This isn't about gun culture, it's about people's tendency to violence. The guy would have grabbed any weapon he could use; bat, knife, brick, etc. Maybe we should be asking questions about why people think they need to resolve differences with violence.
So Texas has crazy laws, most states do. Maybe we should be focused on fixing those crazy laws. They probably have been on the books for 100 years.
Now, as to the value of "a hooker", it's not much, but no one's life really is. How much value does a housewife's life have when the SWAT team kicks in the door and kills her and her kid? Not much.
"It is true that we as a society have a duty to provide organs for those who will die without them, especially when donating them will not result in more than a small amount of death."
No we don't. No one has any obligation to do anything for any other individual unless they so choose to do so. If I pull you from your burning house, it's because I choose to do so, not because "society" tells me to do so. And anything "society" chooses to do can be ended anytime it so chooses because it's members decided it's no longer in their interest to continue this program.
Nah, but the price you'd be willing to sell the kidney for would probably include the present value of any future expected costs related to "complications" of only having one kidney or such. Since there isn't a real open market for this type of thing, no one really knows.
I think it's perfectly logical that someone should be able to sell their organs upon their death. Everyone else, like noted above, is profititing from the organ trade, the true owners of the organs should as well. Obviously, when you're alive, your pool of avail organs is less, but hey, your body your call.
Besides, it's logically consistent. A woman owns her body in terms of having an abortion but not if she wants to sell a kidney?
"For example, having the calling records of every member of Congress would likely reveal which members kept mistresses, which could be used to blackmail members of Congress into supporting a future president’s agenda. Calling records could also provide valuable political intelligence, such as how frequently members of Congress were talking to various interest groups."
And this goes far beyond the example cited here and it opens up a world of ways to ensure "you get you way" if you've got this info. You can put pressure on all kinds of folks.
Via Takimag: http://takimag.com/article/does_israel_have_a_backdoor_to_us_intelligence_steve_sailer/print#axzz2VzxYkFIN
"Why though do Americans seem in (some) opinion polls to approve of this surveillance?"
Because they are idots, more interested in the latest celebrity/model/fashion/BS that is spewed by the "news".
Because they believe "they have nothing to hide" but don't realize that their "nothing" spun the right way can cause them a massive amount of trouble if someone wanted to make trouble.
Because they "feel" that to be safe from the terrorists, it's ok.
Because only bad things happen to bad people and they are good.
I found it funny that the poll results I heard about reversed with Dems supporting what they once got their guy in power. Seems as long as "you guy" is in charge, it doesn't matter. Typical.
Agreed, but I think we would need less of your type of "work" is we simply minded our own business and stopped meddling in the affairs of other countries (other people's backyards). I think your suggestions work for the occasions when conflict outside our borders spill over onto us or American's travelling in foreign lands get caught up in local events. Then I'm good with what you suggest.
Well said. I'm all for, to borrow a phrase from the pro-choice side of the abortion camp, "american intervention being safe, and rare'. You come at me with a knife, I come at you with a gun, and kill you, your family, and all your friends, then burn your house down and sow the land with salt.
That being said, we'd not have to do that much if we stayed out of everyone else's backyard, which I'm also for.
No it's NOT new news. But the good thing about this disclosure is that it will be in the news and people like you will remind folks that is isn't news and maybe they will remember. That this is still going on and that they didn't do anything to stop it last time. Maybe it will spark a tad bit more outrage and motiviate folks to correct it.
Well, government coercion is backed up by the threat of force/violence, it is evil.
Outside of gov't action, that same threat/force done not by the gov't, is a criminal act-which I'll re-define as evil. Redefining a group's actions to call it gov't doesn't change the fact that it is wrong / evil.
Any State vs citiczens actions ranks highly-Stalin, Mao, Cambodia, etc. (This would also cover Tuskeege, and the other medical experiments conducted on US folks by the gov't.)
I'd like to address another type of evil. This is in no way worse than those above, but it is still EVIL, and pervasive. The evil of thinking that you know best for me: That I shouldn't smoke, or drink, or do drugs, or eat certain foods, or eat more of this or that. It's the pervasive belief that YOU know what's good for me and are willing to inflict violence on me to keep me from doing something you don't like.
100% agree. It's my decompression event as well. My drive takes me on mixed roads and highways. I always enjoy entering the ramp to the highway and punching the accellerator. Driving for the sheer joy of it. That gets my mind off of work.
Effective gerrymandering has helped keep Republicans in Maryland "in their place" for a long time now. They are effectively powerless. And these are "east coast blue state Republicans", ie almost Democrats.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “The Shockingly Small Worth of a Woman’s Life: Texas, Gun Culture, and Black & White Worlds”
This isn't about gun culture, it's about people's tendency to violence. The guy would have grabbed any weapon he could use; bat, knife, brick, etc. Maybe we should be asking questions about why people think they need to resolve differences with violence.
So Texas has crazy laws, most states do. Maybe we should be focused on fixing those crazy laws. They probably have been on the books for 100 years.
Now, as to the value of "a hooker", it's not much, but no one's life really is. How much value does a housewife's life have when the SWAT team kicks in the door and kills her and her kid? Not much.
On “Putting a Price on Kidneys”
"It is true that we as a society have a duty to provide organs for those who will die without them, especially when donating them will not result in more than a small amount of death."
No we don't. No one has any obligation to do anything for any other individual unless they so choose to do so. If I pull you from your burning house, it's because I choose to do so, not because "society" tells me to do so. And anything "society" chooses to do can be ended anytime it so chooses because it's members decided it's no longer in their interest to continue this program.
