Re: Kerry on Bush Space Plan: At least he's in favor of Saving Hubble!

From: JJK (surpher_at_erols.com)
Date: 06/19/04 

Date: Fri, 18 Jun 2004 23:34:24 -0400

"Jon Kickerston" wrote:
> Stop what? If my so-called thoughts are "uncorrelated" as you say, yours
> must be pithless.
>
> > What fraction of the US population (~ 147 million US citizens work)
"must"
> > work 12 hours/day or be replaced? What is the source of your
information?
>
> Now here's where you need to open your eyes. What is the length of the
> standard working day in the US today? I can tell you sure haven't worked
> hard recently.
>
> > While the modern world may not be your idea of Utopia, IMHO, I'd rather
> live
> > now with our wealth of accumulated scientific knowledge than during any
> time
> > in the past.
>
> To what end? Ozone had been used in air conditioners for years so that
> comfort wouldn't be an issue. The gas, found harmful to the ozone layer,
is
> replaced but not before nearly irreparable damage is done and will
continue
> to be done for many years to come. All in the name of discovery. That's
> just one example; should I go through hundreds more? I know,
> "uncorrelated", as you would call it. Laughable. Reminds me of someone
who
> said, "That depends on your meaning of the word 'of'".

I meant that you should stop your nonsense. On the other hand, do whatever
you please.

You have not made a convincing argument against the pursuit of science. Your
ranting doesn't count in my book. Stating issues without connecting the dots
with a logical argument is simply your means of generating uncorrelated
thoughts (that does not mean I believed or believe that your brain is
scrambled).

Does the article in that highly regarded newsrag USA Today state that people
MUST work 12 hours/day? If so, for what purpose? What is their standard of
living (not what the people think it is, but what it actually is)?

My eyes are wide open. Some folks are indeed destitute. That was always true
and I imagine that it will always be true, unfortunately. It is up to the
more fortunate who care to minimize the suffering of those who can't help
themselves. It is up to those who are able to help themselves as much as
possible to do just that (and for society to give them a chance, I believe
in the form of education).

FWIW, I often work 12-14 hours a day. Not because I have to, but because I
want to.

That said, I have heard some folks gripe about their being poor, yet some of
them have a very nice car (and/or more than one per household), homes that
are beyond satisfying basic needs, and/or enough money to pay for their
kids' educations. When I was a kid, my folks' net worth hovered around $10K
(w/virtually no money in the bank). That meant I had to pay for my own
education (and earn scholarships, as I'm sure many in this ng have done). I
have no regrets and never b*tched about it. I was very happy when we had no
spare change growing up. I was still happy when my wife and I made very
little money in our late 20s. I'm pretty happy now that I make more income.

Your last paragraph shows again that your thoughts are uncorrelated. You
imply that scientists discover things to intentionally wreak havoc on the
planet. And no, please don't waste my time with hundreds of additional
useless examples like the sinister ozone issue above.

I'm not suggesting that everything's rosy or that we shouldn't consider
changing our lifestyles. However, I don't believe it will do you any good to
build your soapbox on a sand foundation. Your arguments don't appear to hold
water. That doesn't mean they can't. You simply haven't provided enough
information to make a compelling argument. Thus, your thoughts here are
uncorrelated.

Despite the fact that we do not live in a perfect world, I feel fortunate to
be alive today. I have had access to good higher education venues. This
would never have been available 100 years ago to most folks in my childhood
socioeconomic status.

Precisely what world would you have us live in? Pre-plague Europe? What
knowledge and discoveries should we have avoided learning? Are you
suggesting that we all line up for lobotomies in order to eliminate our
curiosity? Jeez, I'll pass on that one!

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