All of your comments are very reasonable. I agree with most of them.
However, I have to take issue with your comments on drugs and employment, and
how we have hurt the Afghan people.
As to drugs and employment. I'm glad to see that you recognized that a
programer, like myself, has far fewer responsibilities than a (mere?)
babysitter. But, I still don't want to go to work with someone who is high
on something. When people are high, they are unpredictable, and potentially
dangerous. Drugs are a form of escapism. Work is work; that's why they call
it work. <grin> Having said that, I will admit that I write pretty good code
after 5 beers. But I do it at home. Please notice that I'm not making a
judgement on "escapism," but it needs to be done at home.
As for the Afghan people, being hurt by American policy, they have joined the
club. Our policy has never been for the benefit of the Afghan people. It's
been a policy based so-called weopons of mass distruction, oil, economics,
unfriendly leadership. Right or wrong, but let's be blunt. I don't think
it's fair, but that IS how things go with humans. I don't like it either. I
also don't see many alternatives. If we left them alone, we'd be in constant
fear of various types of terrorism funded by many governments in that region.
We'd always be a hostage to OPEC. We'd have to re-establish diplomatic
relations every time some Arab nation changes leadership. That entire region
has been at war with themselves for 100's of years, and no one has ever come
out the victor. Stalemate. Now we come along, and we can probably tip the
scales. History may look at us as Evil, or as a stabalizing force. I don't
know. Just something to think about.
BTW, I recognize the benefit of a LAWFULL dictator, and have no idealogical
problems with that form of government.
On Monday 18 November 2002 12:53 am, Alif The Terrible wrote:
> On Thu, 14 Nov 2002, Mike Diehl wrote:
> > Dubbya has only been in office about a year and a half, and in that
> > time, he has destroyed Freedom in this country?
>
> Not entirely, just *mostly*.
>
> > I don't think so. I'm still able to
> > practice my religion freely.
>
> Sure. Provided your religion does not offend the mainstream
> sensibilities.
>
> > I can criticize my government and stay out of
> > prison.
>
> As long as your criticism is not highly visible.
>
> > I don't have soldiers living with/watching me.
>
> When was the last time you were out in public? How about an airport?
>
> > Saddam is just as
> > bad as most dictators, but let's not confuse the issue; he's still a
> > DICTATOR!
>
> So?
>
> > > Dubbya and Asscruft have millions of people in prison for
> > > doing nothing wrong, only violating their bullshit rules in
> > > the War On Some Drugs.
> >
> > Hey, the law is posted. You may not agree with it, but it is the
> > law.
>
> Saddam is the LAWFUL DICTATOR. You may not agree with it, but it IS
> THE LAW.
>
> > I
> > wouldn't have agreed with Prohibition, but I would have followed the
> > law while at the same time trying to abolish it. Guess what, I have
> > that freedom, still.
>
> As long as you do not attract any serious attention, yes. Once you
> attract serious attention, all bets are off. You'll either be found
> holding your breath forever, or you'll be carted off to the nearest
> Re-education Camp (maybe to share a cell with Bell).
>
> > Personall, I don't care what you do in the privacy of your
> > own home, but I won't want to drive on the same street, go to work
> > with, or have my child watched, by anyone who is high on some drug.
> > If that means smoking dope keeps someone from being imployed, that's
> > not my problem.
>
> Why should my employment in a programming capacity be contingent on
> what you find desirable in a baby-sitter?
>
> > >They have killed thousands of innocent Afghans, and are intent
> > > on murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqis just to
> > > steal their oil. This makes Dubbya a mass-murder far beyond
> > > the scale of Saddam.
> >
> > Well, mass-murder is a bit strong.
>
> No. It's exactly correct. How about what we have done in Iraq? Both
> life expectancy and quality of life have nosedived as a direct result
> of OUR actions, not Saddam's. Remember, before we got into the act,
> Saddam was providing the worlds finest medical services, world-class
> education, housing, etc... We are the ones who not only destroyed it,
> but have spent the last 12 years insuring that the people we are
> supposedly "concerned for" are systematically starved to death,
> prevented from receiving medical care, potable water, etc...
>
> > I believe we are motivated by oil; not
> > arguement there. Perhapse Dubbya is looking out for the US's, and
> > his own? best interests. I'll bet you drive a car and like a warm
> > home, and like that electricity stuff. Well, it all NEEDS OIL! The
> > average American Sheep would riot in the street if they couldn't
> > drive their SUV to church on sunday.
> >
> > > Not that Klinton was any better.
> >
> > Not EVEN going to go there.... <grin>
>
> I guess we all agree on this one.
--
Mike Diehl
PGP Encrypted E-mail preferred.
Public Key via: http://dominion.dyndns.org/~mdiehl/mdiehl.asc
