Text 15054, 71 rader
Skriven 2007-05-30 15:54:18 av Kurt Ullman (1467.babylon5)
     Kommentar till en text av rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated
Ärende: Re: OT: a proposal for increasing teachers' salaries
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In article <1180537652.908492.127890@i13g2000prf.googlegroups.com>,
 lizardgirl <gabiks@comcast.net> wrote:


> 
> Sorry no, that particular leap in logic (cutting every tourist a check
> when they book thier ticket abroad) belongs to you.  While I
> understand how you could come to that 'conclusion' (especially if you
> pack light and leave early) it's not where I was headed.   Go anywhere
> in the world really and stories of the ugly American are legendary.
    Just as are stories about the uppity French, the British, the 
Saudis, etc. etc. People are always guaged by the idiots that stand out. 
Heck if you want to get a service person upset in Indy,  just say 
"Formula 1". 


> What organizations like the CSO do when they travel is offer an
> opportunity to connect with others, enjoying time spent together in
> mutual appreciation of music.  The hope is that this mutual
> appreciation will extend to the musicians and the country they hale
> from.  Its global PR and I don't have a problem with the feds paying
> for part of it at that level.

     People-to-People is another group that does that w/o government 
funding. 


> What's missing in Washington is the voice of the people.  Special
> interests (with the help of career politicians) have twisted the
> voting process.  If the framers could pop in for a look today they
> would be appalled, I think, by how the lack of term limits (something
> they hadn't thought necessary) has stagnated the flow of governance -
> for the people, by the people and all that.
   I'd have to agree. 



> 
> I don't know, but whatever benchmark we use should go hand in hand
> with accountability.  We don't have enough rituals in American
> culture.  There is no age of ascension really.  You can drive at 16,
> you can drop out of high school at 16, get married at 18 (younger with
> *parental* consent), also die for your country at 18, but you can't
> drink until your 21, you can also remain a 'dependent' on your parents
> insurance (if they have any) as a 'student' until 24 I think it is.
> To many mixed messages. When do we become adults, officially, in this
> country?
      That assumes adulthood is a one-day not the next day yes 
proposition. There are many cultures with interim "rituals" where the 
person comes closer and closer and closer to final rite of passage. DLs 
certainly fit that. The 18th Bday is legally the age of ascension in teh 
US, although there really isn't a ritual that maybe should be there to 
mark it. 
       

> And 'you'd' be wrong.  bill makes a lot of money on which he pays a
> lot of taxes; some of which will find it's way to the good people of
> Portland courtesy of their friendly neighborhood congressman.
> Personally I wouldn't string him up, I'd tie him down.  Not because I
> hate him for being wealthy, but because I think all men consequence
> should be bound at the feet of women who appreciate their unique
> talents. Builds character, keeps them honest.
> 
       So, you might apply the PJ Principle to politics:
"Politics should be limited in its scope to war,
protection of property, and the occasional 
precautionary beheading of a member of the ruling class."

                             -P.J. O'Rourke
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