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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!cwruecmp!decot
From: decot@cwruecmp.UUCP (Dave Decot)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: War is Inevitable?!
Message-ID: <848@cwruecmp.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 5-Dec-83 01:04:48 EST
Article-I.D.: cwruecmp.848
Posted: Mon Dec  5 01:04:48 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 5-Dec-83 23:04:52 EST
References: <156@astrovax.UUCP>, <767@cvl.UUCP>
Organization: CWRU Computer Engr. Cleveland, Ohio
Lines: 32

A reply to Cliff Shaffer who says that the the problem to solve is that
we have "too many people" on this planet, evidenced by the fact that we
are competing for resources:

Our problem is improper distribution of the presently available resources
among an acceptable number of people.  Only this week, it was deemed necessary
to pay US farmers to stop producing so much milk.  This adds to the list of
products our goverment anti-subsidies, which already includes wheat, corn,
and other grains.  President Reagan was originally not going to sign this
legislation, but was advised that farmers are a vocal component in almost
every district, and that it might adversely affect the upcoming congressional
elections.

I claim that food, water, oxygen, and intellectual stimulation are the only
vital resources.  Other secondary resources are needed to create, process,
distribute, or maintain the primary ones.  However, although enough of both
types of resource are sufficiently present and accessible on our planet,
we have cold and hot wars.  Why?

Human beings, without exception, also seem to require power.  This is the
opportunity and capability to affect, to varying degrees, the persons and
things around one.  This is a motivation for every type of aggression,
whether punitive or gratuitous, and also for submitting articles to Usenet.
Power has obvious benefits to its holder, and tends to extend itself if applied
by conscious beings.  Human beings hate to be helpless, but love to be
powerful.  How can we deal with this problem?  Is it a problem?
Is it possible to grant to each person the level of power s/he desires?
Is there any purpose to living if you have everything you want?  Perhaps I
should quit before I stray into net.philosophy or net.suicide.

Dave Decot
decvax!cwruecmp!decot    (Decot.Case@rand-relay)