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Missile Defense

Technology has always found its greatest consumer in a nation's war and defense efforts. Since the last attempts at a "Star Wars" defense system, has technology changed considerably enough to make the latest Missile Defense initiatives more successful? Can such an application of science be successful? Is a militarized space inevitable, necessary or impossible?

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lunarchick - 03:14pm Jan 9, 2003 EST (# 7533 of 7537)

Trust you've not joined one of those official 'Laughing Classes' Shols, possibly an Indian Concept, people gather and 'laugh' then go on their 'merrier' ways. Laughing is good for our physiology.

Not good to be a born comedian and 'joke' about airports, planes and bombs. Whoops there goes another clown into the dungeons to cool off.

I put a post through two days ago ... mentioned Japan's concerns re the US economy slipping .. their currency going higher - making it harder to export.

I spoke of the payroll tax (pollrole tax) having been instituted for a specific purpose -- to encourage entities to shed labour for automation; and commented that payroll tax doesn't sit well with one-on-one service industries.

I also said the US government should have looked to 'trends' and put money behind the 'future' rather than an across the board (mainly for the rich) tax cut.

Buck drew our attention to a CvE poster who was stunned by redundancy. Herbert's op-ed looks at the same today. Backing 'trend' futurisms is one way to try to keep the economy pertient.

Another factor to consider, as i've said before, is what are the true costs of production. Buying in from Asia - the costs of equipment/automation are the same, labour there is given less. The disposal of pollutants has to be paid for sometime - currently these are just 'set loose' in the environment. There are few 'standards'. For the world's sake - perhaps some of that manufacturning should move back to places of purchase consumption. Were holistic accounting done of real-true-costs .. why should the 'East' be ahead of the developed world?

Do the 'Unemployed - and their COSTS' get factored into such equations. If only 1/10 workers are required for world production of necessities - why not do more on home ground? Is unemployment a political tool to wage against the people to keep them in line?

lunarchick - 03:15pm Jan 9, 2003 EST (# 7534 of 7537)

Herbert Op-ED

"We were laid off Oct. 14, 2001," she said. "I haven't been able to find work since then. I've applied everywhere. I've gone back to school to improve my computer skills. I've learned another language. I feel very bad because I want to work so I can pay my bills. I've always worked. But now I can't find a job."

That plaintive comment is echoing from coast to coast. Unemployment is rising. And as the millions of jobless Americans (including many in the middle class) exhaust their benefits and run through their savings, they are finding themselves face to face with the horror of destitution.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/09/opinion/09HERB.html

lunarchick - 03:17pm Jan 9, 2003 EST (# 7535 of 7537)

I also said the the MD jobs were make-work.

Cp and contrast the lifestyle of a make-work-worker as against a want-to-work worker. One lives in luxury - the other rumages through garbage bags looking for unfinished portions of thown food. Charming!

lunarchick - 03:23pm Jan 9, 2003 EST (# 7536 of 7537)

Half the federal budget goes to military-make-work zones.

So where are the Galbraithes of today.

How can a modern economy that has so gained in efficiency both on and off shore, how can that economy be designed and developed to ensure work and wages and status for ALL people?

It obviously could be done.

Why isn't it?

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Voting - as i've said before - should be compulsory and totally UNIVERSAL in all states and nations.

Small penatlies applied to those who can't be bothered to get out and choose a representative who best represents their needs and future needs.

Taking money away from people - so they can't buy their basics - obviously starves an economy. It may appeal to the oldTestamentValueSystem - but it's lacking in human consideration.

If folks are born to LIVE - then leaders and politicians must strive to put the ZEST in LIFE!

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