David Johnson
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whodan2.bsky.social
David Johnson
@whodan2.bsky.social
49 followers 65 following 130 posts
Maybe some photography, politics, economics, mildly humorous or witty remarks, etc.
For the third time now, I'm still the one honest man in this city.
(avatar credit to the inimitable Kelly)
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whodan2.bsky.social
My understanding of this is that Hobbes gave the sovereign the power to decide what is necessary to protect a society, & the sovereign's judgment in this regard can't be questioned. Trump thinks he is protecting society. If he were sovereign in a Hobbesian world, his belief couldn't be questioned.
Text quoting Leviathan, Item 6 of Chapter 18 regarding the rights of the sovereign. Description truncated for length. The Soveraigne Is Judge Of What Is Necessary For The Peace And Defence Of His Subjects And because the End of this Institution, is the Peace and Defence of them all; and whosoever has right to the End, has right to the Means; it belongeth of Right, to whatsoever Man, or Assembly that hath the Soveraignty, to be Judge both of the meanes of Peace and Defence; and also of the hindrances, and disturbances of the same; and to do whatsoever he shall think necessary to be done, both beforehand, for the preserving of Peace and Security, by prevention of discord at home and Hostility from abroad; and, when Peace and Security are lost, for the recovery of the same. And therefore, And Judge Of What Doctrines Are Fit To Be Taught Them Sixtly, it is annexed to the Soveraignty, to be Judge of what Opinions and Doctrines are averse, and what conducing to Peace; and consequently, on what occasions, how farre, and what, men are to be trusted withall, in speaking to Multitudes of people; and who shall examine the Doctrines of all bookes before they be published. For the Actions of men proceed from their Opinions; and in the wel governing of Opinions, consisteth the well governing of mens Actions, in order to their Peace, and Concord. And though in matter of Doctrine, nothing ought to be regarded but the Truth; yet this is not repugnant to regulating of the same by Peace. For Doctrine Repugnant to Peace, can no more be True, than Peace and Concord can be against the Law of Nature. It is true, that in a Common-wealth, where by the negligence, or unskilfullnesse of Governours, and Teachers, false Doctrines are by time generally received; the contrary Truths may be generally offensive; Yet the most sudden, and rough busling in of a new Truth, that can be, does never breake the Peace, but onely somtimes awake the Warre. For those men that are so remissely governed, that…
January 22, 2026 at 2:37 AM
whodan2.bsky.social
Updated classic, for our modern times:
theonion.com/area-man-pas...
Tweet from Byron Donalds with a headline from the Onion added above, reading "Area Man Passionate Defender of What He Imagines Constitution To Be."
May 8, 2025 at 11:40 PM
whodan2.bsky.social
Using "opprobrium" reminds me: about 22 years ago, a Supreme Court justice (guess who) lamented that some "homosexual activists" were trying to end the "moral opprobrium that has traditionally attached" to being gay. He, along with a then-majority, believed that gay people deserved opprobrium. 1/4
Text reading: Today’s opinion is the product of a Court, which is the product of a law-profession culture, that has largely signed on to the so-called homosexual agenda, by which I mean the agenda promoted by some homosexual activists directed at eliminating the moral opprobrium that has traditionally attached to homosexual conduct. I noted in an earlier opinion the fact that the American Association of Law Schools (to which any reputable law school must seek to belong) excludes from membership any school that refuses to ban from its job-interview facilities a law firm (no matter how small) that does not wish to hire as a prospective partner a person who openly engages in homosexual conduct. See Romer, supra, at 653.
March 12, 2025 at 12:51 AM
whodan2.bsky.social
A slow demise in Provincetown, MA.
A derelict boat lying at a 45-degree angle against a stone breakwater.
November 19, 2024 at 4:26 AM
whodan2.bsky.social
As a first image, the full picture of my current header. Found this area in 2017 in Reykjavik while walking somewhat aimlessly.
#iceland
November 15, 2024 at 5:30 AM
whodan2.bsky.social
After the jump, but before the fall (or at least, we can hope).
November 14, 2024 at 3:54 AM