Unstate - for the free individual

2006-09-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

2006-09-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

2005-01-06T11:06:00.000-08:00

In the aftermath of the Tsunami, many have pointed out the blindingly obvious fact that poor people have been affected more by this disaster than rich people. The fact that this is the case with every natural (and most man-made) disaster that has ever occurred is seldom recognized.

While undoubtedly tragic, this is not in the least surprising. A simple analysis of human action will explain this. The whole reason why man works hard is to provide a number of things to himself and his loved ones - things like good food, better health and safer shelter. This means that people who don't earn enough will, by definition, be able to afford only food, healthcare and shelter of lesser quality. Will anyone be surprised to learn that rich people starve less than poor people? Or that rich people get admitted to fancy hospitals while the poor have to visit government run hospitals?

For an excellent article about why poor get affected more by natural disasters and how government only makes it worse read the following.

2005-01-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

Excellent article on the Tsunami and man's relationship with nature Times Online - Comment

2004-12-28T20:01:00.000-08:00

Posting after a long time. No good excuses for that.

The whole tsunami thing has shaken me up. Too many people dead in too many countries and the count is increasing every day. Everytime mankind feels a bit arrogant about its achievements (private space travel anyone?), nature has a way of humbling us.

This also makes me think - isn't nature destructive enough, with its disasters and diseases? Why do we need all these wars where man hurts and kills fellow man? All internecine warfare happens because men see the differences that they have with other men. Nature, the great leveller, shows us all how insignificant those differences are. Black or white, American or Iraqi, if you had been on Marina beach at that time, the result would have been the same.

2004-05-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

Google! Finally got gmail, the email service from google. Looks good so far.

2004-05-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

Will add more stuff next week. Couple of things on my mind.

2004-05-20T18:40:00.000-07:00

Every day, as I drive, I listen to talk radio. The most interesting ones are the conservatives like Michael Savage. I guess, to succeed in talk radio, you need to be over the top and opinionated and no one is more opinionated than a conservative talk show host.

As I listen with fascination to the callers, an epiphany strikes me. To most people, news and associated programming are not for information but confirmation. Affirmation. People are already sure about their positions. What they need is not unbiased, disinterested facts to possible change their minds, but facts, statistics and news bits from someone who thinks like them. This would, of course, help them argue their position with the opposition and possibly even evangelize occasionally.

If you ever make cogent, logical arguments to someone and find that they are stubborn in their position, this is why. They are looking for confirmation; not information.

2004-05-20T10:31:00.000-07:00

I read here that bloggers may get invitations to GMail. I haven't received one yet, unfortunately.

2004-04-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

They say that history repeats itself and those who don't learn from it are condemned to repeat it. The fourth crusade by William Bonner is an excellent illustration of that.

2004-04-30T19:01:00.000-07:00

Joseph Sobran has an excellent article about slaves who fought for their confederate masters during the civil war and points out that people who blindly support the government in the war are no different. Excellent read!

2004-04-30T18:58:00.000-07:00

This is my first post. Long live freedom!