one of the tenets of the machinery of freedom is that the merits of a particular system (for example, a form of government) should be evaluated as if besieged by incompetence.* in other words, expect the worst. in other words, don’t say “democracy works as long as we keep people like dick cheney out of the white house”. say, “democracy doesn’t work because it failed to keep people like dick cheney out of the white house.” don’t say, “if that asshole hadn’t been talking on his cellphone he wouldn’t have sideswiped me.” say, “im going to assume that any car might be driven by someone on a cellphone.” don’t say (as i did), “i’m going to learn uston apc and the 500-cell strategy matrix because it’s the most powerful system as long as you aren’t retarded and don’t make any mistakes.” say, “i’m retarded and am going to make mistakes, i better stick with the ko count”
i thought about this as i made margaritas last night. one reason margaritas are so ubiquitous and popular is because they are almost impossible to fuck up. even one with bottom-shelf hangover-tonic and biohazard-green syrup is not a complete travesty.
and there’s no perfect recipe. erring in either direction with any ingredient will still produce something drinkable or at least salvageable.
margarita
4 parts tequila
3 parts citrus
1 part sugar
1 part triple sec
whisk, stir, or shake until sugar is dissolved. add ice, and stir or shake until very cold. add water to taste; the drink should be strong and tart but refreshingly, not painfully.
for the citrus, i used half lemon and half lime, as per jeffrey morganthaler’s recipe.
i used luxardo triplum which is sweeter than citronage; i could/should have cut down on the sugar.
drinkhacker says hiram walker is just fine.
this also works:
margarcheata
4 parts tequila
2 parts citrus
1 part bacardi frozen margarita mix
1 part triple sec
…
*friedman actually goes one step further and says “corruption” rather than “incompetence”, asserting that the more power a government has, the more earnestly corrupt people will seek and obtain government positions. but i find that the tenet has a wider application when you assume incompetence or apathy rather than corruption. or maybe assume self-interest, with the understanding that most people are interested in being lazy. including me.
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