From: Michael S. Lorrey (retroman@turbont.net)
Date: Sat Mar 18 2000 - 07:16:00 MST
Robert Owen wrote:
>
> Michael S Lorrey wrote:
>
> > Robert Owen wrote:
> > > I cannot stress enough the revulsion I feel toward those who
> > > reject such rational social controls on the ostensible basis of
> > > some abstract idealist polity or manifesto using ad populum
> > > terms like "freedom" and "rights" to induce emotional support
> > > for irresponsible firearm ownership among those who are either
> > > socially incompetent, illiterate or simply too immature to under-
> > > stand the implications of such terms when applied to the real
> > > world.
> >
> > Then you are no extropian.
>
> Oh, well. As I said, I can't seem to stress it enough.
>
Thats right. I know that everybody here has a revulsion against using
words like 'fascist' or 'totalitarian', but statements like yours are
exactly what politicians in the past who fit that mold or admitted to
such had proposed and put into place. Such 'rational social controls'
are always 'needed', and they laugh at 'abstract idealist polity' and
'ad populum terms' as being out of touch, out of tune, with the current
needs of 'the people' or 'the children'. They denigrate those who oppose
them as being 'socially incompetent', 'illitereate' or 'unable to
understand the implications of applying such ideas to the real world'.
They also call us 'irresponsible' people who bring on anarchy. They call
themselves realists who must deal with reality, not with pie in the sky
ideas... They make themselves sound like the very voice of reason, just
until the point after they get control of the government.
I don't buy your argument, and I know what you are. If anyone else can't
see it, they've got some serious problems.
Mike Lorrey
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