[MD] Ham unlike you I will not create false idols

[Arlo J. Bensinger]

[Arlo challenged Platt]
Can you tell me ANY issue where you break with party obedience and side with
liberalism?

[Platt]
Offhand I can't think of any. Perhaps you'll suggest some? Anyway, as long as
Professor Platt is allowed the same access to students to express his views as
Professor Arlo, intellectual diversity will be served. ... I reject the
implication that to be regarded as intellectually competent you 
must find some good in everything. Reminds me of intellectuals who admired 
Mussolini because he got the trains to run on time.

[Arlo]
So, when these "intellectuals" find nothing to admire in "conservatism", they
are not in any way close-minded, blinded or hypnotized? And, here, you don't
seem to care that any given professor expounds nothing but support for
liberalism, you want more "conservative professors"? This runs counter to your
claim that you want "conservative views" accepted in the classroom, since you
show no interest in having "liberal views" accepted in yours. Seems to me
Professor Platt would epitomize everything he condemns in "others". 

[Arlo previously]
As for what are greater considerations, for one I'd say protecting and 
preserving natural resources for others and for future generations.

[Platt]
So to you we owe our lives to others? Why am I not surprised?.

[Arlo]
"Owe our lives to others"? Why am I not surpised that any mention of
responsibility to others, past, present and future, is such an "evil" in your
wholly selfish world. Why am I not surprised that you can't envision a world
that is both self-ful, and dutiful, rather than paint the world as entirely
self-centered or self-less?

Sorry, I can consider my own needs, but also be respectful of my duty to
maintain open, free, wild lands for our progeny. I can "think about Arlo" and
"think about the person over there behind the tree" at the same time, and find
balance, rather than live by the motto "screw everyone else, what's in it for
me". 

[Platt]
My wife would object to your characterization of menial labor as low quality as
would Buddhist monks.

[Arlo]
I don't think "menial labor" is "low quality". And I do believe, as I've said
repeatedly, that the lack of identification and care must be tackled in part by
the individual. But there are also structural elements that can work against
this, that must be addressed in the organization.

To this end, you have to contrast Walmart's "menial labor" with what labor the
presence of a Walmart destroys. Without the presence of a Walmart, maybe your
wife could be working for a neighbor's family, helping them grow their
entrepreneurial endeavor. The potential for more rewarding activity is
destroyed when Walmart moves into an area. It limits choice, by relying on mass
production in overseas markets, and as other business go under, and more and
more Walmarts are built, the opportunities for employment that can lead to
greater wealth, not to mention more fulfilling careers, are destroyed. 

[Platt]
And I don't understand why funnelling wealth out of the local economy is
immoral.

[Arlo]
Really, drive around America and take a look at what happens to local
communities when money is siphoned out. As for it being "immoral", I can't say,
but it sure is "stupid". But, hey, the great part of freedom is the freedom to
act stupidly. We'll reap what we sow. Indeed, we are... hence the success of
American Idol. "America, Where We Value Money Over People". 

[Platt]
So how would you propose to bring about "greater equity in incomes between 
those who produce and those who manage? (Note the premise: management doesn't
produce anything.)

[Arlo]
I never said management doesn't produce anything, I used the word in the sense
of actual materials building. Ideally, I would love for a culture where you
would say "you know what, an extra 10 million in profits for me isn't worth it
if it means the people on my production line don't have adequate health
coverage, or aren't earing enough to be able to start saving and enjoying the
benefits of society like I am". But that won't happen in our mercantilian
world. So the only recourse is for labor to demand more equity in pay. Or for
people to start thinking about more when they shop than "saving myself a buck",
like whether or not the business pays a fair wage, or offers health coverage.
But I don't think that will happen in our mercantilian world either, at least
not a large enough scale to make any impact. 

In short, we need to value "people over money". Something I wonder if I'll see
in my lifetime.

Arlo