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From: fred@mnetor.UUCP (Fred Williams)
Newsgroups: can.general
Subject: Re: dirty money
Message-ID: <389@mnetor.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Apr-85 10:05:26 EST
Article-I.D.: mnetor.389
Posted: Mon Apr  8 10:05:26 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 8-Apr-85 11:13:50 EST
References: <909@ubc-vision.CDN>
Organization: Computer X (CANADA) Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Lines: 49

>   One person I talked to suggested that our evolution has supplied a
> good ability to respond to threats perceived directly by our
> senses...sticking a hand on the stove, somebody holding a gun to your head.
> We are not so well equipped, however, to deal with threats which are more
> abstract...the dangers of smoking, the need for seat belts, and the threat
> of nuclear war.  I think the large impact of TV shows such as "The Day
> After" and "Threads" is caused by this very fact...they bring the threat 
> directly to our senses.
> 
> Another possible reason why the threat of annihilation doesn't seem so
> vividly apparent to people is that it gets clouded by other "threats" which
> are easier for us to grasp...such as the threat of an enemy.  The "threat 
> of the Soviets" is indeed great...I'm not implying that its not.  However,
> it is easier for us to grasp than the relatively new and unfamiliar threat
> of self-annihilation and therefore, for many people, it receives higher
> priority.
> 

    I'd like to congratulate you, Al, on your insight. I have much
the same views. While I have in times past been responsible for the
design of some weapons, I take much greater pride in the work I've
done on SARSAT, (Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking). This
is a system that was designed to save lives, and is succeeding in
doing just that. The nice thing about it is that it is a project
that was a joint effort by Canada, the U.S., France, and the U.S.S.R.

	What we need to remember is our priorities as human beings.
   
    I believe in free enterprise. But it is not
something that I would wish to kill anyone about. Most systems of
government in the world today can be made to work by honest people.
Not all people are honest, however. So can we not say;

	A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PEOPLE WHO
	RUN IT!

	It is also true that people are pretty much the same the world
over. The fears we have of the Soviets are pretty much the same as
the fears they have of us. We get very little opportunity to talk
with each other. This can only be overcome by extensive communication.
	How many of you people out there would like to see a TV channel
devoted to political discussion, (and perhaps other programming),
between nations. This to be broadcast to as many countries as possible,
especially the super powers. (Yes, I know, "dream on fella!") but
in principle is it or isn't it a good idea? Mail your replies and I
will keep count and post a summary to the net barring unforseen
circumstances.

Cheers,		Fred Williams, (utcs!mnetor!motv29!fred)