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Old Geezer

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  1. I dunno if its labor intensive, or if there might be another way to do it, or if there would be interest in it, But I was wondering about setting up a site where the "gold standard" article links are readily accessible? By "gold Standard" I mean well argued arguments about specific topics (For instance why the UN should not be supported, or free will etc)
  2. A)All Dictator's are eventually threats to larger and larger #'s of people because after eventually crush their country's ability to produce, and must rely on other countries to provide the resources they need to stay in power. why does the "eminance" of the threat determine the justness of the cause?
  3. Me as well.. DPW I did read your article and found it quite interesting. I wonder if you have Ever read any of Aaron Beck's works/research on "Automatic Thoughts?" In the field of Psychology, work on changing "Automatic thoughts" has been proven effective in other types of repetitive behaviors/emotions (Such as for rape survivors, sufferers of anxiety etc) As for the rest of your comments I thinkI agree.
  4. Why I think he Chose Iraq first Strategic Reasons Iraq as Doctrinal Proving Ground As of today, and for many years to come, America's leader's are chosen by election. Therefore, it was important that America's New National Security Strategy be sold to the American people, since it should be the Strategy for years to come. The strategies in this document are scary to accept, (not scary because they are wrong, but scary because they are new and intimidating for many) they include; Pre-Emption, Attack the State sponsor not just the terrorist. With Us/Against us. The false comfort of believing that terror abroad won't affect us. There can be no Bending on WMD. Saddam offered a clear case to sell these Doctrines to the American People. He had used the weopans before, diplomacy had not worked etc etc. It was through the Prizm of Saddam that many people began to recognize the Validity of the Above Doctrines... Iraq as "Show of Force" Its one thing to Romp a resource poor Student Run loosely bound theocracy. Its quite another to do the same to one of the world's largest militaries. Hopefully Iran is thinking now, (and I doubt it, but it would be nice if Saudi Arabia were doing the same) Iraq as Strategic Staging Ground Maybe it was Karl Rove getting it through W's thick Christian skull using a back door of Christian Morality, but I think that somewhere, someone in the Administration recognized that SA will eventually need to be looked at from a Military Standpoint. This dream relationship with the Saud's just cant last that long. Also, the advantages in leveraging Syria and Iran seem pretty apparent. more later
  5. Y feldblum I found the article interesting, but was wondering if there was one focused somewhat more on addiction
  6. If there is a pat essay on the issue of Addiction, will someone please refer me to it? Otherwise, 1. Do Objectivists believe that Addiction exists? 2. Do Objectivists draw a line between defining drugs such as Alcohol (which can be fatal if withdrawn from without Medical Supervision/Intervention) as physically addictive while not acknowledging addiction in drugs that don't pose such a risk??
  7. some random comments; Have you investigated Animism? has it been spreading? Do you suppose it will be spreading? As I understand it, some elements of Judaism follow the Doctrine that "God is within all of us" Do you think that type of theology has been spreading? When I was in some Christian Theology classes, the teaching was that "it is just as much of a sin to hurt yourself as it is to hurt someone else?" do you think that is a growing attitude? Also, have you followed the extent to which ritualistic practices have arisen in new forms in industrialized societies?
  8. Allowing, for the moment, that the EXACT amount is unobtainable, It seems that it is still possible to determine whether the actual dollar amount I am accepting from government entities is greater than the dollar amount that they collect. For instance, if I Dance for quarters in the street and obtain enough money each day to buy 1 pint of milk for $1.00, even if I assume that 99.9999999999999 percent of the dollar was from taxes along the way, then the 365 dollars I pay in taxes each year will not equal the amount of stolen dollars I accept from the government if I am receiving direct welfare from them..
  9. I didnt mean to change your context. I was just referencing taxes and other direct and intentional confiscations of value. (as I thought you were) I recognize that some value is lost by the government in the mere taking and processing and distribution of property as well as other less tangible effects, and supppose I will have to go research that essay to be better informed
  10. I suppose you mean by Harder=effort expended? The other factor is comptency required. The government makes no effort to hide what it takes, in fact it is mandated to make it apparent what will be taken. On what grounds?
