Whoops. I guess I am guilty of quickly scanning. I'd assumed that because the title was about Israel that the first amount shown would be for the cost to Israel. Please mod my OP down.

Israel has about the population of NYC and it will cost $140 Billion? We are talking $20,000 per person which seems incredibly high, especially when you consider the small amount of land. How can it possibly cost this much?

You are kinda right. When a monopoly or other form of heavily restricted competition and/or there is a public good that goes beyond a strict consumer/supplier relationship, then you are right in that we should not be left to the mercy of the suppliers. Where I think you are wrong is that this does not spell out "capitalism doesn't belong". You even say so later in your post that "We need regulation". So, capitalism DOES belong, but it should be regulated to ensure it conforms with the broader public good.

No, GP is correct. The summary is just plain awful. It makes it sound like there is some latent hand gene sequences in fish that were just waiting to be activated. If this were found to be true, then no one could argue against the existence of God.

Can I try? I could use $500. If you follow me for a week will you give me $3,500? I am sure you could get me for some non-felonies on me as i do drive and am sure there are some things you could find there. But a felony? Doubt it.

I am about 40 years old, and for most of my life considered homosexuals to be somehow inferior with through genetics or lifestyle choice. My world view has changed quite a bit, mostly by seeing real-world homosexuals, and strangely enough a closeted homosexual who claimed to be "cured".

It is hard to put a date on when my view changed, but now I see how wrong I was and fully support same-sex marriage and make sure to show my support as a way of undoing some of the ignorance I helped spread.

In the same way, we have an opportunity to not just pardon Turing, but express just how wrong we were. It will never erase the harm, but it will help heal the wound.

You think yourself far more intelligent than you are, but at least you admit to being a troll. Good day.

And as far as your "elucidating a definition", here was the definition you gave originally "Hate speech is pretty easily classified by HATE against other groups of PEOPLE".

Do you also define a farmer as "someone who farms"? In either case, the definition isn't too helpful.

If you are defining hate speech as "inciting to violence" that is one thing. But that ISN'T the definition of hate speech You seem to weave in and out of the real definition. If I say "I hate Catholics and don't think they should be allowed in politics", that is defined as "hate speech" but is allowed in the United States. If I say "I hate Catholics and they should die", then that is inciting to violence and is NOT allowed in the United States

You then say it is very easy to define hate speech when you fail to do so yourself. And, frankly, even intelligent folks have a hard time doing so. There was a European case against a pastor who preached on homosexuality. One court found he violated hate speech laws. Another found the opposite. Who is right? Despite your earlier claims, it is often in the eye of the beholder.

And what groups are protected? Since you claim to be an expert (despite contradicting yourself and failing to define the term when claiming to do so), you would know that generally consensus is around race and religion. Sexual orientation sometimes. Political ideology sometimes. In some countries expressing hatred toward the government is also prohibited. Which definition is right? Does there have to be an incitement to violence? Who defines what constitutes incitement?

So sorry, you can throw out insults all day like you do in the majority of your posts, but that doesn't make you arguments any more valid.

No, you aren't a nice person.

I can see reality just fine, it is you who have the problem. I am free to hate who I want to hate and express that hatred. I may not advocate violence, but I am free to denounce any group I like to.

I hate the Westboro Church and its members. Under your definition, that statement should be illegal as it falls under "religion". What is most sad about you is that you present yourself as though you think your IQ is much higher than those you are talking to. In my case, I can almost certainly guarantee you are wrong.

Boy, aren't you a nice person.

Even hate against people is protected speech and should remain so. The part folks like you seem to have missed in history is that once you have the camel's nose in your tent, the rest of the camel follows. Pretty soon you won't be able to say anything negative about a different group of people on the grounds that it is "hate speech". You are so naive as to think it is a very cut and dry line between "hate speech" and "not hate speech", but the reality is that like porn, it is in the eye of the beholder.

Wow. Do you seriously think saying things that is hateful about another person or group should be eliminated entirely?

Congratulations. In eight years on Slashdot, you just became my second "foe". It is quite a high honor. Frankly, I don't mind atheism as I used to be one myself. I don't even mind pointing out perceived weakness in the behaviors and practices of those who believe in God. It is a free country after all, and I believe in free speech. The reason your post is so disgusting is the timing and lack of propriety. The OP basically is offering his condolences and you decide to make it a religious discussion. 20 dead kids and you think the relevant issue is the OP's belief in God. If you can't get that it isn't the time or place,, then you have some type of social deficiency that you should work on.

I have no idea where you get the impression that I am looking to quash the heathcare reform act, but you are mistaken. If you are simply looking to make some type of political point on an unrelated comment, then you are a very sad individual.

Okay, thanks. The reports are coming in fast and furious, and the "facts" are not always true.

In this case, it does appear that the shooter was the son of a teacher. Still incredibly sick.

This just makes me incredibly angry and sad at the same time. The shooter was a PARENT of one of the kids at the school? Seriously? As an American, I have to wonder how we can be so screwed up that events like these are a regular occurrence.

It sounds like some adults put themselves in harms way to try to stop or slow down the shooter. They are heroes. To the bastard who did this, you'll rot in hell.