I mis-spake: a corporation is considered a person, a class of which a human being is also a member. So the question should be- would a robot with artificial intelligence deserve more, less, or the same rights as a corporation? Stupid ambiguously-worded 14th amendment.
Just going off of the Wikipedia entries, the total deaths attributable to their respective regimes are the matter of much debate. Going only off of the official records from the times, Stalin's regime was directly responsible for about 3 million deaths. But another 6 or 8 million died in the famine in Ukraine (more a result of collectivism than the hand of God). But all that is fuzzy- the range of estimates anywhere from the official 3 million up to 60 million.
The account for Mao is even fuzzier- it doesn't appear to be possible to say anything more definitive than "tens of millions".
Whether they were any better or worse than Theocratic regimes doesn't interest me much, though. The fact is that they were all butchers.
Go volunteer! I'm taking the afternoon off to do a shift as a poll watcher. I'm in a heavily-D area, so the outcome is pretty much a foregone conclusion, but its the principle of the thing.
I saw a really interesting interview with William Gates II, of all people, who is probably the most vocal proponent of the estate tax. The point that struck me was the whole issue of language, and how the republicans were winning the debate because of their use of the term "death tax". His proposal was to adopt a term akin to "grateful member of society" tax- the implication being that the condition of being born in a society with strong and stable institutions, whether in terms of the education system or the legal system or whatever, necessitates some compensation from those who reap the greatest reward from it. Anyone in a position to pay the estate tax who has the gall to openly complain about it should think long and hard about the society we have, and the condition in which most of humanity exists elsewhere.
So it would seem the bone of contention is whether family values has to do more with quality or quantity. I guess I'm a bit naive in thinking society would be better served to have fewer, more educated, and wanted children than simply more children, but I guess that's just a value judgement- so to speak.
The US is still growing significantly because there is a more family-oriented mindset here than in Europe.
I always am a little perplexed when that sentiment is expressed. What family values are being promoted by having 50+ hour work weeks, no national health plan, preschool that is glorified baby-sitting, a laughable primary education system, and open hostility to reproductive rights? All that aside, right now it is prohibitively expensive to have children under this system. Granted, this is purely anecdotal, but within my circle of friends (all around 30ish), nobody is having kids or planning on having kids- its just too comfortable to cohabit in sin and live it up.
So doncha think a good ol' fashioned tax on gasoline (perhaps all hydrocarbons) to keep the price elevated and keep alternatives economical would be a good idea? The thing I noticed about the high gas prices this summer is that, while people I knew did complain a little, it wasn't as vitriolic and panic-ridden as they were portraying on the news People were bothered a bit, but payed up. People who I knew to be in a bind just bought smaller cars or changed their life habits a bit, but life went on.
The whole world knows that China is the real innovator...
When was the last time you bought a cool gadget that was invented in China? Let's see...
Plasma display? Invented in US (University of Illinois).
LCD? Developed in the US and UK.
Ipod? Invented in US.
Gimme something besides the compass and gunpowder...
I wonder if Google secretly wants this to pan out. They could stand back and watch the telcos play "Break the Internet", enabling them to set up their own wifi network to run the way the 'net used to. Just a thought...
Slashdot Mirror
I can't stand those unfunny jokes.
Ever try approaching Area 51?
Countrywide Mortgages, to my knowledge, doesn't do extraordinary renditions.
Wouldn't this be a good reason to get rid of daylight savings time?
12%. Yes.
I mis-spake: a corporation is considered a person, a class of which a human being is also a member. So the question should be- would a robot with artificial intelligence deserve more, less, or the same rights as a corporation? Stupid ambiguously-worded 14th amendment.
It would seem to me that, under a legal system where a corporation is the logical equivalent of a human being, anything is possible.
Just going off of the Wikipedia entries, the total deaths attributable to their respective regimes are the matter of much debate. Going only off of the official records from the times, Stalin's regime was directly responsible for about 3 million deaths. But another 6 or 8 million died in the famine in Ukraine (more a result of collectivism than the hand of God). But all that is fuzzy- the range of estimates anywhere from the official 3 million up to 60 million. The account for Mao is even fuzzier- it doesn't appear to be possible to say anything more definitive than "tens of millions". Whether they were any better or worse than Theocratic regimes doesn't interest me much, though. The fact is that they were all butchers.
Go volunteer! I'm taking the afternoon off to do a shift as a poll watcher. I'm in a heavily-D area, so the outcome is pretty much a foregone conclusion, but its the principle of the thing.
What exactly is it, regarding digital privacy and fair use, that Hatch is conserving?
As seen in the Onion
How about net-antidisestablishmentarianism?
So... now that Dean has the nomination pretty much wrapped up, what do you guys think his chances are against Bush?
If you want a banana republic with an entrenched aristocracy so badly, why don't you go move to one?
I saw a really interesting interview with William Gates II, of all people, who is probably the most vocal proponent of the estate tax. The point that struck me was the whole issue of language, and how the republicans were winning the debate because of their use of the term "death tax". His proposal was to adopt a term akin to "grateful member of society" tax- the implication being that the condition of being born in a society with strong and stable institutions, whether in terms of the education system or the legal system or whatever, necessitates some compensation from those who reap the greatest reward from it. Anyone in a position to pay the estate tax who has the gall to openly complain about it should think long and hard about the society we have, and the condition in which most of humanity exists elsewhere.
So it would seem the bone of contention is whether family values has to do more with quality or quantity. I guess I'm a bit naive in thinking society would be better served to have fewer, more educated, and wanted children than simply more children, but I guess that's just a value judgement- so to speak.
So, will you agree with me that rugged individualism and family values are necessarily in conflict?
Those derned vikings are takin our jobs!
I always am a little perplexed when that sentiment is expressed. What family values are being promoted by having 50+ hour work weeks, no national health plan, preschool that is glorified baby-sitting, a laughable primary education system, and open hostility to reproductive rights? All that aside, right now it is prohibitively expensive to have children under this system. Granted, this is purely anecdotal, but within my circle of friends (all around 30ish), nobody is having kids or planning on having kids- its just too comfortable to cohabit in sin and live it up.
So doncha think a good ol' fashioned tax on gasoline (perhaps all hydrocarbons) to keep the price elevated and keep alternatives economical would be a good idea? The thing I noticed about the high gas prices this summer is that, while people I knew did complain a little, it wasn't as vitriolic and panic-ridden as they were portraying on the news People were bothered a bit, but payed up. People who I knew to be in a bind just bought smaller cars or changed their life habits a bit, but life went on.
Doesn't anyone just take their dog for a walk anymore? Its free, and you might meet a girl.
Powerball much?
Stop flying.
The whole world knows that China is the real innovator...
When was the last time you bought a cool gadget that was invented in China? Let's see...
Plasma display? Invented in US (University of Illinois).
LCD? Developed in the US and UK.
Ipod? Invented in US.
Gimme something besides the compass and gunpowder...
I wonder if Google secretly wants this to pan out. They could stand back and watch the telcos play "Break the Internet", enabling them to set up their own wifi network to run the way the 'net used to. Just a thought...