Humanity lives in a state of perpetual homeostasis. For whatever controls are enacted upon human lifestyles, all humans react to reach equilibrium within their environment.
I'll give you an example. Speed limits. Eons ago the Powers-That-Be(tm) enacted strict speed limits on all American highways. The idea was to slow people down and save lives. The result... no effective net change in traffic fatalities. People compensated for the new safety measure by being less careful about seat belts, following distance, etc. More recently these arbitrary speed limits have been raised or eliminated in most regions. The result... no net change in traffic fatalities. Traffic does move smoother now....
The point being this: arbitrary controls which are contrary to human nature will be obviated by changes in human behaviour.
A better example of this is the sexual repression of the Christian Church(tm). Christian elders have something against sex, sexual pleasure, and human happiness. I really have no idea why since it goes against everything everyone really wants to do. And this creates a problem.
Perhaps the pinnacle of Christian stupidity are the Puritans. They got their asses kicked out of England because nobody there wanted to put up with their shit anymore. The Puritan ideal is still the foundation for all American morals. However, for all their "no sex out of wedlock" bullshit, their own records from the time show how 80% of firstborn children were born to couples married less than 8 months. Things that make you go, hmmmmm..........
So, obviously, the more They(tm) try to control things, the faster things fall apart (yes, I know we all know this already). And so that brings me to wonder just what are They(tm) trying to accomplish with all these controls?
I mean, really. What is the point?
I was pondering this whilst driving in to work this morning. What is it that makes anyone want to "control" other people with thoughts and actions? And more so, why do people get so upset over thoughts? At this point I'm thinking primarily of the evolution/creation "debate" (to use the term loosely), with the Fundies getting all hot and bothered at the mere notion that human beings weren't "poofed" into existence by their dear and fluffy lord.
It all makes me think. Is there a chink in their armor of Faith? Do they really know, deep down inside, that they are dissociating reality with their beliefs? That their violent oppression of everything around them is the only way for that tiny voice inside them to be heard? Is that voice trying to destroy the fabric of oppression so it can be free once more?
I wonder.........
I didn't read this whole post....
...because I couldn't get past your first fallacy. The federal speed limit was enacted to reduce gasoline consumption, not to save lives and reduce traffic fatalities.
How interesting. Oddly, I believe you without bothering to research your allegations (wonderful what a working knowledge of physics can do).
However, it is worth noting that when they were talking about "relaxing" the speed limits most of the opposition focused on the potential cost of human life. Fuel consumption was never mentioned.
Also odd, but totally off-topic (I think), is how the average person in a capitalist society is taught absolutely nothing about economics and the realities of supply & demand....
if everyone understood how supply and demand works in the context of the capitalist system, the system would cease to function.
You make that sound like a bad thing.
I certainly didn't mean to.
Quote from: East Coast Hustleif everyone understood how supply and demand works in the context of the capitalist system, the system would cease to function.
Umm, then explain Economists to me, because I'm missing something here.
Quote from: Zurtok KhanQuote from: East Coast Hustleif everyone understood how supply and demand works in the context of the capitalist system, the system would cease to function.
Umm, then explain Economists to me, because I'm missing something here.
Economists != Everyone
duh.