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Tom D Ford's comments:
on Playing God?
The constant demand for economic growth built the dams that killed off the 300 million fish Columbia River salmon runs, which led to the problems of seals competing with the commercial and sport fishermen for the few fish left in the river.
The constant demand for economic growth led to the clearcutting of the old growth forests that led to the problems with the spotted owls and the consequent barred owl problems.
The constant demand for economic growth led to the massive burning of fossil fuels in the form of Oil and Coal which led to the global warming crisis.
The constant demand for economic growth led to (fill in your own favorite animal extinction problem here and there are myriad to chose from).
The constant demand for economic growth led to the clearcutting of the old growth forests that led to the problems with the spotted owls and the consequent barred owl problems.
The constant demand for economic growth led to the massive burning of fossil fuels in the form of Oil and Coal which led to the global warming crisis.
The constant demand for economic growth led to (fill in your own favorite animal extinction problem here and there are myriad to chose from).
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Playing God?
Who eats seals? Inuits.
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Playing God?
I?ve come to think that one useful way of looking at it is to view the earth as a science laboratory that is billions of years old and has done billions of experiments to find out what works with what and very importantly, what did not work out.
Before humans do something to modify the dynamically stable balance of nature we ought to just sit back and take a long studious look at what nature has worked out before we came along and see if we can learn to get along with nature instead of trying to dominate it into something that in the longer run will kill us all.
Nature ought to be seen as a vast scientific library to be learned from, intead of as an earth to be beaten into submission and dominated.
Like somebody said ?Remember, nature bats last!?
Before humans do something to modify the dynamically stable balance of nature we ought to just sit back and take a long studious look at what nature has worked out before we came along and see if we can learn to get along with nature instead of trying to dominate it into something that in the longer run will kill us all.
Nature ought to be seen as a vast scientific library to be learned from, intead of as an earth to be beaten into submission and dominated.
Like somebody said ?Remember, nature bats last!?
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Playing God?
"And why are we -- humans -- in the position of being the arbiters?"
I suggest that a large part of the problem comes from the Abraham religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) orders from "God" to dominate the earth and to be fruitful and multiply.
So the title for today is ironically perfect.
Last Sundays Oregonian had a very good article on the Opinion page, "Treading On A Taboo" by Jack Hart, about the problems caused by uncontrolled human population growth and virtually ignored.
In my opinion, the constant demand for economic growth is really the equivalent of cheering on an out of control malignant cancer growing in a human body; both will kill their host.
"... explore, broadly, how our thinking has evolved in the legal, ethical and practical realms of animal management."
I suggest reframing the question to "How will we manage the human animals that are the root cause of the problems" to more properly address the subject. In engineering they teach that when you define the problem you define the solution, so defining the problem is really the hard part.
I suggest that a large part of the problem comes from the Abraham religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) orders from "God" to dominate the earth and to be fruitful and multiply.
So the title for today is ironically perfect.
Last Sundays Oregonian had a very good article on the Opinion page, "Treading On A Taboo" by Jack Hart, about the problems caused by uncontrolled human population growth and virtually ignored.
In my opinion, the constant demand for economic growth is really the equivalent of cheering on an out of control malignant cancer growing in a human body; both will kill their host.
"... explore, broadly, how our thinking has evolved in the legal, ethical and practical realms of animal management."
I suggest reframing the question to "How will we manage the human animals that are the root cause of the problems" to more properly address the subject. In engineering they teach that when you define the problem you define the solution, so defining the problem is really the hard part.
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Contracting Iraq
KBR! I'll be darned, Cheney is still on their payroll. You don't think, ... nah, he's an upright moral Christian, isn't he?
Isn't he?
Ha ha ha! Murder for hire, with a get out of jail free card.
Sheesh.
Isn't he?
Ha ha ha! Murder for hire, with a get out of jail free card.
Sheesh.
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Contracting Iraq
What difference is there between the way the contractors treat Iraqis and the way Saddam Hussein treated them?
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Contracting Iraq
L Paul Bremer III was an employee of Kissinger Associates. Remember Henry Kissinger? He and Nixon assassinated Salvador Allende and then overthrew and destroyed the Chilean democracy. Kissinger is a genuine Internationally wanted War Criminal who has very limited travel opportunities because he might be apprehended.
Does that help answer your questions?
Does that help answer your questions?
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Contracting Iraq
Let's note that the contractors fit the Bush/Cheney definition of Enemy Combatants. They wear the uniform of no recognized nation, they swear no allegiance to any nation, they fit the definition of unaligned terrorists, etc.
These private corporate armies are the worst idea since Pinkertons and that ilk.
Military forces ought to be under the tight control of recognized governments and accountable to the world legally for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity and these private Conservative Republican Armies are none of the above.
Consider what will happen when they return to their country of origin, trained and experienced in lawlessness, random murders, intimidation, and who knows what else? Do you want that in your country?
