John Adams Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Transcript from dailyshow.com JON STEWART: Well Stephen, what do you think is going to happen now at CBS News? STEPHEN COLBERT, Daily Show Senior Media Correspondent: Jon, there's got to be some accountability. Dan Rather is the head, the commander in chief if you will of his organization. He's someone in the ultimate position of power who made a harmful decision based upon questionable evidence. Then, to make things worse, he stubbornly refused to admit his mistake, choosing instead to stay the course and essentially occupy this story for too long. This man has got to go! STEWART: Uh ... we're talking about Dan Rather...? COLBERT: Yes Jon, Dan Rather. CBS is in chaos, it's unsafe, riven by internal rivalries. If you ask me, respected, reputable outsiders need to be brought in to help the rebuilding effort. STEWART: ... at CBS News? COLBERT: Yeah, at CBS news! What possible other unrelated situation could my words be equally applicable to?! Now people need to be held accountable. The commander in chief, the vice president, the secretary of defense, the national security adviser -- everyone at CBS News needs to go! Jon, I can tell you, Walter Cronkite is rolling over in his grave. STEWART: Walter Cronkite is still alive. COLBERT: Not according to my sources ... at CBS News. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RabidBillsFanVT Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 The happiness of society is the end of government.--John Adams I have a problem with your quote, John Adams. Here is the FULL paragraph: We ought to consider what is the end of government, before we determine which is the best form. Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is the end of government, as all divines and moral philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man. From this principle it will follow, that the form of government which communicates ease, comfort, security, or, in one word, happiness, to the greatest number of persons, and in the greatest degree, is the best. And of course, this 'perfect government' is something that is IMPOSSIBLE, and by this context, you will see that the closer you get to a perfect the government, the more balanced the happiness of society with the happiness of the individual is. He is saying that group happiness brings anarchy, while the individual happiness brings the end of man completely, hence there must be a balance for good government to exist. Do you see what I am saying? This thought is very true, and enlightening! I learned something good tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Transcript from dailyshow.com JON STEWART: Well Stephen, what do you think is going to happen now at CBS News? STEPHEN COLBERT, Daily Show Senior Media Correspondent: Jon, there's got to be some accountability. Dan Rather is the head, the commander in chief if you will of his organization. He's someone in the ultimate position of power who made a harmful decision based upon questionable evidence. Then, to make things worse, he stubbornly refused to admit his mistake, choosing instead to stay the course and essentially occupy this story for too long. This man has got to go! STEWART: Uh ... we're talking about Dan Rather...? COLBERT: Yes Jon, Dan Rather. CBS is in chaos, it's unsafe, riven by internal rivalries. If you ask me, respected, reputable outsiders need to be brought in to help the rebuilding effort. STEWART: ... at CBS News? COLBERT: Yeah, at CBS news! What possible other unrelated situation could my words be equally applicable to?! Now people need to be held accountable. The commander in chief, the vice president, the secretary of defense, the national security adviser -- everyone at CBS News needs to go! Jon, I can tell you, Walter Cronkite is rolling over in his grave. STEWART: Walter Cronkite is still alive. COLBERT: Not according to my sources ... at CBS News. 43223[/snapback] Stephen Colbert is hysterical.....funny stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Stephen Colbert is hysterical.....funny stuff. 43307[/snapback] YOU ARE GOING TO FAIIILLLLL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Adams Posted September 23, 2004 Author Share Posted September 23, 2004 I have a problem with your quote, John Adams. Here is the FULL paragraph: And of course, this 'perfect government' is something that is IMPOSSIBLE, and by this context, you will see that the closer you get to a perfect the government, the more balanced the happiness of society with the happiness of the individual is. He is saying that group happiness brings anarchy, while the individual happiness brings the end of man completely, hence there must be a balance for good government to exist. Do you see what I am saying? This thought is very true, and enlightening! I learned something good tonight. 43276[/snapback] I am not sure what your problem with my quote is. Adams is saying that the happiness of people is the end (Read: GOAL) of government. He is also saying that happiness of the individual is the end (Read: GOAL again) of man. And that the perfect government is one that achieves these goals. He says nothing about individual happiness and anarchy in that quote. He also does not say that "individual happiness brings the end of man completely," as you say. In that sense, you may have confused the definitions of "end." He's talking about the end as goal, not termination. He is not saying that happiness terminates man, as you interpreted it-- he's saying happiness is man's goal. Anyways, the ENTIRE letter, famous for its foreshadowing of the Constitutional foreshadowing of our government's structure is here. Adams letter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RabidBillsFanVT Posted September 24, 2004 Share Posted September 24, 2004 I am not sure what your problem with my quote is. Adams is saying that the happiness of people is the end (Read: GOAL) of government. He is also saying that happiness of the individual is the end (Read: GOAL again) of man. And that the perfect government is one that achieves these goals. He says nothing about individual happiness and anarchy in that quote. He also does not say that "individual happiness brings the end of man completely," as you say. In that sense, you may have confused the definitions of "end." He's talking about the end as goal, not termination. He is not saying that happiness terminates man, as you interpreted it-- he's saying happiness is man's goal. Anyways, the ENTIRE letter, famous for its foreshadowing of the Constitutional foreshadowing of our government's structure is here. Adams letter 43571[/snapback] My problem was the whole paragraph was left out, which when left out, leaves the thought incomplete. I disagree when you say 'achieves both of these goals'... You CAN'T achieve both of those goals, for not EVERY individual will ever be happy, or the ENTIRE society will never be totally happy. Thats why when I read the whole thought, it made perfect sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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