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Apollo BBS Archive - September 1, 1990
$tatus Club Bulletin Board command:$C
Message: 6657
Author: $ Jeff Beck
Category: Idea for thought
Subject: perception
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 02:23:09
"Common sense imagines that when it sees a table it sees a table. This is a
gross delusion. When common sense sees a table, certain light waves reach
its eyes, and these are of a sort which, in its previous experience, has
been associated with certain sensations of touch, as well as with other
people's testimony that they also saw the table. But none of this ever
brought us to the table itself. The light waves caused occurences in the
optic nerve, and these caused occurences in turn in the brain. Any one of
these, happening without the usual preliminaries, would have caused us to
have the sensations we call "seeing the table," even if there had been no
table. As to the sense of touch when we press the table with our fingers,
that is an electrical disturbance on the electrons and protons of our
fingertips, produced, according to modern physics, by the proximity of the
electrons and protons of the table. If the same disturbance in our
fingertips arose in any other way, we should have the sensations, in spite
of there being no table. The testimony of other witnesses is obviously a
second-hand affair. A witness in a law court, if asked whether she or he had
seen some occurence, would not be allowed to reply that she or he believed
so because of the testimony of others to that effect..."
Message: 6658
Author: $ Jeff Beck
Category: Chit-Chat
Subject: I'm bored.
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 04:43:57
I'm bored. I'm not sleepy. I'm not interested in reading at the moment. I
am tired of listening to music. Too bad no one is awake to call...even Rod
Williams is asleep by this time, night owl that he is. I briefly considered
calling Roger Mann, waking him up, and pretending to be his lost cousin Bob,
badly in need of money, but even in my boredome I haven't sunk to that
point.
I think I'm going to invent an elaborate imaginary language, with 43 verb
tenses, and 703 ways to describe bodily waste products; I'll document it in
notebooks, and then I'll bury the notebooks in a time-capsule for the
benefit of future archaeologists. No, no good...the paper would decay long
before they found it. Hmmm...perhaps I could entertain myself by exhausting
every possible permutation of volume, tone, and inflection with which I
could say my own name. Perhaps I'll crack open an egg and make extensive
perspective line drawings of the interior. Or, I could write an electronic
symphony, totally cacophonous, utterly random, and call it "Brownian
Motion." I could then submit it to some publicly funded arts organisation
along with glossy photos of fornicating pigs. No particular reason for that
last part. Maybe I could sit around shouting "Shiva! Shiva! Shiva!" until
Shiva opened Shiva's eye and destroyed the universe. If that makes no sense
to you, never mind. Perhaps I'll write a book of abstruse, ultimately
nonsensical philosophy, pretend to be a graduate student, and mail it to a
random professor.
Message: 6659
Author: $ Dean Hathaway
Category: Chit-Chat
Subject: LAST
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 13:49:18
I think we both had too much caffeine last night.
See You Later,
Dean H.
Message: 6660
Author: $ Rod Williams
Category: Chit-Chat
Subject: Caffeine, No.
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 20:29:11
It was Nutra Sweet.
Good posts though. Is Nutra Sweet a close cousin to LSD by any chance?
Public & Free Bulletin Board command:$C
Message: 69088
Author: $ Jeff Beck
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Rod
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 02:50:38
As you pointed out, half the people in the arab world seem to be named
Hussein. The Hussein mentioned in your article is not the current ruler of
Iraq. I have already explained why it would be a grievous public relations
error to have an Iraq -- Arab Without A Cause vs. American/Zionist
Imperialism debate. And why should Bush treat Hussein as an equal? Give
us a break from your ludicrous conspiracy theories, Rod.
Message: 69089
Author: $ Jeff Beck
Category: Answer!
Subject: Dean
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 02:51:33
"We wouldn't be having this conversation because I wouldn't have said
anything against market controls if they were in fact used to prevent fraud
and force in commercial trade. That simply is not the intent of much market
control."
There you go again...asserting that the mere existence of a controversy
proves your side and disproves mine. C'mon, Dean, people can disagree
about anything, including whether the Earth is flat or round...and do.
That doesn't prove that one side is right or that the other isn't. You can
sit there and repeat that the intent of market controls is to boss people
around, until you are blue in the face for all I care, but market controls
are NEVER ostensibly instituted for that purpose -- how far do you think
they would get if they were? How effective they are is a matter for
analysis in individual cases...my point is that their intent, as much as it
can be determined by the language of those proposing them, is most
frequently to prevent and punish fraud and coercion in business.
