Forum: Diavlog comments
05-14-2009, 06:33 AM
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Replies: 102
Views: 26,697
I guess it's supposed to bother me..
I guess it's supposed to bother me that people who have committed their lives to killing Americans piss themselves in high stress situations as a result of being tortured - but it doesn't. In fact, I...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-19-2009, 08:27 PM
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Replies: 82
Views: 54,513
Re: Do utilitarians have to support colonialism?
To Tyler's question with respect to the benefits of colonialism and whether or not a utilitarian has to argue that colonialism was good:
Utilitarianism always has a horizon problem. In terms of...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-12-2009, 04:41 PM
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Replies: 58
Views: 19,020
Re: That Dangerous Secret Ballot
Agreed.
This story on Hoffa at teamster.org may interest you: http://www.teamster.org/content/hoffa-commends-sponsors-employee-free-choice
It seems to me that secret ballots allow people to...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-12-2009, 08:13 AM
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Replies: 73
Views: 24,336
Re: The Curious Case of Chas Freeman
I was hoping to let the subject drop with you but since you followed me into the discussion I was having with mvantony I suppose I will respond.
I think you're right that in the end it is...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-12-2009, 07:54 AM
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Replies: 58
Views: 19,020
Re: Meeting of the Matts
Just for the record Welch points out that Obama didn't wait 5 days before signing the omnibus bill per his campaign promise.
The White House does appear to have made an effort...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-12-2009, 07:48 AM
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Replies: 58
Views: 19,020
Re: Meeting of the Matts
Since I don't know you very well it is difficult to tell if you're being ironic or not. From one perspective your statement could be seen as highly ironic - Yglesias' major push on the Freeman...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-11-2009, 05:56 PM
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Replies: 73
Views: 24,336
Re: The Curious Case of Chas Freeman
You are, of course, correct. My quote above is unfortunate. I've tried to maintain consistently that the China issue should be dealt with on the merits. I gave you a sloppy response there. I'm making...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-11-2009, 05:10 PM
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Replies: 46
Views: 13,706
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-11-2009, 04:11 PM
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Replies: 73
Views: 24,336
Re: The Curious Case of Chas Freeman
This might be the first fragment of a thought of yours with which I agree. I will take it to heart and make this my last post on this subject. Feel free to have the last word.
I will apply my...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-11-2009, 12:52 PM
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Replies: 73
Views: 24,336
Re: The Curious Case of Chas Freeman
I agree that people generally concern themselves with issues that matter to them. I agree that this issue matters to the Chinese dissidents - and likely to many others as well. Those people are...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-11-2009, 12:15 PM
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Replies: 73
Views: 24,336
Re: The Curious Case of Chas Freeman
1) I have granted the point on the "merit" or "strength" of an argument. I then pointed out that no one operates from the ideal position of being able to respond to all possible objections on their...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-11-2009, 01:27 AM
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Replies: 73
Views: 24,336
Re: Do motives matter?
See the above discussion at http://brainwaveweb.com/forum/showthread.php?p=106466&posted=1#post106466 for a response
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-11-2009, 01:26 AM
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Replies: 73
Views: 24,336
Re: The Curious Case of Chas Freeman
It is precisely how arguments work in the real world. Let me be more clear so that my position isn't as easily caricatured.
There is, in my view, one major valid reason to argue: to attempt to...
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Forum: Diavlog comments
03-10-2009, 11:57 AM
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Replies: 73
Views: 24,336
Re: The Curious Case of Chas Freeman
Brian's point is simple and compelling: motive matters. It matters in intellectual life and it matters in political life. Anyone who is motivated to torpedo the Freeman nomination because of their...
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