Actually most of the people who came here were either criminals or escaping some kind
of persecution. But your overall point is true. I didn�t mean to �accuse� you of
being idealistic, I was merely pointing out that in the sense of it being a cause
that would be difficult to bring to fruition.
I guess I just don�t see the idea that trying to make as much money as possible and
hard work are mutually exclusive. I mean, the people at Microsoft (Bill Gates
included) work extremely hard, they simply want to get paid as much as possible for
it. But their work ethic is still sound.
In just don�t have the same perception of this country. The president aside, I think
the majority of the people that I have worked with were good, hard working people. I
like to think the glass is half full.
Sincerely,
Jim Ryan
-----Original Message-----
From: Derek Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 22:02:29 -0400 (EDT)
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: Free software in business (was maddog speaks)
Today, Jim Ryan gleaned this insight:
> Now we're carrying it a bit too far. That is completely absurd.
> Competition and free enterprise and doing things for profit is exactly why
> this country is the best place it the world to live.
And the attitude I was referring to was not competition and free
enterprise, which are generally good things, but the attitude that nothing
is worth doing, unless there's a buck to be had.
> I'd also like to point out that if our founding fathers had that attitude,
> this country would be nowhere today... probably still a British colony, or
> perhaps a Spanish one. Or quite possibly a Nazi German one.
>
> That attitude has become pervasive only in the last 20 years or so, and it
> sucks. The country is going to hell, and that's exactly why.
This is absolutely true. Do you think that the majority of settlers in
this country got rich when they came here? Don't be absurd.
The people who settled this country early on WORKED HARD to make this
country what it is, because they were idealistic, because they felt in
their hearts it was the right thing to do. In fact, in a large percentage
of cases, that's exactly why they came here in the first place. Do you
think the Puritans came here to become rich? Preposterous.
This country has become increasingly greedy, lazy, self-serving, arrogant,
stupid, and pathetic. Our President is the laughing stock of the planet.
Were it not for the fact that we already have the strongest military
around, I've no doubt someone would have taken us over by now.
In a previous message, you accused me of being idealistic... what's so
wrong with that? If everyone were idealistic, the world would be a better
place.
--
---------------------------------------------------------------
Derek D. Martin | Unix/Linux Geek
[EMAIL PROTECTED] | [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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