Post #55,874
10/9/02 9:52:06 PM
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Socialism won't work
Capitalism makes the rich richer, Socialism gives too many people a free ride and knocks out growth, Communism of course is what almost killed the former USSR and almost killed China and is choking the life out of Cuba. We need to find an alternative to these three and fast.
How about Capitalism focused on Consumers instead of the MegaCorps?
[link|http://games.speakeasy.net/data/files/khan.jpg|"Khan!!!" -Kirk]
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Post #56,084
10/10/02 9:18:23 PM
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It's not an economic/political system problem...
The problem isn't with our political/economic system.
The problem is with the wickedness of our hearts.
The problems were the same in Jesus' time as today. The leaders are hypocrites, they tell people to do things and then they don't do the same. (Matthew 23)
Leaders demand to be served instead of being "public servants". People seek the power and control of the position.
Greed, lust, and money/power worship reign.
But these aren't problems that will be solved by communism, socialism, capitalism, or any other "ism".
They are solved by having honest/decent people in leadership, no matter what "ism" you subscribe to.
Paul practiced capitalism as a tentmaker. He built and sold his product as he witnessed to people in the marketplace.
Peter (Book of Acts) lead a group of people who practiced communism as every sold all they had and shared their belongings with others.
The key to a successful system isn't whether it is capitalism, communism, or socialism. The key is that we "love our neighbor as ourself". The key is that our leadership lives with integrity and commands respect because of their honest and selfless service.
You will tell me that this is a pipe dream, that I'm living in a fantasy world. But I will come back and tell you that it doesn't get better until we ascribe to better values.
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Post #56,201
10/11/02 11:26:57 AM
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The question is, (and it's a big one!) who's values?
End of world rescheduled for day after tomorrow. Something should probably be done. Please advise.
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Post #56,231
10/11/02 1:06:40 PM
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Answer
I used examples from the Bible, because I'm a Christian.
But, based on the popular notion that all religions point to the "same" morality that seems to popularize the media today, I think the answer still should be the same for everyone. (I know this isn't the case, but I want to make argument anyway.)
1. Always tell the truth.
2. Don't steal.
3. Don't kill.
4. Don't take unfair advantage of those weaker than you.
5. Be consistent in what you do and say.
6. Don't lust after the opposite sex.
7. Treat everyone you encounter with dignity and respect, even people you might personally consider to be idiots.
8. If someone treats you badly, don't seek revenge.
There are probably more for this list, but there's a start. The problem I find in most people want to make exceptions.
Always tell the truth, except for situations when it would hurt someone's feelings, or would cause you embarrasment.
Don't steal, unless it appears that someone doesn't really care about the item anymore.
Don't kill, unless the bastard defiled your holy place, or caused harm or death to someone close to you, or in wartime.
I think morality really is pretty black and white, but our pride keeps us from admitting it. When things become gray, there usually was a decision made upstream ( a decision made some time ago ) that is causing this decision to become fuzzy. Had morals not been originally compromised, you wouldn't be in the gray zone.
I find that occurs in a lot of custody cases. It's hard to determine custody because both parents don't deserve their child, based on past lousy behavior. But, the child's gotta go somewhere, and each parent is determined to punish the other to get their way. ( Maybe Solomon was wiser than we thought in getting out the axe. )
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Post #56,296
10/11/02 9:54:56 PM
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Re: Answer
"Don't lust after the opposite sex."
Huh? Who then? Gary the fairy?
I have, do, and will lust after the opposite sex, for the same reason that a pine cone falls and spreads its seeds. But I am not a pine cone. I am a man. I live. I see. I feel. I will die.
How pitiful is all religion. "Religere" - Latin, to tie fast (confer "ligament", "ligature"). To fix. To bind up. To truss up God with nonsense. To fix God with lies; human lies. To sit God in the electric chair. To lop off his head. To hang him high. To gas him. To cut off his balls. To have no humanity. Be God. Go to him. Amen.
