setliff@ficc.uu.net (james setliff) (01/14/89)
I've been puzzled by some of Barry's mudslinging at Jeff Daiell, and would like to make some comments. Keep in mind, please, that I am *not* a libertarian! -- so this is not a case of my ideological ox being gored. (1) Illiteracy. I know for a fact that Jeff has been published in a pretty wide array of periodicals. Calling him illiterate gets much more mud on Barry than on Jeff. (2) Irrelevance. Uncle Sam subsidizes the nuclear power industry, and protects it against potential financial collapse via the Price-Anderson Act, which limits a utility company's liability in case of calamity. This might be good or bad -- but can anyone dispute that the industry is different than it would be otherwise -- and that therefore, the question of whether Washington should be taking such steps is indeed relevant? In fact, one might argue that the discussion has not gone far enough: besides just asking about the future of a computer *network*, what about the different paths computer *technology* might take, depending on whether the industry is regulated and to what extent? Can anyone, regardless of whether s/he is pro-regulation or anti-regulation, deny that automobile technology is different today than it would have been had Congress not intervened in certain matters several years ago? For instance, let's say Congress banned imports of computer hardware and software. Wouldn't that reduction in competition perhaps slow innovation among U. S. companies? That's certainly a TECHNICAL matter. And wouldn't it raise the prices of such material, perhaps taking it out of the range of some persons? That would be a *social* consequence -- and the middle name of this group is, indeed, "society". Again, you might think these results good, or you might think them bad ... but irrelevant? No way. (3) I'm also surprised that Barry singled Jeff out, when Jeff didn't start the discussion in the first place. And that his attacks on Jeff have been so harsh. I see some possibilities here: (a) That, rather than being ideological, Barry has something against Jeff personally. Jeff, did you steal Barry's girlfriend at some point in the past? If so, tell me, and I'll *never* let you talk with my wife! (Jeff agrees with me that Peggy is both pretty and sweet, so Barry, warn me *now*, please, if I need to worry!) (b) Or are you just hostile toward libertarians, so much that you assign that term to anyone you disagree with, like the rightwingers called everyone else Communists in the 50s and early 60s, and the leftwingers called everyone else Fascists in the late 60s and early 70s? And if so, why? While I don't subscribe to the libertarian philosophy, they're certainly not hostile to "truth, justice, and the American way". Or is *that* why you -- no, no, musn't think that way! So: is it, (i) When you were a [chronological] baby, you had a nurse who was a libertarian, and she accidentally dropped you on your head, and you've been angry at them all ever since? (ii) Some of your income derives from some level of government, and you're afraid the libertarians will cut you off from the trough? Regardless of the reason, I think Barry's bayings against Jeff have been both off-target and excessively feral. After all, Jeff hasn't been burying Barry with his puns the way he inundates his co-workers with them --- and for *that*, Barry, you should be thrilled, rather than upset (believe me, I KNOW!!). James Setliff