Where to start. Ive been reading these 'libertarian' tracts and this is as far as I can go.
The idea that the Government is a barrier to a more just society, delivered by CHARITIES is amazing.
Where do you think the middle class came from? REGULATION! Regulation of the market brought the work week to 40hrs. Minimum wage keeps people fed. Labour Law keeps people from being hacked-to-pieces in factories.
For every middle class libertarian, who thinks theyd be *better* off with more a liberal economy consider this: Where did you goto school? Who paid for it? On who's roads do you drive to the suburbs on? Who keeps the water, air and land clean? Who picks up trash? Who does the policing? Fire? Who mediates disputes?
Taxes are what you pay for a middle class. No taxes -- no market regulation -- and you get two things: The very rich and the Very Poor.
Ive got news for you Mr. Indulged Middle Classman: When you finally give the robber-barrons back their free-market, they will use it to put *YOUR FAMILY* in the poor house. Dont agree? Think you are so specially talented that you will rise above, you'll "out-compete" the others? Money is a magnet. Unless you think *your* willing to bet that *your* family will end up the Financial Monarchy (you know, the small group of the beyond wealthy who will come to own everything) you might want to start considering what you are wishing for.
McCarthy is to blame... GOD you USAians are out of your minds.
because the two parties have to exaggerate their differences to get as many voters as they can
Or, as it is in the USA -- in REALITY: The two parties try so very hard to not offend *any* voter, that they move to the center. And blindly oppose virtually every single initiative from the other side.
Saying that the USA's parties are 'extreme left and right' is very literally laughable.
3) I really doubt you are going to make any ranking system work. It would be chaos considering this country has trouble just counting a simple vote for a candidate. Stick with the system proven in every other country in the world everyone gets on the first ballot and a run off between the top two candidates if no one wins 50% in the first ballot.
EEK! NO! Your proposal makes no difference! You must have Instant Runoff or Approval. One vote is all that is necessary. Rank your choices or Rank all choices. VERY VERY simple. Easy to count, easy to explain. easy easy easy.
What I don't understand is why can't a public utilities company provide a public utility if their rate payers want it?
Why? Its my opinion that McCarthyism has so cripled American Public Discourse that the very THOUGHT of community owned co-operative behaviour is tanamount to treason.
McCarthyism did such a fine job of identifying those nasty 'co-operators' (communists) as UnAmerican that today, even the rabble will reflexively defend the 'rights' of their plutocracy to rule.
American People will not consider -- wont even discuss it without flaming liberal/socalist/communist-label throwing -- that maybe, just MAYBE a non-profit, community owned utility can deliver a service better, more cheaply and more uniformly than a for-profit.
Even such public goods utilities, like HEALTH CARE is a for profit venture in the USA. This is UNHEARD of outside the USA. Universal Public Healthcare is the norm in almost all the rest of the worlds' wealthy nations (canada, europe, aus., nz, ?,?,?). Hell, 45million USofAmericans dont have health insurance. In any nation, let alone the self-declared 'most wealthy' this would be a national scandal and shame. In the USA, the discussion isnt even entertained -- why would the for-proift media care to question the for-profit health-industry? They sit on one-another's boards. They are co-invested, and cross-linked. Maybe the Publicly-funded, independant national broadcaster would like to discuss the matter -- oh, dont have one of those either (see cbc.ca; bbc.co.uk; abc.net.au).
If the community considers telecommunications is a universal public good, why dont they mandate the creation of a utility? Instead, in USofAmerica, the plutocracy will use McCarthy's specter to assure that all that effort runs through their private, for-profit structures. Private banks. Private accounting. Private Advertising. Private Broadcasting. These for-profit sectors collude to assure their is no chance of cooperation amoungst citizens.
The person is a Consumer First, never an empowered citizen. That is why, the public need is not being met. If you are a rich consumer, you might be able to convince the for-profits there is enough meat in the market to give you what they want, but forget organizing your community to provide for the community's need... what are you? Some kind of communist?
Want to make political change? Forget it, you cant even get on the ballot... sorry. Ask Mr. Nader.
Yes. But our economics are broken. Its all about externalities and the commons.
Our economics is dominated by for-profits entities. Not "improve-our-communities" entities (nonprofits?).
This is the trouble. Im not reflexively against money -- or 'economics' themselves. Just our child-cum-warrior approach to the marketplace and our communities.
Cooperation is a more succesfull strategy, yet our economics are so broken that it makes the idea quaint.
