"It is the job of the government, after all, to improve the lot of its people."
I STRONGLY disagree! In a truly free society, one is given equal opportunity to improve his OWN (and family's) life. Whether or not he succeeds at that is in his own hands, not the government's.
The only role government should play in that is ensuring opportunity remain equally available to its citizens. It is not the job of government to force successful citizens to pick up the slack for those who aren't as successful.
"It's obvious, just giving the money to the people shows people that they do not have to work, and the government will just give them money."
But that's exactly what socialism is! How else can you describe an economic system where government confiscates unequal amounts of money from its citizens (depending on how much they make) and redistributes it equally in the form of social programs?
If you know the government (ahem, taxpayers) is going to take care of you, where's the motivation to work?
And to think of how socialists in the U.S. piss and moan when the federal government awards contracts to oil firms. Double standard, anyone? Who's to say that there's not something going on behind the scenes between AMD and Schroeder(sp)?
"if she want to use a computer, she will have to learn how to deal with them."
That's true, but from the perspective of someone marketing a computer or software, would you not want to make sure there's as thin a language barrier as possible to make the product desirable. Microsoft, while flawed in many ways, has done a good job in that translation.
"I work for an isp, when i receive a virus infected email, i cut off their internet access plain and simple."
Please let me know what ISP you work for so that I can discourage everyone I know from patronizing your business.
Your company's customers are paying for a service, and expect a certain level of reliability. If your company's customers aren't made clearly aware of your disconnect-on-virus policy (and is that company policy or just yours?), your company is baiting a lawsuit.
"they can call back to have it reactivated after they get someone competent to disinfect it.
I don't suppose your company is so kind as to provide "someone competant" to assist their customers...
Policy like that will inevitably cost your company customers, if not lawsuits.
I can very well relate to the frustrations of "family tech support", but ignoring their requests or being rude to them isn't a very good approach if you want to preserve family harmony.
Is helping a family member out such a horrible prospect? And if you don't have the time or even the inclination too, is it that hard to tell them as much?
Being a dick to people you don't know is one thing, but deliberately being a dick to your family doesn't speak very well of your character.
In the long run, being polite, and maybe even helpful once in a while, is always a better way to deal with people. It won't kill you.
I don't suppose anybody has even considered the POSSIBILITY that MyDoom WAS in fact written by just the type of people the BBC suggests is behind the virus.
Too many people like you fire off a knee-jerk response telling us why a Linux zealot couldn't possibly behind a particular virus.
BBC has far more informational sources from which to assemble their assertions than the average Slashdotter, yet in typical Slashdot arrogance, people dicount ANY press that implicates one of their own.
If you wanted to be intellectually honest, you would at least consider the possibility that maybe it WAS in fact a Linux zealot behind this. Automatically dismissing that possibility makes you sound like you have something to hide.
Communism is an obsolete idea that is sought only by those who wish to control the masses that it yokes together.
Communism takes all decisions out of the hands of the individual, and gives it to the collective; or more accurately, the select individuals who serve as administrators of the collective. Personal liberty is a concept incompatible with communism; the will of the collective (again, the people controlling it) supercedes any personal desires the individual citizens have, and people basically become slaves to the system.
Now capitalism, while imperfect (also due to greedy individuals who abuse the system), offers people the most personal freedom. People choose to live their lives the way they want, persue whatever goals they want, and yes, invest in whatever they want. The financial decisions are placed in the hands of the individual, not people seeking to take more and more of your share.
Unfortunately the capitalist system in America is being gradually poisoned by communist ideals sold by ambitious politicians as "compassion"; politicians who have no other desire than to control people through their wallets.
Of course, living in a communist system absolves people the burden of making decisions and accepting the consequences thereof. And sadly, more and more people are believing the power-hungry preachers of communism and socialism when they are told that people are too dumb to live their own lives.
So you may prefer to exist as nothing more than a cog in a machine, with no will or your own, but many people such as myself still prefer to choose our own path in life, and value the liberty that gives us that choice.
I just heard the sad news on CBC radio. Comedy actor/writer Alan Thicke was found dead in his home this morning. Even if you never liked his work, you can appreciate what he did for 80's television. Truly a Canadian icon. He will be missed:(
Show me That Smile (The Growing Pains Theme Song):
Show me that smile again. Ooh show me that smile. Don't waste another minute on your crying. We're nowhere near the end. We're nowhere near. The best is ready to begin.
As long as we got each other We got the world Sitting right in our hands. Baby rain or shine; All the time. We got each other Sharing the laughter and love.
"The phrases may not themselves be laws, but they fairly clearly indicate that Congress "[respects] an establishment of religion."
I believe you are substituting your interpretation of a law 'respecting' (1. # To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.) an establishment of religion with a law 'respecting' (3. To relate or refer to; concern.) an establishment of religion.
In other words, "Congress shall make no law RELATING TO an establishment of religion"; government has no authority in religious matters.
