Fire Thomas Friedman: The Ridiculous NYT Column

noreply@blogger.com (Jay) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:22:00 +0000

Why?
My name is Jay Turner. I am moved to action by the New York Times column written by Thomas Friedman. You can read it here : Fire Thomas Friedman. Please read that column if you have not already.

I was alerted to this New York Times opinion piece today via a blog post at: Volokh Conspiracy on Thomas Friedman's disgusting column . Read that for yourself.

I have never created a site like this. Altho very opinionated, and always willing to engage in debate with friends and family, taking such a step as registering a site like FireThomasFriedman.com is not my cup of tea.

However, I am moved today, by the hypocrisy, and the condescension in Friedman's column. I will sum up his column here (but please, read it for yourself)

"There is only one thing worse than one-party autocracy, and that is one-party democracy, which is what we have in America today.

One-party autocracy certainly has its drawbacks. But when it is led by a reasonably enlightened group of people, as China is today, it can also have great advantages. That one party can just impose the politically difficult but critically important policies needed to move a society forward in the 21st century. It is not an accident that China is committed to overtaking us in electric cars, solar power, energy efficiency, batteries, nuclear power and wind power. China’s leaders understand that in a world of exploding populations and rising emerging-market middle classes, demand for clean power and energy efficiency is going to soar. Beijing wants to make sure that it owns that industry and is ordering the policies to do that, including boosting gasoline prices, from the top down."
-Thomas Friedman

"reasonably enlightened", Mr. Friedman?

China's autocratic system allows for the party in control to exercise it's power and make policy in all necesary haste, that's true.

Today, our democratic system is essentially ruled by one party as well, but is constrained by the limitations and constraints created by the Constitution, by design, to slow down those who wield power, in order to prevent radical change absent debate.

Mr. Friedman, your premise is fine as a thought experiment, except for one thing... the morally relative comparison with, of all countries, CHINA and your comment that they are quite fine and forward thinking.

Seriously, Mr. Friedman?

Mr. Friedman, I greatly appreciated your thoughtful PBS special, years ago, about the problems of the middle east, in which you broke the problems down to 3 issues: the demagoguery of the U.S. backing Israel, the lack of opportunity, and the domination of the middle eastern peoples by dictators who trample their rights.

But today, your comparison, and lament, that our political class cannot or will not enact Climate Change and Health Care policy, with the ability to exercise total power in communist China is offensive.

How has that absolute power worked out?

Anyone who truly loves Human Rights, and the sovereignty of the individual, would be offended at the comparison. China's unchallenged power to preserve Party over Individual has resulted in oppression of it's citizens, by imprisonment, punishment, and demoralizing control.

Anyone who actually yearns for real and genuine conservation of the environment, would be offended at your comparison. China's ability to exercise absolute power, has HARMED the cause of protecting the environment.

Their abuses are documented quite well within the pages of your very own New York Times.

And these are your pet issues that you yourself routinely champion in your columns.

Later in your column, you castigate the GOP for not going along with the one party policies. You say they are sitting this one out.

Need I remind you the reforms attempted in the Bush administration... medical savings accounts, etc.

You sided then with the demagoguery of the one party in power today. So today you heap blame on the GOP for its absence, and praise for China's bravery and progressive action.

Mr. Friedman, the debate going on around the country regarding health care does not look congenial in comparison to your cocktail parties. The townhalls, however, are likely more diverse in the number of varied opinions. I grant you that the halls of the Grey Lady may see more debate and diversity of thought than the coffee shop talk in Beijing.

After reading your column today, I guess not by a wide margin.

Let me point out to you, Mr. Friedman... that in order for China to exercise is total and absolute power, it also has to control the thoughts of it's citizens. No free press. No right to assemble. No disagreement with the One party rule.

Stagnation of ideas and creativity. The oppression of the human spirit.

Seemingly, that is what you lament in your column today. That the current administration and one party rule, can not power thru it's agenda... which coincides with yours, because of the un-progressive opposition party. According to the One party comrades you quoted in your column, GOP arguments are still in the dark ages. Ah. If only the One party had the testicular fortitude and the organization, the raw crackling power, of the Chinese ruling party.

Read your history, sir. Autocratic and Totalitarian rule, emanating from the progressive movements of the past century always go the way of the oppression, with the best of intentions. And your fine with it, I guess. No worries! It's all good!

I have no illusions that my thoughts here today will lead to you being fired for your ridiculous column.
I don't even expect a "walk back" or further explanation from you. My voice is small.

I am asking that anyone offended by your column voice their displeasure to the New York Times here, at:
http://www.nytimes.com/membercenter/formf.html

All 3 of you.

I'm just a citizen, a free born man of modest means who bought a domain for $10.87 to voice my opinion.
Today, I'm a lot closer to the spirit of Benjamin Franklin, Sam Adams, and Thomas Paine than you have EVER been.

Yay, me. The sad thing is, didn't take much. Your column is that bad.

For shame, Mr. Friedman. Somewhere inside you beats the love of freedom and the triumphs of the individual that the U.S. of A. stands for. But on this day, you whimsically look to China for inspiration.

In the common parlance of those of us out here in the real world... "lame".

P.S. Dead on this day in 1976, and still dead, Mao Zedong. Your timing is impeccable, Mr. Friedman.

More Reading, and difference of opinion, the likes of which you WON'T see in China... but hey, they've got electric cars:

Instapundit.com's take on Thomas Friedman's love of the China Overlords

American Spectator: Tom Friedman Certainly Has His Drawbacks

Matt Welch: Thomas L. Friedman: China Is Better Governed Than America

Jonah Goldberg: Friedman is a liberal fascist