It became clear to me today that the universe has marked me as a figure of some importance. Granted, I am not currently at a Keney Chesney concert, but despite this I feel as if I have some sway in the world. For example, today I received an impassioned plea for help from a graduate student who failed to correctly proctor a makeup chemistry examination due to a computer error. Thinking that I am an entirely different Martinson who works in the Chemistry department, he emailed me asking for help and sent me all his error files. I informed him that I was very sorry, but that I have not taken a chemistry class at UGA and that I am not even sure where Boyd is located. He responded back, apparently not understanding the content of my message, and essentially repeated his request. Given this, I felt it was in everyones best interest if I just helped the poor guy. And thus I began giving tech support advice in the only way I know how.
I asked, “Are you sure that the Chemistry test was plugged in and set to the on position?”
He responded, “I'm not sure; how do I check that?”
I said, “Follow the instructions in section 2 of the manual that accompanies the software.”
He responded, several hours later, “That fixed the error, thanks.”
And so people might tell you that you cannot just bs your way through life the way you might a test, but oh, they are wrong.
These are the minutes for February the 2nd, 2006.
The meeting was called to order and we recognized five first time guests and four second time guests.
When the floor was opened to new business, Mr. Moulds stood alone, which was good because otherwise we would have been in dire need of a resolution. He outlined a number of grievances with the doctrine of Eminent Domain and presented:
BIR: The use of Eminate Domain should be banned in the United States, RS, Steven Moulds
The largest of the grievances entailed using seized land for commercial development, which he felt did not qualify as a great enough public service to warrant the use of power.
Mr. Chiego pointed out that Simcity would be completely unplayable without the use of eminent domain, and that people have better life chances if you somehow improve the city they live in, justifying commercial development.
Mr. Dowell agreed with Mr. Moulds's assertions about abuses of eminent domain, but pointed out that the abuse of eminent domain is not grounds for its abolition. He saw eminent domain as a necessary tool for government.
Mr. Williamson thought that eminent domain is unnecessary for proper governance. The invisible hand should do all the work; no entity can really decide what is and isn't needed for all society.
Mr. Theiss asked what is a public good and who determines it? He suggested that the primary use of eminent domain, building new roads, isn't really necessary, and that it's really used to further the interests of politicians.
Mr. Hansen espoused the strongest disagreement with both the spirit and letter of the resolution, saying that eminent domain ought to be absolute, and we wouldn't have a problem with this if we could conceive of government being a direct extension of collective will.
Mr. Misztal said that it is all about how the rule is applied. One persons land isn't really equivalent to anothers. He suggested that UGA has outgrown Athens and that now Athens wants to kill it; If we could just bulldoze ugly historic houses we'd be better off.
A guest rose and disputed Mr. Moulds's example of New London; he said that in an economically depressed community, using eminent domain for commercial development is not only a private gain, and that our road system is the result of eminent domain.
Mr. Pearl then rose to ask how an individual can know what good comes from a project in the long run. He mentioned a little highway that could, as in could change things, but it split neighborhoods in half so people didn't want it. This highway was GA400; the individual didn't know what the public good was in this case.
The question was called and failed three to twenty among members and failed one to five among guests.
Ms. Wilkinson then rose to argue that an individual who was possessed of some phobia regarding a type of people such that they are totally dysfunctional are psychologically insane, and that it is not really a hate crime per se if someone acts on those feelings. She presented:
BIR: Hate crimes should not have greater punishments than other crimes. RS, Ashley Wilkinson
Mr. Addison opposed and said we have a long history of punishing psychos. Nine out of ten rape victims say they were raped by a psycho, but that doesn't stop us from throwing them in jail. Further, repealing laws based on the APA's guidelines might be a bad idea; after all they considered homosexuality a disease only thirty years ago.
Mr. Dowell quoted south park saying that all crimes are hate crimes. For some reason he motioned at me when he said you commit the crime because you don't like 'them', and that the basis of hate crime legislation is silly because there is no real difference between say, one murder and another. I must note that I'm glad to know that someone in Demosthenian is looking out for the interests of persecuted white males, such as myself.
Ms. Meek said that if hate crimes are the result of a psychological disorder, it's all the more reason to keep them off the street longer. She also argued that hate crimes help establish a more equal society by addressing past injustices.
Mr. Moulds began by saying that Justice is merely revenge. He also pointed out that the guy who kills for the fun of it is in fact not actually less cupable than those who kill out of hate. However, putting people in prison teaches them to hate more, so putting psychopaths in mental wards instead of prisons might be a good idea.
Mr. Williamson said that a failure to bond generates serial killers, he also said, quote, “You cannot restore someone to their previous state when rehabilitating them because this is how they were already.” Further, deterrents do not work because they don't care, you just have to put them away forever.
Mr. Chiego said that one value we've always had is standing up to misbeliefs, and that the laws create a hypocritical situation.
Mr. Pearl said he spends a lot of time watching CNN and described his perspective on the recent gay bar attack; when someone kills for a semi-rational reason, it isn't as bad as when people kill because they hate someone.
The resolution passed 8 to 6 and failed 0 to 2 among guests.
Mr. Pearl hates everyone, so he abstained.
Mr. Dowell then took the floor to suggest that we don't have a meeting before the ANM and presented a resolution to that effect. A filibuster then began which was ended with a tabling of the resolution.
Mr. Dowell then got up again to talk about the Pax Romana and suggested that without a clear rival, a nation becomes corrupt and runs into all sorts of problems. He presented
Be it resolved, without clear rivals, an empire is destined to fall. RS, Stephen Dowell
Mr. Chiego disagreed with Mr. Dowells examples and presented counter examples including the persian culture. You don't always want rivalries. The Pax Romana was one of the most productive times of the Roman Empire.
Mr. Richards mentioned batman begins as an example and suggested among other things that there are ninjas, right now, after the United States; more seriously I believe he was suggesting that forces tend to make empires fall with or without rivals.
Ms. Barnett said that wars don't give people much time to learn things or improve society; the results are mixed when you try to take a condition and use it to generate a result.
Mr. Pearl said that conflict is great for government; Bush has been able to spend a lot because of it, and the GOP continues to get re-elected. The rivalry gives incumbents an extra edge.
At this point I must apologize and plead incompetence; it seems that either in the chaos of the end of last weeks meeting with all sorts of people moving and shaking, either I simply lost the minutes somehow, or whoever was acting secretary took them as a parting gift, and so i'm simply missing the minutes after this point. This is unacceptable and I apologize for this unheard of gaff on my part.
I can however say that after this point the resolution failed and then Josh D. Weiss presented BIR, The Demosthenian Literary Society shall open negotiations with the society across the way to establish the intersociety formal. RS. Josh D. Weiss, which did not pass.
Respectfully submitted,
Jacob R. Martinson |
University of Georgia 