OBJ Freedom Fighter

You guys obviously aren't in the military. Cause for war doesn't mean that we should, or can. We're deployed enough as it is.

Cause for War, I'd agree, however we need more bodies in the Army...

I'd say that "the juice wasn't worth the squeeze" and that Vick's decision was clearly stupid. I'm sure prison football doesn't pay as well.

Sounds awfully "Ivory Tower". Please tell me you're righting your posts from some undisclosed location in Colorado, perfecting the engine of perpetual motion. Nearly every Tuesday/Weekend, I read of record voter turn-outs in the democratic primaries. Never mind the 2006 congressional elections... If "the people" are wanting to revolt against neo-conservatism, I'd say they're being very effective in sending a message. What would be a more interesting question is: How does the US transition from a mixed economy to a capitalist economy? What would the 2008 legislative agenda look like (assuming an epiphany)?

Rourke, really, I don't think you're being very imaginative. You should appreciate the forest for the tree. How about this: I've served in a theater of operations executing combat missions. I've been subjected to IED's and hostile fire. I continue to do this job because of the quality of life I think it promotes despite the risk to my longevity. Without a common frame of reference, you would not understand. What you would recognize, however, is the application of reason, if I explained to you what values I weighed. Reason is a process, not an end-state. Being "integrated" is an end-state. What I think you're looking for is a tautology for "emergency situation" which I submit is concrete bound, and confusing "man as his own standard of value" with "rational people don't disagree". Defining "emergency situation" in a vacuum is like asking a man to define "pole". North Pole? Polish? Barber's Pole? What's the context? Do we have to share the same context to make it an emergency situation? "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" has a similar, albeit allegorical, discussion regarding the definition of "quality". Check it out.

You're missing the point of the analogy. Both christians and marxists believe in a perfect system (failed systems; if only everyone believed) and she's attempting to link capitalism to the same behavior. The God question is superficial. "Economic parasite" is "ad mom-inum", and doesn't address the question. The rest is a re-statement or summary of "The Virtue of Selfishness". How do we transition to a capitalist society? What does that transition look like? How do we answer the questions regarding the abuses of futures traders (hedge funds)?

Seriously, there's a chance you could get run over by a dump truck while walking your doggy. Does that mean you shouldn't walk your dog? Personally, I love Cool Ranch Doritos and *beer* more than the threat of high sodium and carbs. Am I being irrational? Risk is inherent in life. Making decisions that are rationally self-motivated, now that's the question. In this case, quality of life v.s. longevity. Even Rand said the purpose of one's life is his own happiness. What would make you happy? Of course I'm over-simplifying a bit, but...You have to insert your own context, and then apply a rational philosophy. A soldier makes the same decisions; in this case: quality of life v.s. longevity.

The definition of "emergency" should be considered in context. Example: The word "quality" has no meaning without first recognizing its relationship to something else. The "rational" piece of the equation would be a weight comparison between competing values. In other words, "emergency" in a vacuum has no meaning.