MESSAGE
| DATE | 2003-09-02 |
| FROM | Steve Milo
|
| SUBJECT | Re: [hangout] Interesting article on Valenti in this months Business2.0.
|
On Tue, 2 Sep 2003, Joe Grastara wrote:
>
>
> --On Friday, August 29, 2003 6:24 PM -0400 Steve Milo
> wrote:
>
> >
> > The article is titled Who Speaks for Tech.
> >
> > Valenti is quoted as saying: "No Kingdom, no empire, no monarchy, no
> > republic will endure unless its citizens are under a canopy of a sturdy
> > moral compact -- and history is replete with the dry bleached bones of
> > prior enterprises that have neglected that lesson".
> >
> > First, I thought this country was a democracy? Or am I wrong?
>
> You are wrong. The U.S. Government on some level a Republic with some
> democratically elected public representation. These days we are in fact
> more like an empire.
No I'm not and you just proved so yourself that on some level we are still
a democracy. Unlike plenty of wanna be empires that were not democratic
on any level.
History is replete with governments that failed because of the chokehold
self-interested parties had on it. Even communist russia is an example of
how it was manipulated by selfinterested parties. Everyone in that
system wanted a piece of that action so much that it stifled innovation.
Or atleast the proliferation of it.
In the 60's they laughed at the US for attempting to create what we today call the
internet. Shit, they even lauged at the US for trying to put men on the
moon and bringing them back. But its obvious who won in the end.
> >
> > Second, the first three examples do not belong in the same league as the
> > last one he cited.
>
> Nearly all governments responsible for a sufficiently large amount of
> people end up converging in their appearance over time.
Yes, but a monarchy is not a republic.
> >
> > Third, there is a reason those three examples he used have not
> > survived to this day.
> > Because they all were designed to keep the citizens under the
> > thumb of a single ruler that was chosen arbitrarily.
>
> Rulers were never and are not chosen arbitrarily.
Youre right, even communist russia had a system for choosing their
leaders. But it wasnt by, for or with the people.
Atleast this country still promises a voice for its citizens.
Too bad many citizens surrender that right for complacency or are worse
still silenced by cynics.
> > Those systems were designed to keep the citizens ignorant, ill and
> > dependant on a welfare system that was distributed as deemed fit by the
> > ruler. Not unlike socialism/communism.
> > Or am I wrong?
>
> You are wrong. Don't be so idealistic. Take a look at what is happening
> in this country.
Right, atleast there is some sembelence of information exchange in this
country as opposed to other countries that hold information
completely ransom.
Even in current day russia people who aspire to more than is allowed to
them are 'silenced'.
Perhaps I should keep my mouth shut if I ever want to get anywhere in this
world.
> >
> > Is it my imagination or is Valenti a seriously mentally disturbed
> > indiviudual?
>
> It's your imagination.
I was probably a little harsh on him, he does have a right to
voice his opinion on important matters. Actually I was probably
completely wrong about him. If he was able to make the kind of headway he
has in Congress I shouldnt have any doubt he is a very intelligent man.
Steve M
> >
> >
> > ____________________________
> > NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
> > Fair Use -
> > because it's either fair use or useless....
> > NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
>
>
>
> Joe Grastara
> Systems Administrator
> NYU School of Medicine
>
____________________________
NYLXS: New Yorker Free Software Users Scene
Fair Use -
because it's either fair use or useless....
NYLXS is a trademark of NYLXS, Inc
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