Oh I agree, you implied nothing of the sort. I just thought my own question was a bit stupid really, if I search a bit harder I will find what I am looking for. It is just that balanced, critical, self-reflective thought by Americans about American society and its role in the world, is often rather scarce, relatively speaking, and I don't always easily find what I am looking for. But the lists are always helpful !
Best wishes Jurriaan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Max B. Sawicky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, July 21, 2003 3:46 PM Subject: Re: [PEN-L] Question - US National Debt > I never said nor meant to imply that > anything you said was (or is) stupid. > > mbs > > > -----Original Message----- > From: PEN-L list [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Jurriaan > Bendien > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 2:56 PM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: Question - US National Debt > > > Thanks Max. I guess I asked a stupid question, but your answer is good ! > What it proves to me, at the very least, is that the disregard many > Americans show for politics (leading to electoral shambles at the most basic > level) can be very costly for them. But the question we then have to ask, > given the ease with which costs are displaced these days to someone weaker > than yourself, is "who is going to pay for all this ?". And I think here the > notion of imperialism and class conflict is relevant, and the objective > assessments of weakness and strength. > > I remember talking to a staff member in an information management course I > enrolled for, and I ask a question, but I was a bit cagey about doing it, > and I said "well may it is a stupid question". But the information > management guy said, generously, "well, there are no stupid questions", he > denied that there were. I wish often there were more like you and him, with > a generous attitude, but on the other hand, I guess whether a question is > stupid depends also on the context within which it is advanced. To be > honest, I lost a lot of my confidence in that area, personally, because > people told me too often I was stupid or treated me as such. You can receive > too much criticism in a given interval of time, or be too intransigent. It > suggests to me I have to have better regard for how I contextualise my > questions, but also not be afraid or reserved to ask if I strongly feel it > is important to me. Maybe, it's a bit sheepish and silly to say all this > too, but then, even if I am supposed to be a Gollum or a Golem, I'm still a > human being who's gotta cope with himself... > > J. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Max B. Sawicky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 7:44 PM > Subject: Re: [PEN-L] Question - US National Debt > > > > With the tax system of January 2001, the debt would > > have been paid off in about a decade, with nobody > > working a day 'for nothing.' > > > > The OECD would have comparative data on national debt. > > > > mbs >
