Aardvark

So you don't care about the foxes. You're just offended about upper class people having fun. Not a logical view, but at least your honest that you're only motivated by class resentment.

If you can recognise that your time is up. Now do you know how long is long enough? If you can face death with happiness then i would be surprised but also impressed. However, there are more things in heaven and earth, i don't think immortality would be boring for a very long time.

If you can recognise that your time is up. Now do you know how long is long enough? If you can face death with happiness then i would be surprised but also impressed. However, there are more things in heaven and earth, i don't think immortality would be boring for a very long time.

Not hunting? Foxes are killed because they are vermin, rats are killed because they are vermin. The only difference is that when killing foxes the participants wear funny clothes. Would that make it ok then? If the fox hunters were to simply stop wearing fancy dress? Suddenly it's not hunting?

Not hunting? Foxes are killed because they are vermin, rats are killed because they are vermin. The only difference is that when killing foxes the participants wear funny clothes. Would that make it ok then? If the fox hunters were to simply stop wearing fancy dress? Suddenly it's not hunting?

If i follow you correctly you are saying that if people had free choice they would not use it too smoke. On the contrary, smoking might damage the body but it also gives people pleasure, a straight choice some people choose to make. Not everyone is a health obssessed hypondriac. Some people want to smoke, drink and eat junk food. More fool them but it is their choice. As long as they aren't harming anyone else by their behaviour then they should be left alone. (In the USA condemned prisoners are not allowed a last cigarette due to 'health reasons')

If i follow you correctly you are saying that if people had free choice they would not use it too smoke. On the contrary, smoking might damage the body but it also gives people pleasure, a straight choice some people choose to make. Not everyone is a health obssessed hypondriac. Some people want to smoke, drink and eat junk food. More fool them but it is their choice. As long as they aren't harming anyone else by their behaviour then they should be left alone. (In the USA condemned prisoners are not allowed a last cigarette due to 'health reasons')

Etc? Your definition is too vague. If a person works hard to renovate a property then the capital gains are considered 'unearned' but that person has worked for his money. And why should investment income be considered 'unearned'. A person has to use his brain and risk his money to make an investment, any gains can be seen as being earnt fairly. The distinction between earned and unearned income is far too vague and porous to be useful in considering taxation.

Etc? Your definition is too vague. If a person works hard to renovate a property then the capital gains are considered 'unearned' but that person has worked for his money. And why should investment income be considered 'unearned'. A person has to use his brain and risk his money to make an investment, any gains can be seen as being earnt fairly. The distinction between earned and unearned income is far too vague and porous to be useful in considering taxation.

I did read the thread and understand your points. I am not worried because i don't think the Americans can back up this bombastic nonsense. Even with succesful conventional weapons they would have to force all other powers out of space now to enforce a monopoly. For obvious reasons countries like Russia and China won't allow that to happen. I do understand your concern about the mindset it betrays, the arrogance is immense. But pride comes before a fall. Speaking like that will alienate pretty much everybody, when they need help or co operation it will boomerang on them.

I did read the thread and understand your points. I am not worried because i don't think the Americans can back up this bombastic nonsense. Even with succesful conventional weapons they would have to force all other powers out of space now to enforce a monopoly. For obvious reasons countries like Russia and China won't allow that to happen. I do understand your concern about the mindset it betrays, the arrogance is immense. But pride comes before a fall. Speaking like that will alienate pretty much everybody, when they need help or co operation it will boomerang on them.

To provide justifications to do what he was going to do anyway.

To provide justifications to do what he was going to do anyway.

Yes, they are not self aware now. But why not in the future? And when it happens (unless civilisation collaspes for some reason) then we will be in trouble. There is no reason to suppose that they won't become smarter than us, and ultimately supplant us. We may be creating our own successors. (Unless we put Sayonara in charge of security )

Yes, they are not self aware now. But why not in the future? And when it happens (unless civilisation collaspes for some reason) then we will be in trouble. There is no reason to suppose that they won't become smarter than us, and ultimately supplant us. We may be creating our own successors. (Unless we put Sayonara in charge of security )

I understand your concern, but don't believe the threat is real. The US military can make all the declarations they want. Unless they stop another power using space, which they are not doing, then other powers will develop space technologies and capacities. They can make blowhard statements all they want, not even Donald Rumsfeld is going to authorise the blowing up of Chinese satelites or craft. As such, they will not be able to impose a monopoly on space. The technological advantage they have now is not insummountable and when they talk of spending more, i say just look at the deficits. The Current account and the government are both heavily in deficit. There isn't a bottomless pit of money anymore for these extravangences. That's why i'm not worried, just remember Ronald Reagans missile defence system that would make our nuclear deterent obsolete? Still waiting.

I understand your concern, but don't believe the threat is real. The US military can make all the declarations they want. Unless they stop another power using space, which they are not doing, then other powers will develop space technologies and capacities. They can make blowhard statements all they want, not even Donald Rumsfeld is going to authorise the blowing up of Chinese satelites or craft. As such, they will not be able to impose a monopoly on space. The technological advantage they have now is not insummountable and when they talk of spending more, i say just look at the deficits. The Current account and the government are both heavily in deficit. There isn't a bottomless pit of money anymore for these extravangences. That's why i'm not worried, just remember Ronald Reagans missile defence system that would make our nuclear deterent obsolete? Still waiting.