpedoes in that the political implications for voting against this.  McCain needs to damn these torpedoes and do what is right for this country, and what is right for the concept of capitalism.

Four Bells Captain McCain. Full speed!