[PD]

How do you go about exchanging emails without posting them?

[PD]

Lostkitty, I read your link. Thank you for reading my link. I try to be fair and respectful of others. I hope I accomplish this goal but am aware that I have faults just like six billion other people on this planet. It can be easy to stumble off the path of respect and fairness, you always need to be looking where you are going.

I do not think it is good idea to base our foreign policy on what is popular. The right course is rarely the easiest course. This is not a statement about whether our actions are currently right or wrong, rather, it is simply a statement that policy should not be a world popularity test – now or in the future.

If there is widespread support for suicide bombings targeting children and families waiting at bus stops, does this make it right?

I am reminded of the country song that says, “A man who doesn’t stand for something will fall for anything.”

Volker was not too popular when he was fed chairman but I hear a lot of admiration for him on this forum. History will put it in perspective and judge us that way. The future has a way of reacting in ways we cannot predict. An action or inaction today might have a completely unforeseen consequence.

For instance, let us say we had responded sharply to the first World Trade Center Bombing. Our weak, almost nonexistent response may well have encouraged 9/11 because we looked pathetically ineffectual. Unfortunately we will never know if we could have changed things.

We turned tail and ran out of Somalia because it suddenly was not popular. Once again we looked weak and ineffectual.

Hitler was allowed to take over a little chunk of Europe unchecked. Everybody was happy to do the popular thing by making friends and appeasing him. We all know what happened next.

I do think that it was time we showed ourselves a strong nation, resolute in adversary and willing to swim upstream.

[PD]

True! There are going to be a lot of angry people looking for an outlet = Kill the messenger.

[PD]

hrdlndg

[PD]

Docteur’s posts and/or his lack of posts are completely in line with his belief system.

[PD]

Docteur, thank you for your response. I am still wondering if you have recollections of distant past events which you witnessed? For instance, do you remember the Black Death spreading through Europe or starving during a siege?

[PD]

Hs, I was inviting you to defend me against Powayseller’s post where she put words in my mouth, just as you vehemently defended lostkitty when you believed I had done the same the her. I thought it was possible that you would defend anyone in a similar situation.

[PD]

Today’s good deals are tomorrow’s fools price.

Phrases like, “dead cat bounce” and “catching the falling knife” come to mind.

It is actually kind of nice to have a RE bull posting for a change.

[PD]

I don’t know anything about that make of car. Like the truck JES purchased, some vehicles hold their value well. I bought my car on ebay. Be very, very careful if you take this route. Do your homework and make sure you have the car checked out. There are all kinds of scams out there (flooded cars, etc).

[PD]

Bgates is right on all points.

I have been to a number of memorial services for good friends killed during training. I am fortunate that I do not know anyone personally who has died in Iraq.

[PD]

The government should not have to bail people out of their financial stupidity.

Perhaps you could start a private charity.

[PD]

I did not say that buying a new car is ALWAYS a mistake. I am glad it worked out for you. Clearly, you did research and used that research to make an informed decision. I stand by my statement, however, that buying a new car is one of the biggest financial mistakes Americans make.

[PD]

Powayseller, you are putting words in my mouth again. I do recall making a comment about the poor women of Afghanistan and their plight but I am quite certain that I never said that we should invade Iraq to save women from rape. —HS, here is your chance to jump in on my behalf.

As for helping other countries, including those in Africa, the United States has provided a significant amount to assistance both in people and money. As an example, we tried to stabilize Somalia and help the people of that country. Do you remember Mogadishu? Brave Americans lost their lives on those streets. Clinton quickly withdrew because of pressure from Americans just like you. Somalia is still a terrible mess, a mess we did not create but tried to alleviate.

[PD]

Having chosen to be born, it does not necessarily follow that you had been born before or would be born again. I thought it likely that you believed in reincarnation but did not want to make an assumption.

Do you believe that your soul has a gender? Are you always born a male or have you been female before? Are you aware of your past lives? How old do you believe your soul to be? How did your existence begin?

[PD]

Beach Rat, buying a new car is not always bad. It is, however, one of the biggest financial mistakes Americans make – and they do it over and over and over.

My last car was four months old when I bought it. It had 4,000 miles on it and a warranty up to 60,000. I saved 20% of the lowest new purchase price available at the time. I’m now up to 70,000 miles and no problems.

I did have to sell a bunch of ebay to buy it. Turns out I missed out on 40k in gains. 🙁 Oh well, if we could predict the future we would all be rich!

[Author]

Posts