From: Miriam English (miriam@werple.net.au)
Date: Sat Aug 18 2001 - 21:25:46 MDT
At 10:13 AM 18/08/2001 -0700, Lee Corbin wrote:
>Spike wrote
>
> > Carlos Gonzalia wrote:
> >
> >> This is an interesting article, and the phenomenon it describes is a
> sad sign
> >> of the extent to which the upper classes increasingly see themselves as a
> >> completely separate entity from the rest of their countrymen when it
> comes to
> >> security issues.
> >
> >> http://www.economist.com/World/la/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=740145
> >
> > Carlos, I fail to see the problem. If one has money, one is at risk of
> > being kidnaped. Therefor, if one can afford a bulletproof car and the
> > other technologies, why would one *not* buy such things? Under these
> > circs, if one does not take all available precautions, one is partly
> > responsible for ones own fate. What they really need is some means
> > of firing back at those doing the shooting, not just bulletproof
> cars. spike
>
>"The Problem" that Carlos very well described, is a problem afflicting
>the whole society. Something is very wrong in a region where citizens
>*must* go around armed all the time. Peace and reasonable security are
>absolute requirements for wealth creation.
Hopefully, one day people will see that having an underclass is dangerous
for the upper classes.
As I see it, this is one of the best arguments for welfare and other
mechanisms for redistribution of wealth. If the rich are supremely wealthy
and the poor are without hope then what have the poor to lose by attacking
the rich? I am not saying it is right or proper, just that it must be seen
to be a real danger.
Helping the poverty-stricken to have a chance at a good and comfortable
future is not just good for the poor, but good insurance for the rich.
Arming yourself is not the solution -- you just live in a well decorated cage.
Cheers,
- Miriam
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Q. What is the similarity between an elephant and a grape?
A. They are both purple... except for the elephant.
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