a thought experiment

As a science professional, I am a strong advocate of the process of repeatable experimentation in the search for empirical proofs.

I have read several right-wing blog posts in the last few days, and have seen a couple of appearances by administration shills on television in that period of time that revolve around one basic point.

These people are speaking out in favor of the use of untrammeled military force to achieve the goals of the administration around the world, force in places like the Middle East and North Korea. Several of them have made the case that if we were sufficiently ruthless in Iraq, Lebanon, Iran, Syria, North Korea and all of the other countries who clearly do not like the United States, that we would be able to coerce these anti-American lands and peoples into at least doing our bidding, even if it was against their own inclinations.

My experiment is simple.

Any time somebody hears one of these clowns pushing our nation to be the schoolyard bully of the countries of the world, they should walk up to them and knock them out, by hand or by weapon, whether they are old or young, male or female.



After they wake up, they should be asked this:

"Do you still agree with the use of violence to achieve political ends? That is what just happened to you. Are you persuaded to support my point of view without ever seeking retribution and without hating me knowing that if you don't I will hit you again even harder?"



See, science can be fun!