From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.4 (2020-01-24) on polar.synack.me X-Spam-Level: * X-Spam-Status: No, score=1.4 required=5.0 tests=BAYES_50,INVALID_MSGID autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.4 X-Google-Language: ENGLISH,ASCII-7-bit X-Google-Thread: 10261c,90121986704b5776 X-Google-Attributes: gid10261c,public X-Google-Thread: 1014db,4873305131bf4d94 X-Google-Attributes: gid1014db,public X-Google-Thread: 109fba,4873305131bf4d94 X-Google-Attributes: gid109fba,public X-Google-Thread: 103376,4873305131bf4d94 X-Google-Attributes: gid103376,public X-Google-Thread: 10c950,90121986704b5776 X-Google-Attributes: gid10c950,public X-Google-Thread: fdb77,4873305131bf4d94 X-Google-Attributes: gidfdb77,public From: "Larry Elmore" Subject: Re: Your english sucks, mine is better. Date: 1997/11/29 Message-ID: <65pcjm$g32@netra.montana.edu>#1/1 X-Deja-AN: 293655106 References: <65ab3u$v07$1@news.nyu.edu> <65d5pd$3e@netra.montana.edu> X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.71.1712.3 Organization: montana.edu Newsgroups: comp.lang.ada,comp.lang.c,comp.lang.c++,comp.lang.java.advocacy,comp.lang.pascal.ansi-iso,comp.lang.pascal.misc Date: 1997-11-29T00:00:00+00:00 List-Id: billg@jk.pst.com wrote in message ... >In article <65d5pd$3e@netra.montana.edu>, ljelmore@montana.campus.mci.net >says... >> This is a disturbing world-view, to say the least. It also goes against most >> of my experiences with people and businesses, at least in America. I've had >> personal experience with chronic lying and corruption in one of the Far >> Eastern nations (_not_ Japan or one of the Little Dragons), and IMHO, it's >> one of the most severe problems that keeps that nation mired in poverty. Who >> wants to do business with liars and cheats? The same applies everywhere >> else. A relatively high degree of personal honesty and integrity among the >> general population is necessary for a healthy business climate. A company's >> reputation is probably one of its most prized assets. If you get a >> reputation for screwing over over customers and partners, not many are going >> to deal with you and you'll likely go under. >> >> I have to wonder if billg has read much of what life is/was like in the >> various socialist "workers paradises" that either collapsed economically or >> are desperately trying to convert to capitalism without the ruling class >> giving up any real political power (an impossible task). >> >Larry you sound like one of the "it's either black or white" people. That's because it _is_ either black or white, billg. Gray is nothing more than a mixture of black and white. The shade of gray depends only on the relative proportions of black and white. Any "gray" situation can be, with enough insight and analysis, be reduced to spots of black and white that _appear_ gray from a distance. On virtually any issue where there are two or more sides, one will find both sides to be gray, usually one somewhat darker gray than the other. That is to say, there's both black and white on both sides. I'm not claiming that I can successully separate everything, but in principle it can be done. If you can prove that it can't be done, I'd like to see that. >Capitalism perfects dishonesty and unethical behaviour so that it is easy >to get away with it (unseen, unclear or takes advantage of scale to wrong >many just a little). The devil is in the tactics (the grey areas of >exploitation etc. for example). Part of the thinking is that everybody >is doing it so it is acceptable. It is not. That may be a rude >awakening for some. So how is it any different than French feudalism? Roman imperialism? Russian communism? >Someone illuded to the common practice of a business >strategy that is unethical initially to "get ahead" and then play fair >(or act like it). To me that's a good case for forfeiture similar to >illegal drug operations. > >It's not that capitalism is "bad", it's just that in practice it breeds >wrong doing because it attracts those who are greedy and clever who take >advantage. It's the perfect crime. Unfortunately, it's one against >humanity. Name one system where that isn't equally true. Just name _one_ out of history! In practice, it's human stupidity, ignorance and gullibility that breed wrong doing because it attracts those who are greedy and clever who take advantage... >This way of thinking is met with opposition by many because they have >large investments and stand to lose if the details of their unethical >strategies and tactics (their "capitalist" success formula) become dinner >table talk. It's time to bring the taboo out of the closet. What in the world do you mean by "out of the closet"? This bilge has been circulating for centuries and is no "secret". Wait. "Bilge". That's it! billg = bilge! Oh criminy, this has been one long troll the whole time! Or fortune has smiled upon the rest of us, oh billg, for giving you such an appropriate and revealing username... Larry