theloniusfleabag

Dear Hugo, It is the definition of deviancy I have a problem with. Is your definition the mathematical one or the church one? Deviancy is looked at differently throughout the world and even from state to state. Some states have laws against oral and anal sex, as a deviant behaviour. What about sex out of wedlock? Or, my favorite fantasy, having two women in bed with me? Surely that behaviour is not 'mathematically the norm'. If your argument is purely mathematical, what of abstinence and masturbation? Those are mathematically deviant from the norm, and I dare say, the latter is far more prevalent that heterosexual sex.

Dear Derek, Why does Bush continue to plead his case for more support if they need no help? I am afraid this post is quite laughable. No offence intended, it is just that I see every point made refuted in the news on a daily basis.

Dear Black Dog, A very good post. Pre-emption is validated when one hears an overt threat, especially with witnesses. Right or wrong, though, that is one we haven't sorted out yet. I have a new religion I am starting up, "The Church of Sh*t Happens', our first diocese will be called "Our Lady Of Perpetual Cynicism". Just Kidding.

Dear Hugo and Mr. Read, It is bizzare that you could compare male homosexuals to pederasts and not heterosexuals to pedophiles. While I do not believe in 'gay genes' and the like, sexual preference does not explicitly imply deviancy, hetero or homosexual. That two men or two women could choose to be sexual partners does not include 'forcing that preference' on another, especially that of a child. Consentual sex between adults 'of age' is just that. perhaps the age of consent should be raised, but that is another topic. Incidentally, abberations regarding promiscuity among homosexuals is built upon the foundation of discrimination, not upon deviancy.

Dear Boydfish, I understand where you might think a nuke is not a 'planet-killer' but large scale nuclear exchange would be the first step towards annihilation. The greater the spread of radiation, the greater the spread of sterilization. Earth and people. Not annihilation right away, of course, but...With regard to bioweapons, does anyone recall what the last aggressive useage of biological WMD's was?

Dear Derek, I agree with you that NK is more serious, but I do think Iraq is far from being 'fixed', in any lasting sense of the word.Dear Hugo, Indeed, airstrikes against Iraq was strictly a US and UK affair. They were to remind Iraq of the overwhelming power of the US, not any mandated UN resolution. I remember reading, and laughing, at the Iraqi reports on their website (INA.com, now defunct) about how the 'brave Iraqis sent the aggressive infidels back to their nests of evil'. Lots of propaganda all around. Yes, though, the US commits many illegal acts of international aggression.

Dear Ryan, You sound like almost everyone I know, and hardly any of them affiliate with any political party. They all seem to be the same once they get into power anyway. The US is even worse for that, because lobby pressures dictate policy, at least as much as money can buy, at any rate. Perhaps, as a lot of right wingers think, you could start your own party. Call it "The Responsible Anarchist's Party". The platform would be :no taxes, user pay systems, no gov't regulation of industry, and everyone can be trusted to behave like a gentleman. It promises more of what people actually want, yet is just as unbelievable.

Dear Boydfish, A very good post. China does not seek to annex Taiwan, for it still believes it has possession. It is just being a 'naughty province', and, indeed, has yet to become an independent country. I agree, the Japanese must have some concerns, but not expansionism, at least at this time. The Chinese lost upwards of 20 million people in WWII, the largest civilian loss of any nation in that war. They do have lots to lose, though. However, do you (or anyone else) think that nukes have lost their threat to any degree? Everyone knows nuclear conflict on any major scale would mean the end of life on earth, so are countries more willing to 'push the envelope' now that they are so widespread?