Sure they do. They have the agenda that their customers demand. In public schools, the government is the customer. And here is the crux of our problem. Customer or Citizen? Government or Leadership?
Everything in our public discourse -- and our manifest social organizations -- has been reduced to a function of economics. Taxpayers not Citizens. Politican not Leadership or Representative.
Schools have devolved into worker production facilities. And Citizens have morphed into consumers of the government's products.
The solution? Massive democratic reform and a basic reorganization of the US Republic... else, be prepared for fascism then revolution.
Whether you like it or not, Christianity, Muslim, Jewish, Greek Mythology, Buddism, and other religions all have played a strong part in history.
Why would you only mention that the Greek's theism was "mythology"?
To a atheist (myself included), these other theisms are also mythological.
Trying to imply otherwise is a (thinly veiled) attempt at providing them legitimacy.
Unless this is your goal, I suggest you cease giving any theism its desired authority by differentiating their collective mythology as anything more than that.
The model of training kids to be good little apparatchiks
Its interesting that in you try and use Mccarthyism in order to re-direct blame. If you note, the central point by the author is that Industrialists are interested in organizing a subordinate workforce.
Communism was noted for its egalitarianism. Look at Cuba, right now, in Cuba, Post-secondary level education is taught via television and correspondence. Every citizen -- regardless of economic function -- is encouraged to avail himself of knowledge. A Communist state will encourage its citizens to become well versed in a myriad of topics -- in the vein of becoming renaissance-men.
Its interesting that you use loaded language to misdirect the criticism at exactly the people who tried to warn you about becoming wage-slaves.
Re:I've got mine on pre-order.
on
Port-A-Nuke
·
· Score: 1
That idea considers the 'embodied energy' of an object. It is an incredibly important point.
What is says is we need to have better informed public, through manatory labelling, you can inform people of the energy required to make an object. Sure, it might be cheaper to deliver a toxic, pollution laden-object vs the expense of using more responsible methods -- shouldnt that concern be included in our economy? There is no longer a commons to rob and pollute with impunity. Mere cleverness and bottom-dollar costs are not the only items of import in our economy.
McCain is a coward. He is loyal to power -- that is all. Witness his present bootlicking.
There is nothing moderate about the GOP. They are racist (anti-gay), ignorant (theist), plutocratic (tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy), warmongers (afghanistan/iraq).
Further, there is no 'hacking' involved here -- the addresses of the delegates is published info.
Also, it is only wise to want to elect someone who believes in sustainability, peace and fair trade... ie: hippies.
Hope my defence of 'hippies' doesnt upset your puritan morality mr.mccarthy.
Im pretty tired of you "republic" types tossing this nonsesense about.
You are *BOTH* a representative republic *and* a Democracy -- they are not mutually exclusive. Your Representatives are Democratically elected to administer your Republic. See? That so hard?
Now, if you wanted to say you are not a *direct democracy* you would be correct.
I dont think anyone is suggesting that you are a direct democracy...
Polyester is made from petrochemicals, this synthetic is also non-biodegradable, so it is inherently unsustainable on two counts. Making polyester uses large amounts of water for cooling, along with lubricants which can become a source of contamination. The processes is also very energy-hungry.
IM willing to live with a little less speed, and a little more ecology in my future computer thank-you.
Only the most stubborn go through that hell. Sane people just say "to hell with the American fascist state" and continue their lives as if it were an act of nature that injured them.
No. I care too. I would not buy a product like this for those reasons (and many you didnt mention (i dont drink sugar-water-drinks, I only drink homebrew or local microbrew))
Slashdot Mirror
1. Tabbed Browsing
Im sorry, can can someone please explain why tabbed browsing is different (in any real sense) than having mutliple instances of the browser?
Instead of switching between tabs, you switch between windows -- there is no real difference.
Why the fuss? It is not a change at all.
behold the disposal of Mozilla.org's funding as silly wget scripts rack up the bandwidth charges of an already underfunded nonprofit.
use its power to take the program to a whole new level
Be carefull luke, you must resist the temptation to use the force for the powers of the Dark Side. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
For those interested, here is a link to FoxyTunes;
http://www.iosart.com/foxytunes/firefox/ - an in-firefox mediaplayer control.
Find more (and some very cool ones like Bugmenot) here: Firefox extensions
Where to start. Ive been reading these 'libertarian' tracts and this is as far as I can go.
The idea that the Government is a barrier to a more just society, delivered by CHARITIES is amazing.
