Q: Are We Not Prophets? A: We are ...

A USA Today article questions how many Americans truly want the increase of choices that would arise from the Bush Administration's personal accounts for Social Security:

"Other analysts point to new research that shows too much choice can result in paralysis, bad choices or what psychologist Barry Schwartz calls 'vague angst.'

" 'It's never occurred to anyone that choice could be a bad thing,' says Schwartz, a professor at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and author of the 2004 book The Paradox of Choice.

"He cites a 2003 Vanguard study that found a negative correlation between participation in 401(k) retirement savings accounts and the number of investment options available. For every 10 funds added, participation dropped 1.5% to 2%."

Well, if this Schwartz character is sooo smart, how did he not know that more choices can be a bad thing? Obviously, the guy never really listened carefully to those flowerpot-wearing prophets of the Eighties ...

Devo.

As the Bush White House might do well to remember the words of Devo:

Freedom of choice is what you got.
Freedom from choice is what you want.

Oh, yes, grasshopper ... we can learn much from gleaning the truth-telling of the Nostradamus fill-ins of the checkered Vans and skinny-tie generation.


When a problem comes along, you must whip it.
Before the cream sits out too long, you must whip it.
(Foretold the invasion of Iraq)

Look at you with your mouth watering.
Look at your with your mind spinning.
(Foretold the White House internship program during the Clinton Administration)

Monkey men all in business suit,
Teachers and critics all dance the poot.
(Foretold the theory of "intelligent design")