-drl
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Post #56,311
10/11/02 11:24:56 PM
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There's a difference...
God's plan is for one man and one woman to meet, date, get to know one another, get engaged, get married, and do the dirty. (And have kids, and stay married, and enjoy each other your whole life ).
Lust is where you basically want to screw every woman you meet. Kind of like the Billy Crystal line from "When Harry Met Sally". I think the desire to screw everyone on the planet is more our own selfishness, pride, imagination,and sense of adventure than honest hormones.
But a person can pretty much talk himself into anything. So believe what you want, DRL...
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Post #56,347
10/12/02 8:43:09 AM
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It's Natural!
I went fishing last weekend. The water was very clear, and I had polarized sunglasses on, so I could see pretty far down into the water.
I wasn't having any luck with a diving lure I was using. So I tried an experiment - I dragged the lure in the clear water below the pier I was using. I noticed that if I dragged it at just the right speed, so that it developed just the right wiggle, the bluegill would instantly gather around it - like "boom" and they were there. If I dragged it faster or slower, no activity. Something about the speed and wiggle of the lure had to be *just right* to trigger the behavior.
Now, when a fine bottom goes shimmying by, I'm like a bluegill to a dragged lure. It's just nature. Does that mean I'm going to bite? Obviously not. I only bite if asked. :)
So, your religion asks you to deny what is most basic about you - your animal heritage. This is good? No - it's the origin of all evil. Religion may have been pertinent at some time, but now it's just historical baggage.
-drl
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Post #56,375
10/12/02 1:31:00 PM
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Diff between looking and acting on impulses
You're right about the wiggle thing. It does get our attention and that's OK.
It's when you start fantasizing about what you want to do with the other person that you start to get in trouble. It when your imagination gets ahead of building a relationship with the other person.
I dated my wife for 5 years. Lord knows I wanted to "do her" early on and she wanted the same very much. However, we managed to hold out until we were certain that we were committed to marriage before "doing it". It was very hard, but we had to let our relationship blossom in other ways (friendship, partnership, commitment) before we could do the fun stuff.
I just wish that men could somehow learn that women are people first, with feelings, sensitivities, opinions, and strengths and weaknesses. The sex part needs to come later as a result of a committed relationship.
But, because we are friends now, we have a great marriage, great kids, and I have a great family and church life.
On the other hand, I have an acquaintance at work who lets his tallywhacker do the talking, and he's about to destroy his 2nd marriage (the negative wife talk has already started), and by his third he probably won't even bother with the ceremony. He has two kids by two women (so far). I really feel sorry for him, because he can't seem to "get it right". Also, he's an acquaintence, not a friend, because he is so full of himself that it's really a joke around the office.
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Post #57,661
10/18/02 6:51:23 PM
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It is a flawed universe far from perfect
and we are all flawed in some way and fall short of God.
But not everyone believes, some have different values or no values at all.
Very few good people left on the planet, mostly opressed by the rich jerks and jerkettes who run the place.
As of today, I don't know what is real anymore. I don't know what is what, and I am totally confused. I am doing what I can to stay alive, but how long can I last before the illnes takes control again? I have been having a lot of negative thoughts, and they are beyond my control. I have no idea what to do, and I keep getting conflicting information. Death would be a release right now, I don't want to think about that but I can't help it.
[link|http://games.speakeasy.net/data/files/khan.jpg|"Khan!!!" -Kirk]
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Post #57,729
10/18/02 9:59:19 PM
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I am praying for you.
Nothing else useful to say at the moment, but I do pray.
--
We have only 2 things to worry about: That
things will never get back to normal, and that they already have.
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Post #56,317
10/12/02 12:20:50 AM
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RE: socialism choking the life out of Cuba.
Um, no. That would be us.
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Post #56,338
10/12/02 7:01:30 AM
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Why yes, but for their own good, like Iraqi population next-
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