Nick- Please cite the facts that support your contention re the Arizona law empowering the police to ask for papers if you just happen to "look" Mexican and the source of the heavy weapons flowing to Mexico. The idea that the types of military-grade weapons used comes from smuggling civilian weapons bought in border states is refuted by: The 90% of weapons having a US origin figure quoted by the Obama administration is called into question by that notoriously right-wing organization, the Annenberg Public Policy Center: Reading the text of the bill: I see no statute that entitles a "show me your papers" demand unless it is in the course of investigation of a crime. The straw man argument that police in Arizona (many of whom are Hispanic themselves) will harass people because they don't like the way they look BECAUSE of this bill does not seem logical. No doubt harassment occurs now, for a variety of reasons, but it would seem to be isolated incidents caused by bad cops, just like everywhere else in the US (or Mexico, for that matter). The Arizona bill provides for a fascinating study in emergence to anyone interested in complexity theory in the sociologic context. The current situation of increased crime, massive expenditure of Arizona capital and lack of federal responsibility in dealing with the situation has placed the situation at the "edge of chaos". The attractor wells are now insufficient to stabilize the situation, and something needs to change. It strikes me that introducing political ideology and straw-man arguments into the mix clouds the opportunity to learn something from the situation. David Snowden has eloquently shown, in his Cynefin Framework, what happens when an attempt is made to treat a complex domain as though it were simple, or even complicated: it drives the domain into chaos. The Arizona law can be viewed as a probe. The key is to now sense for the emergent order and respond. Or we can just sit back and watch the situation devolve into chaos..... I usually do carry my driver's license when I go to the mall, even when I ride my bike. I sort of like the idea of someone knowing who I am if I'm hit by a bus. If I happen to buy an adult beverage, I have to "show my papers", and that isn't to a cop, or even because I am being investigated for breaking a law. I don't feel imposed upon. When I lived in Austria, I had to carry my Ausweis all the time, and show it upon occasion when I went to a hotel, cashed a check and once, to "the man", when I attempted to ride the streetcar without paying and was caught. Russ #3 Russell Gonnering, MD, MMM, FACS, CPHQ On May 9, 2010, at 1:04 AM, Nicholas Thompson wrote:
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