Talk-Polywell.org

I am still thinking about liberal democracies, wealthy and not that have failed. I'm also thinking about US democracy beset by tendencies away from democracy, e.g. theocracy (religious extremism), marxism (income and wealth disparities continue) and oligarchy (income and wealth disparities formalize...

For a President (G. W. Bush) and administration of a wealthy, liberal democracy that entered office so completely disdainful of nation building, is it counter to Fukuyama's thesis to have been clearly planning to invade Iraq? After all, life was too wonderful to want to invade another country! Shoul...

Perhaps someone in the printing office has a sense of humor or irony?

We only got involved in Mideast nation-building because the consequences of not doing so were beginning to affect us here, and that's proved to be fairly unpopular even despite costs in lives and GDP that are miminal by historical standards. ...Iraq? I'm waiting to read Secretary Rumsfelds autobiog...

Afghanistan isn't unconquerable. Hell, it isn't even especially difficult to conquer... But it is proving especially hard to govern. But what about Fukuyama? Liberal republics/democracies may result from the trends you describe, but I describe only some of the trends that destroy them. If a liberal...

Poster child:

Man who fathered 23 children with 14 women sent to prison after missing more than $500,000 in child support payments

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/ ... ren_w.html

Yes, the top decile of income earners earn a greater proportion of income that they used to,... Yes and over time those who have the greater income become wealthier. The wealth has been accumulating, in some cases, for generations. The question is what do the wealthy do with their wealth. See below...

Betruger wrote:One-sentence gist would do, as food for thought...

Yeah, but that would foreshadowing. Not a good idea in debate.

USA v. Iraq? Much less provocation of the USA, and still my country invaded Iraq (over my strenuous objections). Sorry. I forgot about USA v. Iraq I; that was some provocation! I meant USA v. Iraq II where Saddam Hussein was cornered and could only torment the people of Iraq. At the same time we ar...

As part one of the hypersonic programs (NASP?), someone tried to convince pilots synthetic vision (in lieu of windows) would be sufficient. It was a tough sell. I like these ideas. If we us an automated vehicle, cabins and windows become superfluous. Crewed vehicle: Perhaps the simplest idea: seats ...

Not necessarily. WizWom may have other things to do...I assume all of us do. I invite us to practice patience.

krenshala wrote:The Brick was the F-4.

AKA "America's proof to the world anything can fly if you have enough thrust."

The next and greater proof could be the Bussard-powered SSTO or zero stage.

Yeah, I particularly like how three gears in that arrangement would NEVER move! Doh! I'm just stating the obvious, sorry.

Tom Ligon wrote:Not that a bad reactor accident can't be really bad. Chernobyl was pretty horrific.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1

Have to be careful, though. Look at the bottom of the article for claims of human casualties.

...Because the government has been involved in taking care of the poor, it cannot simply withdraw overnight. We have to find a means by which it can evolve OUT of the business of providing support. Transitions are tricky. What schedule would you suggest? I think there are at least two sides to this...