[EM] Re: can't we all just get along?

[Russ Paielli]

James Green-Armytage jarmyta-at-antioch-college.edu |EMlist| wrote:

> 2. I think we've established that you (Mike and Russ) have political views
> that are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Perhaps you could find common
> ground if you tried, but you don't seem to be trying now, and anyway, most

I understand what you meant, James, but I must take issue with the way 
you stated it. Yes, Mike and I are far apart politically, but saying 
that we are "at opposite ends of the spectrum" is a gross distortion.

I am a libertarian-leaning Republican. Need I remind you that the 
Republicans just won re-election to the Presidency, increased their 
control of both houses of Congress, and have a strong majority of 
governerships? My difference with Republicans has to do with issues like 
drugs, which I think should all be legal (Mike calls me an 
"authoritarian" because he has a habit of making clueless assertions). I 
am not at either "end" of the political spectrum.

Mike, on the other hand, is so far out that he can't see any significant 
difference between Democrats and Republicans. And, of course, he 
believes that the Bush administration was complicit in the 9/11 attacks. 
  He is absolutely convinced that demolition expolosives were 
pre-installed in the WTC to make it collapse in cue. I don't just 
"think" that's absurd; I know it.

How do I know it? Well, common sense plays a major role, of course, but 
its more than that. I've read executive summaries of major professional 
studies on the matter, and I've read explanations by structural 
engineering experts of how and why the WTC collapsed. I urge you to do 
the same if you harbor any lingering suspicions that Mike might be on to 
something. This pathetic garbage needs to be nipped in the bud -- and 
the charlatans espousing it need to be exposed before their insanity 
becomes contagious. Here are some links:

http://wtc.nist.gov/
http://people.howstuffworks.com/wtc7.htm
http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2001/december5/wtc-125.html
http://www.fema.gov/library/wtcstudy.shtm
http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0112/Eagar/Eagar-0112.html

> 3. I encourage both of you to stop entering personal insults into the EM
> list. Although it may be entertaining in a perverse sort of way, it

Well, some here will be happy to know that I will probably get off this 
list within a few days. I may get back on at times in the future to 
request feedback on specific items at ElectionMethods.org, which I 
intend to spend a bit more time on (but not too much, I hope). I respect 
the opinions of many here on this list, and I apologize for the 
disruption caused by my dispute with Mike. I do have a very successful 
career, however, and I also have other interests outside of my job, so I 
don't have time to stay on this list permanantly.

For Mike, I think this list *is* his career. If Rob ever deletes the 
archives of this list, someone please remember to put out a suicide 
watch for him. I pity poor Mike.

--Russ