Rolled Out On: 12/13/2006 6:22 AM

Perhaps if you had said that to him it might have helped him understand. He may not be 'willfully obtuse' sometimes rational argument can actually make a difference.

Rolled Out On: 12/13/2006 8:18 AM

Sometimes. However, the conversation was turning into an argument faster than rationality would help.

Granted, he thought he was the one being rational. In his mind, trying to protect oneself is a futile attempt. Of course, he also thinks that the populace could never, ever take on the government if they decided to become a dictatorship or something.

What I don't get is these people are rabid Bush-haters. I dislike the man, but I don't think he's going to declare martial law and install himself for life. But many people do. And they should think about what they would do if that happened.

Rolled Out On: 12/14/2006 9:14 AM

What I don't get is these people are rabid Bush-haters. I dislike the man, but I don't think he's going to declare martial law and install himself for life. But many people do. And they should think about what they would do if that happened.

Heh, that's a very good point. I must admit that at one time I did entertain the idle speculation that Bush might consider such a thing; it was about the time when I was living in the States and folk were making the argument about not swapping presidents in the middle of a war. Now, I doubt it very much and as I said it was only idle speculation anyway.

As for your colleague, look at it this way: if you are right and he is wrong then its just like natural selection. if on the other hand he is wright and you are wrong, nobody gets hurt and you have a nice toy to play with. All in all everybody wins.