Where do you think the middle class came from? REGULATION! Regulation of the market brought the work week to 40hrs. Minimum wage keeps people fed. Labour Law keeps people from being hacked-to-pieces in factories.
For every middle class libertarian, who thinks theyd be *better* off with more a liberal economy consider this: Where did you goto school? Who paid for it? On who's roads do you drive to the suburbs on? Who keeps the water, air and land clean? Who picks up trash? Who does the policing? Fire? Who mediates disputes?
Taxes are what you pay for a middle class. No taxes -- no market regulation -- and you get two things: The very rich and the Very Poor.
Ive got news for you Mr. Indulged Middle Classman: When you finally give the robber-barrons back their free-market, they will use it to put *YOUR FAMILY* in the poor house. Dont agree? Think you are so specially talented that you will rise above, you'll "out-compete" the others? Money is a magnet. Unless you think *your* willing to bet that *your* family will end up the Financial Monarchy (you know, the small group of the beyond wealthy who will come to own everything) you might want to start considering what you are wishing for.
McCarthy is to blame... GOD you USAians are out of your minds.
because the two parties have to exaggerate their differences to get as many voters as they can
Or, as it is in the USA -- in REALITY: The two parties try so very hard to not offend *any* voter, that they move to the center. And blindly oppose virtually every single initiative from the other side.
Saying that the USA's parties are 'extreme left and right' is very literally laughable.
3) I really doubt you are going to make any ranking system work. It would be chaos considering this country has trouble just counting a simple vote for a candidate. Stick with the system proven in every other country in the world everyone gets on the first ballot and a run off between the top two candidates if no one wins 50% in the first ballot.
EEK! NO! Your proposal makes no difference! You must have Instant Runoff or Approval. One vote is all that is necessary. Rank your choices or Rank all choices. VERY VERY simple. Easy to count, easy to explain. easy easy easy.
If The Transitive software is supposed to be released today
Why not ask "What do you think, vaporware or miracle?"
tomorrow?
Why speculate when you can... i dunno, wait 24hrs and inform yourself...
What I don't understand is why can't a public utilities company provide a public utility if their rate payers want it?
Why? Its my opinion that McCarthyism has so cripled American Public Discourse that the very THOUGHT of community owned co-operative behaviour is tanamount to treason.
McCarthyism did such a fine job of identifying those nasty 'co-operators' (communists) as UnAmerican that today, even the rabble will reflexively defend the 'rights' of their plutocracy to rule.
American People will not consider -- wont even discuss it without flaming liberal/socalist/communist-label throwing -- that maybe, just MAYBE a non-profit, community owned utility can deliver a service better, more cheaply and more uniformly than a for-profit.
Even such public goods utilities, like HEALTH CARE is a for profit venture in the USA. This is UNHEARD of outside the USA. Universal Public Healthcare is the norm in almost all the rest of the worlds' wealthy nations (canada, europe, aus., nz, ?,?,?). Hell, 45million USofAmericans dont have health insurance. In any nation, let alone the self-declared 'most wealthy' this would be a national scandal and shame. In the USA, the discussion isnt even entertained -- why would the for-proift media care to question the for-profit health-industry? They sit on one-another's boards. They are co-invested, and cross-linked. Maybe the Publicly-funded, independant national broadcaster would like to discuss the matter -- oh, dont have one of those either (see cbc.ca; bbc.co.uk; abc.net.au).
If the community considers telecommunications is a universal public good, why dont they mandate the creation of a utility? Instead, in USofAmerica, the plutocracy will use McCarthy's specter to assure that all that effort runs through their private, for-profit structures. Private banks. Private accounting. Private Advertising. Private Broadcasting. These for-profit sectors collude to assure their is no chance of cooperation amoungst citizens.
The person is a Consumer First, never an empowered citizen. That is why, the public need is not being met. If you are a rich consumer, you might be able to convince the for-profits there is enough meat in the market to give you what they want, but forget organizing your community to provide for the community's need... what are you? Some kind of communist?
Want to make political change? Forget it, you cant even get on the ballot... sorry. Ask Mr. Nader.
Another new Steampunk movie is this Anime title; Steamboy.
RIM is making the best -- by far -- PDA/Phone combo on the market. Bar none.
Im going to trade my present phone (had it for 30 months or so) for one of these units.
Terrific!
Yes. But our economics are broken. Its all about externalities and the commons.
Our economics is dominated by for-profits entities. Not "improve-our-communities" entities (nonprofits?).
This is the trouble. Im not reflexively against money -- or 'economics' themselves. Just our child-cum-warrior approach to the marketplace and our communities.