Dear Mr. Read and Cameron, Very good posts, perhaps a few of us 'left-wingers misconstrued your stances to compare Bush 'like unto God'. The 'tit for tat' tariff war, especially in the Canadian softwood lumber issue, has hurt both economies. As to terrorism and Afghanistan, the Russians only managed to secure Kabul, and none of the countryside. Kabul was then isolated and attacked concentrically, resulting in the backwards Muslim Hilbillies defeating (with some US aid) a far larger and more technologically advanced, but dependent, force. France and the US lost in Vietnam this way, I can't believe the lessons are forgotten so quickly. As for Iraq and Afghanistan, democracy will never be introduced effectively or for any period of time unless the majority of the population renounces Islam. Another lesson here, of commiting the majority of resources to the wrong battle. Tax cuts? Yes, in a socialist country such as Canada, too much income tax costs the economy. The GST, as hated as it is, is better than 60% income tax. Less taxes off the paycheque means more disposable income. It will get disposed of, believe me. Tax luxuries at a higher rate, and drop income tax correspondingly, and for pete's sake, STOP WASTING IT!!Our tax system could look WAY more reasonable if it weren't for flagrant waste such as the gun registry, welfare(not that I feel it should be abolished, just institute work-for-welfare),etc, etc, ad nauseum.

Dear Mr. Read, A very good post, but Israel will not give up the land later, if they claim it to be 'providential' now. Palestine (which does not exist now, for the Israeli's claim it to be theirs, and everyone else calls it 'the occupied territories') cannot stop fighting at this time for if Israel settles it, they will just have to fight later. Israel has the same thinking on this one.

Dear Nova, I had owned a copy of that CIA 'terrorist' handbook. Mostly it was civil disobedience, and sabotage. Still, when congress found out about it, the CIA got 'mildly' spanked.

Dear Mr. Read, I do believe I read somewhere that charity for charity's sake should not be announced, or else it is not charity, but ego-building. I volunteer for an animal rescue organization in my spare time, and while I have put in almost full time hours and many dollars out of my own pocket, I and many others deplore those who 'bean-count'. It suggests that they are volunteers for vain-glorious reasons, not for the charitable aspect which is the intended spirit. I commend you for being charitable, however. With regards to AIDS research, I think you may wish to retract this as 'charitable', as many companies refuse to 'pass on the savings' to the needy, and withhold those drugs from the poor because they cannot pay enough. I guess the Pharmaceutical companies think the profit motive can also double as population control measures.

Dear Cameron, Forgive my tardiness with this post. The 'wobble' of the Earth's axis (if I interpret your question correctly) is called Precession. The Earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees, or so, and remains static,but the direction it points rotates over time. The time to complete that 'cricle of precession' is about 25,800 yrs. Read that in one of my dictionaries the other day, oddly enough.

Dear Nova, Very well argued. Why do you suppose Taiwan has not declared independence thus far? If they have a military edge, at least from a defensive posture,and support of the US, they have little to stop them. Except for the US and it's markets, I suppose. The US can't afford to lose either of them as trading partners, China is the slavery capital of the world. Are the Kuomintang Nationalists a threat to US control? Would they do something so vile as to threaten to keep the profits from the Taiwanese factories for the Taiwanese? That would surely put the brakes on as far as the US is concerned.

Dear Derek, While Arafat may be Janus-faced, is hardly a well though out plan. You are right, in the fact that the Palestinians should be attacking the Israeli Military rather than civilians, though. Some sense of morality should come into play, but if it is for Islam, all infidels may be targetted. Israel should be required to prove in an international court that G-d 'promised them' the holy lands, and Islam as a whole should be required to prove the Koran as a counter to that, if any one of them can fight over 'what G-d said. Judea and Samaria have not 'existed' for thousands of years, yet Israel still lays claim to them. Can anyone say 'Byzantium' is theirs? Can Germany take Poland back because they once had it? Y'israel has resorted to foolish and underhanded tactics too, including murdering innocents. Neither side has much of a leg to stand on.

Dear Gugsy, Mulroney is going down in the history books as one of the worst. He took the PC's from credibility to laughing stock, getting only 2 seats! Kim Cambell was 'the fall guy' and was rewarded handsomely with an Ambassadorship to California. Meech Lake was, unluckily for Brian, a very large 'failure legacy', although politically it was doomed from the start. It was more of the 'helicopter kickback' allegations and others that earned him the nickname 'lyin' Brian'. Funny enough, Mulroney went to the States to be on the Board of Directors for a company that was fined $100,000,000 for price-fixing. Once a crook, always a crook.