"
Nah, but the price you'd be willing to sell the kidney for would probably include the present value of any future expected costs related to "complications" of only having one kidney or such. Since there isn't a real open market for this type of thing, no one really knows.
"
I think it's perfectly logical that someone should be able to sell their organs upon their death. Everyone else, like noted above, is profititing from the organ trade, the true owners of the organs should as well. Obviously, when you're alive, your pool of avail organs is less, but hey, your body your call.
Besides, it's logically consistent. A woman owns her body in terms of having an abortion but not if she wants to sell a kidney?
On “Driving Blind: Dwarf Fortress and Fat Albert”
"Who’s more dangerous: terrorists or toddlers with guns?" Neither. Stupid Parents are.
"
I would endorse/use this method if I thought there was any probability that it was true and effective.
On “John Stossel is Brilliant”
He drops down a few steps in my opinion...
Bummer.
On “Why State Surveillance Is Worse”
Timothy B. Lee of the Washington Post warned:
"For example, having the calling records of every member of Congress would likely reveal which members kept mistresses, which could be used to blackmail members of Congress into supporting a future president’s agenda. Calling records could also provide valuable political intelligence, such as how frequently members of Congress were talking to various interest groups."
And this goes far beyond the example cited here and it opens up a world of ways to ensure "you get you way" if you've got this info. You can put pressure on all kinds of folks.
Via Takimag: http://takimag.com/article/does_israel_have_a_backdoor_to_us_intelligence_steve_sailer/print#axzz2VzxYkFIN
"
"Why though do Americans seem in (some) opinion polls to approve of this surveillance?"
Because they are idots, more interested in the latest celebrity/model/fashion/BS that is spewed by the "news".
Because they believe "they have nothing to hide" but don't realize that their "nothing" spun the right way can cause them a massive amount of trouble if someone wanted to make trouble.
Because they "feel" that to be safe from the terrorists, it's ok.
Because only bad things happen to bad people and they are good.
On “Things to Hide”
I found it funny that the poll results I heard about reversed with Dems supporting what they once got their guy in power. Seems as long as "you guy" is in charge, it doesn't matter. Typical.
On “Random Thoughts on the NSA and Metadata”
Agreed, but I think we would need less of your type of "work" is we simply minded our own business and stopped meddling in the affairs of other countries (other people's backyards). I think your suggestions work for the occasions when conflict outside our borders spill over onto us or American's travelling in foreign lands get caught up in local events. Then I'm good with what you suggest.
"
Well said. I'm all for, to borrow a phrase from the pro-choice side of the abortion camp, "american intervention being safe, and rare'. You come at me with a knife, I come at you with a gun, and kill you, your family, and all your friends, then burn your house down and sow the land with salt.
That being said, we'd not have to do that much if we stayed out of everyone else's backyard, which I'm also for.
On “Lemonade, Taxis, Victims and a Comment Rescue or Two”
As said before, "rules of the game". That's why monopolist lobby (bribe) gov't hard...to preserve their monopoly.
On “In Which I Lose My Temper”
No it's NOT new news. But the good thing about this disclosure is that it will be in the news and people like you will remind folks that is isn't news and maybe they will remember. That this is still going on and that they didn't do anything to stop it last time. Maybe it will spark a tad bit more outrage and motiviate folks to correct it.
Doubtful, but still.
On “Indefensible”
Leno has nice cars. Who wouldn't an to hang out with him?
On “Comment Rescue: A Priorism in Libertarianism”
Wrong Criminal.
On “How the Tea Party Movement Is Often About Things Uglier Than Fiscal Restraint, and a Challenge to Public Conservatives Who Claim Otherwise”
Well said.
On “Comment Rescue: A Priorism in Libertarianism”
Well, government coercion is backed up by the threat of force/violence, it is evil.
Outside of gov't action, that same threat/force done not by the gov't, is a criminal act-which I'll re-define as evil. Redefining a group's actions to call it gov't doesn't change the fact that it is wrong / evil.
On “Best Video Game Ever Series”
The "Thief" Series
First person "sneaker".
I also liked Half Life, Deux Ex, and the Elder Scrolls.
On “Why Conservatives Can’t Win the Non-Male Vote, “I’m Fishing Speechless” Edition”
I am not touching this. I'm just gonna tab away.
On “On the Nature of Evil: A Question for the Hive Mind”
Any State vs citiczens actions ranks highly-Stalin, Mao, Cambodia, etc. (This would also cover Tuskeege, and the other medical experiments conducted on US folks by the gov't.)
I'd like to address another type of evil. This is in no way worse than those above, but it is still EVIL, and pervasive. The evil of thinking that you know best for me: That I shouldn't smoke, or drink, or do drugs, or eat certain foods, or eat more of this or that. It's the pervasive belief that YOU know what's good for me and are willing to inflict violence on me to keep me from doing something you don't like.
On “Driving Blind: Austerity, Street Art, and Books”
How dare you insult Libertarians by this statement. MY is a fool and doesn't even understand economic.
Krugman, by the way, is a tool.
On “The Principled Pragmatic Reader”
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Starship Troopers
Fordham's Freehold
All by Heinlein. Political theory AND a story. :)
On “Mental Hacks for the Modern Worker”
Regarding the Commute.
100% agree. It's my decompression event as well. My drive takes me on mixed roads and highways. I always enjoy entering the ramp to the highway and punching the accellerator. Driving for the sheer joy of it. That gets my mind off of work.
On “Voter Fraud Wheels A’ Spinning”
Effective gerrymandering has helped keep Republicans in Maryland "in their place" for a long time now. They are effectively powerless. And these are "east coast blue state Republicans", ie almost Democrats.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.