|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#281
|
|||
|
|||
|
#283
|
|||
|
|||
Leonard Robinson writes:
Re the "Spaceships v. Schools" argument: it has been with us in various guises throughout recorded history. What has happened in New Orleans (and repeated again with Hurricane Rita) will happen again. Part of the problem lies with the political infrastructure. Politicians, concerned only with the next election and their preservation in office, tend to discount what "might" happen as opposed to more immediate concerns. The writer is cognizant of T. A. Heppenheimer's book, "The REAL Futu Tomorrow's Technology Today," written in 1980. Much of his writing is current, although dated only by the calendar: arguments over municipal finance, the issue of global warming, the oil issue, etc. One of Heppenheimer's pet statements is: "To govern is to choose." The cure for municipal ills will not be to whine to Washington, DC, and the Federal Government. The cure must be found at City Hall. To paraphrase Dr. Heppenheimer (PhD, Cal Tech), during the 1960s major cities elected to follow "progressive" social policies in order to buy peace among their minority groups (primarily Black). City governments elected to cave in to minority demands by hiking welfare benefits and expanding greatly their public-assistance rolls, while at the same time giving in to the city unions and hiked pay and benefits far beyond the private sector. To pay for these demands, the City governments slashed budgets for quality education, police & fire protection, and city maintenance & sanitation. The tax-paying middle class revolted by fleeing the inner cities for the suburbs, to which many jobs have relocated, while the liberal welfare benefits attracted freeloaders from out-of-state (and illegal immigration as well). To return to space policy: NASA & private sector industry can go to the Moon & beyond even with New Orleans sinking beneath the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi River. The port facilities of the Crescent City will be rebuilt, with private and public support, for it is in the National interest to do so. But certain wards of the City will have to be sacrificed to Ole Man River because they are below sea level. Ole Man River will have the last word on the Crescent City, no matter what the Mayor might say. The writer is reminded of King Knut (Canute, as Latinized) and the Tides. Knut commanded the Tides to stand still, like Jesus did the storm on the Sea of Galilee. Unlike Jesus, Knut's efforts were for naught. After being drenched with the incoming tide, Knut removed his crown, placing it on the altar of Westminister Abbey and never wore it again. Legend attributes Knut saying, "Lex Dei suprema Lex Rex." ("The Law of God is superior to the Law of the King.") Leonard C Robinson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- |
#284
|
|||
|
|||
Rand Simberg ) wrote:
: On Wed, 21 Sep 2005 18:43:21 +0000 (UTC), in a place far, far away, : (Eric Chomko) made the phosphor on my : monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that: : Rand Simberg ) wrote: : : On Tue, 20 Sep 2005 17:39:25 +0000 (UTC), in a place far, far away, : : (Eric Chomko) made the phosphor on my : : monitor glow in such a way as to indicate that: : : : : The incompetence of the federal response is quite clear, : : : both because the President himself expressed dissatisfaction : : : with it and because the then-head of FEMA is now unemployed. : : : : : The president expressed dissatisfaction with it because it had become : : : politically necessary to do so, regardless of the reality. Brown was : : : canned because he had demonstrated cluelessness, and had lied on his : : : resume. The actual performance of FEMA had little to do with it. : : : : You seem to forget that Bush picked Brown due to his being a Bush cronie. : : The resume' was twisted to allow a Bush friend to get the job, not the : : other way around. : : : I didn't "forget" it, you moron. I didn't mention it because, unlike : : you, I attempt to keep the conversation on topic (the topic being why : : he was fired, not why he was hired). : : He was fired because he was inept. He was hired because he was a Bush : cronie. Your blind defense of Bush is quite clear on this one. : Only to morons who can't read. There is nothing in anything I wrote : above that's a defense of Bush. You, being an imbecile, throw the "moron" label around too freely. Eric |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Sun Apparently Setting On Beautiful New Orleans | nightbat | Misc | 9 | September 3rd 05 11:49 PM |
News Michoud / New Orleans | Justa Lurker | Space Shuttle | 1 | August 28th 05 07:54 PM |
Good News after the Battle | starlord | Amateur Astronomy | 11 | March 9th 05 08:36 PM |
Battle of the Sidewalk ][ | Starlord | Amateur Astronomy | 83 | June 11th 04 03:14 PM |