I think you are instead incorrectly interpreting it as "Congress shall make no law SHOWING ESTEEM FOR/ACKNOWLEDGING an establishment of religion".
If the intent of the founding fathers was to remove all references to God from government, why would so many official documents of that time period refer (quite complimentary, I might add) to God Almighty?
"Whether a state religion is actually established or not doesn't matter."
That's funny, I was under the impression that the establishment clause was at the very heart of this matter.
"Were I a female athiest, that'd piss me right off."
And that's the problem with people who bring these lawsuits; they are offended at the drop of a hat. And they make it their business to let everyone know their outrage by leveling nonsense charges, like in the case of the Pledge, that the government is trying to force Judeo-Christian beliefs onto them and their children, and blatantly ignoring the facts such as how a student cannot be compelled to recite the Pledge.
Now if a school is unlawfully forcing students to recite the Pledge, then take them to court. But more often then not it is the PARENT trying to impose a belief (or lack therof), not the state!
"While lavish lifestyles of those at the tops of such administrational structure are undoubtably inequatable and morally reprehensible, I find it difficult to believe that they are a significant factor in the grand scheme of things."
Without having the time to do sufficient research on the details, there's a monarch/dictator in one of the many maligned African countries spending his nation's wealth on palaces for each of his 9 wives.
Now admittedly I don't know off the top of my head how much each of these palaces is going to cost, but I am sure it would make a lot of difference to the MILLIONS of starving/impoverished citizens.
"The most complicated machine ever built was not knocked out of the sky by a pound and a half of foam. This was murder by management."
So every fatal car accident caused by untimely mechanical failure is "murder by manufacturer"?
Every precaution SHOULD be taken to prevent tragedies like this, but calling it "murder by management" is far too harsh a term that unjustly impunes the motives of NASA administrators.
Sometimes you just have to accept the fact that shit happens.
Now the Ph.D's (who were assuredly excluded from all social circles in their high school years) now have their own cliques from which to exclude their grade-school nemeses!
The geeks have finally gotten their ultimate revenge!!
You sound more than just a bit paranoid, and more than a little looney too. This isn't (as you people love to parrot) "Orwellian". This is the evolution of technology. Get used to it.
"and having seen the later used to track and sometimes even ticket drivers via toll systems"
Ahh yes, those EVIL toll booths that do nothing more than take pictures of lisence plates of people without a transmitter driving through the EZPass lane (going through without paying). Do they make tinfoil hats for cars?
Slashdot Mirror
I STRONGLY disagree! In a truly free society, one is given equal opportunity to improve his OWN (and family's) life. Whether or not he succeeds at that is in his own hands, not the government's.
The only role government should play in that is ensuring opportunity remain equally available to its citizens. It is not the job of government to force successful citizens to pick up the slack for those who aren't as successful.
But that's exactly what socialism is! How else can you describe an economic system where government confiscates unequal amounts of money from its citizens (depending on how much they make) and redistributes it equally in the form of social programs?
If you know the government (ahem, taxpayers) is going to take care of you, where's the motivation to work?
And to think of how socialists in the U.S. piss and moan when the federal government awards contracts to oil firms. Double standard, anyone? Who's to say that there's not something going on behind the scenes between AMD and Schroeder(sp)?
Is he a liar too? By default, the "Lawyer" part suggests that, but the "Secret Service" part confirms it.
Secret Service agents don't usually remain so for very long if they're going around telling people about thier line of work.
So in other words, I think you and this "friend" are full of shit.
That's true, but from the perspective of someone marketing a computer or software, would you not want to make sure there's as thin a language barrier as possible to make the product desirable. Microsoft, while flawed in many ways, has done a good job in that translation.
"I work for an isp, when i receive a virus infected email, i cut off their internet access plain and simple."
Please let me know what ISP you work for so that I can discourage everyone I know from patronizing your business.
Your company's customers are paying for a service, and expect a certain level of reliability. If your company's customers aren't made clearly aware of your disconnect-on-virus policy (and is that company policy or just yours?), your company is baiting a lawsuit.
"they can call back to have it reactivated after they get someone competent to disinfect it.
I don't suppose your company is so kind as to provide "someone competant" to assist their customers...
Policy like that will inevitably cost your company customers, if not lawsuits.
Is helping a family member out such a horrible prospect? And if you don't have the time or even the inclination too, is it that hard to tell them as much?
Being a dick to people you don't know is one thing, but deliberately being a dick to your family doesn't speak very well of your character.
In the long run, being polite, and maybe even helpful once in a while, is always a better way to deal with people. It won't kill you.
RTFA - It's happening in capitalist America now too!
Too many people like you fire off a knee-jerk response telling us why a Linux zealot couldn't possibly behind a particular virus.
BBC has far more informational sources from which to assemble their assertions than the average Slashdotter, yet in typical Slashdot arrogance, people dicount ANY press that implicates one of their own.
If you wanted to be intellectually honest, you would at least consider the possibility that maybe it WAS in fact a Linux zealot behind this. Automatically dismissing that possibility makes you sound like you have something to hide.
