Socialism in France
I don't think you should blame alcoholics for their problem as the government encourages alcohol because of the massive amount of taxes they collect from it. I overheard a clerk at a government alcohol store (called an "ABC" store) tell a pregnant woman who was feeling guilty about buying alcohol that it was none of her business what her customers do.
Well I guess, there's that old personal choice matter. It is nobody's business, but that is her choice. Sadly her unborn offspring will suffer from her choice.
I guess I was raised on old ideas and values, but I watched what welfare, free insurance, and Government assistance did to our native Indians, and black Americans, whose ancestors were here before most of ours arrived. It destroyed their pride, and rewarded their failures, especially the " law " which motivated young black women to have several children to recieve more money. There's just no sense in such stupidity in Government.
I'm with Shakespeare, get rid of the lawyers, then the politicians.
I guess I was raised on old ideas and values, but I watched what welfare, free insurance, and Government assistance did to our native Indians, and black Americans, whose ancestors were here before most of ours arrived. It destroyed their pride, and rewarded their failures, especially the " law " which motivated young black women to have several children to recieve more money. There's just no sense in such stupidity in Government.
I'm with Shakespeare, get rid of the lawyers, then the politicians.
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hubird
The question is, do we (the society of people) accept that there always a percentage of people who just don't make it in life.
This question get's troubled by another question, namely if it's the individual's own fault, or is caused by education failures.
Or even by the way we, accidently, have organized our society.
Regarding alcohol, that affects availability, age restrictions, public use, and - ho! - taxes
I just can see it this way: you can't differentate in solidarity.
It's all or nothing.
Who'd have to decide it's whom's fault?
But also principally, the most important aspect of solidarity is, it ultimately affects the individual, not a 'group' in the first place.
Without individuals no groups.
The way the society in question takes care about the 'problem' is another question, which even isn't so relevant for the subject really
This question get's troubled by another question, namely if it's the individual's own fault, or is caused by education failures.
Or even by the way we, accidently, have organized our society.
Regarding alcohol, that affects availability, age restrictions, public use, and - ho! - taxes
I just can see it this way: you can't differentate in solidarity.
It's all or nothing.
Who'd have to decide it's whom's fault?
But also principally, the most important aspect of solidarity is, it ultimately affects the individual, not a 'group' in the first place.
Without individuals no groups.
The way the society in question takes care about the 'problem' is another question, which even isn't so relevant for the subject really
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Audiographe
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King of Snake
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the only problem is that there is no such thing as "the people". Not everyone has the same needs, the same wishes and the same things to offer. The whole point of a representative democracy is that "the people" vote for whoever they think will do the best at caring for their personal needs. I don't believe it is ever possible to create a "consencus by and for the people".scope4live wrote:I wish we could get rid of all of these currupt self serving politicians around the world, and have a consensus that is by the people, and for the people.
Do you think that when you get rid of all the corrupt politicians, the people you are left with will turn out to be any less corrupt? Power has to concentrate somewhere, otherwise large societies could never make any decisions at all. That this power brings corruption is inevitable, that's why most democraticillay elected officials have a finite term to sit out and can be replaced by someone else if the people vote for it. That's why there should be a seperation of powers between the judiciary and the state.
In the end, we need the politicians as much as they need us. But all free societies should be wary of politicians amassing too much power and should punish those who would use that power to trample on the basic freedoms of the population (as has happened under the Bush administration)
... which will set the 'law' (constitution ?) out of order as there are (possibly hidden) provisions to prevent this in any such society I'm aware of...King of Snake wrote:... and should punish those who would use that power to trample on the basic freedoms of the population (as has happened under the Bush administration)
I don't know the 'Shakespear-quote' further up, but if he saw it that way a few hundred years ago, little has or is about to change in that context.
As long as 'politics' is a well paid job with lots of possibilities but few (if any ...) responsibility, it's suposed to s*ck.
Taxes aren't problem at all, 2/3 of the price for gas in Germany is taxes, but don't even think that people buy an 'economic' car... the highest rates of new registrations are for high powered vehicles - everyone complains, but noone cares - as long as it's fun (no speed limit on the autobahn) and prestige people enjoy it
and don't even think that the government could 'afford' a 3 litre/per 100 km vehicle, they are all talking bs when it comes to 'environmental' concerns... 46 million cash cows can't be ignored
cheers, Tom
it doesn't matter if you really can - what's important is that you could...
...you know... I don't need all the horsepower of my car... and I drive fairly slow... but if there is a situation I want to go faster than the vehicle before me the bigger engine allows me to do it faster - hence I'm more safe... etc etc
the counterproof of this nonsense is documented in the annual traffic accident statistics, and applies to behaviour on autobahn as well.
Not to distract from the topic, but that is people and their reasoning ... regardless of their social position (at least in this area...)
cheers, Tom
...you know... I don't need all the horsepower of my car... and I drive fairly slow... but if there is a situation I want to go faster than the vehicle before me the bigger engine allows me to do it faster - hence I'm more safe... etc etc
the counterproof of this nonsense is documented in the annual traffic accident statistics, and applies to behaviour on autobahn as well.
