New York Times on the Web Forums Science

Missile Defense

Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an application of science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable, necessary or impossible?

Read Debates, a new Web-only feature culled from Readers' Opinions, published every Thursday.

fredmoore - 11:30am Jun 22, 2003 EST (# 12630 of 12690)

The quest deserving answer --- is 'where'd we want to be' --- what type of world to live in --- when folks turn Ninety-Three ?

A world where a KAEP was slowly but inexorably growing to maturity . A world where the biggest cause of wars ... LACK of energy and order and creativity ... was gradually being structured out of contention.

NOT a world where some Media moguls structure power and opinion to perpetuate personal wealth at the expense of those in all nations that they deem less fortunate. NOT a world where fossil fuels are a sacred cow, or a golden calf at the expense of a KAEP sustainable future for all nations and all people.

As for Ibsen, I cannot see the point

lest you deem, to explain it

My thoughts cannot anoint.

lchic - 05:48pm Jun 22, 2003 EST (# 12631 of 12690)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Leadership has to be more --- than the mundane

Needs vision --- generous spirit - encompassing --- to retain

A thumbs-up from Historians --- who 'Retrogrades' - see through

Leaders should plot improved futures --- for the likes of me .... and you

lchic - 05:56pm Jun 22, 2003 EST (# 12632 of 12690)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

'Media moguls structure power and opinion to perpetuate personal wealth'

Media monguls have 'capital' at their disposal and have to make 'choices' which involve an element of 'risk'

If they don't back the right horses in the technological race -- they fall over

Those that survie and are powerful must be doing some things right

They like to back those politically who hold the reigns or will next do so, and have power .... power that gives them income from advertising, reduces competition, and sustains them and keeps them in-profit.

Democracy --- might best have compulsory voting --- so that people take an interest in legislation and the distribution of public money --- and ask National-Shareholder-type-questions re the financial and ethical workings of their Nation.

fredmoore - 09:47pm Jun 22, 2003 EST (# 12633 of 12690)

Is not Constitutionalised freedom of speech (especially in terms of media access such as NYT and Guardian forums) better than a compulsory vote in a democracy? Compulsory voting plus media monopoly yield a virtual dictatorship no matter which party wins the vote. Australia is the best example I know of this reality.

Perhaps BOTH guaranteed free speech and free media access plus compulsory voting should prevail?

lchic - 03:36am Jun 23, 2003 EST (# 12634 of 12690)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

freely they spoke - to themselves --- for no-one else joined in

and so they turned ---- the volume up --- as media proffered din

---------------

Folks don't vote for the media they vote for people who in turn belong to a wide variety of Parties. The Aussie system allocates a dollar+ to those gaining a deemed percentage of first/priority votes ... rather than have 'big business' fund an election --- as per USA where only 'the rich or chosen' can stand.

Compare the average ages of sitting members in the US as against other countries ..... guessing one would say that it's higher in the USA as cp to elsewhere --- reflecting that local system.

fredmoore - 05:41am Jun 23, 2003 EST (# 12635 of 12690)

"Folks don't vote for the media they vote for people who in turn belong to a wide variety of Parties."

I can't agree

Think you're naive

monop'ly media hides subtle truth

when it offends their government partners

on election eve'

lchic - 05:48am Jun 23, 2003 EST (# 12636 of 12690)
~~~~ It got understood and exposed ~~~~

Since when has truth been subtle?

Truth is 'out there' --- 'In your face'

A thing that many come to understand --- even if at a later time

Everybody knows the way the media operate .... and yet the monopolies that were are no longer water-tight

(54 following messages)

New York Times on the Web Forums Science Missile Defense