Originally Posted by CTD
I would like to point out that "learning from history" is essentially the same thing as employing the "scientific method".

How do we know what happens when alcohol is prohibited? The experiment's been done. It's found in history. How do we know why governments erect walls, or ban weapons? These experiments have been done, and the results can be found in history.

What happens during periods of hyperinflation? The experiments have been done. What happens when countries compromise with evil dictators? It's been tried. All sorts of experiments have been done. The results of many of them are easily found.


Just a sidenote here on the prohibition one. I live in a southern town where people are conservative or most are. They've just voted, though, to allow alcohol sales in restaurants on Sundays to help business. There was an outcry by the Baptists here admirably and other individuals, but it was ignored. Now we have a Starship opening up (which houses sex toys and pornographic type materials) in this conservative place. Its enough to make me want to move. I see the writing on the wall. This is one of those places where we still say the pledge (with GOD in it), where religion is spoken of freely, where kids don't pay any attention as a rule to evolution when taught..... I suppose for those staying its the beginning of a battle. People make fun of southerners and many ARE redneck, sometimes prejudiced (but in our area there aren't really racial issues either although whites are more predominant right now), but they are the salt of the earth (other than the gossip : ) They do tend to be rather syrupy sweet and then talk behind your back. I've seen that with a preacher's wife I know. I love her, though. They see evil for what it is, though, for the most part. It just makes me heartsick to see "progress" taking over. However, with the little "shout box" comments in the paper some of the atheists and less conservative folks have made some valid observations about loving your neighbors even if they aren't believers. Guess believers have their work cut out for them now cause we may no longer be the majority.