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Missile Defense

Russian military leaders have expressed concern about US plans for a national missile defense system. Will defense technology be limited by possibilities for a strategic imbalance? Is this just SDI all over again?

lunarchick - 07:58pm Jun 11, 2001 EST (#4782 of 4794)
lunarchick@www.com

Let's roll together the mascarading 'facts' of the day. Rembrandt Monet

Two points, these guys, both European, lived in different time periods. Neither were poor. They painted to 'fulfil the needs' of their clients/buyers. The later painters sat on the shoulders of the previous and moved art along. Isn't this so in every sphere?

Watched an interesting doco on Monet just days ago, he caught the changing light on the subject and might try to use 20 canvasas at once ... he also rejected and burnt the work (a lot of work) that didn't meet his subjective requirements - exercising quality control. His 'light' changed as years went by as catarachs grew over his eyes, his latter works (held back by him until after his death were used lots of yellow and orange = he saw the world in a different light). Monet i noted had a special gallery for his Panorama water lilly works ... and fans were 'knocked over with joy' seeing THE REAL paintings.

On the Rockerfellas of this world .. these were the people who were 'in the right place, at the right time' delivering infrastructure that 'enabled' ... the iron horse ... the passenger ... the East to fund the opening of the west ... inter/intra-State transportation .. at an affordable price.

The rockerfellas stood on the shoulders of the Indian, on the rump of dead buffalo, and may have had either deal making skills, or, come into the scene with an initial enabling bankroll ... or an ability to 'deal themselves in'

There are 'accidents of geography' in folks being in the RIGHT PLACE at the RIGHT TIME, or making sure they get to the places where opportunities are about to happen.

Gates today is an example of a person who on the crest of a new wave (and with a legal parent) saw how to make a dollar .... he aquired and built product that fulfilled a need ... the 'point and click' need enabling 'ease of use' of computer packages.

----

....... after so many years of centralized economy (as communists) preceded by a near medieval society for centuries, people in Russia aren't yet used to the idea of using their own personal gifts, skills and resources along with hard work to build their own personal economic empires. I suppose it's easier for us in the west to do that because we've had several centuries of practice. I think the Russians will do fine eventually; they just have a legacy of isolation and years of incentive-killing economic indoctrination to overcome. It probably didn't serve Mr. Stalin's purpose to have folks doing much thinking for themselves. Dictatorships have never been hotbeds of creativity or innovation. (GI 7.05 junell)

gisterme - 07:59pm Jun 11, 2001 EST (#4783 of 4794)

almarst wrote: "...Your self appreciation would be funny if not for being so sad..."

Sorry that what I said came across that way almarst. It was not intended to offend. Maybe there's some other reason that the Russians are having such a hard time getting their economy started. Perhaps you will offer a different explanation. If there is one other than "not enough time gone by" I'd like to know what it is. Again, I appologize if what I said seemed arrogant. It was really not intended. I know it's a touchy subject and I confess that I didn't touch it in a very considerate way.

lunarchick - 08:13pm Jun 11, 2001 EST (#4784 of 4794)
lunarchick@www.com

So, the GREAT Artists and the GREAT entrepreneurs have something in common.

The have awareness of ALL that went before, and with this below their feet, they go on to develop new frameworks and blue prints that fill needs and bring joy.

The joy for an art fan is to 'see' something new, different, unusual, something that works. The techniques may be new, the materials new or new combinations ... the total effect is ... something that gives surprise and usually 'delight'.

The Great Entrepreneurs worked on BIG projects. The creation of steel from raw materials is a BIG project ... the establishment of legal frameworks and LIMITED LIABILITY were the enablers for economic developments. The railways were laid, travel was 'possible' and 'affordable' ... people travelling fulfilled a need/dream to go 'elsewhere', to DO other things, to earn money, to lead a NEW life, to meet NEW people, to have a job, to have a future, to build a home, and have kids perhaps, and be ABLE to give those kids a future.

Sounds a lot like what i've said before with respect to this board, in that - people may be in an UGLY war situation ... NO ONE WANTS WAR (with the exception of weapon makers-investors) .. the needs of people everywhere are the same ... a FUTURE for themselves, the young people, peace and a settled prosperous world.

Bringing this back to this board, what seems to be needed aren't UGLY missiles, rather, legal frameworks, business deals, jobs and opportunities and education to enable visions and dreams to be fulfilled.

So, how do Russia and the USA get a win-win deal ... certainly not through continually spewing up the past ... although it has to be understood from all perspectives ... the win-win has to come via negotiated deals and settlements that allow peaceful economic growth .. with lots of cross-cultural interchanges of international understanding.

People everywhere are beautiful, intelligent, rare gifts who love and nurture. Political frameworks and Strategies have to be positive building blocks towards a future that does catch Monet's LIGHT and REFLECT it lovingly.

rshowalter - 08:27pm Jun 11, 2001 EST (#4785 of 4794)
Robert Showalter showalte@macc.wisc.edu

Dawn, you're beauty personified.

_____

gisterme 6/11/01 7:59pm

Both Russia and the United States have much to learn, about each other and about themselves.

In both the Russian case, and the American, there are PLENTY of examples of things working badly (or well) and people not really being sure why.

That means our idea patterns have to be carefully matched to fact - - - and we have to move slowly.

Odds are good that we're most likely to delude ourselves in areas where we are subjectively most sure.

We need to check.

Mistakes are both too expensive, and too likely, to do otherwise.

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