Well, it's better than teaching them to be out & out communists or fascists. But it could be doing a much better job - as could socialist first world countries.
Okay, I am now firmly convinced that you are trolling. Perhaps I was a bit late picking up on that, but if you'd ever met me in person you'd know I tend to be a bit too literal at times:-)
No, I wasn't making a joke. It's funny how those used to the current mixed-market socialist system have bought into the myth that there can be no functional alternative to what we have now. It's not surprising though, when you consider that public education was specifically designed to indoctrinate children.
Anyway, as I've said elsewhere on this thread, you should have a read of Human Action and Liberalism.
You're right that taxes are higher in many (most?) real world locations - but note that I said socialist, not communist:-) Seriously, look at the 'facts of life' upon which SC2000 is built:
- roads, education, healthcare, power, water and mass transit must be provided by Government through compulsory taxation
- if those services aren't taxpayer-funded, no private provision will occur
- development can *only* occur if the Government gives permission through zoning laws
- it is the role of Government to ensure high rates of employment
SC2000 is (perhaps unintentionally) designed to teach children that the only functional form society can take is a mixed-market socialist system. Which, funnily enough, is what most Western countries have today.
Sim City is a great game - I used to play Sim City 2000 a *lot* back in the day, and still have an original Sim City 2000 CD knocking around somewhere.
However, I'd be hesitant recommending it as an educational game, as in that capacity it is essentially socialist propaganda. That of course is a consequence of the nature of the game itself; if common law replaced city planning, and services like roads, mass transit, healthcare and education were privatized, then there wouldn't be a lot for a Sim City gamer to do.
Essentially it'd boil down to administration & law & order - which are the proper functions of Government, but don't exactly make for a thrilling game:-)
I was criticising the position held by many here on Slashdot - that first amendment rights should be inviolate, but not second amendment rights. People should be free to own firearms, and the Government doesn't have the right to regulate firearm ownership in any way.
> (Ex military, so I'd like to think I have a clue)
So you should know then that violence is amoral - neither moral nor immoral - it's what you employ violence for that determines the morality. So mugging is immoral, but violently defending yourself against a mugger is moral.
> Most of the dweebs who hate MS and the greedy government entities who attack Microsoft aren't logical, though.
But it's not just Government entities. A lot of anti-trust legislation is the result of careful lobbying on the part of companies that are losing in the marketplace, & who see anti-trust legislation as a means of harming their competitors. Here in New Zealand, the Government is nationalising the key infrastructural assets of our major telecommunications company as the result of a clever lobbying & public PR campaign by many of the other industry players.
As P. J. O'Rourke said, "When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators."
It's sad that the US Government is implementing price controls on the market - but in order to maintain the veneer of laissez-faire capitalism, they're doing so via 'anti-trust' legislation, rather than through explicit legislation.
Microsoft holds a monopoly on Office software (arguably not OS software any more), and that monopoly is rapidly being undone by web-based companies that provide software their customers prefer - as Microsoft has been worried about since the mid-90s.
Remind me again why we needed the DOJ to persecute Microsoft for decades?
... that'll work. Because prescribing more racism as a cure for racism has worked so well.
Oh hell, never mind. It'll be a different cause célèbre next year, with exactly the same false premises, and exactly the same "fight fire with fire" proposals trotted out.
The lazy (or those who prefer not to think about where meat comes from) buy their meat from the supermarket... others prefer to kill at least some of their own food:-)
Believe me when I say there's nothing easy about shooting well. I am a mediocre shot with small-bore rifles, and have had to work at that. I know people who have worked as professional marksmen, & I have a fair idea of the kind of discipline, dedication and talent it takes to shoot at that level.
(On topic, I think the idea of letting blind people shoot is insane, from a safety perspective. One of the rules of firearm safety is to identify your target - if you're blind, you simply cannot do that. Even if you have a spotter aiming for you, you're still not responsible for what you're aiming at.)
I would seriously consider changing your mind... I live in New Zealand, and the country is in something of a death-spiral at the moment. The Government has just passed retroactive legislation to legalise election campaign overspending & to squash a private lawsuit.
Violent crime is on the rise, taxation is ridiculously high (the Government is running an $11 billion surplus - unprecedented by NZ standards). We're also turning into a cotton-wool wrapped safety-society - forget bungy, think a proposed ban on fireworks and a tax on fatty foods.
As much as I love this country, it has some serious issues right now...
Slashdot Mirror
Well, it's better than teaching them to be out & out communists or fascists. But it could be doing a much better job - as could socialist first world countries.
Okay, I am now firmly convinced that you are trolling. Perhaps I was a bit late picking up on that, but if you'd ever met me in person you'd know I tend to be a bit too literal at times :-)
No, I wasn't making a joke. It's funny how those used to the current mixed-market socialist system have bought into the myth that there can be no functional alternative to what we have now. It's not surprising though, when you consider that public education was specifically designed to indoctrinate children.
Anyway, as I've said elsewhere on this thread, you should have a read of Human Action and Liberalism.
I'm going to assume you're pulling my leg here ... if you read the links I posted you wouldn't think I was a Christian Conservative :-)
Yes, I was serious. Have a read of Human Action and Liberalism to find out why.
