Right, I don't want to get too heavy with all this but I feel I should be pointing out, what with the software patent laws being dragged by the neck through Europe at the moment, the words of Adam Smith:
"The proposal of any new law or regulation which comes from [businessmen], ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention. It comes from an order of men, whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it."
Not only does the man invent economics as we know it, but he predicts the big and evil problems that arise as a result. Amazing the way some people only listen to half of what you say. So, as an exercise, combine what you know of corporate lobbying power and media consolidation today with these choice words:
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger of state and corporate power. "
We must assume that Mussolini knew what the hell he was talking about.
Anyway, blah blah blah, bad people are bad and good people are good, we all know which side we are on. Speaking of which, of the many millions of western folk who have watched one or all of the Star Wars movies (it's got to be over half the population of the US and the UK, right?) how many people have thought to themselves "Well, those Storm Troopers may be servants of the Evil Empire but they're politically illiterate and aren't to know the full ramifications of their actions. In their position I'd probably be fighting with the Empire to kill the Rebels too." History suggests that it should be more than half of us, but I doubt it is even 1%; we all think we're f*cking Jedis.
Well that's it for now: communications from one Rebel to another... I hope.
"The proposal of any new law or regulation which comes from [businessmen], ought always to be listened to with great precaution, and ought never to be adopted till after having been long and carefully examined, not only with the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious attention. It comes from an order of men, whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public, who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the public, and who accordingly have, upon many occasions, both deceived and oppressed it."
Not only does the man invent economics as we know it, but he predicts the big and evil problems that arise as a result. Amazing the way some people only listen to half of what you say. So, as an exercise, combine what you know of corporate lobbying power and media consolidation today with these choice words:
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism, since it is the merger of state and corporate power. "
We must assume that Mussolini knew what the hell he was talking about.
Anyway, blah blah blah, bad people are bad and good people are good, we all know which side we are on. Speaking of which, of the many millions of western folk who have watched one or all of the Star Wars movies (it's got to be over half the population of the US and the UK, right?) how many people have thought to themselves "Well, those Storm Troopers may be servants of the Evil Empire but they're politically illiterate and aren't to know the full ramifications of their actions. In their position I'd probably be fighting with the Empire to kill the Rebels too." History suggests that it should be more than half of us, but I doubt it is even 1%; we all think we're f*cking Jedis.
Well that's it for now: communications from one Rebel to another... I hope.
VIEW 8 of 8 COMMENTS
suicidedoggie:
Dude, I miss your journal entries! I really enjoyed meeting you over Easter - thought you were v cool, non-judgemental and all. Look forward to seeing you again. 
stifler:
I can only repeat the previous entries, enjoyed your company Fri night, you and Mrs Leola are a perfect couple! Hope walk home wasn't too bad. Will hook up again soon hopefully.