"The intent you claim for market controls would not require one percent of
the intrusion and cost of existing government regulation..."
That's your opinion.
"A true test of laissez-faire would be to actually have it in place for a
significant amount of time...fifty years...that it my criteria for disproof.
Oh, is that ALL?? At least you are finally admitting that it WOULD require
a pure free-market in order to get you to change your mind. Well, the
adherents of socialism, Mooneyism, anarchy, facism, and every other
extremism would like to test their beliefs the very same way. "Oh," they
cry, "if only we could show you what our system could do, unadulterated by
our opponents." No thanks! I'd rather take my chances with the government
, and given my cynicism with regard to Uncle Sam & minions, that says a lot.
I never claimed that the drug trade, in all its facets, was a pure
oligopoly. You can grow your own pot, if you have a mind to, and even sell
it. And I have no idea what influence the big syndicates have on the price
of heroin in Timbuk-Tu. The point, my dear fellow, and a point which I
have made abundantly clear, is that it largely operates as an oligopoly,
that it is NOT open (for reasons of thuggery or anything else), nor are
its prices competitive (i.e. the prices are monopolistic and bear no
relation to the costs of capital and production).
"The economics...I described are simple [and always apply]."
Yes, they certainly are simple...and I notice you haven't made any attempt
to refute my points...you merely deny them.
"Complex arrangements do not change the underlying truths."
In other words, don't confuse you with the facts. I'm glad to hear that
the complexities of the real world don't affect your eternal, immutable,
economic truths. Perhaps you should open a monastery.
"We are speaking entirely different languages if you identify easy entry
into every market as the only test of an economic system."
I don't. I merely point out that market barriers affect your simplistic
notions of how investment capital is supposed to bring everything down
to some provisional equilibrium where industry output is at a feasible
maximum and industry selling price is at a feasible minimum. I have shown
that where a market is concentrated and where medium to high barriers exist,
this is not so: that sellers can keep prisebjI%911e"=:11
=Y
competitive prices, quite successfully, and without drawing new sellers into
the market.
"Your attitude toward advertising is very paternalistic...[you think] people
must be protected from those would would give them the impression that one
brand is better than another..."
I have said no such thing. I merely pointed out that your statement that
"You cannot produce something at a price which is not related to its
costs of capital and production and stay in business unless you are using
state power to hold the capital hostage or to subsidize the price through
the theft of taxation." is demonstrably false. The same goes for your
assertion that "an arbitrary price scheme cannot fool the market."
Obviously it can, when Bayer can sell aspirin at over 200 percent the
price of their competition, and at probably 500 percent of what it costs
them, and not only stay in business but decisively dominate it.
"The concentration of industrial power under a mixed economy can not be
attributed to those practicing the strictly economic means of earning
wealth, it is more often a result of exerting the political means which
would not exist in a free market economy...You will see the power of
government in the pocket of nearly every one [of those czars]."
Yes, I fully expected you to blame the government for the venality of big
business. What else is new?
If the government (and by government, I mean the government body which
determines and enforces public policies, not individuals on the take) is
so supportive of these combinations, why do they attempt to conceal their
actions from the anti-trust division? Why are their holdings in most cases
hidden in secret trust arrangements camouflaged under "street" names (Chase
in '73 used 24 Wall street names to disguise its holdings...some of these
include "Clint," "Cudd," "Egger," "Gooss," "Gunn," "Kane," "Ring...") ?
Consider the case in the early 1960s of the General Electric/Westinghouse
price fixing case. Forty-five executives and twenty-nine companies,
controlling 95 percent of the heavy electric industry, were involved in a
conspiracy to rig prices on a scale so vast that it embraced everything from
the Defense Department and the Tenessee Valley Authority to the private
utilities which supply the nation's light and power.
They used codes and fictitious names, destroyed communications, and met
secretly in obscure motels in dozens of cities. They used an elaborate
formula known as "phase of the moon" to indicate whose turn it was to
submit a low bid, and at what price, on major contracts. All the companies
and individuals pleaded guily or no contest (the latter to protect higher-
ups against unraveling of the conspiracies and to minumize the companies'
damages, by avoiding trials) to charges that they had conspired over a
seven year period (one of the eight conspiracies was 25 years old and
some others had lasted over 10 years) to fix prices and rig bids in the
sale of over seven billion worth of heavy electrical equipment. Ever hear
of the Sherman Act? How about the Clayton Act?
