Yeah fair enough, I wouldn't lose sleep over Disney either. Though this doesn't then legitimate the piracy of all artwork. Remember that for many artists, the people enjoying, but not paying for, their work will be better off than them.

And you wrongly are implying that therefore piracy of material is acceptable. If an artist, for whatever reason, decides to make money from selling copies of their work - then you, if you enjoy that work, have an obligation to help support them. That is the social contract you enter into when you gain the benefits of someone else's time.

For the record, this is only true if your politicians don't lie to you...

Those measurements are HIS random numbers. ;) ps: IANAC

The above post provides a really clear picture of the problem: that rational, decent people are still short sighted enough so that if left alone they will lead the world to ruin

Man - I feel so bad for you guys, that is really hard. I think the free market supporters should look outside their country and see what other people are doing. Think of Australia as being half between you guys and some government run Scandinavian country. We pay higher taxes, but our education is much cheaper - many students work to help pay their way through uni, but they don't work as hard as you poor bastards. I look at the quality of life here, job oppotunities, tax payer funded Heath care, longer life expectancies - and I suspect it is government policies, such as higher taxes and stronger regulation. I really respect the Americian ethos of independence and hard work, but my guess is that your free market policies are making things harder than they need be.

Actually - sorry about my previous post, it's not going to help the situation. I think I was surprised by the ferocity of the posts on this topic.

Optimism - I think I can see foam at the corners of your mouth... Shame the mods couldn't keep you on a tighter leash.

I don't know the etiquette for reposting ideas, but we need a "National Record the Police in Public Day". If nothing else, this would force the issue to be dealt with. Anyone interested should contact this guy.

We need a "National Record the Police in Public Day". I think that a public event like this would enforce the point far more strongly that the police losing an occasional lawsuit.

If they don't sooner or later the public will get organised and there will be "National Record Cops in Public Day" where everyone records the police so that they get the idea. Nothing like safety in numbers.

Could this is an example of the anti-intellectualism Sanger was talking about? Although it *may* have been true in your instance, it sums up many of his themes: that you believe that knowledge is just a social construct, and that a professors assessment of your premises has no more weight than your own, that he is not an expert with a deeper understanding of the subject than yours - that such a thing may not even be possible.

Later you comment that as you'll end up in MacDonalds anyway, you might as well skip college. Once again, this reduces college to something that is only worthy (in your eyes) if it gets you a job. This too is part of Sanger's point. Intellectual investigation is a worthy exercise, even if it doesn't get you a job.

Melt-down of a reactor spreading fallout over the states?

why do I foresee an entire generation of North Americian children who are too stupid and sheltered to do anything

Well, given how long it would take to get there, and given the limited resources available for the trip, if any of our descendants made it there, I'm pretty sure they'd be good guests ;)