Yes - of course this might have given those urban planners the idea that their role in society is actually necessary. Or even moral.
Interesting to see your post was modded as flamebait too ... it looks like the /. definition of flamebait is "a post with which I disagree."
You're right that taxes are higher in many (most?) real world locations - but note that I said socialist, not communist :-) Seriously, look at the 'facts of life' upon which SC2000 is built:
- roads, education, healthcare, power, water and mass transit must be provided by Government through compulsory taxation
- if those services aren't taxpayer-funded, no private provision will occur
- development can *only* occur if the Government gives permission through zoning laws
- it is the role of Government to ensure high rates of employment
SC2000 is (perhaps unintentionally) designed to teach children that the only functional form society can take is a mixed-market socialist system. Which, funnily enough, is what most Western countries have today.
Sim City is a great game - I used to play Sim City 2000 a *lot* back in the day, and still have an original Sim City 2000 CD knocking around somewhere.
:-)
However, I'd be hesitant recommending it as an educational game, as in that capacity it is essentially socialist propaganda. That of course is a consequence of the nature of the game itself; if common law replaced city planning, and services like roads, mass transit, healthcare and education were privatized, then there wouldn't be a lot for a Sim City gamer to do.
Essentially it'd boil down to administration & law & order - which are the proper functions of Government, but don't exactly make for a thrilling game
Sorry, I obviously wasn't clear in my last post.
I was criticising the position held by many here on Slashdot - that first amendment rights should be inviolate, but not second amendment rights. People should be free to own firearms, and the Government doesn't have the right to regulate firearm ownership in any way.
yet another attempt to regulate to death what the government can't outright prohibit.
So you'll be first in line to criticise any regulation of firearms then? Oh wait, this is Slashdot ... :-)
> (Ex military, so I'd like to think I have a clue)
So you should know then that violence is amoral - neither moral nor immoral - it's what you employ violence for that determines the morality. So mugging is immoral, but violently defending yourself against a mugger is moral.
> Most of the dweebs who hate MS and the greedy government entities who attack Microsoft aren't logical, though.
But it's not just Government entities. A lot of anti-trust legislation is the result of careful lobbying on the part of companies that are losing in the marketplace, & who see anti-trust legislation as a means of harming their competitors. Here in New Zealand, the Government is nationalising the key infrastructural assets of our major telecommunications company as the result of a clever lobbying & public PR campaign by many of the other industry players.
As P. J. O'Rourke said, "When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators."
Could you please elaborate on this? Are you saying that race is a category against which people should be judged as individuals?
It's sad that the US Government is implementing price controls on the market - but in order to maintain the veneer of laissez-faire capitalism, they're doing so via 'anti-trust' legislation, rather than through explicit legislation.
... to which the answer is no. "Caring about race" is racism, no matter which way you spin it - whether you're parading around in white sheets, or demanding scholarships because of the colour of your skin, you're still a racist. See here for an excellent pictorial explanation if you're still confused.
Microsoft holds a monopoly on Office software (arguably not OS software any more), and that monopoly is rapidly being undone by web-based companies that provide software their customers prefer - as Microsoft has been worried about since the mid-90s.
Remind me again why we needed the DOJ to persecute Microsoft for decades?
Oh hell, never mind. It'll be a different cause célèbre next year, with exactly the same false premises, and exactly the same "fight fire with fire" proposals trotted out.
The lazy (or those who prefer not to think about where meat comes from) buy their meat from the supermarket ... others prefer to kill at least some of their own food :-)
Believe me when I say there's nothing easy about shooting well. I am a mediocre shot with small-bore rifles, and have had to work at that. I know people who have worked as professional marksmen, & I have a fair idea of the kind of discipline, dedication and talent it takes to shoot at that level.
(On topic, I think the idea of letting blind people shoot is insane, from a safety perspective. One of the rules of firearm safety is to identify your target - if you're blind, you simply cannot do that. Even if you have a spotter aiming for you, you're still not responsible for what you're aiming at.)
> hitting a deer with a super long range, high powered rifle is way too easy
So how many deer did you take last season, Mr. Marksman? And under what conditions?
Thank you, sir :-)
I wonder why the original poster linked to B&N, rather than directly there?
Okay, I give up ... how do I buy the PDF? I've had a look on B&N but apparently they don't sell eBooks any more.
"It is not, and we all know it, but can we prove it?"
How can you know something without first having proved it to yourself? This suggests you're using something other than reason as a tool of cognition.
I would seriously consider changing your mind ... I live in New Zealand, and the country is in something of a death-spiral at the moment. The Government has just passed retroactive legislation to legalise election campaign overspending & to squash a private lawsuit.
Violent crime is on the rise, taxation is ridiculously high (the Government is running an $11 billion surplus - unprecedented by NZ standards). We're also turning into a cotton-wool wrapped safety-society - forget bungy, think a proposed ban on fireworks and a tax on fatty foods.
As much as I love this country, it has some serious issues right now ...
With all the socialists here on Slashdot, I'm surprised China, North Korea and Cuba haven't been mentioned as potential destinations.