From: Abraham Moses Genen (futurist@frontiernet.net)
Date: Sat Jul 05 1997 - 17:09:43 MDT
Abraham Moses Genen
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Being dedicated to the future progress of humankind
should be the prime concern of all civilized beings.
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From: Michael Lorrey <retroman@tpk.net>
To: extropians@extropy.org
Subject: Re: GUNS: Defensive Use
Date: Saturday, July 05, 1997 12:45 PM
Abraham Moses Genen wrote:
>
> Dear Mark and other fellow Extropians,
>
> Wouldn't it make a lot more sense to eliminate the primary causes of
crime
> by eliminating poverty and deficient education? Wouldn't it also cost
less
> overall in both the short and long term?
>
> A.M. Genen
>
> Happy Independence Day!!!!!
Actually, eliminating deficient education would go a long way toward
eliminating the latter, but there will always be stubbornly ignorant
morons. THis is not just a figure of speech, either, seeing as how I
live in upstate New Hampshire. As educated as most people are in these
parts, there is still a significant minority of hereditary locals who
never travel more than 25 miles from their home, don't finish high
school, and are proud of their "downhome", "salt of the earth" status.
Another big step would be to decriminalize all victimless "crimes".
Doing so would eliminate the social stigma that forces many who
participate in these activites to gain their livihood from further
criminal activity.
Criminal law should not be used to enforce social norms, but to protect
rights. If you want to practice social engineering, do it with the tax
code.
-- TANSTAAFL!!! Michael Lorrey Dear Michael and other fellow Extropians, I couldn't agree more with the need to eliminate victimless crimes. There are several ggod reasons to do so. Actually, among other good reasons, I think it would be preferrable to legalize, control and regulate many of them minimally in the public interest. It would certainly produce sufficient voluntary revenue to help reduce other forms of oppressive and involuntary taxation. As regards those local ignoramuses you are complaining about, please consider their rationalization of claims to joy in ignorance as a defense mechanism. It can be overcome, albeit with some difficulty after the formative years; but, it can still be overcome with some quite worthwhile effort. I hope you all agree. Knowledge can be fun. A.M. Genen
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