Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : DON'T START THE WAR -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Raymond Duray who wrote (24529)	5/30/2003 2:01:47 PM
From: LPS5	Respond to of 25898

You've obviously spent too much time on Wall Street. First, I'm not sure that that's "obvious" to anyone but you - or, for that matter, what you're indicating. What is obvious, though, is that you didn't read my post: I simply said that there are any number of opinions potentially levied where these observations are being made; I didn't, as such, take ownership of any of them. If you'd like my opinion, though, I'd be happy to give it. You seem to forget that this great nation was founded in the Age of Enlightenment when men of great intelligence crafted a system of government that has withstood the test of time, and was based on principles, laws and some sense of decency and fairness. Again, I don't know how you're coming to any conclusion that I've "forgot[ten]" anything of this sort. My libertarian opposition to Draconian, freedom-swallowing laws...unelected lawmakers...post-New Deal socialism...and other coercive political shell games are nothing if not indicative of my upholding of the founding principles of the Constitution. Today, this system is now being cruelly tested by a rapacious breed of pirates who have more in common with the "competitive, vicious animals" of the 13th Century than with the 18th Century. Again, although I didn't claim any of the previously mentioned opinions as my own, I'd venture that 'competitive, vicious animals' in this sense are a mainstay in history, American and otherwise, shifting form but never quite shirking from view. It is as if Antonin Scalia, the Bushes, Cheney, Perle, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz et al have the souls of craven despots of the age of rampage, while accessing the greatest horde of military hardware the world has ever been forced to endure. That's a valid opinion, too. Another would be that these folks pale compared with others in history, American or foreign. Still another would be that politicians of any stripe and demeanor are suspect from the moment that they assume office - or aspire to. It is a simple matter of budgets. The U.S. spends more on warfighting and aggression than the next 25 nations combined! I don't see a link or some other substantiation of that claim, but I don't doubt it. Of course we are the world's most effective terrorist. There, too, is one valid opinion. Another is that we fight terrorists. Still another is that one man's freedom fighter or defender is another man's terrorist. Tautologies, all. The Department of Death... I have no problem - in fact, I see as a necessity - having a military force. A Department of Death, if you will, as long as the Death is falling squarely on those working for others' marauding Departments of Death. :-) How it should be funded, and to what extent, well...that's another issue. ...can't waste all the money in secret siphonings of the Treasury. First of all, government has no problem wasting massive sums of money. At the very least they're always up to the challenge; and as for "secret siphonings:" got some evidence? Though they're extremely good at it. No doubt about that. $2.3 Trillion (with a T) unaccounted for since 1947. Again: link(s)? LPS5