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At 01:24 AM 3/20/04 -0500, David wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>At 11:51 AM 3/20/2004 +1100, Brett
Paatsch wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>a vote for Bush is a vote for going
slower on embryonic stem cell research. There should be absolutely no
illusions about that.</blockquote><br>
I want to assume that what you are saying is true, and go on from
there.</blockquote><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>The question I wish to raise is a
variant on past threads. What could Bush or Kerry reasonably be predicted
to do in our realm of extropian topics (such as Brett's example) that
would have a greater likely effect for better or ill -- on sentient life,
on the US, on us personally -- than preventing a large WMD
attack?</blockquote><br>
I'm not sure this is a viable answer the most pending issue for the world
- terrorism. I'm begging to see terrorism as "gangs" and
see the world dealing with them much as LA deals with its gangs.
There are a number of professional gangs in LA who have their territory,
culture, and language. They have become accepted (to a point) and
co-exist in LA community. Everyone knows they are there, no one
wants to cause any trouble by busting them up and getting ride of them
because these gangs have become an "integrated" culture.
Speaking with a friend who defends the lifestyle of gangs, I can
understand his perspective, as much as I morally disagree. He says
it is all they have and they are a by-product of society. My friend
is Caucasian gay male with a African American partner who got a job
working as a word processor in a law firm. He straddles the fence
on the underground and the aboveground as proved to be a loyal cohort in
a world that neither he nor I felt comfortable, however for very, very
different reasons.<br><br>
The police in LA know the gangs exist and work around them, making deals
much life the ole' days with the Mafia. I know that larger Mafia
gangs have ruled countries for years and the world has cooperated to some
extent with them to salvage some peace. <br><br>
Today the religious terrorist gangs are gaining more and more
control. Bush wants to see them broken up and destroyed. I am
with comedian Dennis Miller on this one:<br><br>
<font size=2>"I think as a nation periodically, you have to put your
foot down and just let people know there's a line you don't go
beyond," Miller said. "Now who are we going to bank on? The
United Nations? For God sakes, you only have to watch one session of the
General Assembly [and] you want to prescribe Ritalin to a glacier,
they're so ineffective." <br><br>
And regarding suicide bombers:<br><br>
"They existed before this. They're gonna exist after this,"
Miller responded. "You know other than the bombs they strap to their
chest, I have absolutely no idea what makes suicide bombers tick."
<br><br>
Oh, and I just have to toss this last Miller comment in for good
measure:<br><br>
"Not only did Miller analyze Operation Iraqi Freedom, he took a
moment to touch on domestic problems including tort reform in the U.S. He
was especially miffed about overweight Americans looking to sue fast-food
outlets and the Big Three automakers. <br><br>
"They say that the seatbelts in the cars don't fit around their
waist," said Miller. "Now folks, if you can't get the seatbelt
in a car around your waist, a head-on collision is like the least of your
health concerns." <br><br>
I'm not sure if Bush or Kerry have an opinion on that. :-)<br><br>
</font><blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>What are the most important
of these that Bush and Kerry differ on? Does this add up to a clear
electoral choice?</blockquote><br>
I don't know but here are some basics:<br><br>
Bush<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Kerry<br>
Terrorism utmost
importance<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Against
US war in Iraq<br>
Against stem cell
cloning<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Supports
research<br>
Medicare/prescript/help
"illegals"<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Health
Insurance for Americans<br>
Constitution against
abortion<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Only
elect Supreme Ct. Justice for Abortion Rights<br>
Against gay
marriage<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Against
gay marriage but for civil rights or certificate<br>
Environment -market solve
probs.<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Regulations
on industries<br>
Education?<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Overhaul
education<br>
taxes -
?<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Raise
taxes of wealthy<br>
Obesity-
?<x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> </x-tab>Obesity-
?<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite>And a related question -- given
these critical matters and the differences between Bush and Democrat or
Kerry and Republican, is the future better served now, in the decisions
being made in the next four years, by a divided government or by the
party that takes the White House also controlling
Congress?</blockquote><br>
Don't know.<br><br>
Natasha<br><br><x-sigsep><p></x-sigsep>
<dl>
<dd><font face="Viner Hand ITC" size=4 color="#000080">Natasha
Vita-More</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" color="#0000FF">
<dd><a href="http://www.natasha.cc/" eudora="autourl">http://www.natasha.cc</a><hr>
</font>
<dd><font face="Times New Roman, Times">President, Extropy
Institute
<a href="http://www.extropy.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.extropy.org</a>
<dd>Founder, Transhumanist Arts & Culture
<a href="http://www.transhumanist.biz/" eudora="autourl">http://www.transhumanist.biz</a></font>
<dd><font face="Times New Roman, Times"><a href="http://www.transhuman.org/" eudora="autourl">http://www.transhuman.org</a>
</font>
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