You have your causal relations reversed. OF COURSE these companies end
up having power over the government...with all of that money, how could
things be otherwise? The same is true of government and police corruption
where the drug trade is concerned. They are told, "get in our way and we
will step on you like a bug, but play along and get rich."
You can't segregate economic power and political power. By the time you
count campaign contributions, advertising, lobbying...not to mention the
methods which are actually illegal such as bribery and blackmail, big
business is going to exert a lot of influence.
Well, now that we have (for the moment) finished shouting at each other
for the dogmatism and foolishness of each, I'm glad to hear you enjoyed
the book. I don't specifically recall the "Master Freddie Jones" part,
but I'm sure that any anxieties your children might have had were
quickly alleviated by a nice, pleasant fairy-tale about the honest
woodcutter and the big, bad lumber inspector. And it probably solved
the sleep problem, too. (sorry, I couldn't resist). I'll give you
a call.
Message: 69095
Author: $ Nick Ianuzzi
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Iraq
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 04:58:55
The latest news is that Iraq will have the capability to build a crude
nuclear device within two years. Recent estimates had pegged it at
something closer to five years --- looks like intelligence gathering has
been stepped up since the beginning of this conflict.
This news alone is reason enough for our troops to be over there.
Message: 69096
Author: $ Paul Savage
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Sadamn Hussein
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 05:23:47
For once I agree with Roger. There should be no dialogue with Hussein until
every American and European expatriate has been released, and every Iraqi
soldier and every piece of Iraqi military equipment has been removed from
Kuwait. Kuwait is no more a part of Iraq than Mexico isour 51st state.
Message: 69097
Author: $ Ann Oudin
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Sandi on Germans
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 07:04:27
I imagine it would have been pretty hard to 'just say no' during Hitler's
rise to power way back when eh?
I think Britian and France did kiss a little A$$ to prevent a war - it
didn't work though! -=*) ANN (*=-
Message: 69098
Author: $ Mad Max
Category: Question?
Subject: Savage/GCU
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 15:22:55
By GCU I meant Grand Canyon University, and it's a great school too.
Even if you look at the prdominant baptist aspect of the school, which
doesn't bother this catholic jew at all. I really have to say i am impressed
by the school, everything is well organized and planned, everyone is very
helpful and friendly. It even made it easy for a bum liike me who's been out
of school for 12 years to get back into it.
Message: 69099
Author: $ Dean Hathaway
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Jeff B.
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 16:08:37
Egad, my reference to reading to the kids was not a judgement on the book
in any sense! I was thanking you for its loan and thought you might like to
know that they found the writing and descriptions interesting enough to
engage them and keep them awake. Your comeback sounds like you took it as an
insult to your philosophy.
I will need to log on from home where I can capture those last 6 messages
of yours and deal with them at greater length than I can right now (from a
terminal at my office). I hope we can lower the tone of this discussion to a
friendly one, I am sure I can.
You still haven't said how you would propose to deal with oil prices, the
topic which started this.
See You Later,
Dean H.
Message: 69100
Author: $ Dean Hathaway
Category: Politics
Subject: Rod/Bush
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 16:13:56
Just as in an election campaign, Bush knows better than to debate unless
he has more to win by it than to lose.
See You Later,
Dean H.
Message: 69101
Author: $ Sandi Marlin
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Rod/Chrysler
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 17:04:12
Yeah, but depending on how much it's been bogged down with emissions
garbage, I bet it goes around the block pretty damn fast.
(smile)
Message: 69102
Author: $ Sandi Marlin
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Ann/germans
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 17:15:03
Well, as per the terms of the Versailles Treaty, Germany
wasn't even supposed to have weapons, but the League of Nations (which was
pretty feeble) didn't have the fortitude to make them keep the terms, which
they could have in the beginning. One has to think that the Europeans wanted
to avoid a war at all costs, getting involved for the most part when it was
far too late to prevent a war. There would not have been much of a war if
Germany had been stopped back in the mid 30's when they started getting back
together. However, since the pacifists of the area had a strong enough voice
to prevent that, they ensured themselves the very war that they didn't want.
(They weren't supposed to have armaments, as I understand, until 1934 or
1935 but they started gathering them somewhat before that was lifted and the
League of Nations didn't say a word)
Message: 69103
Author: $ Jeff Beck
Category: Answer!
Subject: Dean/huh?
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 18:04:34
No, I took it as a friendly, humorous statement, and that was the character
of my response (re: The Jungle).
