: : Don: When you don't have an argument, generalize! : Qx: Which you've done quite well with your pronouncements on Grenada and Central America.
Don: In fact, I've used some very specific arguments: that Granada was used by the communists to train terrorists who then spread violence throughout Central America; that the mass graves of some of the victims of the Sandistas were found in 1990; that the Marxist terrorists in El Salvador threatened people to keep them from voting in the election; and that the Marxist terrorists lied about the source of at least some of their weapons (proven by the serial numbers). I remember all these things from when they happened.
: DS: I'm fully aware that reason can't solve all of our problems. It does work well for specific problems, say getting men to the moon,
: Qx: Yes, that dumb prestige project.
Don: Or designing an airliner. Perhaps you should shop around for an airliner that was designed *without* reason.
: DS: or increasing the productivity of a farm,
: Qx: Monsanto and other multinationals generally like that idea also.
Don: So do all the people modern US farms feed worldwide.
: DS: or improving the quality of medical care.
: Qx: How about those HMOs eh?
Don: HMOs resulted from government programs to pay for medical care. It is indeed a failure, the type of failure typical when governments try to plan and regulate industry. It is fact a good example the the consequences of applying centralized planning.
Don: Modern medicine nevertheless is very good--because reason was used to improve medical care.
: Don: Maxism is based upon reason. Poorly thought out and flawed reason, but reason nontheless.
: Qx: Please tell us about this "Maxism". I would love to read your take on this issue.
Don: Sorry to confuse you--I meant Marxism. I should have been more careful, since it's clear you have trouble with ideas even when they are spelled out for you.