This world is not ours

[kandrathe]

Well, and there is still the polarity of extreme that tug at us in our capitalistic democracy. We pay taxes, and much of that is for "our" own good. The defense of all, the education of all, the housing of all, the feeding of all, and for the improvement of the society. One side wants to limit the extent to which the government "augments" the society, whilst the other believes it to be the only fair means. Philosophy does play these mind games of pure communism, altruism, or "pure" ideologies in general, but don't forget that pragmatism, utilitarianism, and objectivism are a part of the craft as well.

I would say that it is only due to the philosopher's (intelligencia) that we do enjoy the freedoms we exercise today. I use the term "philosopher" in the sense of all those mental giants of the past and present upon which we base our current understanding of society in this case. And, yes, there have been the misuses of ism's as well by the powerful to torment, and exterminate millions. I wonder sometimes what Marx, or Lenin would have thought about Joseph Stalin's, or Pol Pot's abuse of power.

But now...

I think. I drink, and drink, and drink, and now I think I stink of drink. :D

And, to jahcs, I wouldn't fret too much about limited tactical nuclear warfare. It is and will probably always be an option of last resort, and for those of us who lived through the MAD days of itchy fingers on the "total world destruction" button, the prospect of our governments risking another round of nuclear escalation is slim.