Oil prices...good question. Not sure that I have any specific remedy in
mind, other than a healthy kick in the behind from the President. I think
that they should be held accountable for the price increases...if a team of
investigators, independent and governmental, cannot justify them, the oil
company execs should be brought up on charges of "profiteering" or some
such.
Message: 69104
Author: $ Jeff Beck
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: fraud in advertising
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 18:17:16
If we were to enforce laws solely on the generic basis of fraud (and
coercion) we would need to prosecute just about everyone, because 95% of the
ads out there are deliberately misleading. Take those ads about meats which
are "93% fat free." Well, that's as measure from weight by volume, not
caloric content. Since a given volume of protein weights more than a given
volume of fat, and since a gram of fat has about twice the calories of a
gram protein, the actual fat content is considerably higher.
Message: 69105
Author: $ Roger Mann
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: jeff/velocity
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 20:35:13
Hmmm. Do you deny that there is an X,Y,Z,T in real space time ?
Message: 69106
Author: $ Roger Mann
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: bush/starving
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 20:37:16
Iraqi children. I agree.
Message: 69107
Author: Michael Kielsky
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Afghaniraqiranistan
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 21:45:31
Yup, they're always fighting someone.....
But, the key issue is Iraq's current ability to deploy and employ chemical
and biological weapons, and Iraq's iminent ability to deploy nuclear
weapons.
I remember, when Israel bombed Iraq nuclear weapons facility in 1981, the
world cried out their disapproval. It's always nice to be right in the end,
but wouldn't it be even better if people would have more sense.
But I guess, this quote sums it all up: "Evil will triumph, because good is
stupid!".
Michael "I'm the NRA, and keeping my guns close" Kielsky
Message: 69108
Author: Michael Kielsky
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Economics/Beck
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 21:55:13
I am very confused. Since when is a central authority, which may indeed
have good intentions, able to better direct extremely diverse and complex
economic activity better, or even more equitably, than the individuals who
are directly involved in the economic exchanges.
Jeff Beck, I would suggest that you read one of the 'bibles' of free market
economics, a book called "The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich A. Hayek. He is
a Nobel Prize winner in Economics, and wrote this book in the 1940s, talking
about the dangers of socialism, fascism, and government controls of the
economy. He is from the Austrian school of economics, a school which
includes others such as Ludwig von Mises. You might be interested in
subscribing to a free monthly publication relating to economic freedom, by a
group called F.E.E. (Foundation for Economic Education). Their founder,
Leonard Reed, was a follower of Ludwig von Mises, and his thoughts of
economic freedom. It would certainly be worth your time, or even anyone
elses, to investigate and read their ideas about economic freedom.
Write to F.E.E. at:
Foundation for Economic Education
Irvington-on-Hudson, NY 10533
or call (914) 591-7230 You won't be disappointed, only more educated.
Michael "I'm the F.E.E." Kielsky
Message: 69109
Author: Ed Sheridan
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: War
Date: 08/31/90 Time: 23:48:53
Hi Rod ,I just got back from the Euphrates where I discovered that the war
was started by Motorola. Yes it's true, they told Hussein they would put a
tracer in the American aircraft so if he would start a war, then when he
shoots down our aircraft we will have to build more; so Motorola will give
10% of the profits from increased production to him. Hussein in turn will
agree to buy pink pajamas from Motorole's subsidiary clothing plant in Lower
Greasewood, Arizona.*
Message: 69110
Author: $ Sandi Marlin
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: michael/afghiraq
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 00:10:42
Evil will triumph because good is naive and idealistic and just plain
doesn't recognize situations where the end will justify the means...
Message: 69111
Author: Mike Darus
Category: War!
Subject: Bush's Real Intentio
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 00:40:19
1> Iraq will not start a war by invading Saudi Arabia.
Contrary to popular propaganda, Iraq never intended to keep going
2> As time goes on, Bush will be under more pressure to do something,
anything with all those troops.
3> Bush can not just push the button. He must have justification to
invade. If he just goes in, he will lose his support.
4> If Hussein makes no dumb mistakes, (I doubt he will) any reason will do.
5> Hussein will not voluntarily pull out of Kuwait. His people are so
that they will starve rather than capitulate.
Therefore....... I predict conflict over something fabricated or stupid.
P>S> This is late night rambling, not political savy.
^^^Mike Darus^^^
Message: 69112
Author: $ Jeff Beck
Category: Answer!
