Comments on: Causes of Concern http://enthusiasm.cozy.org/archives/2006/10/causes-of-concern Ben Hyde Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:10:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jane Hyde http://enthusiasm.cozy.org/archives/2006/10/causes-of-concern/comment-page-1#comment-860 Jane Hyde Sun, 05 Nov 2006 16:41:52 +0000 http://enthusiasm.cozy.org/archives/2006/10/causes-of-concern/#comment-860 I recently agreed to undergo a survey by an earnest NC college undergraduate, and among my answers offered that terrorism did not especially worry me. Well, of course I thought later, yes, I've been aware for several YEARS now that terrorism was the most likely next threat to Civilization As We Know It, but still, it's not one of my daily worries. And I agree with Zack that I fear Bush and his neocons much more than I fear terrorists. I recently agreed to undergo a survey by an earnest NC college undergraduate, and among my answers offered that terrorism did not especially worry me. Well, of course I thought later, yes, I’ve been aware for several YEARS now that terrorism was the most likely next threat to Civilization As We Know It, but still, it’s not one of my daily worries. And I agree with Zack that I fear Bush and his neocons much more than I fear terrorists.

]]> By: Zack Hyde http://enthusiasm.cozy.org/archives/2006/10/causes-of-concern/comment-page-1#comment-859 Zack Hyde Thu, 05 Oct 2006 06:27:14 +0000 http://enthusiasm.cozy.org/archives/2006/10/causes-of-concern/#comment-859 A couple of points, Ben: You say, "Why exactly do we fear terrorists more than this?" I would ask you and all your readers to ask yourselves a question. Before I write the question, do me a favor. Clear your head of all knee-jerk possible reactions. Read the question and actually think about it. Let's see if we can understand and get in touch with what we actually feel. Here's the question. Do you actually fear terrorists? Me? No. I look deep within myself. I think about my daily walk to work. I consider those things that I actually believe might threaten me at some point (I come up with: old age; my own bad habits; drunk drivers; the federal government). But in no way whatsoever do I feel terror, or fear, or even apprehension about terrorists. I take public transportation. I cross bridges. I even fly places occaisionally. I just don't actually feel fear of terrorists. Good thing I don't heed the flame-fanning of the gummint, eh? I just think that's interesting. I mean, isnt' the whole point of terrorism to invoke <i>terror</i> on your victims? If that's the definition, then Bush and the military are the terrorists. Also, I don't think Rice did nothing. I think she requested that the same briefing be given to Ashcroft and Rumsfeld. But check me on that. I'm pretty sure the same briefing was given to the two of them, a week or so later. Lastly, just as a thought experiment--consider it an excersize in game theory--would it really be best, for the long term, if the Republicans were shown the door in November? Whoever wins that election is being handed a "damned if you do" global and domestic situation, and, they will be hobbled by the White House. What if there was a slim Republican majority after Nov.? All the embarassing and colossal failures that the nation is sure to see in upcoming years would then be hung more directly on the Republicans. (Do I daresay that perhaps we even need a Republican internal split, in which the moderates distance themselves from the neocons, and give us dyed-in-wool lefties a version of the Republican party that we can stomach?) Of course, in 2004 I thought it might be a good thing if G.W. Boosh won again, because I thought for sure he would bungle things so fantastically that everyone would have to backlash against him. Interestingly, he has bungled things worse than I could have imagined. But some people out there still support him. I hate to say this, but part of me thinks 4 more years ('08-'12) of Republican president might push things so far that we get the backlash we really need. But I don't really believe that. I'm just not so sure that a Dem win in November is either likely or the best possible long-term strategy. A couple of points, Ben:

You say, “Why exactly do we fear terrorists more than this?” I would ask you and all your readers to ask yourselves a question. Before I write the question, do me a favor. Clear your head of all knee-jerk possible reactions. Read the question and actually think about it. Let’s see if we can understand and get in touch with what we actually feel. Here’s the question. Do you actually fear terrorists?

Me? No. I look deep within myself. I think about my daily walk to work. I consider those things that I actually believe might threaten me at some point (I come up with: old age; my own bad habits; drunk drivers; the federal government). But in no way whatsoever do I feel terror, or fear, or even apprehension about terrorists. I take public transportation. I cross bridges. I even fly places occaisionally. I just don’t actually feel fear of terrorists. Good thing I don’t heed the flame-fanning of the gummint, eh?

I just think that’s interesting. I mean, isnt’ the whole point of terrorism to invoke terror on your victims? If that’s the definition, then Bush and the military are the terrorists.

Also, I don’t think Rice did nothing. I think she requested that the same briefing be given to Ashcroft and Rumsfeld. But check me on that. I’m pretty sure the same briefing was given to the two of them, a week or so later.

Lastly, just as a thought experiment–consider it an excersize in game theory–would it really be best, for the long term, if the Republicans were shown the door in November? Whoever wins that election is being handed a “damned if you do” global and domestic situation, and, they will be hobbled by the White House. What if there was a slim Republican majority after Nov.? All the embarassing and colossal failures that the nation is sure to see in upcoming years would then be hung more directly on the Republicans. (Do I daresay that perhaps we even need a Republican internal split, in which the moderates distance themselves from the neocons, and give us dyed-in-wool lefties a version of the Republican party that we can stomach?)

Of course, in 2004 I thought it might be a good thing if G.W. Boosh won again, because I thought for sure he would bungle things so fantastically that everyone would have to backlash against him. Interestingly, he has bungled things worse than I could have imagined. But some people out there still support him. I hate to say this, but part of me thinks 4 more years (‘08-’12) of Republican president might push things so far that we get the backlash we really need. But I don’t really believe that. I’m just not so sure that a Dem win in November is either likely or the best possible long-term strategy.

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