Hi, > > From: "Bob Blakely" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 2004/10/26 Tue PM 10:39:04 GMT > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: OT -- Justification for "Waste" (was Re: Gas Guzzlers) > > A lot of this seems somehow... backwards.
Indeed. > In a free society, people determine what activities benefit them according > to whatever criteria they choose. In a tolerant society we let them. That is > the essence of liberty. It's folly to assume that what you or I think is of > no real benefit to us is also of no real benefit to others. Further, who are > we to determine for another fellow what should or should not give him > happiness? I hold that all things are permissible so long as they do not > harm others or diminish their rights. We may not understand what others > like. We may not like that they like or whatever it is that they do. We may > even whine about it and use derisive language when discussing it. I am > however, loath to prohibit it. Now even when applying this "criteria", I > would tend to be careful. Take the case of "gas guzzling" race cars. Would > it really be wise to restrict this due to costs of any sort? Who is really > being damaged? How much? > > It's a hell of an age we live in. Here in California, some folks are ready > and eager to restrict the liberty of others at the drop of a hat. I don't remember anyone saying that anything should be stopped, banned or otherwise restricted. Redirected, maybe. As the discussion seems to be settling into rather entrenched positions, I am off to ask a nice man in Poland to build me a steam-powered Mercedes SLR, follwed by a FF Pentax DSLR. mike ----------------------------------------- Email provided by http://www.ntlhome.com/
