Yes, and if my letter was encrypted back in the 60's, I guess they expected the Post Office or UPS to make sure I provided a back door? And no one time pads would have been allowed in postal banking communications (I wouldn't be surprised if something like that was done for some sensitive business transactions).
Much of these arguments assume the government is relatively benign. I'd like to remind people of the example of Hama, Syria in 1982. Bombard the city from long range, when its safe, move in and murder 30,000 or more, and then pave the WHOLE thing over to demonstrate the futility of resisting the regime....
I think the problem is how to prevent a government from even getting anywhere near this stage. This is more a social/psychological problem IMHO. By the time the need for arms to be taken up arises, it could well be too late for any citizen miltia to do very much (unless it were armed with anti-tank missiles, nuclear bombs, etc., but then you have the potent problem of how do you prevent fiefdoms of private power from arising -- see Afghanistan, Somalia, etc.).
All in all, not a simple subject, and one that I don't believe has a simple answer. However, I appreciate the respectful tone, and myself certainly don't believe all 2nd amendment supporters are out in left field.
An earlier (50's) SF novella/book Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys (oops, just revealed my geezerness;) covers similar topics about making identical copies. There was an interesting take on the whole subject I won't give away....
There are many American industries that are propped up by the state, but most Americans don't realise that.
In many cases, their subsidies just operate differently.
America long ago stopped being some right-wing dream of pure free enterprise. Corporate welfare at the expense of the average citizen, it would seem, all too often.....
The US is not quit the perfect society you portray it as from the vantage point of this Canadian.
How is it that people can work full-time hours (even double that) and still not have enough for the basic essentials? (See "Nickle and Dimed" on amazon.com).
Why is it that almost half of your electorate doesn't bother to vote? (See "Culture of Contentment).
I don't mind people having wealth. I don't mind systems that encourage wealth creation, because on balance they seem to have an advantage for overall wealth creation. But, on the other hand, checks and balances must be put in place (ie. Enron escapades) that prevent the wealthy from using their position TOO much. If you call that socialism, so be it.
I prefer a lifestyle where I can pay health insurance to a non-profit entity (ie. the government) and not have to worry about coverage. In the states health care costs a fortune. Break your arm, it'll cost thousands if you don't have coverage. In Canada, if an American breaks his/her arm, expect to pay a few hundred, maybe a thousand. Also, explain why all you senior citizens come here to buy their drugs (and we even enforce all those patents).
I prefer a lifestyle where I am not a consumer, where if I want to look after my family and not work more than 40 hours a week, I am not branded some lazy socialist (as other posters have branded EU countries with their work laws).
I also prefer to live in a province where I can leave my front door unlocked, go into the store with my car still running, and until the recent movement of your Hell's Angels thanks to some oil wealth, the police did not need to carry weapons.
No, some would disagree. America is not perfect. No country is.
People in Third World countries don't hate America for that reason.
I know they mention it converts to Latex, and according to the GNU site there is no real problem with that? The problems seem to be converting from LaTeX/TeX into their XML format?
So, I'm not clear on this. Anyone have any experience using this stuff and how well it will convert TO Tex, etc.?
That would seem to be the main concern.....
By the same token, I don't like the idea of having to drop vim.
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Yes, and if my letter was encrypted back in the 60's, I guess they expected the Post Office or UPS to make sure I provided a back door? And no one time pads would have been allowed in postal banking communications (I wouldn't be surprised if something like that was done for some sensitive business transactions).
Much of these arguments assume the government is relatively benign. I'd like to remind people of the example of Hama, Syria in 1982. Bombard the city from long range, when its safe, move in and murder 30,000 or more, and then pave the WHOLE thing over to demonstrate the futility of resisting the regime....
I think the problem is how to prevent a government from even getting anywhere near this stage. This is more a social/psychological problem IMHO. By the time the need for arms to be taken up arises, it could well be too late for any citizen miltia to do very much (unless it were armed with anti-tank missiles, nuclear bombs, etc., but then you have the potent problem of how do you prevent fiefdoms of private power from arising -- see Afghanistan, Somalia, etc.).
All in all, not a simple subject, and one that I don't believe has a simple answer. However, I appreciate the respectful tone, and myself certainly don't believe all 2nd amendment supporters are out in left field.
An earlier (50's) SF novella/book Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys (oops, just revealed my geezerness ;)
covers similar topics about making identical copies. There was an interesting take on the whole
subject I won't give away....
Thanks for that.
There are many American industries that are propped up by the state, but most Americans don't realise that.
In many cases, their subsidies just operate differently.
America long ago stopped being some right-wing dream of pure free enterprise. Corporate welfare at the expense of the average citizen, it would seem, all too often.....
The US is not quit the perfect society you portray it as from the vantage point of this Canadian.
How is it that people can work full-time hours (even double that) and still not have enough for the basic essentials? (See "Nickle and Dimed" on amazon.com).
Why is it that almost half of your electorate doesn't bother to vote? (See "Culture of Contentment).
I don't mind people having wealth. I don't mind systems that encourage wealth creation, because on balance they seem to have an advantage for overall wealth creation. But, on the other hand, checks and balances must be put in place (ie. Enron escapades) that prevent the wealthy from using their position TOO much. If you call that socialism, so be it.
I prefer a lifestyle where I can pay health insurance to a non-profit entity (ie. the government) and not have to worry about coverage. In the states health care costs a fortune. Break your arm, it'll cost thousands if you don't have coverage. In Canada, if an American breaks his/her arm, expect to pay a few hundred, maybe a thousand. Also, explain why all you senior citizens come here to buy their drugs (and we even enforce all those patents).
I prefer a lifestyle where I am not a consumer, where if I want to look after my family and not work more than 40 hours a week, I am not branded some lazy socialist (as other posters have branded EU countries with their work laws).
I also prefer to live in a province where I can leave my front door unlocked, go into the store with my car still running, and until the recent movement of your Hell's Angels thanks to some oil wealth, the police did not need to carry weapons.
No, some would disagree. America is not perfect. No country is.
People in Third World countries don't hate America for that reason.
I prefer a lifestyle where I
I know they mention it converts to Latex, and according to the GNU site there is no real problem with that? The problems seem to be converting from LaTeX/TeX into their XML format? So, I'm not clear on this. Anyone have any experience using this stuff and how well it will convert TO Tex, etc.? That would seem to be the main concern..... By the same token, I don't like the idea of having to drop vim.