"Trouble is that too many people--rich, middle class and poor--are too shortsighted/greedy/ignorant to figure that out. Thus they don't plan ahead and consider future consequences--truly "penny-wise and pound-foolish'"
Bingo!...generalize the failure to consider consequences (and implications) to virtually all important issues, questions, domains and discourses and you've got the fundamental problem of humanity! Put differently, almost all of these are basically devoid of critical thinking, or more fundamentally, the failure to ask questions, and when we do, to almost always seek the quick, easy answers, which almost always turn out to be problematic, pseudo answers, partial answers or downright invalid ones. We are all guilty to some extent and to varying degrees of failing to ask about, and thus think through consequences and implications, if for no other reason than our limits of time, energy and knowledge. However, when it comes to the most important, pressing societal (and even personal) issues or questions, the discourse and the underlying thinking is, in virtually all cases, not informed or guided by such critical thinking, EVEN THOUGH history has proven repeatedly that this is both essential and the only epistemologically valid way to arrive at needed, new, good, valid answers! The sad but ultimately hopeful irony is that almost all of us (unless our cognitive capacity is no longer intact for some reason) are perfectly capable of asking the questions, including of implications and consequences. Moreover, virtually all of us are complicit in this state of affairs! Furthermore, this is not a problem that afflicts just one or some parts of the political spectrum or only certain groups, however construed. It is a deeper dynamic and phenomenon; one arises out a fundamental dilemma of the human species - a dilemma expressed by our fundamental ambivalence about the value and importance of truth, and which has been true throughout human history. So, there you have it - the fundamental problem of the species, with the implied solution to that problem! The solution being application of the innate capacity we all have to solve problems, engage in critical thinking (centrally including asking about consequences, implications and whether proper, critical distinctions need to be made or if improper ones are made) in evaluating truth-claims and all the ideas, theories, proposals, etc. that rest on such claims, and to engage in the creative, innovative, inventive, outside-the-box thinking and even moral reasoning that all stem from the same underlying mental process, which we all are capable of. And if we don't want to be bothered personally with doing all of this for all the important things in our collective lives, then the solution is to create the structures or mechanisms - which certainly might require fundamentally changing government or even society - to make sure that some others ARE doing this crucial questioning and thus thinking on our behalf. And the underlying, fundamental key to all of this is the simple QUESTION and the process of asking questions, since "THE QUESTION" is the single most powerful tool humanity has ever had, unless one believes that superior tools are provided by divine Providence or some supernatural source. But in purely human terms, the question is the fundamental unit that, in the process of asking them, gives rise to critical thinking, reason itself and all that follows from reason, including science, medicine and technology; but also to the creative modes of thinking I mentioned previously. As such, it is the key to possibility, empowerment, hope and change, and is why we are communicating on computers instead of living in caves or jungles, etc., as our ancestors did tens of thousands of years ago. There, brought it back to computers... BTW, to bring it back even more directly, here's a question for all the computer experts here, related directly to this: What is the real, underlying source of the amazing power or capacity of computers or, more specifically, microprocessors, and which power continues to grow with their increasing speed and memory, etc.? I now asked this of maybe 3 or 4 people who are pretty knowledgeable about computers, even work with them professionally,and surprisingly, so far, none of seemed either to have really thought about this obvious question or have a very good answer (an answer that doesn't, for instance, simply beg the question). One got to the heart of the matter pretty quickly, gently guided by some further questions. All of these people know much more about computers and technology than I do. So I'll ask the wise, knowledgeable folks here - what do you think is the real source of the power of the microprocessor/computer, and thus what is driving all of the technology that stems from this? The hint I'll give is one I already have given; the concept of the question. And in terms of that source of power, what is the real difference between computers and human beings? BTW, if anyone might possibly be interested, the above analysis comes from a theory I've recently developed: "Why Things Are As They Are.....and how they could be otherwise." This, in turn, rests, in part, on a slightly earlier theory: Theory of Thinking, which, in turn is basically an elaboration of the implications of a theory about the roles and relationship between Questions and Answers - with all of this being various elaborations on one simple insight into one simple idea or concept; that of "The Question" and the asking of questions in search of answers. Randall ----- Original Message ----- From: "b_s-wilk" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM> Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 7:21 PM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] [ OT WARNING!!!! > Constance Warner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> escribió: >> >> It's not just health care. >> >> As I see it, the underlying question is: do we, as citizens, want a >> system in which the highest ethical value is making more money, down to >> the last penny, no matter what else is lost in the process? Especially >> when some of the players who are doing the "down to the last penny" >> strategy already have vast resources and don't have to act like >> turn-of-the-century coal barons in order to survive and prosper. Quite >> apart from aesthetics (like, would you rather have a downtown in your >> small town or deserted storefronts and a Wal-Mart on the edge of town), >> there are real drawbacks for everyone in the "down to the last penny" >> strategy... > > > "Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is for everybody, more or > less. Can't do that if lots of people are sick. The rich are better off, > too, when everybody is healthy. Trouble is that too many people--rich, > middle class and poor--are too shortsighted/greedy/ignorant to figure > that out. Thus they don't plan ahead and consider future > consequences--truly "penny-wise and pound-foolish". Google posted Robert > Greenwald's video, Walmart - High Cost of Low Price, > http://snipurl.com/1r6tc. It's a free download. > > Is there a video featuring a better-run company like Costco--not > including 'Idiocracy' or 'Employee of the Month' [although Mike Judge's > Idiocracy was funny]? There are plenty of companies that have management > with consciences, just not Walmart--one of the most expensive places to > shop. > > > ************************************************************************ > * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== > * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== > * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name > * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST > * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L > * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress > * Need more help? 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