Subject:
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Re: Rückkehr der Raumnazin
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Sat, 24 Dec 2005 16:05:40 GMT
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Viewed:
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2125 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Timothy Gould wrote:
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Actually, I think you’ll find the considered merit of ideas have quite
distinct nationalities. For example most of the developed world considers
the idea of capital punishment abhorrent and barbaric whilst the USA
considers it to be in important part of the justice system. That suggests
to me that the considered merit of the idea is strongly dependant on
nationality.
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I disagree. Your perception that the USA is in any way unified on the topic
of capital punishment is incorrect-- just ask ==>Bruce<== or Dave!
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I never said it was unified, but I believe a majority of USAians support it
(and thus, through democratic process the USA supports it) in principle at
the least and a significantly higher proportion believe in the practise of it
than in any other country. I have read statistics to this effect before and
would argue that in a democratic country the policy of the government will
tend to represent the majority but I’m afraid I can’t find any sources with
real numbers at the moment
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It is currently a state issue, not a federal one. Some states have the death
penalty, some don’t (16 of 50 don’t I believe).
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It’s funny. Ask any American how they feel about capital punishment; I
would guess most people would tend to be against it. Then ask what should
be the fate of
this “man” and they’d probably offer to throw the switch themselves.
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Which is the difference between an ethical response and an emotive response
and not particularly relavent to the discussion.
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I only mention it to illustrate how hard it is to get a response on the death
penalty were one to try and take a poll to get an answer. But there is data
that Americans are turning away from the death penalty (while it’s popularity in
Europe is growing).
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I can think of many similar examples such as the considered merit of
social-democratic economic models (considered highly important by most
Scandinavians) and the importance of privacy (quite different views between
Anglophone nations and European nations for the most part).
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Personally, I’m for what works. Socialism, Communism, Totalitarianism don’t
work. Our system, though far from perfect, is far superior [1] to any
other iteration thus far implimented.
JOHN
[1] In terms of economic power, military power, scientific breakthroughs,
productivity, among others.
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That’s an interesting analysis and doesn’t really argue against what I was
saying (some could tenuously argue it supports my point).
To keep with your off topic argument though: Arguing that socialism doesn’t
work is a patently false argument. For example, the USA has the worlds
least efficient health care service even though it is largely based around
a capitalist system.
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All I hear about is waiting lists for transplants, etc. in countries with
socialized medicine. The rich come here to have their cake and have it
transplanted, too. If we weren’t a safety net for socialist societies’
shortcomings, there would have been hell to pay long ago.
That is not to say that our system is perfect. Far from it. But it is the
best in the world IMO. Bottom line is that I would rather have a doctor operate
on me who has an incentive to do a good job, rather than one who doesn’t.
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Likewise highly socialist Norway is a richer country on
just about any system of measurement than the USA.
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Please. Norway is living in a fantasy world. When their golden goose runs dry
(hmmm, mixed metaphors:-) they are literally going to be in a world of hurt.
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But then, maybe socialism only works in some countries and not others.
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Only those who have unlimited resources at their disposal? And, of course,
customers who are willing to pay $$$ for their golden eggs....
JOHN
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Rückkehr der Raumnazin
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| I think we pretty much agree about the differences in attitude to capital punishment so... --SNIP-- (...) All I hear about the USAs medical system is people dying on the street or in ambulances waiting to find a hospital to save their life. This is (...) (19 years ago, 24-Dec-05, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Rückkehr der Raumnazin
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| (...) I never said it was unified, but I believe a majority of USAians support it (and thus, through democratic process the USA supports it) in principle at the least and a significantly higher proportion believe in the practise of it than in any (...) (19 years ago, 24-Dec-05, to lugnet.off-topic.debate, FTX)
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