What happened here? "Government" advertised for a gunsight. Purveyors offered item, providing examples for testing (meeting minimum criteria established). Some government representative "signed off" on the purchase of a best buy (without ever examining the hardware--dependent upon testers), and contract was let, items delivered. Gunsights carry manufacturer's identification in order to establish corrective path for faults (fines? replacement? cancellation of contract?). Were the gunsights indeed faulty? Should the government require replacement without the notations? Is there a "breach of contract?" Did the contract specify "No religious notations?" If government specifies replacement of equipment without the notations, the contract probably contains a paragraph about "modification," and purveyor would receive windfall profits. If the government negates the contract on the basis of constitutional correctness, the ultimate sufferer might be the soldier in the field who has no (or less effective) gunsight, bankruptcy of the purveyor, loss of jobs, etc. All decisions have "butterfly effect," particularly when it comes to economics. Should the purveyor be punished at the expense of the national mission? What if every item's serial number began with 666? Most of the ultimate users are concerned with how the gunsight benefits, and are not even aware of the cited notations--as, indeed, was the case with the purchasing agent who approved the contract. All actions harm/offend someone. The Libertarian philosophy--"Live, and let live"--boils down to "Each do the least harm for the commonweal." So, shall we cut the baby in half and give each claimant their portion? "Laws" are G and electromagnet sureties. "Rules" (Constitutional) are guidelines--not necessarily applicable in every situation. Does this aberration require corrective action? What is the ultimate social consequence?
________________________________ From: Bob Giramma <[email protected]> Subject: Re : [Libertarian] US gov't has Bible verses on military weapons When the government buys a computer, it often says things like "Microsoft Windows" and "Intel Inside" in a prominent place on the product. I don't see how the govt was ripped off. Also, I don't see how the 1st Amendment applies here. From: Harland Harrison Sent: Saturday, January 23, 2010 9:30 PM > The US government might consider specifying that such verses be omitted in > future procurements. They already did! It's called the First Amendment! > It was a private sector contractor exercising free choice, which libertarians > should applaud. No, it was a rip-off of the government which libertarians always condemn. Can the contractor sell advertising space, for a brand of beer for example, on products designed and fully paid for by the government? Secretly stealing the space to plug his religion is no different. De : Bob Giramma <evil_sp...@hotmail. com> Envoyé le : Ven 22 Janvier 2010, 16 h 41 min 03 s Objet : Re: [Libertarian] US gov't has Bible verses on military weapons The subject line of this e-mail post is misleading. The private sector contractor printed Bible verses on weapons purchased and used by the US government. The US government was not aware. It was a private sector contractor exercising free choice, which libertarians should applaud. The US government might consider specifying that such verses be omitted in future procurements. From: Harland Harrison Sent: Friday, January 22, 2010 2:08 PM Cc: cal-l...@yahoogroup s.com US Military gunsights manufactured with Bible verses inscribed. May God help us. Bible codes' on Afghan army guns Al Jazeera's David Chater reports on the implications of the religious gun sights US-made rifles inscribed with Bible codes are being used by US forces and Afghans to fight the Taliban. The weapons come from Trijicon, a manufacturer based in Wixom, Michigan, that supplies the US military. The company's now deceased founder, Glyn Bandon, started the practice which continues today. ...Markings included "JN8:12", a reference to John 8:12: "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life," according to the King James version of the Bible. The Trijicon Reflex sight is stamped with 2COR4:6, a reference to part of the second letter of Paul to the Corinthians: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," the King James version reads. http://english. aljazeera. net/news/ americas/ 2010/01/20101211 239216652. html ._,_.___ ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
