"But there is no obvious reason for holding that some normal adults are entitled to make choices for other normal adults, as paternalists of both left and right believe"

Tom G. Palmer's quote challenges the idea of paternalism, which is the concept that a person group has the right or commitment to make decisions for another, ostensibly for their own excellent. The statement critically questions the credibility of imposing the will of some adults over others when all celebrations included are considered "regular" or capable of making their own decisions.

Palmer's usage of "regular adults" recommends individuals who are of sound mind and able to make their own choices. By highlighting that these people are "regular", he implies that they are had of the essential faculties to understand the consequences of their actions and are therefore responsible for their own decisions.

The term "paternalists of both left and ideal" shows that this is not a belief unique to a single political ideology. Rather, it spans throughout the political spectrum, suggesting that the tendency to determine the options of others is a common tendency among different political factions. Paternalism, in both cases, often emerges from the belief that those in authority or with more understanding have a task to safeguard people from their own potentially harmful choices.

Palmer's assertion that there is "no apparent factor" for such control indicates that the validation for one adult determining the options of another does not have clear, logical grounding. He appears to recommend that adults, presumed to be rational and competent, ought to be empowered to make their own choices, even if those decisions bring threats. Autonomy and individual liberty are, for that reason, implicit worths in Palmer's perspective.

The quote welcomes reflection on the balance between specific liberty and societal control. It challenges the reader to consider the ethical and rational foundations of paternalism, questioning whether it truly serves an understandable function or simply makes up a baseless violation on personal freedom. In essence, Palmer is promoting for the regard of private autonomy and the right of each adult to self-governance, devoid of baseless external disturbance.