Cooperation is a more succesfull strategy, yet our economics are so broken that it makes the idea quaint.
Sure they do. They have the agenda that their customers demand. In public schools, the government is the customer.
And here is the crux of our problem. Customer or Citizen? Government or Leadership?
Everything in our public discourse -- and our manifest social organizations -- has been reduced to a function of economics. Taxpayers not Citizens. Politican not Leadership or Representative.
Schools have devolved into worker production facilities. And Citizens have morphed into consumers of the government's products.
The solution? Massive democratic reform and a basic reorganization of the US Republic... else, be prepared for fascism then revolution.
Whether you like it or not, Christianity, Muslim, Jewish, Greek Mythology, Buddism, and other religions all have played a strong part in history.
Why would you only mention that the Greek's theism was "mythology"?
To a atheist (myself included), these other theisms are also mythological.
Trying to imply otherwise is a (thinly veiled) attempt at providing them legitimacy.
Unless this is your goal, I suggest you cease giving any theism its desired authority by differentiating their collective mythology as anything more than that.
The model of training kids to be good little apparatchiks
Its interesting that in you try and use Mccarthyism in order to re-direct blame. If you note, the central point by the author is that Industrialists are interested in organizing a subordinate workforce.
Communism was noted for its egalitarianism. Look at Cuba, right now, in Cuba, Post-secondary level education is taught via television and correspondence. Every citizen -- regardless of economic function -- is encouraged to avail himself of knowledge. A Communist state will encourage its citizens to become well versed in a myriad of topics -- in the vein of becoming renaissance-men.
Its interesting that you use loaded language to misdirect the criticism at exactly the people who tried to warn you about becoming wage-slaves.
Australians: Welcome to colony status. Remember this in your present federal election.
The USA's 'IP' law-universe is so off-kilter and broken, I cant imagine why any nation would want to provide it credibility.
Sad. Sad. Sad. The MPAA/RIAA shill WIPO needs to go...
They are railroading this nonsense. Remember, laws are just rules... their needs to be political will to enforce them.. or *NOT* change them.
Holy grail. Movies. On. Demand.
That idea considers the 'embodied energy' of an object. It is an incredibly important point.
What is says is we need to have better informed public, through manatory labelling, you can inform people of the energy required to make an object. Sure, it might be cheaper to deliver a toxic, pollution laden-object vs the expense of using more responsible methods -- shouldnt that concern be included in our economy? There is no longer a commons to rob and pollute with impunity. Mere cleverness and bottom-dollar costs are not the only items of import in our economy.
Is religion a race or an opinion?
McCain is a coward. He is loyal to power -- that is all. Witness his present bootlicking.
There is nothing moderate about the GOP. They are racist (anti-gay), ignorant (theist), plutocratic (tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy), warmongers (afghanistan/iraq).
Further, there is no 'hacking' involved here -- the addresses of the delegates is published info.
Also, it is only wise to want to elect someone who believes in sustainability, peace and fair trade... ie: hippies.
Hope my defence of 'hippies' doesnt upset your puritan morality mr.mccarthy.
Well friend. Here you have your problem.
Two party Plutocracy, with a compliant (conspirator? partner?) in the corporate media.
Solution: Make 3rd parties viable through Proportional Representation and Instant RunOff Voting
The USA has *no* alternative to the democratic logjam in your Democracy -- its either this, or a descent into Fascism, Revolution or Civil War.
You yanks are setting yourselves up for a world of hurt -- time to start thinking about this.
Im pretty tired of you "republic" types tossing this nonsesense about.
You are *BOTH* a representative republic *and* a Democracy -- they are not mutually exclusive. Your Representatives are Democratically elected to administer your Republic. See? That so hard?
Now, if you wanted to say you are not a *direct democracy* you would be correct.
I dont think anyone is suggesting that you are a direct democracy...
Polyester is made from petrochemicals, this synthetic is also non-biodegradable, so it is inherently unsustainable on two counts. Making polyester uses large amounts of water for cooling, along with lubricants which can become a source of contamination. The processes is also very energy-hungry.
IM willing to live with a little less speed, and a little more ecology in my future computer thank-you.
Only the most stubborn go through that hell. Sane people just say "to hell with the American fascist state" and continue their lives as if it were an act of nature that injured them.
First they came for...
No. I care too. I would not buy a product like this for those reasons (and many you didnt mention (i dont drink sugar-water-drinks, I only drink homebrew or local microbrew))