  11. I saw these questions on another board and thought they were hysterical, 1. In 1972 at the Munich Olympics, athletes were kidnapped and massacred by: a. Olga Corbett b. Sitting Bull c. Arnold Schwarzenegger d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 2. In 1979, the U.S. embassy in Iran was taken over by: a. Lost Norwegians b. Elvis c. A tour bus full of 80-year-old women d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 3. During the 1980's a number of Americans were kidnapped in Lebanon by: a. John Dillinger b. The King of Sweden c. The Boy Scouts d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 4. In 1983, the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut was blown up by: a. A pizza delivery boy b. Pee Wee Herman c. Geraldo Rivera d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 5. In 1985 the cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked and a 70 year-old American passenger was murdered and thrown overboard in his wheelchair by: a. The Smurfs b. Davy Jones c. The Little Mermaid d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 6. In 1985 TWA flight 847 was hijacked at Athens, and a U.S. Navy diver trying to rescue passengers was murdered by: a. Captain Kidd b. Charles Lindberg c. Mother Teresa d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 7. In 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was bombed by: a. Scooby Doo b. The Tooth Fairy c. Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 8. In 1993 the World Trade Center was bombed the first time by: a. Richard Simmons b. Grandma Moses c. Michael Jordan d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 9. In 1998, the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania were bombed by: a. Mr. Rogers b. Hillary Clinton, to distract attention from Wild Bill's women problems c. The World Wrestling Federation d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 10. On 9/11/01, four airliners were hijacked; two were used as missiles to take out the World Trade Centers and of the remaining two, one crashed into the US Pentagon and the other was diverted and crashed by the passengers. Thousands of people were killed by: a. Bugs Bunny, Wiley E. Coyote, Daffy Duck and Elmer Fudd b. The Supreme Court of Florida c. Mr. Bean d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 11. In 2002 the United States fought a war in Afghanistan against: a. Enron b. The Lutheran Church c. The NFL d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 12. In 2002 reporter Daniel Pearl was kidnapped and murdered by: a. Bonnie and Clyde b. Captain Kangaroo c. Billy Graham d. Muslim male extremists mostly between the ages of 17 and 40 Nope, I really don't see a pattern here to justify profiling, do you? they were posted by poster Mojophobe on Motherjones.com
  12. I remember my first job was at a farm. I was 15, and some tourist from New York City wanted a certain type of corn that wasnt due to be ready for a coupla weeks (that particular variety couldnt be planted when it was too cold) I remember she yelled at me and told me my boss shoulda planted it earlier. HA! Try renting the movie "Clerks" Here's a great quote from it "this job would be great if it wasnt for the fucking customers" and another one I enjoy; "shit or get off the pot"
  13. Y feldblum. Would you have invested in the East India Tea Company??? What about Companies in Hitler's Germany profiting off of Human flesh?
  14. In your opinion what conditions would need to be there to make it true??? A) what is the significance in terms of epistomology that would make a Systematic appropriation more difficult to trace?? It seems it would make it easier to figure out (or get a rough estimate) since all tax laws are recorded and accessible. The welfare recipient with a car and some employment does pay taxes (gas taxes sin taxes, sales taxes etc) does that mean he is ethically allowed to take the money from the government because he can not be sure how much exactly he has taken and received from the government, of course not.
  15. RC, my point wasn't that the individual "owes" anything to the government, but rather that in cases where the acceptance of the value is optional, (such as whether or not to accept a welfare check, or a subsidy) the acceptance of the value would only constitute a moral breach if it was greater than what one had had taken from him. Up until that point it is recovering your own property. Beyond that point it is taking someone elses stolen property.
  16. I think that one of the things that needs to be considered is whether the fiscal value of services accepted by you is greater than that money which you are hiding this isn't because of some bizarre utilitarian calculas, this is because any monies/services you accept above what has been taken from you is stolen goods
  17. By this I am somewhat confused. Can you elaborate?
  18. Of course Microsoft should pay taxes if they expect the government to be able to afford the tremendous amount of law enforcement effort it takes to protect their property. Whether the Taxes are voluntary or not is a different issue. But since Taxes are the means by which our government is currently funded, it at least makes sense to apply the law equally.
  19. True, But it often includes many of the large ones. Ever Hear of Cisco, What about Microsoft? Certainly they should be paying some taxes??? I saw people specifically point out things like Medicare and other forms of Individual Welfare. I had not noticed the same gripes about forms of Business welfare. In my experience this is quite often not mentioned.
  20. 94% of Businesses did not pay any taxes Last year 75 Billion of Tax Dollars are used as subsidies to do such things as Subsidize McDonald's Europeans Advertising. if people are going to complain about inappropriate tax use, they might as well complain about all of them
  21. SB out of curiosity, do you know of any English Language Newspapers from your country?
  22. I am not sure the question has resolved itself to my satisfaction. If the government is unable to dictate the nature of the contract to ensure that it is able to ensure individual rights, as in the case of the elderly or any child to young to articulate abuses. (for instance in cases where they are volitional and rational but not able to communicate without assistance or in some cases not at all) does this mean that the government has access privelages? how does this compare to "Air Marshalls"???
  23. yes, but the agent you did not mention is that of the caregiver. unlike testifying in court, the government has added a specific dimension to the nature of the job. (For instance if I run a private day care center, I must train all employees on their duty to report SUSPICIOUS behavior) In this regard, the government has structured what I may pay my employees to do. This is beyond the scope of normal government intervention and expectations, because otherwise Mandatory reporting laws would not be legally necessary.
  24. Y- I think that Is what I am asking, I cant quite be sure... I guess I am also curious about the nature of the caregiver contract and whether there are implicit obligations with all such contracts
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