[Vision2020] Why are Pocatello's on-line respondents so civil?

[Paul Rumelhart]

Alright.  I admit it.  It's me.  I've been dumping low levels of 
anabolic steroids into the water supply for months.  Not enough to turn 
you all into Arnold Schwarzeneggers, but just enough to raise the 
inherent aggressiveness caused by long-term exposure to that particular 
drug.

I thought it would be fun.  I'd just kick back, guzzle Diet Mountain Dew 
out of sealed bottles, and watch the fireworks.  Maybe throw in an 
innocent-sounding post or two that was calculated to push some people's 
buttons.  Nothing too crazy, just something small to, you know, shake 
things up a little bit.  Maybe mention Doug Wilson in an off-hand sort 
of way.  Or global warming.  And it was fun.  For a while.  But then it 
just kept going, and going, and going long after I ran out of 
water-soluble steroid pills.  Apparently, some of the mood swings 
associated with steroids take a long time to dissipate.  Who knew?

Just be glad I didn't go with my first idea.  Yup, that's right.  Viagra.

Paul

nickgier at adelphia.net wrote:
> Greetings:
>
> Since I've started my weekly column in the Idaho State Journal, I've experience a stark difference between on-line comments there and those in the Daily News.  Civility is high and anonymity is low.  Below are the comments to my column on Libertarianism and Christianity.  
>
> What is the difference? More well mannered Mormons?
>
> Nick Gier
>
> Posted by Nick Gier on Idaho State Journal   
> on December 18, 2007, 12:25 am
> I'd like to make one correction. It was Reid Buckley who came to the Borah Symposium at the University of Idaho. James and William were far better men than he.
>
> Reply to this comment
> Posted by c. r. stucki  
> on December 18, 2007, 8:07 am
> Congratulations to Mr. Gier. This piece is the most insightful and most accurate analysis of the current U.S. political landscape it has ever been my pleasure to read. I LOVE the definitions of conservatism, liberalism and libertarianism. Right on the money!
>
> Reply to this comment
> Posted by Steven R. Lawyer, PhD  
> on December 18, 2007, 11:51 am
> Outstanding article, Nick. Thanks for your input on these issues.
>
> steve
>
> Reply to this comment
> Posted by Rick Larsen  
> on December 18, 2007, 4:37 pm
> That was interesting reading, Nick. Thank you for sharing your perspective.
>
> On the Pilgrims failed socialism, you’re right that in a purely free market system they should raise the capital to purchase their land. It appears from extant records, however, that they simply assigned the colonist families the portion they had farmed previously, although collectively, and allowed them to run them as capitalist enterprises.
>
> Apparently not unlike what’s going on in China these days. The original capital for their tremendous manufacturing base there was originated by the state. But as capitalism continues to expand their economy, greater latitude is allowed the respective industries and their managers in operational and financial issues. More capital is being raised by IPOs for startup companies, and even secondary public offerings for existing operations as the success of capitalism in China continues to erode the centralized economic model.
>
> Of greater significance, in my estimation, is what system worked and which failed, rather than where the startup capital came from. And that part of the record is indeed clear.
>
> Reply to this comment
> Posted by c. r. stucki  
> on December 19, 2007, 10:00 am
> Also re the pilgrims farming system, one must remember that unimproved land (meaning ALL land west of where you happened to be) was free for the taking. When land has no monetary value, traditional economic analysis breaks down and becomes meaningless.
>
> Reply to this comment
> Posted by u.b.  
> on December 20, 2007, 5:55 pm
> Thank You!
>
> This is the best, most thought provoking, and most compelling op-ed I have had the pleasure of reading in a VERY long time. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
>
>
>
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