Re: Democracy?

[Margaret Tarbet <tarbet@swaa.com>]

On Fri, 5 Feb 1999 09:51:22 -0500, Greg wrote:

>   What you advocated was Marxism. Indeed, one reason I withheld my answer 
>(which sits in one of my mailboxes, unsent), is that I want to get copies 
>of two books and have a look at them, in light of your response. One is 
>"The Communist Manifesto" by our friend Karl, and the other is "Mein Kampf" 
>by that sterling paragon of logic, the then imprisoned German corporal. 

Greg, waving bogeymen like banners is not argument, it's demagogery.
Did you ever read Adams's _Goodbye and thanks for all the fish_?  In
one of the openings scenes, to get a certain little dog yapping
madly all folk need do is to say 'Commie!  Commie!'.    There are
plenty people in the US and elsewhere who are like that little dog,
trained to yap in response to such an empty pavlovian stimulus, but
i'll wager those in this list are not such.  Save it for those who
are hard-of-thinking, okay?   Respond with ideas, not ideology.


>  I of course utterly reject this nonsense that the purpose of a society is 
>to "take care of it's members." I believe the purpose of a society is to 
>help ensure that its members retain the freedom to "take care of 
>themselves." These two perspectives are at the opposite ends of the 
>spectrum. 

As usual, Greg, you mis-read what i said.   Is the basis for your
beliefs so fragile that you cannot even read correctly?   For pity's
sake!


>  So, will I ever send that other reply? I think not. 

Yeah, i didn't think you would.