Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id DAA04373 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Wed, 27 Feb 2002 03:13:43 GMT X-Originating-IP: [137.110.248.206] From: "Grant Callaghan" <grantc4@hotmail.com> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Subject: Re: Rumsfeld Says He May Drop New Office of Influence Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2002 19:08:20 -0800 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed Message-ID: <LAW2-F32BPdoYV72Q0e000148aa@hotmail.com> X-OriginalArrivalTime: 27 Feb 2002 03:08:21.0163 (UTC) FILETIME=[02F4DFB0:01C1BF3C] Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> > On Tuesday, February 26, 2002, at 01:39 , Lawrence DeBivort wrote:
> >
> > > what we are doing - Afghanistan, "war on terrorism" language,
> > > Ashcroft legal actions, emphasis on hardening US targets rather than
> > > defusing terrorist motivation -- all of this is stupid and
>ineffective.
> >
> > Can you point to an _unstupid_ national policy and actions,
> > anywhere in the world? We all want enlightened leaders, but
> > really, I personally don't know of any government anywhere that
> > is a shining example of non-stupidity.
> >
> > And I'm _not_ trying to wave any flags.
> >
><< People want a saviour, not a fake... people want savour not faith,
>that is my opinion....
>
>Kenneth
>
Stupid and intelligent are relative terms, not absolutes. Any
administration in any government will be relatively more or less stupid or
intelligent than any other. The policy a government turns out is the result
of input by hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals with differing goals
and opinions. The resulting policy will not represent the exact desire of
any of them. After hearing from the Joint chiefs of Staff, the CIA, the
NSA, the president's cabinet and all the congressmen and senators and their
advisors, not to mention lobbyists for all the major businesses and state
agencies, a policy will be put together by a staff and the president will
endorse it. Is it any wonder that what comes out of all that looks more
like a camel than a horse? (From the old saying that a camel is just a
horse designed by a committee.) It's a wonder that modern governments are
able to formulate policy at all, let alone come up with something that makes
sense.
Grant
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