Subject: Roger/coordinates
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 01:52:25
Yes. There is no Cartesian sub-space grid. We overlay space
with one in our mathematical models of space. A point defined
by *any* coordinate system, Cartesian, Gaussian, or otherwise, is a purely
geometric entity, because it is zero dimensional, and there are no zero
dimensional real entities. There are no tangent lines in real space,
because all lines, whether rectilinear or curvilinear are one dimensional,
and there are no one dimensional real (physical) entities. There are no
real entities correspondig to planar figures either, for similar reasons.
Message: 69113
Author: $ Jeff Beck
Category: Answer!
Subject: Mike Kielsky
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 02:07:20
By the same token, I suppose you would argue that we should have no central
authorities whatsoever. We should disband the federal government, get rid
of our army, etc. Also, we should not have criminal laws because the courts
are not directly involved in social exchanges and the individuals are better
suited to solve their own problems? Central authority or local authority,
someone has to create and enforce laws to protect people from predatory
practices, whether those practices consist of physical assault or economic
fraud. A central authority has the advantage of the big picture, that's
all.
My beef with the federal business laws involving anti-trust laws, consumer
protection laws, other market controls, is that the laws either have no
teeth or are not properly enforced.
Personally, I would like to see a flat tax rate of 10 percent -- no
exemptions, no special deals for anyone, including business. The only
exception would be for those below the poverty line. I would like to see
the defense contractors, along with their defense department cronies,
crushed to death under a pile of $50.00 hammers.
I would like to see plea bargaining made illegal.
I would like to see the capital punishment laws properly applied and
enforced, and also expanded.
I would like to see patrons of the arts pay for the arts; not our tax
dollars. I would like to see advertising laws sharpened and strengthened...
Message: 69114
Author: $ Jeff Beck
Category: News Today
Subject: Well...
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 04:15:02
...I guess today's the day of the Big Announcement.
Message: 69115
Author: $ Paul Savage
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Mad Max
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 08:25:50
AHA! I had forgotten that Grand Canyon achieved university status a couple
years ago. Good choice! I understand that they are very academic oriented,
as opposed to athletic oriented, which, in my opinion, is the downfall of
many colleges and universities. Best of everything in your educational
future.
Message: 69116
Author: $ Paul Savage
Category: Politics
Subject: Jeff Beck
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 08:32:32
A flat tax rate?
Illegal plea bargaining?
Applied capital punishment?
No tax dollars to support private enterprise? Especially the "arts"?
I KNEW we must have SOMETHING in common!
Way to go, Mark!
Message: 69117
Author: $ Roger Mann
Category: Answer!
Subject: Jeff/obtuse
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 11:18:11
I don't think you understand. Do you agree that there is a point
X,Y,Z,T in space-time? Let me give you a not so hypothetical example:
At precisely 10:03:03 AM MST June 1, 1990, the two cars hit each other
at the intersection of Central and McDowell.
X = 0, Y = 1 mile, Z = 0, T = June 1, 1990, 10:03:03 MST
Message: 69118
Author: $ Rod Williams
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Jeff/debate
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 20:43:46
Bush could show the world what a clever and intelligent diplomat he is. He
could gain the support of all those who are just now starting to picket
around the nation just by having us hear what a dork this guy Hussein is.
What is he afraid of? Something to hide? It sure seems that way to me and
I am surely not a singular incident.
I would more than love to hear what both Bush and Hussein had to say for
themselves. At least then I would understand the problem about 100% better
than I do now.
Well, I guess it takes a real man to stand up to some common Arab terrorist
and it appears that Bush just doesn't have it.
Message: 69119
Author: $ Rod Williams
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Paul/Iraq
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 20:50:58
If every piece of military equipment is removed from Iraq then Iran will
slaughter them, men, women AND children.
But of course, I forgot, the world policemen, the U.S. will again give
military assistance to Iraq and we may throw in a few nuclear weapons to
tide them over.
Of course our blockcade of Iraq is hurting the innocent people in both Iraq
and Kuwait but then again most people have a hard time believing that there
could be innocents in an Arabic country. They do have dark skin and speak a
funny language, don't they?
I've heard it said that Arabs are different in that they aren't afraid to
die and all are terrorists at heart. They don't feel pain as well as
happiness or sadness as Americans do.
Message: 69120
Author: $ Rod Williams
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Dean Hathaway/debate
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 20:54:06
Spoken like a true man. Your answer to my debate question is the only good
answer I've received. Everyone else is just making excuses as to why Bush
can't debate some so-called scum of the earth.
Thank you, thank you. You win the prize and will be receiving it in the
mail within the month. No joke.
