Mourning Reagan
 

I can't endanger the Flower. No one in Minnesota is in danger from terrorism.

Mourning Reagan
 

That's what you think.

Mourning Reagan
 

Well, until Airbus became a better priced alternative because of heavy EU subsidies.

Mourning Reagan
 

Quite true. Aren't they practically owned by the EU rather than subsidized?

Mourning Reagan
 

That was my boy Alexander Hamilton.

Washington and Jefferson would still have us plowing fields for a living.

Mourning Reagan
 

That's what thje Seattle people tell me.

(Never discuss Airbus in a Seattle bar.)

Mourning In America
 

True, but Gorbachev didn't really have any choice. And remember, he came to office to save communism, not to reform it. Making the jump was very adept, politically, but let's not pretend that this had been his intent all along.

efs

Mourning Reagan
 

Yes, but he needed them for the war effort. Big tent, etc. etc.

Mourning Reagan
 

They're nominally a private consortium. And, they'll point out that Boeing is heavily subsidized by DoD. It's pretty hard to disentangle.

My industry source tells me that one actual quality reason that allowed airbus to gain market share is that their standard cabin on the A320 series (I think that's it--the 737/757 equivalent) is approximately 10" wider than the one used by Boeing, which means slightly wider seats or more cabin room generally.

Mourning Reagan
 

One hopes that the 7E7 will even things out on that score. From what I can tell, the airlines are practically swooning over it, and if the 20% greater fuel efficiency thing is true, I think Boeing is going to have a lot of good years on the commercial side.

Mourning Reagan
 

I'm very curious about the A380. The idea of spending 6-8 hours with 700+ other people is not particularly appealing. Yet the airlines seem to be contracting for them like hotcakes.

And I doubt too many airlines will include the "air lounges" or whatever nice amenities are possible for anyone other than first class passengers.

That plane could put either Boeing or Airbus out of business. More likely the latter.

Mourning Reagan
 

Predictions are that there's going to be a rather large excess of capacity for the next couple of years. Hopefully, people are ordering based on long term forecasts and not one or two years out. Boeing needs cashflow.

Mourning In America
 

I'm saying I don't believe things are inevitable, and you're saying they are. There are some things that were beyond Gorbachev's power, doubtless, but if he tried less reform, or more, or repression, etc., who knows what would have happened. The Soviet Union careened on that course for a long time before it cratered. I'm sure Gorbachev's intent was not to preside over what happened. He was a reformer, not a revolutionary.

Mourning In America
 

You misunderstand me. I tend to agree that it was not inevitable. I thought what you were suggesting is that Gorbachev was the real driving force behind the collapse. I view someone like him, at best, as one of the necessary preconditions, but not as the driving force.

Mourning In America
 

I'm too much of a Marxist (hi Slave!) not to believe that the underlying economic conditions didn't a huge effect on what happened. But Gorbachev's efforts at reform may have been the spark that set off the kindling. As you say, this was surely not what he intended.

I think we're fooling ourselves if we think our increases in military spending made the difference. Something else that Reagan did -- and Carter and Ford before him -- was to use human rights as an element of foreign policy against the Soviets. I've read that the 1975 Helsinki Accords were a huge blow to the USSR, because they emboldened internal dissent behind the Iron Curtain.

Mourning In America
 

But what (or more appropriate who) pushed Gorbachev torwards reform and what do you mean by "underlying economic conditions."

I believe our increases in military spending put tremendous pressure on the "underlying economic conditions," especially with regards to SDI, and this is why Gorbachev wanted so eagerly for us to pull SDI off the table. In fact, this is what cratered the talks in Switzerland.

And what do you mean by "use human rights." My understanding is that, at best, this was given lip service by previous administrations, but never with any teeth.

efs

Mourning Reagan
 

Jefferson perhaps, but Washington? Highly doubtful. Hamilton wouldn't have gotten anywhere without Washington's support (nor would anyone else).


(I know, I know -- take it to Greedy History.)

SF Protests
 

Anybody know specifically what is being protested at the biotech conference today?

Mourning In America
 

Things were going to shit there for a while, but Gorbachev's predecessors (e.g., Chernenko and Andropov) lacked either the will or the inclination to attempt reform. Why was Gorbachev different? Did the Politburo elect him because there was a recognition that they needed to try something different, or did he spring this on them? It would take a Kremlinologist to answer that question.

By underlying economic conditions, I mean the whole state of the country. It was a corrupt, festering mess. In the 80s, I recall reading a book by/about a MiG-25 who defected, and his account of living there before he left. There were many such accounts at the time, but I don't know anyone who concluded at the time that the Soviet Union was doomed, even though it now seems obvious in hindsight.

We spent a lot of money on defense even before Reagan was elected. The question I'm asking is, why do you think the relatively small (relative to the overall budget, not relative to the size of increases in other years) increases in spending under Reagan put "tremendous" pressure on the Soviet Union? Is there some sort of tipping point involved? If so, did Reagan know this, or was it dumb luck?

As for SDI, there were a number of good reasons for the Soviets to want SDI off the table. Doubtless cost is one. But something more needs to be shown to establish that this is what brought the empire down. We made the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan more expensive by supplying Stingers to the mujahedin, but was that the expense that made the difference? Without more, call me skeptical.

What you call "lip service" nevertheless emboldened dissent within the Eastern Bloc, and it was these forces that brought the whole thing crashing down. And what do you think Reagan did in this regard that was any different?

