Missile Defense

Sorry Gisterme .. there's no way you are the Prez! Say you aren't the other Prez ... you know Elvis? Wouldn't mind a pink Caddy bro.

rshow55 - 08:16am Sep 26, 2003 EST (# 14006 of 14016)
Can we do a better job of finding truth? YES. Click "rshow55" for some things Lchic and I have done and worked for on this thread.

Fighting is sometimes useful and sometimes not. The rule "never fight" is a good one - but there need to be exceptions that work.

We need to know when it is useful or necessary to fight, when it isn't - know how to fight better - know how to avoid fights better - in specific cases - including specific cases that require switching.

When people disagree about logical structure a limited fight may be useful (or may not be) - but an explosive - escalatory fight is usually not useful.

When people disagree about facts a limited fight may be useful (or may not be) - but an explosive - escalatory fight is usually not useful.

When people disagree about how much different things matter a limited fight may be useful (or may not be) - but an explosive - escalatory fight is usually not useful.

When people disagree about team identifications a limited fight may be useful (or may not be) - but an explosive - escalatory fight is usually not useful.

When things need to be worked out well enough for cooperation that is worth it - we have to be able to evaluate these questions with more sophistication and humanity.

Many things have their place - and the urge to punish cheats can be useful http://www.mrshowalter.net/UrgeToPunishCheatsNotJustHumanButSelfless.htm

But like other passions - it can misfire. These days, as in the past, it does misfire - in lethal and destructive ways - much too often.

How many people actually know this - in cases where it actually matters and they have emotional interests at stake?

It looks to me like more people need to.

almarst2002 - 09:07am Sep 26, 2003 EST (# 14007 of 14016)

U.S. Remains Leader in Global Arms Sales, Report Says - http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/25/international/25ARMS.html?ex=1065463954&ei=1&en=cfbb009fb2563042

The United States maintained its dominance in the international arms market last year, especially in sales to developing nations !!!!!!

THE WORDS ... AND THE SWORDS.

rshow55 - 09:52am Sep 26, 2003 EST (# 14008 of 14016)
Can we do a better job of finding truth? YES. Click "rshow55" for some things Lchic and I have done and worked for on this thread.

13275 http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@13.S7OjbM2nIzQ.2025301@.f28e622/14960

Menken on politics, from Quotes From H. L. Mencken http://watchfuleye.com/mencken.html

" It is hard to believe that a man is telling the truth when you know that you would lie if you were in his place."

Both words and deeds matter. There are some things to be said against this thread - but one of the things to say for it is that fredmoore's on it. Search fredmoore . A lot of good stuff, I'd say. I especially like the one about the mosquito and the elephant.

Intellectuals are a lot like mosquitos in that joke. - - but sometimes they get something right.

There's been a lot of posting since http://forums.nytimes.com/webin/WebX?8@13.S7OjbM2nIzQ.2025301@.f28e622/15386 , which starts

. There's an unsolved problem in the world about end games - and it is a big problem.

And even more postings since I suggested an exercise for Russians and Americans March 23, 2001 http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@@.ee7b085/398 at the end of http://www.mrshowalter.net/PutinBriefing.html

That exercise was too much to ask - because people don't know

. How to agree to disagree clearly, without fighting, comfortably, so that they can cooperate stably, safely, and productively.

If they could learn - we could all do a lot better. If they do learn - almarst's hard work on this thread will be a big part of the reason.

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