Re: [twuug] Space Shuttle Columbia blows up on reentry!

[Charles Shannon Hendrix <shannon@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Sun, Feb 02, 2003 at 01:36:33AM -0500, Ethan O'Toole wrote:

> > Actually national defense and protection of our rights are what our
> > government is based on, but is currently failing at miserably. If
> > government would focus on its core competentcies instead of shooting
> > people to Mars and back we would be a lot safer today.
> 
> How do you figure? What, if they dump millions of bucks into creating
> stupid departments filled with slobbonous meat in front of computers it
> will solve the fact there are sick/brave people out there that are willing
> to die for whatever cause they believe in? Anybody that is nuts enough can
> terrorize the people. It obviously works.

Amen!  You hit the nail right on the head.  

Terrorism is mainly rewarding because there has been no retribution
against those who do it, and also because it's all too easy to do.
It's a cowards fight.

In fact, the only reason we don't suffer from it more is because the
terrorists have so far proven to be rather incompetent.

> Sort of, but most of that is gang versus gang crime. It is only when an
> innocent bystander is shot that it becomes a big issue. If the people would
> learn to hold the gun properly, it would be a start. 

Well, it costs us all al ot of money, and we end up basically zoning
off areas of no-man's land, which isn't a long-term solution.

> > and Oh Yeah, give us more cute governmet programs like welfare,
> 
> Probably gets more money than NASA!

Welfare is our largest expense.  People think it is defense, but that's
not true.  Welfare is more than just the dollar cost because each dollar
spend is also lost in several other ways.  It's a horrible trap for both
giver and taker.

> More important than the flag, is the question of the laser reflectors. If
> I scored a 20 watt YAG operating at 523nm and got the beam colimated
[snip]

Excellent deflection man, on both counts!  :)


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