Message: 69121
Author: $ Rod Williams
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Iraq.U.S. economy
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 21:05:09
The failures of the S & L's mean that each American will have to cough up
about $4,000 and that figure somehow keeps rising. I strongly suspect that
everytime a law firm figures how much it will cost us then their fee is
added on and that raises the total which then must be refigured. It is a
vicious loop. But of course, President Bush's son is in the law firm and he
has many cousins and friends. And we already know that the President
himself would NEVER profit from this mess, oh no.
Which is getting to my point. Bush has sent all this military gear over to
the Middle East. Bush will, mark my words, tell us next that the reason the
U.S. is entering a recession (depression) is because of Saddam Hussein and
not because of any old S & L problems. No, it was the military action that
is responsible for our economic troubles and has NOTHING to do with Neal
Bush or any of his other close friends. Screw you, American people.
Rod
Message: 69122
Author: $ Rod Williams
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Sandi/Germany
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 21:17:40
My understanding at this time is that pre-Hitler Germany was starving. I
mean that just to have a potato and a pat of butter meant that you were
RICH.
At that point in ANY countries history there will be hungry people who will
speak up and call for change. Hitler may have been the loudest or perhaps
what he was proposing in those early days was the most logical but he did
gain the support of followers.
He did put everyone to work and he did feed everyone far better than he
initially promised.
Germany had a few good years and then everything fell apart. I suspect that
it was from Hitler having a chemical imbalance from lack of nurishment in
those early years.
It was a country gone mad, that's for sure but you try to starve an entire
country and watch what happens. We (U.S. Government) just may be doing that
to Iraq/Kuwait. You know, if you make a peaceful, normally intelligent man
thirsty by witholding water then he will quickly turn into a raving lunatic
and will be willing to kill you or anyone else for a sip. Withholding food
takes a little longer for the same results, about 30-60 days depending on
existing supplies.
Message: 69123
Author: $ Mad Max
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: school
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 21:27:46
Thank you paul, they do have intermural sport, but yes they are very
academicly oriented. I guess I'll see how it goes for the next four years,so
far I have nothing to complain about (darn,grin).
later.
Message: 69124
Author: $ Mad Max
Category: Chit Chat
Subject: Pre-war germany
Date: 09/01/90 Time: 21:44:39
Well me being german, I have to give my two cents worth.
Even though I wasn't there, I heared enough from my mother and my
grandparents, to say it is first ahnd testamony.
For starters, aroungd the time the americans considered to be the swinging
20's, germany was not really starving, but they had a major case of
inflation, my grandfather was telleing me that to go buy a loaf of bread you
had to carry in a suitcase full of money, we're talking millions of marks.
Inflation during some months was as I understood it around a 1000% a month.
That did not come from a lack of production, but from the post WWI debt that
germany had aquired, (ie. repayments to the winners of WWI). These payments
were at the time more than the german economy could handle. My grandfather
also told me that hitler promissed every german a job, as place to live and
food to eat, and the amazing thing is he delivered. Not only that, with his
speaches, he inspired the germans of that time to be prowed again, something
that germans very badly needed to hear in those days. The final solution was
something that did not start till the late 30's, and the persecusion of the
jews was a gradual and slow thing, something that went on in the background
for most germans. It did however come to a peak in aug 1933 with the
Kristall nacht, that infamous night were the nsdap destroyed and plunder
jewish synagogs and buisnesses. (NSDAP= National Sozalistche Deutche
Arbeiter Partei National socialist german workers party). Shortly after
that hitler took control of the reichstag( german congress) legally because
of the failing health of then Reichsprasident Weimar. By german constitution
Which was severly flawed, hitler in efect became the president, the vice
president, the speaker of the house and congress, and national party leader.
Now this is put into terms an american could understand. This all happened
because of a loophole in the then existing german history. After this had
happend hitler was legaly speaking the sole ruler of germany. In order to
sustain that post, he used again a loophole in the german constitution, and
declared martial law, sowith having to remain the sole ruler of germany till
he lifted it, somethiong that never did occur. Now, hitler was the law.
Todays german constitution is very closly modeled after the american
constitution, to prevent such things from happening again. Now I do not know
if they will rewrite this because of recent happenings, but from what I read
in german newspapers that my mother sends me, the east germans are just
going to adapt the west german constitution, to be on the safe side.
since I am runnign out of time now, anyone intersted in this, let me know,
and I will gladly keep on posting on this suject.
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