Semantics

"There has been more material progress in the United States in the 20th century than there was in the entire world in all the previous centuries combined."
-- Stephen Moore and Julian Simon, Cato Institute, December 1999

...The Cato Institute's report noted that "the progress of the 20th century is not a mere historical blip but rather the start of a long-term trend of improved life on earth."

Cato Institute

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The Institute's stated mission is "to broaden the parameters of public policy debate to allow consideration of the traditional American principles of limited government, individual liberty, free markets, and peace" by striving "to achieve greater involvement of the intelligent, lay public in questions of (public) policy and the proper role of government." Cato scholars have been sharply critical of the Bush administration on a wide variety of issues, including the Iraq war, civil liberties, and excessive government spending.

History

The Institute was founded in San Francisco, California in 1977 by Edward H. Crane and initially funded by Charles G. Koch. The Institute is named after Cato's Letters, a series of British essays penned in the early 18th century expounding the political views of philosopher John Locke. The essays were named after Cato the Younger, the defender of republican institutions in Rome. Radical libertarian Murray Rothbard was a founding member of the institute's board and is credited with suggesting the name. He later came into sharp disagreement with other members, resulting in his dismissal in 1981.^{[2] [3]} Cato relocated to Washington, D.C. in 1981, settling first in a townhouse on Capitol Hill. ^[4] The Institute moved to its current location on Massachusetts Avenue in 1993.

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"Material Progress" is what, exactly?

Only culturally fascist Libertarians consider it rational and propaganda-worthy to pronounce Institutionally that a VERB has been more prevalent in the past one-hundred years than in the total accumulation of all conceivable existence.

Fucking Aryans.

Noun

material (plural materials)

1. Matter which may be shaped or manipulated, particularly in making something.

   Asphalt, composed of oil and sand, is a widely used material for roads.

2. Cloth to be made into a garment.

   You'll need about a yard of material to make this.

3. (entertainment) Things written to be performed.

   We were a warm-up act at the time; we didn't have enough original material to headline.

4. A person who is qualified for a certain position or activity.

   Joe Manchin is a great governor, and I also believe he is presidential material.

Noun

progress (uncountable)

1. A moving or going forward; a proceeding onward; an advance
   • In actual space, as the progress of a ship, carriage, etc.
   • In the growth of an animal or plant; increase.
   • In business of any kind; as, the progress of a negotiation; the progress of art
   • In knowledge; in proficiency; as, the progress of a child at school
   • Toward ideal completeness or perfection in respect of quality or condition; -- applied to individuals, communities, or the race; as, social, moral, religious, or political progress
2. A journey of state; a circuit; especially, one made by a sovereign through parts of his own dominions.

   The Queen embarked on her progress last spring.

3. the advance or growth of modern, industrialized society, its technology, and its trappings

   The progress of society can be uneven.

   Verb

   
   
4. (intransitive) to move, go, or proceed forward; to advance

   They progress through the museum.

5. (intransitive) to improve; to become better or more complete

   Societies progress unevenly.

According to Plutarch, at one point during the height of the civil strife, as respected Roman nobles were being led to execution from Sulla's villa, Cato, aged about 14, asked his Sarpedon, why no one had yet killed the dictator. Sarpedon's answer was "because they fear him, my child, more than they hate him," to which Cato replied, "give me a sword, that I might free my country from slavery." After this, Sarpedon was careful not to leave the boy unattended around the capital, seeing how firm he was in his republican beliefs.

"Victrix causa diis placuit sed victa Catoni" ("The conquering cause pleased the gods, but the conquered cause pleased Cato").^[2]

"After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I have one."
~ Cato the Elder