Fields
02-13-2008, 04:02 PM
Baseball and the Constitution [Lisa Schiffren (l%69%73a%2e%6ds%6d@g%6dai%6c%2ec%6f%6d)]
Before I alienate half of the Corner's readers, I want to say that I like baseball. I like the traditional, all-American ethos of baseball. And I really like those slightly sappy, heroic, misty sunrise in the wheat fields baseball movies.
Still...I am really puzzled as to why the Congress of the United States of America is busy holding hearings on steroid use among players this morning. Does Henry Waxman have nothing better to investigate? In all the world, is there no problem more compelling? Why is this, of all things, the business of the U.S. government? This would be an excellent moment for Ron Paul to step up and chastise those of his colleagues who must believe that they will win popularity points for cleaning up the national pastime.
Of course, it is a bad thing, and not at all within the spirit of competition, for players to use performance enhancing drugs. Baseball is a huge commercial endeavor — and, unlike food or drug production, or even movies, not one capable of harming unwary consumers. This is one of those (myriad) cases where the market should work: If the sport is perceived as corrupt, or too pervaded by drugs, it will attract fewer fans. Whether players use legal drugs or not is rightly the concern of the industry and its internal regulators.
For that matter, steroids are not illegal. And it is naive to imagine that all of these high-stakes, career athletes will forego the use of performance enhancing drugs. Indeed, it seems to be increasing in all sorts of fields. Young models use (illegal drugs and) excessive nicotine to keep their BMIs subnormal. I once knew a Pulitzer prize-winning writer who, fearing diminishing powers got a prescription for something called "Concerta" to keep the focus sharp. Tales of people using Prozac to become less shy and more socially assertive — traits that are required for success in business, among other activities, are legion.
So, where is Ron Paul now, when he should be standing on the steps of the institution in which he works, pointing out the frivolity and waste of today's hearings?
Click Here (http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ODUyYjM2MDcwZGVlNGEzMDAzY2JhMDY0NmIyYTQ5N2Q=)
Before I alienate half of the Corner's readers, I want to say that I like baseball. I like the traditional, all-American ethos of baseball. And I really like those slightly sappy, heroic, misty sunrise in the wheat fields baseball movies.
Still...I am really puzzled as to why the Congress of the United States of America is busy holding hearings on steroid use among players this morning. Does Henry Waxman have nothing better to investigate? In all the world, is there no problem more compelling? Why is this, of all things, the business of the U.S. government? This would be an excellent moment for Ron Paul to step up and chastise those of his colleagues who must believe that they will win popularity points for cleaning up the national pastime.
Of course, it is a bad thing, and not at all within the spirit of competition, for players to use performance enhancing drugs. Baseball is a huge commercial endeavor — and, unlike food or drug production, or even movies, not one capable of harming unwary consumers. This is one of those (myriad) cases where the market should work: If the sport is perceived as corrupt, or too pervaded by drugs, it will attract fewer fans. Whether players use legal drugs or not is rightly the concern of the industry and its internal regulators.
For that matter, steroids are not illegal. And it is naive to imagine that all of these high-stakes, career athletes will forego the use of performance enhancing drugs. Indeed, it seems to be increasing in all sorts of fields. Young models use (illegal drugs and) excessive nicotine to keep their BMIs subnormal. I once knew a Pulitzer prize-winning writer who, fearing diminishing powers got a prescription for something called "Concerta" to keep the focus sharp. Tales of people using Prozac to become less shy and more socially assertive — traits that are required for success in business, among other activities, are legion.
So, where is Ron Paul now, when he should be standing on the steps of the institution in which he works, pointing out the frivolity and waste of today's hearings?
Click Here (http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ODUyYjM2MDcwZGVlNGEzMDAzY2JhMDY0NmIyYTQ5N2Q=)