Paraphernalia was amazed to realize how popular Trivial Pursuit® remains, even after all these years. Once an avid player, paraphernalia somehow got distracted, and went on a binge of school, travel and work fuelled by all kind of memory altering devices. Having learned a lot (and forgotten even more!), it is nice to see that the game is as good as it was. However, a sinister version seems to have been introduced while paraphernalia was nursing its hangover.
As many other wholesome enterprises, it seems that the game has been co-opted by politicians. Re-branded as Trivial Politicizing™, the emphasis of the new game is quite different. In this updated version, politicians provide the answer first (a la Jeopardy®), only to emphasize the trivial in the pursuit of votes. Knowledge is left out of the game altogether.
A good example is John McCain, self-anointed Moralizer-in-Chief of the USA. The use of steroids in baseball, certainly one of the most fundamental drug issues of our time, is prompting him to push for the intervention of Congress. Well, paraphernalia loves baseball, as the national pastime provides countless examples that the use of illegal substances for recreational purposes does not prevent talented individuals from having productive lives. Of course, Mr. McCain’s concerns are different. For him, the GAME is more important than the people. Sorry Mr. Senator, but some of us would like Congress to care more about the repealing of the "3 strikes you are out" legislationand of mandatory minimum sentencing than about fulfilling your childhood fantasy. Indeed, paraphernalia is sorry you did not make it to the Big Leagues. Actually, the minor leagues would have been fine too. Everybody loves Crash Davis more than they like you anyway.
Article comments
1 - RJ
What is: Bush is Hitler?
2 - Dave Nalle
What a leftist troll says right before we skip the rest of his article?
Dave
3 - Shark
Laura Is *Eva Braun!
* with cross-eyes
4 - Shark
ANSWER: Nothing
QUESTION: What do jingoistic, Right-Wing True Believers say when confronted with the HYPOCRISY of their Fearless Leader, George W. Bush,
ie Mr. "err on the side of life"
- versus -
civilian deaths in Iraq
the state-sanctioned murders (lethal injection, btw) in Texas
the killing of people while in custody of US forces.
========
Your turn,
Right Wing Trolls.
5 - paraphernalia
paraphernalia does not like Dubya. It did not like Clinton either. This is not right versus left. This is about freedom. No other labels needed nor necessary. Just stop letting these people decide for you.
6 - JR
RJ: What is: Bush is Hitler?
Who referred to Hillary Clinton as: "Hitlery"?
7 - Dave Nalle
This post is just an omnibus recounting of a bunch of issues and speculations and silly leftist snipes with no substance to it. Pick an issue, make a good argument and let's see what happens.
Dave
8 - Nick Jones
Oh come on, Dave. Haven't you done baseless Rightist sniping of your own? Tell me the myth about Sweden + socialism = suicide again.
9 - Dave Nalle
Ok, I couldn't resist that snipe, it's true. But haven't you heard, Sweden is my new hero country now that they're enacting an educational voucher system. The worm has turned.
But you have to admit that even if I make the occasional comment, my articles are mostly focused on the issue and not a jumbled collection of rehashed and played out talking points.
Dave
10 - paraphernalia
Dear Dave, a visit to my site would be enough to to stop you calling me leftist. I link to the Cato Institute, post Milton Friedman article, have Hayek as a reference, and The Economist Survey on drugs as back-up. Onlu trying to attract attention to the fact that baseball regulation is less important than the impact of mandatory sentencing. Leftist means more regulation. We are calling for less. Libertarian is the right word here.