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Okay, but these big picture perspectives don't materialize in a vacuum. It's not just this binary do-or-die nuclear deterrence that such a mindset acquiesces to

Okay, but these big picture perspectives don't materialize in a vacuum. It's not just this binary do-or-die nuclear deterrence that such a mindset acquiesces to. The rubber meets the road, and real names are drawn from a hat somewhere along the line. After we shoo away that pesky threat of hypersonic implosion triggered plutonium cores raining down upon our heads, the sun rises on a new day, and we have to put on coffee and make breakfast. And some people ride in limousines from hotels for brunch, and some people ride the bus to a fast food job at the ass crack of dawn. And you can bet that whomsoever holds the keys to these cryptosystems that serve as nuclear-proof umbrellas keeping our heads dry from the oh-so-inevitable megatons of explosive fire, they'll never drive a garbage truck, they're kids won't have to worry about flunking out of college, and none of them will ever get cold in the winter, unless they want to on their holiday ski trip. And it's no accident, the way such things work. So, maybe this whole nuclear war thing? Maybe it's always been a big shakedown. Maybe, sometimes you buy a gun with the full knowledge that keeping it clean, safe and ready for reliable use is going to book your Sundays solid from now on, and whoops, the cost of gun ownership, it just so happens, is never attending Sunday mass again.

mirimir 7y ago
It is arguable that the US and Russia have collectively committed a crime against humanity that's comparable to genocide. Not in any simple numeric sense, of course. But even 1% annual risk of killing a billion people, protracted over several decades, is a pretty big number. And yes, humanity is highly stratified. Socially, economically, whatever. But that just reflects what we are. Hate on it all you want, it's not gonna change.
- mirimir 7y ago
  OK, so reckless endangerment is a crime.[0] It's especially serious when weapons are involved, and when children are endangered. How does that not apply? Except, of course, that there's no body with the requisite authority or power. But maybe someday there will be. 0) https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/reckless-endangerment-charges.html https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/reckless-enda...
et2o 7y ago
Don’t understand the gun paragraph
- mirimir 7y ago
  It's something like people who are into violence being immoral, I suspect. Not that I'd pick religion as a reliable measure for morality.
  - deflection 7y ago
    Whatever your opinions about name brand organized religion, and froo froo piety... Don't delude yourself about the stewards of weaponry, for they are not nice people, they are not stoics, they are not abstinent, and they aren't doing it because they're "savin' lives!"

mirimir 7y ago

It is arguable that the US and Russia have collectively committed a crime against humanity that's comparable to genocide. Not in any simple numeric sense, of course. But even 1% annual risk of killing a billion people, protracted over several decades, is a pretty big number. And yes, humanity is highly stratified. Socially, economically, whatever. But that just reflects what we are. Hate on it all you want, it's not gonna change.

mirimir 7y ago
OK, so reckless endangerment is a crime.[0] It's especially serious when weapons are involved, and when children are endangered. How does that not apply? Except, of course, that there's no body with the requisite authority or power. But maybe someday there will be. 0) https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/reckless-endangerment-charges.html https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/reckless-enda...

et2o 7y ago

Don’t understand the gun paragraph

mirimir 7y ago
It's something like people who are into violence being immoral, I suspect. Not that I'd pick religion as a reliable measure for morality.
- deflection 7y ago
  Whatever your opinions about name brand organized religion, and froo froo piety... Don't delude yourself about the stewards of weaponry, for they are not nice people, they are not stoics, they are not abstinent, and they aren't doing it because they're "savin' lives!"