A bad idea gone wild!
These private corporate armies are the worst idea since Pinkertons and that ilk.
Military forces ought to be under the tight control of recognized governments and accountable to the world legally for War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity and these private Conservative Republican Armies are none of the above.
Consider what will happen when they return to their country of origin, trained and experienced in lawlessness, random murders, intimidation, and who knows what else? Do you want that in your country?
A bad idea gone wild!
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Saturday Night's Alright (for fighting radio)
"And no, I do not think his sentiment is accurate about what men were created to do... must be a different religion than any I'm really familiar with (is he perhaps a devotee of Mars or one of the old Norse Entities?)."
American Conservatives supported Adolf Hitler in the 1930s. Bushs grandfather financed him, Lindbergh, Henry Ford, and more supported him. As I understand it the Nazi belt buckles read "Got Mit Uns", God is with us. Not much has changed has it?
American Conservatives supported Adolf Hitler in the 1930s. Bushs grandfather financed him, Lindbergh, Henry Ford, and more supported him. As I understand it the Nazi belt buckles read "Got Mit Uns", God is with us. Not much has changed has it?
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
Your reply does not make sense. Please rethink and clarify.
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
How many workers get injured and don't get the proper medical care because the employer does not have the required insurance and/or knows full well that the employee is illegal and won't complain?
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
At least if they're going to bring in foreign workers they should have to do it legally as in something like the WW2 Bracero program. I'm against even that but at least then the workers would have some legal protections.
I hate the idea of treating any workers like cheap disposable throwaways without dignity and human rights.
I hate the idea of treating any workers like cheap disposable throwaways without dignity and human rights.
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
Do the employers have the state required workers rights posters in their car or truck and easily accessible to the new hire? Do the employers provide the state required breaks every so many hours, including a half hour lunch? Do the employers provide the state required water and hygiene facilities?
Do the employers have the state required MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) sheets for every chemical used or available at the job site?
Do the employers post the State required drawing of the nearest hospital route and the phone number?
Do the employers provide the State required safety equipment and training?
Is there a person on the job site at all times with the State required First Aid and CPR training?
Do the employers have the state required MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) sheets for every chemical used or available at the job site?
Do the employers post the State required drawing of the nearest hospital route and the phone number?
Do the employers provide the State required safety equipment and training?
Is there a person on the job site at all times with the State required First Aid and CPR training?
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
Do the employers have the state required workers rights posters in their car or truck and easily accessible to the new hire? Do the employers provide the state required breaks every so many hours, including a half hour lunch? Do the employers provide the state required water and hygiene facilities?
Do the employers have the state required MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) sheets for every chemical used or available at the job site?
Do the employers post the State required drawing of the nearest hospital route and the phone number?
Do the employers provide the State required safety equipment and training?
Is there a person on the job site at all times with the State required First Aid and CPR training?
Do the employers have the state required MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) sheets for every chemical used or available at the job site?
Do the employers post the State required drawing of the nearest hospital route and the phone number?
Do the employers provide the State required safety equipment and training?
Is there a person on the job site at all times with the State required First Aid and CPR training?
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
Yeppers!
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
It is the City and the employers who are robbing the fed of the required taxes and social security witholdings, they are robbing the American people!
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
Workers have worked long and hard to acquire and protect workers rights in America, those laws are there for damn good reasons.
Cheap-Labor Conservatives are always working to undermine workers rights and this day labor center is just another such attack.
It's workers I defend.
And I have worked with properly papered and hired latino temp workers and I admire them, so your "xenophobia and perhaps bigotry" argument doesn't wash.
Cheap-Labor Conservatives are always working to undermine workers rights and this day labor center is just another such attack.
It's workers I defend.
And I have worked with properly papered and hired latino temp workers and I admire them, so your "xenophobia and perhaps bigotry" argument doesn't wash.
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
It does not matter how hard it is, the law requires it. And temp agencies comply all the time, so your argument does not hold water.
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
If a farmer can't find legal workers and pay them enough to harvest his crops he should not grow those crops. That's the real law of supply and demand. If people are not willing to pay the true cost of food then that food should not be grown.
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
on Just a Day Job
Is Portland checking that the employers have their State or city required contractor or business license, their required insurance, and their state required schooling to obtain their license?
Are the employers required to fill out the required paperwork for taxes and social security for their newly hired employee and pay those required witholdings? Does anyone make sure that the employer pay those required witholdings to the Federal government or State of Oregon? If the employers are not paying those witholdings they are committing crimes. Is Portland enabling criminal behaviors by the employers?
Are the employers required to fill out the required paperwork for taxes and social security for their newly hired employee and pay those required witholdings? Does anyone make sure that the employer pay those required witholdings to the Federal government or State of Oregon? If the employers are not paying those witholdings they are committing crimes. Is Portland enabling criminal behaviors by the employers?
posted 4 years, 11 months ago
view in context
