THOUGHTS ON DEMOCRACY
MY OPINIONSDemocracy is like a new pair of shoes. First of all, you should be from a culture that actually wants shoes. Second, you should put them on and walk around for a while to see how they feel. Shoes should fit. All feet are different. If they fit and feel good, wear them for a while. Hell, keep them, if they give you a lift and make your life better, repair or replace them when they become worn and painful.
But, if your neighbors don't wear shoes, and don't want to wear shoes, for God's sake, don't run around trying to nail them to their feet!
Vaughn Tolle said:
Before posting my thoughts "on topic", Linda, this is for you if you haven't already seen it:
http://tinyurl.com/yvcg46
Verily and forsooth, democracy (not that we, in the U.S. have a "pure democracy") is not well suited to all nations, for a variety of reasons, some of which are cultural. If, as a close acquaintance of mine says, the business of government is to ensure "the trains run on time", democracy is the worst form of government to achieve this goal.
I believe a Republic (OK, a democratic republic) such as our Founders envisioned is overall the best form of government. A pure democracy allows for no protection of the rights of the minority against the tyranny of the majority; thus, if a majority feel that all women should be "barefoot and pregnant", then punishment surely follows for those who are not. (Sorry for the trivial example)
Similarly, should the majority of those in a democracy believe that there should be a state religion, then the religion determined by such majority shall exist to the exclusion of all others.
Tracy's thoughts, however, demonstrate a point well made. Would it be the neo-cons, among others, could grasp it.
http://tinyurl.com/yvcg46
Verily and forsooth, democracy (not that we, in the U.S. have a "pure democracy") is not well suited to all nations, for a variety of reasons, some of which are cultural. If, as a close acquaintance of mine says, the business of government is to ensure "the trains run on time", democracy is the worst form of government to achieve this goal.
I believe a Republic (OK, a democratic republic) such as our Founders envisioned is overall the best form of government. A pure democracy allows for no protection of the rights of the minority against the tyranny of the majority; thus, if a majority feel that all women should be "barefoot and pregnant", then punishment surely follows for those who are not. (Sorry for the trivial example)
Similarly, should the majority of those in a democracy believe that there should be a state religion, then the religion determined by such majority shall exist to the exclusion of all others.
Tracy's thoughts, however, demonstrate a point well made. Would it be the neo-cons, among others, could grasp it.
lindainks55 said:
I smiled at Kevin's comment. Both he and Chad told the Stowers -- of course they would consider moving to Kansas City... Well, they would consider IF (the list is long) there was a guarantee they wouldn't be charged criminally for doing their work, there would be an association forged with a major university whereby there would be talented grad students, post docs... By the way, KU wasn't interested! Long story. Oh, and then there's the tiny consideration of both men having become quite fond of the big city and all it offers over the plains states where they grew up. Suffice it to say they are very grateful for the Stowers millions and continue to seek (and find) additional funding in case Stowers expects them to move once their multi-year contracts expire. Shortly after Missouri passed the law referenced in your article it looked like that would be the expectation and Stowers was planning to build a large expansion to house their own stem cell institute. That has been canceled and the prospects of such research being conducted in our part of the world less likely. When we are finally rid of THIS president we can get back to funding all medical research and have hopes that American scientists are those on the cutting edge.
Here's a project Kevin and Chad worked on together and have recently completed.
http://www.stowersmedicalinstitute.net/whatsnew/20...
Here's a project Kevin and Chad worked on together and have recently completed.
http://www.stowersmedicalinstitute.net/whatsnew/20...
Vaughn Tolle said:
Linda, I'm sure there were some at KU that were interested, but given the political climate here in Kansas, and the anti-cloning statute adopted a few years ago, recognized the futility of even trying to get involved. KU's grad program in the Biological Sciences is undergoing quite a renovation, as I understand it, some of which has been modified given the political certainties of opposition within the legislature. Too bad for both KU and MU, not to mention the Stowers Institute and this part of the country.
BTW, for those with stomachs strong, the postings to the thread involving this matter on WEBlog are, to quote the former SecDef, "remarkable".