...and this sort of thing is news on SLASHDOT???
Communism takes all decisions out of the hands of the individual, and gives it to the collective; or more accurately, the select individuals who serve as administrators of the collective. Personal liberty is a concept incompatible with communism; the will of the collective (again, the people controlling it) supercedes any personal desires the individual citizens have, and people basically become slaves to the system.
Now capitalism, while imperfect (also due to greedy individuals who abuse the system), offers people the most personal freedom. People choose to live their lives the way they want, persue whatever goals they want, and yes, invest in whatever they want. The financial decisions are placed in the hands of the individual, not people seeking to take more and more of your share.
Unfortunately the capitalist system in America is being gradually poisoned by communist ideals sold by ambitious politicians as "compassion"; politicians who have no other desire than to control people through their wallets.
Of course, living in a communist system absolves people the burden of making decisions and accepting the consequences thereof. And sadly, more and more people are believing the power-hungry preachers of communism and socialism when they are told that people are too dumb to live their own lives.
So you may prefer to exist as nothing more than a cog in a machine, with no will or your own, but many people such as myself still prefer to choose our own path in life, and value the liberty that gives us that choice.
Then don't quote the Founding Fathers and the constitution when it happens to support your position, and call them outdated it when it doesn't.
I just heard the sad news on CBC radio. Comedy actor/writer Alan Thicke was found dead in his home this morning. Even if you never liked his work, you can appreciate what he did for 80's television. Truly a Canadian icon. :(
He will be missed
Show me That Smile (The Growing Pains Theme Song):
Show me that smile again.
Ooh show me that smile.
Don't waste another minute on your crying.
We're nowhere near the end.
We're nowhere near.
The best is ready to begin.
As long as we got each other
We got the world
Sitting right in our hands.
Baby rain or shine;
All the time.
We got each other
Sharing the laughter and love.
I believe you are substituting your interpretation of a law 'respecting' (1. # To feel or show deferential regard for; esteem.) an establishment of religion with a law 'respecting' (3. To relate or refer to; concern.) an establishment of religion.
In other words, "Congress shall make no law RELATING TO an establishment of religion"; government has no authority in religious matters.
I think you are instead incorrectly interpreting it as "Congress shall make no law SHOWING ESTEEM FOR/ACKNOWLEDGING an establishment of religion".
If the intent of the founding fathers was to remove all references to God from government, why would so many official documents of that time period refer (quite complimentary, I might add) to God Almighty?
That's funny, I was under the impression that the establishment clause was at the very heart of this matter.
"Were I a female athiest, that'd piss me right off."
And that's the problem with people who bring these lawsuits; they are offended at the drop of a hat. And they make it their business to let everyone know their outrage by leveling nonsense charges, like in the case of the Pledge, that the government is trying to force Judeo-Christian beliefs onto them and their children, and blatantly ignoring the facts such as how a student cannot be compelled to recite the Pledge.
Now if a school is unlawfully forcing students to recite the Pledge, then take them to court. But more often then not it is the PARENT trying to impose a belief (or lack therof), not the state!
Information wants to be FREE!!!
Without having the time to do sufficient research on the details, there's a monarch/dictator in one of the many maligned African countries spending his nation's wealth on palaces for each of his 9 wives.
Now admittedly I don't know off the top of my head how much each of these palaces is going to cost, but I am sure it would make a lot of difference to the MILLIONS of starving/impoverished citizens.
That most certainly was NOT my analogy. How exactly how did you come to that absurd conclusion??
Not to mention constantly having to read the same damn thing over and over again.
But then, this is Slashdot!
So every fatal car accident caused by untimely mechanical failure is "murder by manufacturer"?
Every precaution SHOULD be taken to prevent tragedies like this, but calling it "murder by management" is far too harsh a term that unjustly impunes the motives of NASA administrators.
Sometimes you just have to accept the fact that shit happens.
Some people just like knowing more about what happened, and this book happens to meet that demand.
Pepsi and Apple aren't "sticking it to the RIAA"; far from it! Pepsi and Apple are buying help from the RIAA to sell more cola and iPods.
If you think this is about anything else, you're fooling yourself.
But of course, that would involve sticking to principles, and that's hard!
Now the Ph.D's (who were assuredly excluded from all social circles in their high school years) now have their own cliques from which to exclude their grade-school nemeses!
The geeks have finally gotten their ultimate revenge!!
His point wasn't to mold two unrelated issues together, so please stop trying to substitute redirection for substantive argument.
I think it was a perfectly appropriate illustration of duplicity in the Slashdot hive-mind.
You sound more than just a bit paranoid, and more than a little looney too. This isn't (as you people love to parrot) "Orwellian". This is the evolution of technology. Get used to it.
"and having seen the later used to track and sometimes even ticket drivers via toll systems"
Ahh yes, those EVIL toll booths that do nothing more than take pictures of lisence plates of people without a transmitter driving through the EZPass lane (going through without paying). Do they make tinfoil hats for cars?