Originally Posted by
John Forester
This discussion has been covered at length for years. You and I disagree about the meaning of the word practicable as used in the FTR law. As I have previously written, I have had extensive experience in this matter, and I am confident in two things. First, that your view of the meaning of practicable is not that held by the three branches of government. Second, that my view is a much more accurate depiction of the view of the meaning of practicable as understood by the three branches of government. Considering the cases that have been reported, I see several that reflect my view and none that reflect your view. Unless you have cases to advance in which your view is supported over my view, I see no point in continuing the discussion.
Bek takes the Lewis Carrol/Humpty Dumpty view of words. To Bek a word means whatever he wants it to mean. As Humpty said, it's a matter of who's in charge:
' “I don’t know what you mean by ‘glory,’ ” Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. “Of course you don’t—till I tell you. I meant ‘there’s a nice knock-down argument for you!’ ”
“But ‘glory’ doesn’t mean ‘a nice knock-down argument’,” Alice objected.
“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.”
“The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
“The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master that’s all.”
Alice was too much puzzled to say anything, so after a minute Humpty Dumpty began again. “They’ve a temper, some of them—particularly verbs, they’re the proudest—adjectives you can do anything with, but not verbs—however, I can manage the whole lot! Impenetrability! That’s what I say!”'