Even now, Mr Yeltsin seems to view declarations of intent as an acceptable substitute for action.

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But this sort of argument would be acceptable only if armed action was a collective decision, had a clear aim and was likely to succeed in bringing about a rapid change for the better.

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In any case, the Federal Open Market Committee, which approved the decision unanimously, appears to agree such risks were an acceptable price for more forceful action against the recession.

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The way to break this in action is with small, smart steps that are limited by Acceptable Loss.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

But obviously work is continuing on that to ensure that it is there and in place in a way that is acceptable to majorities of the House and the Senate, and acceptable to the White House, so the we can be sure that action is taken in a timely fashion so that we do not, for the first time, default on our obligations.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

After eight years of threatening punitive action to compel appreciation of the Chinese currency at a pace deemed acceptable by U.S. politicians (a period, by the way, in which the Yuan appreciated by 30% against the dollar in nominal terms and by much more in real terms), lawmakers may just pull the trigger this time.

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In the 1970s and 1980s, issues such as affirmative action and school busing still riled up many, but de jure racial segregation was no longer considered acceptable by most.

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