[PKFFW]

Originally Posted by Sonist

Some of the comments here, and in other DRM-related threads, remind me of an old Eastern Block joke:

At the annual gathering of high-ranking Communist Party officials in a provincial town, the talk turned to the subject of obedience, and how successful the Party policies have been in suppressing independent thought. At the end of the day, the participants decided to conduct an experiment, to evaluate how docile the local population really is.

So, they gathered all of the adults in the large town square, and announced: "To better fight imperialism, as of tomorrow, the work day is extended to 18 hours, without additional pay."

The crowd went quiet, the people evidently disturbed, but after a few minutes of silence, all proclaimed "Long Live the Great Leader!" and dispersed peacefully, and nobody complained.

On the next day, the Party officials decided to up the ante, gathered the population on the square, and announced "Our struggle against imperialism requires ever increasing resources. To obtain such resources, our great leaders have decided to sell organs to the greedy capitalists. Therefore, each of you is required to appear at the local hospital, where one of your kidneys will be removed."

Again, the crowd went quiet, the people evidently disturbed, but after a few minutes of silence, all proclaimed "Long Live the Great Leader!" and dispersed peacefully, and nobody complained.

On the third day, the surprised Party officials decided to see if there is a limit to the population's docility. So, they gathered the people again, and declared: "Our great secret police has received information, that there may be a copy of "Atlas Shrugged" circulating in this town. Therefore, to ensure that all enemies of the people are destroyed, we have decided to hang every one of you, tomorrow morning, at 8:00."

Deathly silence descended upon the crowd, with some sighing and some murmuring.

Finally, a small man in the back raised his hand. The Chairman, pointing to the man, asked: "Yes, comrade, do you have an objection to our decision?"

"No" the man answered. "We just wish to know, if each of us should bring their own rope, or will the Party provide it?"

What's more amusing than that joke is the way you constantly allude to the idea that anyone who disagrees with you is a docile sheep willingly subjugating themselves to the big corporate capitalist pigs. I suppose it's easier to pretend superiority and throw veiled insults than it is to rationally debate.

For the record I believe in individual freedoms and rights just as much as you. I just happen to believe that with those rights and freedoms comes certain obligations. Prime among those obligations is to respect the rights and freedoms of others. That is something you have obviously forgotten or choose to ignore.

Cheers,
PKFFW