🚀 go-pugleaf

Gumby wrote:
> 
> Adrian Burd <adrian@calanus.tamu.edu> writes...
> 
> >Unfortunately, not everyone is similarly
> >endowed with such a social conscience.
> 
> But do you restrict 50% of society to protect the other 50%?
> Would you restrict 1%?
> Would you restrict 99%?

Good point, and this is why there is some semblance of a democratic
system in this country. Take as an example the recent push to cut back
on enforcement of environmental legislation. Rightly or wrongly, it has
been perceived by people that the enforcement of these regulations has
gone too far. A new Congress was elected who reflected that view and 
started to roll-back those laws. According to the polls (not a
particularly reliable source, but it's the only one there is), many
people think the GOP has gone too far the other way, so the GOP has
stepped back somewhat from their previous postions. I don't expect some
mage to miraculously come up with the right mixture straight away, nor
do I expect it to always remain constant. It is an evolving process. IF
there was sufficient outcry about the terrible imposition of speed
limits or income taxes then they would be changed since the politicians
would lose votes if some action was not taken. I am not, nor have I ever
implied, that the system is perfect, but as far as I can see it is a
pretty good one given all the possibilities and the fact that the
society we live in today is radically different from that 250 years ago. 
As another example, consider the attempt by Margret Thatcher to impose a
Poll Tax to replace the outdated "rates" system. The outcry from the
citizens of the UK not only reversed the decision but also helped to
remove Thatcher from government.

-- 
____________________________________________________________________________
                             | 
Adrian Burd,                 | Quidquid Latinae dictum sit,
Dpt. of Oceanography,        | altum videtur.
Texas A&M University,        | 
College Station ,            | 
Texas 77843                  |
                             |
_____________________________|______________________________________________

Disclaimer: I am not the official spokesperson for anyone, for which 
            organisations that use spokespersons are profoundly
            grateful.

____________________________________________________________________________