Jeff Lawrence on tue 26 oct 99
Hello Clayart,
What do you do when you think you're engaging in spirited debate and you
find you've hurt someone's feelings? First off, to Janet, I responded in
haste to a perceived attack on what I'm working fairly hard at. If you
weren't attacking, I should certainly not have counterattacked. I sincerely
apologize.
Business has to be about making money, though. Profit is the name of the
game or the entity evaporates. To call a business transaction unfair is to
patronize the folks who thought it was a good deal for them. The hate and
jealousy Nikom describes in the third-world psyche he knows is natural, if
poorly thought out -- anybody who feels lesser will hit back on the sly.
But I see international trade as a benefit to the world despite its selfish
motivation. When individuals in any situation are made aware of larger
possibilities, the chances increase that they can maximize their own
potential. When I hear of the hard bargains Nikom's big corporate partners
drive, it still seems a lot better than the horror of settling things with
guns.
I'd assert that commerce is unquestionably the second most important form
of intercourse available to humankind.
Our planet is still primitive or we wouldn't have the Talibans, the
Milosevics and the Pol Pots really ruining people's lives. Their presence
is the real abomination and not civil transactions between willing
participants, however skewed they are scored by outside observers.
And Nikom doesn't do me enough discredit -- I actually have three ritzy
expensive degrees and contemplate more. And I remain completely unrepentant
for the bad deals Nikom's boss negotiates with his workers and Big American
Business...though he certainly made it sound like my fault!
Best regards from an unmasked capitalist drone,
Jeff
...But doesn't that mean I should have a lot of money?
...And why am I working almost as hard as Janet?
...Does anybody else but Janet think I should run for office?
Jeff Lawrence Sun Dagger Design
jml@sundagger.com Rt. 3 Box 220
www.sundagger.com Espanola, NM 87532
vox 505-753-5913 fax 505-753-8074
Nikom Chimnok on wed 27 oct 99
Of course, Jeff,
You're right: gunship commerce is preferable to outright war. Just
as historically most people have preferred enslavement to instant death. Did
you ever wonder why they call it the Market Force, and not the Market Aid
Program? Could it be because the rules of engagement are made by the people
with the guns?
I think you ought to run for office. I'd like to hear your whole
platform. I'd like to hear you babble on some more about capitalism, you who
live in one of the world's great socialist countries. Here where I live,
they don't pay agriculturists for not growing anything, but I think it's a
fine idea, and our poor farmers would like it a lot. Any chance we could be
the 51st state? Answer correctly and you'll pick up 40 million votes.
Cheers,
Nikom
*************************************************************************
At 11:35 26/10/99 EDT, you wrote:
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hello Clayart,
>Business has to be about making money, though. Profit is the name of the
>game or the entity evaporates. To call a business transaction unfair is to
>patronize the folks who thought it was a good deal for them. The hate and
>jealousy Nikom describes in the third-world psyche he knows is natural, if
>poorly thought out -- anybody who feels lesser will hit back on the sly.
>
>But I see international trade as a benefit to the world despite its selfish
>motivation. When individuals in any situation are made aware of larger
>possibilities, the chances increase that they can maximize their own
>potential. When I hear of the hard bargains Nikom's big corporate partners
>drive, it still seems a lot better than the horror of settling things with
>guns.
>
>I'd assert that commerce is unquestionably the second most important form
>of intercourse available to humankind.
>
>Our planet is still primitive or we wouldn't have the Talibans, the
>Milosevics and the Pol Pots really ruining people's lives. Their presence
>is the real abomination and not civil transactions between willing
>participants, however skewed they are scored by outside observers.
>
>And Nikom doesn't do me enough discredit -- I actually have three ritzy
>expensive degrees and contemplate more. And I remain completely unrepentant
>for the bad deals Nikom's boss negotiates with his workers and Big American
>Business...though he certainly made it sound like my fault!
>
>Best regards from an unmasked capitalist drone,
>
>Jeff
>
>...But doesn't that mean I should have a lot of money?
>...And why am I working almost as hard as Janet?
>...Does anybody else but Janet think I should run for office?
>Jeff Lawrence Sun Dagger Design
>jml@sundagger.com Rt. 3 Box 220
>www.sundagger.com Espanola, NM 87532
>vox 505-753-5913 fax 505-753-8074
>
>
Janet Kaiser on wed 27 oct 99
Jeff,
Apology accepted. The timely reposting of the "Rules" which state:
"Appropriate postings may include such topics as:
* aesthetic issues
* technical problems and solutions
* exhibition opportunities
* workshops/seminars
* conference information
* job announcements
* grant information
* book, video & exhibition reviews"
but do not include ethics, preclude me continuing this "spirited debate".
Janet Kaiser
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Hello Clayart,
What do you do when you think you're engaging in spirited debate and you
find you've hurt someone's feelings? First off, to Janet, I responded in
haste to a perceived attack on what I'm working fairly hard at. If you
weren't attacking, I should certainly not have counterattacked. I sincerely
apologize.
| |
|