BTW, for those with stomachs strong, the postings to the thread involving this matter on WEBlog are, to quote the former SecDef, "remarkable".
lindainks55 said:
I hadn't been there today so didn't know they had a thread on the subject. I tried once or twice in the past to post on the subject. My head doesn't like being pounded against a brick wall. Most people know little more than they wanted to know in order to set their opinion in cement and aren't willing to even acknowledge there might me more to learn. LTPLTL is injecting reason with his posts to the thread. Can we get him over here? Oh well, the cures and treatments will be available to everyone. ;-)
Vaughn, did you know Chad did his undergrad work at KU? I don't think KU knows where he is today as all the mail (mostly requests for contributions) come here to his last address of record. Even the mailings asking for updated info. Guess I could do the update but then I would miss the mail from KU. I also get his official mail from UT Southwestern.
Vaughn, did you know Chad did his undergrad work at KU? I don't think KU knows where he is today as all the mail (mostly requests for contributions) come here to his last address of record. Even the mailings asking for updated info. Guess I could do the update but then I would miss the mail from KU. I also get his official mail from UT Southwestern.
Vaughn Tolle said:
No, Linda, I didn't. Yeah, my mother made me give KU our address once we settled here in Wichita, as she (as an alum) was getting tired of the double "please send money" mail. :-)
My wife and I took advantage when we graduated from undergrad of the best one-time deal the KU Alumni Association has ever offered. A joint life-membership for, as I recall, $100. They obviously began to regret that soon thereafter, and while they are honoring the membership, they want us to "upgrade" from time to time to take advantage of stuff (which, by and large is not useful for us) now offered to Alumni Association members who didn't have the opportunity to take advantage, or who are on the annual membership program, which, I believe, is now a higher fee than what we paid for "life" 35 years ago.
Speaking of Alumni Associations, even though the elder graduated from Carleton College some 5 years ago, we (as her parents) receive the quarterly alumni magazine, as well as some other updates (together, of course, with the fund-raising mail). As parents of a current Colby student, we are similarly favored. The benefit of all this is three (3) alumni magazines to read each quarter together with three (3) calendars annually. I say advantage re: the magazines, because notwithstanding the fact neither of us are alums of the girls' schools, there is always at least one article (often more) of interest generally in both the Carleton and the Colby magazines; the KU magazine, of course, interests us due to the college-related articles.
LTP is most certainly a reasonable poster, and does his best against overwhelming odds to inject some rationality on any number of threads. That's my impression over the past few weeks at least.
My wife and I took advantage when we graduated from undergrad of the best one-time deal the KU Alumni Association has ever offered. A joint life-membership for, as I recall, $100. They obviously began to regret that soon thereafter, and while they are honoring the membership, they want us to "upgrade" from time to time to take advantage of stuff (which, by and large is not useful for us) now offered to Alumni Association members who didn't have the opportunity to take advantage, or who are on the annual membership program, which, I believe, is now a higher fee than what we paid for "life" 35 years ago.
Speaking of Alumni Associations, even though the elder graduated from Carleton College some 5 years ago, we (as her parents) receive the quarterly alumni magazine, as well as some other updates (together, of course, with the fund-raising mail). As parents of a current Colby student, we are similarly favored. The benefit of all this is three (3) alumni magazines to read each quarter together with three (3) calendars annually. I say advantage re: the magazines, because notwithstanding the fact neither of us are alums of the girls' schools, there is always at least one article (often more) of interest generally in both the Carleton and the Colby magazines; the KU magazine, of course, interests us due to the college-related articles.
LTP is most certainly a reasonable poster, and does his best against overwhelming odds to inject some rationality on any number of threads. That's my impression over the past few weeks at least.
lindainks55 said:
OK, I (once again) added a little input at troll central. Not that it will make a hill of beans of difference. Everyone has their mind made up and are convinced they are right. Not for me to pretend I know enough, but I do know I need to keep learning and that new information comes available often so I must continue studying.
Loading....