----- Original Message ----- From: "Gautam Mukunda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2004 7:41 PM Subject: Re: Br!n: some thoughts and quotes.
> --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > How do you know? Just because his name is "Sam" > > doesn't make him lovable or > > fair. It happened in his stores. More than one. > > Maybe it is company policy. It > > is up to those who would like to excuse the > > behavior to reveal ways that the > > corporate structure responded to knowledge of the > > behavior. And why should > > it take government policing polices to undcover and > > correct discriminatory > > actions. Don't conservatives believe in less > > government interference in business > > practices? Don't conservatives believe that (a) the > > market will take care of > > these sorts of things (not if the practices > > dramatically increase corporate > > practices) or b) that companies willl act > > responsibly on their own? > > No. That would be stupid. It would be as contrary to > the facts as believing in clutch hitting, in fact. > The government has a role in society. I don't think > it should be running my life or surrendering to my > country's enemies, which makes me a conservative in > today's context, sadly enough. But policing labor > laws? No, that's a good idea. You know, I get > accused of setting up straw men a fair amount and, as > usual, you do it far more and I _know_ that no one > will say a word. Enough of this nonsense. I think your next post is very helpful in clarifying your position, but I'd like to point out that, while I've know all along that this position isn't yours, it is the position of most of the conservatives and all of the libertarians I know. The market place works best, and the country would be far better off if the government just kept hands off. I'm about to hurt the feelings of both you and Bob on this. In spite of your arguments, it appears that you and Bob actually have positions that are much closer than you care to admit. :-) Its amazing to watch the pattern recognition talents of two very bright and well meaning people go off target. At least that's how it looks from here. I'm a bit biased in this because Gautam and I have differed on politics civically for many years, both on the list, and I think I have a better understanding than most of what he really thinks. My differences with our own Zimmy have been equally civil, but have tended to be more on other subjects. Just for the heck of it, let me write down a few points on which I think you agree: 1) It is right to raise the wages of the working poor. 2) The focus of wealth into a small group of people is good for neither the stability of the United States or it's economy. 3) Bush's tax cut for people making over $200k per year is hurting the economy more than it is helping it. 4) We need to find effective ways to facilitate people rising out of poverty through work that they can take pride in. I think that much of the disagreement is on how best to do it. I've got a church friend who I think is mostly wrongheaded about what works best in this area. But, I think he is as good or better Christian than I because he both cares for people and acts on that caring by helping others. I'm happy to know that his opinion of me mostly parallels my opinion of him. Now there are Republicans and Democrats who actually differ with us on this. But, I'd bet money its not Zimmy, and it's not Gautam. I guess I'm too biased to talk about me. :-) Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