Dear Boydfish, There is an excellent book called Devil's Guard about some ex-waffen SS troops who served with the legion in Indo-China. I have read it a few times, a very interesting book. I does pretty much tell why the French lost, but it was for the same reason the US also lost. Dissension at home, not Dien Bien Phu. Besides, they (as with the US) never fully understood the enemy or guerilla warfare. The exocet, is indeed a fine wepon, nova. In it's day the Mirage was a desirable jet, also. However, the French (apart from the legion) have not produced any generals or troops of any calibre for some time.

Dear FastNed, Amen, especially with your last sentence. Pollution reduction is very important but Kyoto is not the way to do it. I suggest tax breaks for companies that implement emission reduction innovations, to foster R&D in that field.

Dear Mr. Read, Global warming is a misnomer, for it was meant to refer to a greater degree of fluctuation of weather patterns, not exactly a 'warming'. The scientists who propound the theory expect greater extremes, but that would inherently mean that averages would obviously not change.

Dear Whistler, A very good article.

Dear KK, I beg to disagree. There was a period when there was no attacks on Israel, short lived though it was. (OMG, that sounded like Yoda) To the point, the 'terrorists' did cease action while it seemed ther might be peace. Both sides, though, think that violence will solve the problem. No chance, though, if both sides continue to reproduce. Not everyone has access to Arafat's toilet, so it would seem that the orders for suicide bombings come from beyond Arafat's control. Same would go for any successor.

Dear Nova, While I am 'playing the same position', left wing, lol, I don't understand this bit.

Dear Nuclear, Please forgive me, for I am jumping into this thread after reading only your's and Nova's posts. One cannot enter a country to repel invaders. I think one of the important lessons that came from this war was the killing of Tecumseh, to establish (for the US) that killing those who possess what you covet, is OK, even if they had it first. Another quote, from the history pages, Dying words of Richard Montgomery, Brigadier-Gerneral of the invading American forces, killed during a futile attempt to take Quebec, Dec.31, 1775.Might I remind you that the (now) USA seceded from the British, using what is now described as 'terrorist tactics' to achieve independence. Might I also remind everyone that the (now) USA used ruses such as 'false white flag' tactics to capture the leader of the Seminoles and genocide against it's peoples to secure the lands that are now considered 'Florida'. Before one can cry 'No Fair', I suggest one look at the 'glass house one resides in'. Besides, in the 'War of 1812' Britain(and what would be Canada, or Kanata) soundly whooped the Americans, burning the 'white' house in the process. We could do it again, easily.

Dear KK, Your post about Arafat dodging definitions sounds far more like Clinton's impeachment defense argument that anything I have heard on the news regarding Arafat. Dear Whistler, I agree, it seems Arafat has no control over HAMAS or Islamic Jihad, it only looks like he does for prestige reasons. Dear Mr. Read, Once Israel implements it's peace accord, it can dictate to the corpses of all palestinians what peace means to Ariel Sharon. Did you forget that Palestine was 'disbanded' as a nation to create Israel? And do you forget the difference between 'Israel' and 'Y'israel'? Dear FastNed, You are right that Arafat is not the leader of a recognized nation. Y'israel refuses to recognize it, even though they are standing on it. The same goes for the Muslims who refuse to recognize Israel. Dear all, The time has come to end such foolish games, for no one yet has been so 'correct' as to rise above the others. The correct answer and the wrong answer lie within us all.

Dear KK, As a 'working shmo', I can say that little bits add up. Just ask any company owner if they are concerned that, say, 50 cents could be saved per day on production costs. 50 cents isn't much, especially if it is in CAN$, but add it up and ask yourself if you would want it in your own pocket at the end of the year rather than throwing it away. Then ask yourself, would I want a little bit of dirty kleenex in your pocket or a whole ton at the end of the year. The Brits have a lead on us N Amerikkaners, for they have a waste management program where ALL garbage is sifted through before going to landfills, and the monies recouped through recycling combined with less landfill space has made a big difference, re:costs for their society. Cuba apparently puts everyone else to shame on environmental impact issues, mostly because they were forced to by US embargoes. China is a source of shame, because they don't care, and are rewarded for it.