tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30898556.post7730736622078787893..comments2023-04-20T11:58:31.493-04:00Comments on LOUD!: "I don't care how 'dope' his ride is!"Loudhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14298648959818424684noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30898556.post-7964785853938128422006-12-19T23:17:00.000-05:002006-12-19T23:17:00.000-05:00You are entirely correct that parasitic industries...You are entirely correct that parasitic industries cannot be allowed to continue. For the moment (and I see that you acknowledge this), however, the best option is to mazimize the control of the weak in such dealings. That means giving them protection under the law, at the very least. Like the safe injection sites in Vancouver, it would be a stopgap measure. Better that prostitutes not be murdered, and drug addicts not contract AIDS, than the unfortunate alternatives. The underlying societal problems will only be tacked in the long run, but we can start saving lives now.<br /><br />As for Machiavelli, I find The Prince to be a pleasure to read, and I admire his frankness. My point was that Stephane Dion is following a course he believes is necessary to gain support. If the Afghanistan mission was supported by more Canadians, and yet equally mismanaged, he would be fully in favour, I believe.<br /><br />My (Very Fine) hat is off to you for your excellent responseLoudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14298648959818424684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30898556.post-70385985562334445052006-12-19T21:09:00.000-05:002006-12-19T21:09:00.000-05:00I have a very long response to this. w00t, long re...I have a very long response to this. w00t, long response.<br /><br />As always, good work, what with the being insightful and interesting. Many kudos.<br /><br />I have to disagree with you on the point of prostitution; I feel that yes, as our society stands now, legalization of prostitution is the most expedient course of action. It would help, yes.<br /><br />Not enough, though. And it would make further action that much more difficult. Half-measures, once put in place, have a way of being seen as all that is needed.<br /><br />Rather, we need to address those conditions which make prostitution part of our culture: the objectification of women, the rampant poverty, the driving demand by the disenfranchised for gratification of an animal urge. The sex trade, and for that matter the drugs trade and the black market organs trade, all multi-trillion dollar industries world-wide, are parasitic, feeding off the bodies of people too desperate to help themselves, for the gratification of people too lost to see otherwise. How can you not despise a trade which cannibalizes the weak, turning them into the chattel of the bored and depressed and sociopathic among the strong?<br /><br />No, we cannot simply ban the trade, as we are doing now; we have definitive proof that our current measures are inadequate. But legalization would make these parasitic, cannibalistic industries legitimate. There is, as you say, blood on our hands. Are we alright with that?<br /><br />I have to agree with you on the issue of the church. I admire the people who can dedicate their lives to it, I believe its messages of peace and kindness are badly needed in a troubled world, but I fail to see the necessity of having such messages relayed by the same organization that spouts dogma of hatred and prejudice. Those, after all, are exactly the opposite of what the world needs.<br /><br />Just a quick point on Stephane Dion: Personally, I don't believe he would be willing to sign up Canadians to face certain death for a marginal poll increase. I have slightly more faith than that. What does incense me, however, is the perfect ease with he suggests consigning millions upon millions of innocent Afghanis to a life of poverty and oporession in exchange for a few poll points.<br /><br />There's a mess. We're part of it. And we're the ones who have to fix it.<br /><br />Also, despite the book's bad rep, I would be perfectly happy to live under a ruler who followed Machiavelli's version of politics. It's mostly just common sense, and nowhere near as nasty as people think. Machiavelli was, at heart, a pragmatist, one who understood that deception and evil for the sake of deception and evil would do far more damage to a ruler than anything else.<br /><br />Besides, a Machiavellian might be getting something done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com