They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means “The Ultimate Argument of Kings,” and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. “We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it’s about: You’ll do as I say or I’ll send my goons to kill you.”
I thought about that for a long time. If there’s an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I’ve got bullets – he’s got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that’s not going to happen. So if there’s an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain’t bullets.
It finally came to me – and that’s when I abandoned the city and most of my stuff, and gave all that was behind me a good stiff Randian Shrug.
The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.
Now for your enjoyment a photographic representation of this event…
The folks at the Daily Signal, reporting on the collapse of the 15th of 23 Obamacare coops, aren’t writing fast. Illinois announced the failure of theirs today.
Cheers!
It was bound to collapse. It’s all happening just as it logically must, of course. I am trying to be my own primary physician as much as I can. The old machinery of slavery is collapsing. The Renaissance is arrived. 🙂 I think we are going to come out of this a whole lot better as a species, and most of us are in pretty good places to ride out the storms.
I think I’ll pull out Atlas and read it again. I’ve been asked to hold reading/discussion groups, and maybe I will do that soon.
Joel, thanks for all the entertainment and news. And the chickens, of course.