ethics only exists to
hold the
fort long enough and settle things down enough to get
technology in. We start to hang people and keep
right on tying the noose in a workmanlike fashion
right up to the instant we can get
tech in-which of
course makes the noose unnecessary. When things are bad (
bad indicators heavily visible) putting a
body on the
gallows is very salutary. We call it "putting a head on a pike." Too many
bad indicators and too
goofed up a
situation and we must put a head on a pike. Then things simmer down and we can begin to get
tech in.
(HCO PL 16 May 65 II)