Check out this Republican political ad running in Texas. Here's the subtext:
- Republicans think it's OK to acquire animals (workers), but they feel no compunction to feed or shelter them. The Republicans asked for workers, not families.
. - Republicans think extending basic care is a burden. They want the "right" to not provide their animals (the workers) with food, shelter or basic veterinary care.
. - Donkey are ungrateful. You can feed them once, but you know you are just going to have to feed them again. Taking care of the donkeys is an unending hassle.
. - No, the fence will not come down. The workers must be held captive by an endless supply of cheap labor, either through open-border immigration or through open-door imports. Reducing the number of donkeys in the field so they can all eat well in a sustainable way is not the Republican way.
. - There is no reason to talk to constituents in their language. It's OK to ignore such basic motiviations as food and praise. There is no reason to look for natural leadership in the herd or to work with that leadership to guide the herd.
. - None of the donkeys will listen to this "donkey whisperer." He cannot understand why. Sure he talks to them in a language they do not understand, and sure he ignores, makes light of, and demeans their basic needs, but is that any reason for them to treat him like a tick in tall grass?
. - Waving a copy of the Constitition is a substitute for food, shelter and health care.
. - This fellow would provide his animals with basic health care, such as dental care, if only "Obama" would get out of the way. Please ignore the fact that Obama is 1,500 miles away and some of his donkeys are gray with age. Please do not ask why the veterinary and housing needs of these donkeys have not been taken care of up to now.
. - The fault is not with the trainer. The fault is with the stupid animals no matter how incompetent, lazy, cheap, or stupid the trainer.
. - The great thing about Mexican donkeys is once they break down you don't have to keep taking care of them; you can send them back to Mexico where they'll be turned into shoes.
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Of course, you don't have to use American donkeys or Mexican donkeys -- you can send the work out to Asian elephants who will work for peanuts.
- Related Posts:
** Some Rights Flow From Responsibilities
** The "R" Word No One Wants to Talk About
** A Dog is Neither Shovel Nor Child
** Enabling Responsibility & Discouraging Stupidity
** Dog Fight: Rights vs. Responsibilities
** Wanted: Responsible and Educated Dog Owners
** Responsibility..
2 comments:
Lighten up Francis. I like you Patrick, and I really like your blog but your contempt for the opposing team is a little unsettling. Remember this; hate corrodes the vessel which contains it. Now back to the dogs. :)
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Nope.
This blog is about whatever I want to be about, and if you don't like it, don't let the door hit you in the ass.
And I mean that.
But, of course this post IS about the dogs, isn't it?
Isn't the core argument of puppy mill purveyors today the SAME argument made in this GOP ad -- that dogs (or donkeys ) are about rights and NOT about responsibilities?
I have written about the broken nexus between rights and responsibilities, and in dog magazines too.
In "A Dog is Neither Shovel Nor Child" ( see http://terriermandotcom.blogspot.com/2010/12/dog-is-neither-shovel-nor-child.html ) I note that: "One problem is that some owners fail to recognize that dogs are fully sentient beings that need more than food, water, shelter, and sanitation... Dogs are not inanimate property. If you leave a shovel out in the rain and snow, it is of no concern to the state. But do the same thing to a dog, and not only will the state step in – it may fine you, remove your dog and, in extreme cases, jail you."
But of coure this Republican candidate denies this responsibility, and it seems to be a point you are not too comfortable with yourself.
According to this ad, there is a right to own 50 donkeys (it's in the 5th Amendment to the Constitution, apparently) but no duty to feed, water, house or provide medical care (please ignore the Preamble to the Consitution which talks about our common welfare).
This is a core problem with the GOP: They deny responsibility. They claim property rights over sentient things, but no responsibilities, and that extends from donkeys to dogs to workers.
And, of course, I have written about dog training before, have I not? And is this ad not a bad and ill-informed parody about dog training? And yet, this "whisperer" is actually tone deaf to what is ACTUALLY involved in training, which is an understanding of communication, timing and motivations. He is ignorant, lazy, and... wait for it... all too ready to abandon his American Donkeys for Asian or African elephants because of HIS failings as a trainer. He says so himself!
And you think this post is NOT about dogs? Whiskey-tango-foxtrot.
Please go down to your local pound and explain that to some of the nearly 1 million dead Pit Bulls who were cute puppies but inconveninent dogs in the hands of tone-deaf, brain dead people who also once fancied themselves "whisperers" but then abandoned the dogs to their death once they found the dogs required food, water, veterinary care, excercise, love, discipline and training.
P
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