Uncle Bob on Life, the Universe, and Everything

We hear this idiom all the time nowadays.  "The Carrot and the Stick."  The carrot symbolizes what we will give to an opponent to entice them to deal with us.  The stick represents the force we will apply to get them to deal with us.  I just got done reading a article in The Weekly Standard which said that our dealings with Iran have been all carrot and no stick.

For crying out loud, doesn’t anybody remember what this idiom is really about?  It’s about a donkey tied to a mill, walking around in a cirlce for hours and hours trying to get a carrot that is tied to a stick which is tied to his head.  The "Carrot ON A Stick" idiom used to be all about unfulfilled promises; tantalization, bait and switch.  When someone said "it was the old Carrot on a Stick" routine they meant that there was an prize that kept moving away from you.  

But somehow it all got changed.  I don’t know when, and I don’t know how.  Some illiterate reporter or some dopey journalist changed the word ON to the word AND, and this odd notion of enticement vs force replaced the original.  Whoever it was, they apparently confused the Carrot and Stick immage with the term "Walk softly but carry a big stick".  It’s easy to see why they got confused since they both use the term "Stick".  

The misuse of this idiom bothers me almost as much as the word "irregardless".

(sigh). 

The March, 2006 issue of Scientific American had an interesting article "Unlocking the Secrets of Longevity Genes".  It seems that researchers have found that, in yeast, there are a set of genes that get activated during periods of stress (such as reduced calorie intake, or increased heat or cold) that collaborate to protect DNA from damage.  As a result the organisms live 30% longer.  It so happens that there are similar genes in other organisms (including humans) that seem to play the same role, and that apparently can extend lifespan.  It has long been known, for example, that if you severely restrict the calorie intake of mice, they will live 30% longer lives, and avoid most age related diseases during that extended period.  Tests on these mice show that the genes in question are activated by the calorie reduction. 

The article is careful to say that none of us who read it will likely be alive to enjoy the a longer lifetime because of this research; but… 

So here is what I think about the immigration bruhaha that’s currently raging. 

• First, there are a lot of very fine people who have, in desperation, broken the law to enter this country and who have then gone on to lead productive lives that contribute to our society.  I think these people should be allowed to stay and put on a path towards citizenship. 
• Second, there are quite a few illegal immigrants who are not productive, who make use of public aid, welfare, and any other freebie they can get.  I think these people should be deported.
• Third — and this should probably be first.  We should quadruple our efforts to secure the border.  I would support a fence.  I certainly support drastically increased border patrols, UAVs, etc.  And, from now on, I support a zero-tolerance attitude towards illegal immigration.
• Fourth — Getting into this country legally, and the path to citizenship is too hard by a factor of 10.  I think it should be easy for people to apply for, and recieve work permits, permanent residency, and even start the naturalization process.  It should not be free, and it should not be a rubber stamp, but the process should be a matter of a few months as opposed to a few decades.