Not to distract from the topic, but that is people and their reasoning ... regardless of their social position (at least in this area...)
cheers, Tom
You are safer driving a larger vehicle, but this does not mean that larger vehicles are safer. They are more dangerous to all the other people!
In recent years there has been a ridiculous escalation of vehicle size including hummers which cost nearly as much as my 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house did 4 years ago.
I have often thought that we could control speeding easily with electronic devices embedded in vehicles and the road, but I realized that this will never happen as municipalities rely on speeding tickets for income. It's like a tax. I love the way Finland fines people based on their income. That is the fair way to do it. This will never happen here as their is a severe lack of logic in all areas.
In recent years there has been a ridiculous escalation of vehicle size including hummers which cost nearly as much as my 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house did 4 years ago.
I have often thought that we could control speeding easily with electronic devices embedded in vehicles and the road, but I realized that this will never happen as municipalities rely on speeding tickets for income. It's like a tax. I love the way Finland fines people based on their income. That is the fair way to do it. This will never happen here as their is a severe lack of logic in all areas.
astroman wrote:it doesn't matter if you really can - what's important is that you could...
...you know... I don't need all the horsepower of my car... and I drive fairly slow... but if there is a situation I want to go faster than the vehicle before me the bigger engine allows me to do it faster - hence I'm more safe... etc etc
the counterproof of this nonsense is documented in the annual traffic accident statistics, and applies to behaviour on autobahn as well.
Not to distract from the topic, but that is people and their reasoning ... regardless of their social position (at least in this area...)
cheers, Tom
so when it all goes bad, you can drive safely among the peasants....manfriday wrote:I will probably get kicked out of the "White Conservative American" club for saying this, but I hate hummers as well.. (the vehicle that is. the other kind of hummer I cant live without)..
Why on earth does anyone need to drive a friggin tank to work every day?
Wait a minute,
I was touring the " Med " in the mid 90's as we were told it was safer now than when the CVN's were off the coast of Lebanon. I was shocked to see in Beirut a car lot full of French Citreons, Puegot, and Saab's. All had Arabic writing for prices, so I didn't understand the values, but as we rounded the corner there were some Chieftan's w/ reactive armor, and M60's mounted atop, as well as Russian T-72's !!! Same kind of writing again, but I understood one thing, you could buy this with the right amount of cash or credit. Suddenly we lost our armed escorts when we arrived at the Sheraton, and I didn't feel very safe, but I guarenfuckintee, if any shit started, I was going for the Cheiftan, as the brits invented reactive armor, and seal sealing gas tanks, plus the M60 is a very serious hunting dog IMHO.
So can any of you great philosophers explain this to me? When we think our worlds suck so bad, look at N.Korea, or Lebanon, or the West Bank. I have no idea how Assaf could design Flexor II while dodging bombs and rockets, and rock throwing Palestinians. We should send some of our major league baseball scouts over there, as I have seen those kids chucking some pretty big rocks with accuracy, they would soon forget about throwing anything but a baseball for a few mill a year.
I was touring the " Med " in the mid 90's as we were told it was safer now than when the CVN's were off the coast of Lebanon. I was shocked to see in Beirut a car lot full of French Citreons, Puegot, and Saab's. All had Arabic writing for prices, so I didn't understand the values, but as we rounded the corner there were some Chieftan's w/ reactive armor, and M60's mounted atop, as well as Russian T-72's !!! Same kind of writing again, but I understood one thing, you could buy this with the right amount of cash or credit. Suddenly we lost our armed escorts when we arrived at the Sheraton, and I didn't feel very safe, but I guarenfuckintee, if any shit started, I was going for the Cheiftan, as the brits invented reactive armor, and seal sealing gas tanks, plus the M60 is a very serious hunting dog IMHO.
So can any of you great philosophers explain this to me? When we think our worlds suck so bad, look at N.Korea, or Lebanon, or the West Bank. I have no idea how Assaf could design Flexor II while dodging bombs and rockets, and rock throwing Palestinians. We should send some of our major league baseball scouts over there, as I have seen those kids chucking some pretty big rocks with accuracy, they would soon forget about throwing anything but a baseball for a few mill a year.
I wanted to buy a Hummer from the depot at the Monterey army base. For 38 large I could get a bulletproof one w/ body armor also.
That way when I have to go buy drugs, the pimps and dealers will be so shocked to see it, by the time they get any shots off, I'd be long gone, plus if the AK47's won't pierce it, those crappy ghetto guns will sound like popcorn.
That way when I have to go buy drugs, the pimps and dealers will be so shocked to see it, by the time they get any shots off, I'd be long gone, plus if the AK47's won't pierce it, those crappy ghetto guns will sound like popcorn.
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hubird