A metaphor for happy self-destruction — this time from the great State of Louisiana

© 2018 Peter Free

 

18 August 2018

 

 

Louisiana — home of astonishing genius?

 

While we're on the metaphor roll — here is one from the State of Louisiana's bond commission:

 

 

Louisiana is banning two of the nation's biggest banks from participating in an upcoming bond sale [see what that is, here].

 

The state's bond commission on Thursday voted 7-6 to bar Citigroup and Bank of America from taking part in a debt offering, citing their "restrictive gun policies."

 

"As a veteran and former member of law enforcement, I take the Second Amendment very seriously," said State Treasurer John Schroder in a statement announcing the decision.

 

Citigroup in March became the first large financial institution to impose restrictions on the firearms industry, saying it felt compelled to act amid the "same cycle of tragedy and inaction."

 

Citi's plan involved no longer offering loans or store-branded credit cards to retailers selling bump stocks or guns to people younger than 21, or who had not passed a background check.

 

Bank of America in April said it would no longer issue loans to companies that manufacture military-style rifles for civilians . . . .

 

A Citi spokesperson added in an email: "It is disappointing that the taxpayers of Louisiana will be deprived from competitive bidding for necessary public works because the process has been politicized.

 

© 2018 Kate Gibson, State won't do business with Bank of America, Citi over their gun policies, CBS News Money Watch (17 August 2018)

 


So, I guess

 

Louisianans will continue to shoot themselves in the poverty foot. Acting against the state's obvious best interest. Somewhat like What's the Matter with Kansas described happening in the sunflower state.

 

The Kansas approach became a metaphor describing what happens — when non-Burkean "conservatism" prioritizes emotional trigger issues over — wider, more balanced and integrated societal vision(s).

 

 

The moral? — Intelligence seems not to grow from a gun barrel

 

Not that Mao ever said it did.

 

Mildly related to Mao's guns and power thinking, I am beginning to suspect that one can:

 

 

(a) tentatively — meaning hypothetically

 

(b) inversely categorize an American's intelligence by

 

(c) his or her degree of commitment to the Supreme Court's — historically and legally indefensible — interpretation of the Second Amendment.

 

 

Fools following fools. Thoughtlessness, and a lack of overall insight, tend to accompany the passionately indulged lack of brain. A condition that (again figuratively) pretty much describes the current United States.

 

Ivan Pavlov — of "Pavlov's dogs" — would have had a smiling time training Americans to do ridiculous things. Just to show the power of Absurdity's cultural conditioning.

 

Have a nice day.

 

And occasionally wonder whose hoops — you, me and us — are jumping through.