We have been discussing this. It has been suggested that we take a poll of the US Politics Online crowd. Ambigous and I have agrued that defensecan be prvitized. Eveyone has as argued against, with the possible exception of Eisbrecher. I hope I havn't mischaracterized anyone, if I have, I'm sorry.

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"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question."
-Thomas Jefferson in his first inauguration address

Whooo! My side is winning! Sweet!

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"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question."
-Thomas Jefferson in his first inauguration address

Not anymore.

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"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming "WOO HOO, What a Ride!"

Is there a more precise definition of what "defense" means here? I missed the original discussion.
I assume that it means the public defense, but some aspects of the public defense are already private (port authorities, contractors, ect...)

Hey, he's cruising along with a whopping 20%; his own vote!

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

Defense is protecting people i think. Police and army tasks.

Crap!

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"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question."
-Thomas Jefferson in his first inauguration address

Hey, we're at 33%, now. All tied up, although I imagine this will change...

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"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question."
-Thomas Jefferson in his first inauguration address

I would also like to point out that polls on this site do not tend to reflect general ones that are not just given to people that are such political junkies as we are. I wonder what the general public would think.

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"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Um... Huh.

You've got three people who think it should be privatized.

You've got six people who think it shouldn't be.

In what special corner of your brain does this constitute a "tie"?

Given your grasp of basic math fundamentals, I'm sure two more votes will give you 140% of the total...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

maybe I'm a little old fashioned, but defense is one of the few powers i acknowledge that the government does have.

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"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent."
-John Calvin

So it's impossible that in the six minutes between his post and yours that three more votes were added? Interesting...

When my vote made it four to two, and my vote was made before his post claiming a tie, yes, it's impossible...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

As of 10:07am, PST, it's 9 to 3 in favor of not privatizing it.

Somehow, I'm sure this will be seen as a win by those supporting privatization...

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Obama's New "57 State Patriotic Pin":




Sayeth John Drake - 10/13/08: "OK, you're right, I admit to LYING"

Why do you think this?

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"Sometimes it is said that man cannot be trusted with the government of himself. Can he, then, be trusted with the government of others? Or have we found angels in the form of kings to govern him? Let history answer this question."
-Thomas Jefferson in his first inauguration address