SF Protests
 

From the Boston Herald (no verification, but found via Google's news tab... Newgle?):

A group called Reclaim the Commons wanted to shut down the conference to protest the proliferation of genetically modified foods developed by biotechnology corporations.

``There's a few hundred people,'' said Lisa Dry, a spokeswoman for the convention organized by the Biotechnology Industry Organization. ``There's plenty of security, so there is no one who is being prevented from attending the convention. Everything is going on as expected.''

Mourning In America
 

I expect that when Clinton dies you will similarly express scepticism about his connection to the greatest expansion of America's economy.

SF Protests
 

Progress?

Seriously, though, I assume it's GMOs. For the record, that's an area in which my platform differs from the Hippie Party.

Mourning Reagan
 

Wait, was this a joke based on the proposal to dump Hamilton and replace him with Ronnie on the $10 bill?

Fucking RSS feed.
 

When you see a headline scroll like "Support grows for new Iraq draft" and you're a male between the ages of 18 and 35, you might just need a fresh pair of boxers.*

*Confidential to Not Me: Save it.

Fucking RSS feed.
 

You do realize that by moving from the Bay Area, you would likely escape the draft? Everywhere else it's men 18-25. You all get special treatment because, well, you're special.

Mourning In America
 

My god. Didn't I post a speech by Gorby where he said the arms race help kill the USSR? Wait. Did I forget to post it? Is there no such thing as a point conceded here?

And "before Reagan?" So you think Carter sitting and watching the USSR do what it wanted helped? I get it. Carter being a complete apologist, let the USSR think it could invade Afghanistan w/o consequence. Carter made the USSR forget the Afghans might raise an issue. So Carter deserves the credit for the negative fallout of the Afghan war.

Okay.

Mourning Reagan
 

The proposal was for Ronnie to replace the socialist FDR on the dime.

IMHO, you have to keep FDR. His legacy, for better or worse, is solid.

No reason we can't bump US Grant from the Fifty though*


* And replace Jackson on the $20 with Scores girls

Fucking RSS feed.
 

My understanding of the law was that the registration requirement was all men 18 to 26. If the SS law as presently drafted says after 26 you're off the hook for actual induction, woo-hoo! However, once you're registered, I'm guessing it's within Congress's power to set that age wherever it likes in pretty short order.

My underwear thanks you for the info.

Mourning Reagan
 

It's more than just his legacy, what with the March of Dimes and polio and all.

Really they should put Reagan on a reissued $500 bill. That way, if people have to use them a lot, they'll be reminded of Reagan's antiinflationary policies, in an ironic way. Of course, a full body portrait of Greenspan on teh back would be appropriate as well.

SF Protests
 

I saw an article about this in the Chron when I was wrapping some fish the other day. Can't remember exactly -- genetically engineered food?

Mourning In America
 

Yes, and won't you?

Ty isn't claiming that Reagan was not connected to the fall of the USSR, just that he wasn't the driving force. I'll say the same about Clinton and the economic expansion.

Mourning Reagan
 

I think you might run into organized resistance from The Daughters Of American Alchoholics on this one.

Mourning Reagan
 

Just so I get this right, are you speaking of your kid or mine?

Mourning Reagan
 

I was stupidly going by an obscure source, a CNN.com poll. Whatever could I have been thinking.

SF Protests
 

Apparently, the protestors can't quite get on the same page either. Link. {Spree: Protestor feeling conflicted after finding out one of the attendees being haraunged by the crowd was an MS researcher. Oh, and then a bunch of unwashed goons call him a moron and a dupe in the comments.}

Mourning In America
 

I expect that IRL you would be embarrassed to equate Clinton's impact on our economy with Reagan's impact on the Soviet economy. That said, presidents claimed more credit than they deserve when things are good, and take more blame than they deserve when things are bad. But their power to fuck things up is greater than their power to make things right.

Mourning Reagan
 

Don't rub my nose in your blue-blood credentials. Just because your daughter can trace your family back to that guy who fell off the Mayflower doesn't make you special.

Mourning Reagan
 

In his defense, he thought someone yelled "Plymouth-rocks".

Fucking RSS feed.
 

No worries. you're going to have the time of your life. Remember hardly any US citizens have read 1000 pps. on Islam. Just bring this up early, muse on Farsi or some such in your intro interview. You'll be moved in the Intelligence unit, far from trouble, and you'll be able to correct misconceptions and redirect mistakes.

"General Bilmore's plan will fail, as he has taken a personal prejudice of how he thinks women are treated, and relies on this misconception to predict the reaction. This plan will surely fail..."
Shit like that.

You might have a great time. It won't be that different than posting here for you! On the other hand, ultimately you'll be helping the military kill people. On the other hand, I think intelligence service has some really cool ribbons.

Fucking RSS feed.
 

Always happy to keep some underwear clean.

My understanding is that you :
a) are obligated to register at 18, and may do so until 26. (I believe there are potential penalties for late registration, but, e.g., immigrants who enter after turning 18 could register at an older age without penalty)
b) must keep selective service apprised of your contact info until you turn 26.
c) are no longer eligible for the draft lottery under current law once you turn 26 (and age 25 is the last group).

of course d) is that Congress can change any of these rules at any time it can muster the votes, so keep a clean pair in your pocket until you die, just in case.