Can you afford to fart in NZ!

[Agathon]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat

IF (big IF), you clearly scope out the types of externalities that have to be considered, a minimum threshhold of impact (so you don't get forced into wasting inordinate time on stuff so small it fades into background noise), a maximum degree of indirectness (no flapping butterfly causing a hurricane debates), and agreed methods for modeling costs and consequences, then addressing externalities is sound practice.

YAY!!!!

(even though I don't think the "if" is that big)

nuff said.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Agathon
as all good Republicans like Michael know

Them's fighting words, boy. I'm no republican.

It'd take three weeks, not two.

[Agathon]

Here's a question:

Why do so many people from the US complain about their government?

I mean - most people think that their governments could be improved or have a slightly negative opinion of them. But only in the States has this become pathological.

What's wrong with you? Why don't you just elect a better one. That's what we do when we hate ours.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat

Them's fighting words, boy. I'm no republican.

Come on.. you ain't no Democrat and I've watched your TV News I know that you have to be one or the other.

It'd take three weeks, not two.

[MichaeltheGreat]

[QUOTE] Originally posted by chegitz guevara
One could make the argument that the carbon would leave the cycle if we didn't have herds of animals eating all the grass and grain up.

The animals contribute to the ecosystem. You wouldn't have good soil without them.


It would turn into soil, and continue to deposit. I don't know if it's a good argument, on the other hand, I've heard (from lousy sources) that the US MidWest has lost 33 feet of topsoil since we began farming (which sounds rather specious to me). That's a lot of carbon back in the system.

It's 6-10 feet depending on area, and it's a result of ****ed up flood managment on the Mississippi-Missouri river system, not farming. Flood control unfortunately interferes with natural cycling of sediment downstream.

That topsoil west of the rivers is essentially thousands of years of recycled grass, in the form of buffalo-****. Getting rid of the buffalos wouldn't give you a better carbon cycle, because the soil would deplete - the fiber in the grass decomposes poorly without the help of animal molars and digestive enzymes.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Agathon

Come on.. you ain't no Democrat and I've watched your TV News I know that you have to be one or the other.

I am a Southern Democrat descended from generations of Southern Democrats and New Dealers.

I can't stand liberal whiners, but my social positions are a mixture of mainstream Democrat with a little good ol' boy "government can **** off and leave people alone" populism thrown in.

I'm only a rightist (in the US spectrum) on fiscal and taxation issues. Oh, and on the DP - if they're really guilty and we're really sure, string 'em up.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat

I am a Southern Democrat descended from generations of Southern Democrats and New Dealers.

I can't stand liberal whiners, but my social positions are a mixture of mainstream Democrat with a little good ol' boy "government can **** off and leave people alone" populism thrown in.

I'm only a rightist (in the US spectrum) on fiscal and taxation issues. Oh, and on the DP - if they're really guilty and we're really sure, string 'em up.

Youse a traitor, boy!

[MichaeltheGreat]

The proper term is "rebel"

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Agathon
Here's a question:

Why do so many people from the US complain about their government?

I mean - most people think that their governments could be improved or have a slightly negative opinion of them. But only in the States has this become pathological.

What's wrong with you? Why don't you just elect a better one. That's what we do when we hate ours.

Well we are as bad (the British), we have Blair to worry about...

[Agathon]

Originally posted by MichaeltheGreat
The proper term is "rebel"

You better stop or I'll set General Burnside on you.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Oh please, suh, not thayat. Enythang but that thar fiendish Genrul Buhnside.

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by Agathon
What's wrong with you? Why don't you just elect a better one. That's what we do when we hate ours.

They did elect a better government. Do you think the Yanks would be stupid enough to vote Bush in power ?

[MichaeltheGreat]

Gore is a slimy greaseball, so he'd not likely to be much of an improvement.

And if he took a strong economy, a two-term incumbency as VP and a mediocre at best campaign by Bush, and still couldn't avoid coming down to a close race in Florida, then he obviously didn't get a ringing endorsement from the electorate.

[DinoDoc]

I still can't believe that you people are seriously discussing a tax on farts with a straight face.

[Agathon]

It's a methane tax. It isn't as if they are going to march around with a detector next to everyone's bottom.