In article , Mike Coslo
writes:

N2EY wrote:

snippage

As anyone who understands formal logic knows, reductio ad absurdum is a
valid
way of evaluating the validity of an assertion.

It works like this: An assertion is analyzed by logical methods, and if the
result is an absurdity, the original statement must be false.

Or absurd! I like to apply this logic to as much as possible in life.
And many ideas do not fare well!

You WANT absurdity?


more snippage

so how hard a
stretch is it to see some element of society arguing to eliminate any
technical knowledge, too...?!?!

More important - how can those arguments be countered?

IMO, the only way to counter them is to attempt a consensus of just how

much "quality" and technical acumen is desired in a Ham. It's what you
and I are doing yapping about what Ham radio might become. It's what
Hans is doing. I don't like everything he proposes, but I could live
with it.

DOS tip: The FCC determines what it requires in licensing of radio
operators, NOT the "amateur community" or the "communities" of
any other radio service that require radio operators.

We have to bark about every attempt at reducing the knowledge or skills

needed to become a Ham. We need to also guard against trying to set the
bar too high - though I doubt that that will be much of a problem!

You can always petiiton the FCC for a complete change in scope and
description of U.S. amateur radio. I'd suggest you change the name to
"Archaic Radiotelegraphy Service" for below-30-MHz. Make morse the
prime definition of HF amateur radio.

When a VEC group publishes what they want the ARS to become, and what
they want is a drastic reduction in knowledge, at the same time granting
priveliges for that reduction, we have to yell loud and strong.

Has anyone seen YOUR opposition to a "VEC group publishing what
they want?"

We have to realize that when we are told to shut up, it means that our
arguments are good, and that "shut up" is the best argument the other
side has to give.

Don't try to rationalize a weak argument of yours as "more noble, logical,
in the best interests of the service," etc., etc. by feigning outrage at
"improper acts of others."

We have to realize that while we may lose this fight no matter how hard

we work at it, if we sit still and shut up, there is no doubt of the
outcome. Entropy will take over.

Don't worry, 981 commenters on RM-10811 (largest number of respondents
of the 14 petitions) have been busy stating things in public.

We have to get those that believe that Morse code testing should go
away to realize and admit that something must fill the vacuum created by
its elimination.

WHY?

You are just about to fall over the edge of the "I had to do it so everyone
else has to do it in the future" non-argument.

That something could be *nothing*, which results in a
dramatic reduction in skill level.

"Dramatic?!?!?" Only if you are a morseman is such a thing "dramatic."

:-)

They also need to realize that there
are people out there who want even less in the way of admission
requirements. "Nobody wants licenses just given away" or the like is a
naive statement.

Translation: You had to do something but if others in the future
don't do as you did, they are getting something "free?"

Why? Because I could hand my wife the checkbook, turn her loose in AES
or similar store, and after purchasing whatever the clerk reccomends,
within a week or two she could be on the air. There really is no
impediment too a person whose extent of rf knowledgfe is that you
recieve by twisting the knob, and to transmit, you push the push to talk
button. There is no technical requirement any more, at least to simply
"get on the air". We have to generate our own requirements.

Okay, begin with some fundamentals:

1. A radio boot camp where all "novices" have to learn to take
orders from their "superior" license class holders, march in
ranks to beep music determined by long-ago-dead-amateurs,
know vacuum tube lore by heart, learn how to memorize all
the radio ads in QST and desire each item.

2. Swear an oath of allegiance to amateur radio and the
constitution of the ARRL, salute each vertical diamond logo
as it passes in front of your eyes. Loyalty, fraternity, etc.

3. Wear cute little radio uniforms when operating, have shiny
radio shields in a special holder giving you "authority"
anyplace. Uniforms are a good place to show RANK and
TIME IN GRADE while "in the (radio) service."

4. Demand immediate obeyance by all "civilians" not in your
"service" as superior in the radio arts. Reject all those
who do not think as you do. Remember that the First
Amendment of the United States Constitution does NOT
apply to citizens on amateur radio matters...unless said
citizen is licensed in amateur radio.

5. Petition the FCC for an immediate change of the HF amateur
radio service to "Archaic Radiotelegraphy Service," or perhaps
"Archaic Radiotelegraphy Society." That way you can keep
the beloved code test and force all in the future to do exactly
as you had to do.

6. Always remember that YOUR efforts in getting that amateur
license were so awesome, overpowering, enobling that the
individual efforts of mere "civilians" not into amateur radio
are forever poor and puny by comparison.

7. Amateurs RULE. Professionals must obey the amateurs.

LHA