Re: Herd instincts?

On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 16:10:58 -0800 (PST), bill.sloman@xxxxxxxx
wrote:

On Nov 22, 10:56 pm, John Fields <jfie...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
On Thu, 22 Nov 2007 05:30:34 -0800 (PST), bill.slo...@xxxxxxxx
wrote:

<snip>

We all see what is and color it in the way that pleases us most, and
your way, no matter how loudly you bleat, is certainly no better
than anyone else's.

You and Jim are remarkably confident on this point. Unfortunately,
this confidence is represents complacent ignorance. You don't see much
of what is - in large part because you get your news from news
networks who see themselves as part of the entertainment industry, and
don't waste good entertainment time telling you much about the world
outside the Unites States, and don't risk aggravating their audience
by telling them that their preconceptions aren't entirely correct.

Your approach has a lot in common with Dubbya's approach to global
warming. He has access to the best scientific advice available, and
choses not only to ignore it, but also goes out of his way to make
sure that that advice isn't published by any civil servant he can
control.

You may think that this approach is no worse than anybody else's, but
unfortunately, you happen to be wrong.

Ignorance is a capital offense, and the universe eventually carries
out the sentence.

---
Jim and I both have children and grandchildren, so our lines will
more than likely continue to flourish after we shuffle off this
mortal coil.

Provided that Dubbya's self-indulgent attitude to global warming
doesn't wipe them out with some kind of mass extinction event. It's
unlikely that we'll hit one of the potential positive feeback trigger
points before we can do something about it, but the head in the sand
approach doesn't inspire confidence.

You, I believe, have no heirs, so when it's lights out for you
there'll be no one there to keep the fire burning. Oh, well, it's
not like the end of the world or anything...

My nieces and nephews (there are eight of them) should keep my genes
in circulation for a while yet,

---
Not unless there's some hanky-panky you haven't told us about, they
won't!
---

and I've got a couple of published and
cited papers which could be seen as an intellectual legacy, not that
there seems to be that much point in getting fussed about it. Once you
are dead, you are out of it.

Anyway, as far as the 'discussion' goes, I see you've opted to
chicken out by reverting to your tawdry America and American
bashing, so I'll bid you adieu and let you stew in your own bile.

The bile seems to be yours.

---
IKYABWAI?

How clever.
---

There are quite a few Americans whose view
of the world isn't limited by the blinkers imposed by your news
networks, and I've no interest in "bashing" them.

I am interested in trying to get people like you and Jim to recognise
that your society - as a whole - doesn't deal well with certain social
problems which other countries handle rather better. Your health care
system is the classic example - you spend more on health care than
anybody else, about 14% of your GDP, and have poorer public health
statistics than much poorer countries (Cuba comes to mind). The French
and the Germans do appreciably better while spending around 8% of the
GDP on health care

Pointing this out may be America-bashing.

---
Pointing it out isn't America bashing, but perpetually harping on it
as being due to stupid leadership and an abysmally ignorant
population, as you are wont to do, is.

Besides, it's our problem, so what do you care other than to have
something you can bitch about?
---

but any damage I might be
doing is trivial in comparison with the damage caused by the
inadequacies of your extravagantly expensive health care system.

---
Again, why do you care?
---

Shooting the messenger isn't a constructive solution, but it does seem
to be the best that you and Jim can come up with.

---
I'm not shooting the messenger, I'm merely pointing out that you're
an unmitigated *** when it comes to relating to people whom you
consider to be your inferiors because they disagree with you.

As far as constructive solutions goes, I don't know about Jim's case
in Arizona, but here in Texas we have the Seton Healthcare Network:

http://www.seton.net/

where no one is turned away because of inability to pay.

Matter of fact, last year we contributed $237 million to care for
the poor and for community benefit.

I say 'we' because I volunteer there, so part of that $237 million
is time out of my life that I gave away to help someone less
fortunate.

Somewhat different from your fantasy job hunts or sitting on your
ass typing out rancor for everyone and everything to which you don't
grant your imprimatur while waiting for the government checks to
come rolling in, yes?
---

So stew in your own bile.

---
Hmmm, copycat, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.


--
JF
.

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