Archive for March, 2006
The accumulation of all powers
The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, selfappointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. – Federalist 47, James Madison 1788
Tyranny: ‘tir-&-nE
1. oppressive power exerted by government
2. a government in which absolute power is vested [...]
Darfur: Complicity
Rwanda is probably the most horrifying genocide in a century distinguished by horrifying genocides. Not because of the number of people killed, but because of the number of people who were directly involved in murdering their neighbours and friends. There were a few brave Hutu who sheltered Tutsis, at grave risk to their own safety, [...]
Letter to the Republicans
Rebelle Nation lays it on the line to the Republican Party
Over two thousand of our beloved sons have died for a tragic and evil farce. Some reliable sources place the Iraqi toll at over 100,000 souls whos’ sacrifice has yet to be justified in any way whatsoever. Osama is sitting in his luxury bat-cave right [...]
Thinking the unthinkable
There has been a major but silent shift in US nuclear policy under the current administration. This was first apparent in the 2001 Nuclear Posture Review, and became clearer under the Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations.
To maximise deterrence of WMD use, it is essential US forces prepare to use nuclear weapons effectively and that US [...]
Wilderness rally attracts 3000 in Hobart
A Wilderness Society rally in Hobart today attracted a large crowd ahead of Saturday’s State election.
The debate on the close ties between the Labour government and the logging giant Gunns and the future of old growth logging in the state is shaping up as a major election issue, with 3000 people turning out at [...]
How I learned to stop worrying and love
The people of the west in the twentyfirst century are by and large the best fed, least disease prone, and longest lived population the world has ever known, and they seem likely to remain this way as long as global warming or a shortage of oil do not drastically affect their lifestyle. We have only [...]
Stuck in an Orwellian nightmare
I often have the feeling these days that I’ve gotten stuck in some kind of Orwellian nightmare. We are locked in a foreign war fought on false pretexts, dividing the world into those who are with us and those who hate us. Basic freedoms, especially the right to criticise the government, have been greatly curtailed. [...]
Enrichment Brinkmanship
There should be no doubt that Iran’s wish to enrich uranium relates to its desire to create nuclear weapons. The country is ringed by US bases: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Iraq and Kuwait, as well as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Pakistan and more importantly Israel have nuclear weapons. Iran has never forgotten the foreign intervention of 1953 [...]
Steal Claire’s Poem
From
Steal this Poem by Claire Fauset:
Think about it,
I can’t tell you anything new.
In all these millenia of human existence
there can only be a few new ideas to be thought through.
So do we treat them like rare commodities?
Because intellectual property is theft
and piracy is our only defence against the thought police.
The revolution
will be plagiarised!
In a [...]
