Lan, you lazy wolf... please don't leave the site, and go ahead and log in.
Lan and the rest of you who don't always log in: You can log in forever if you want... and then you almost never have to log in. I stayed logged in for so long though that one time I forgot my log on information. Don't do that, but other than that please log in forever and never ever leave...
I personally think that Obama is as patriotic as McCain, just in a different way. The far right parinoid movement who's litterature I found, stated it this way... maybe it was Bill Cooper who said it, but I am not sure, nor do I remember the exact quote, but according to the far right source, the biggest part of Patriotism is the loyalty to the constitution, and the spirit and meaning of the constitution, which is freedom... FREEDOM as Stoner would spell it, over all other aspects of government, including party, elected officials or any laws that conflict with the Constitution. The most important part of the constitution is the bill of rights without which the Constitution would not have ever been signed unanimously. The Bill of Rights was what originally 'United these States." It is a unique document.
Many laws have been passed that weakened it, but if taken to the supreme court I am sure that they will uphold it, and set those laws back in their proper place. The second most important part of the Constitution is the Preamble, which states WE have the right to persue Life Liberty and the Persuit of happiness. Any law or group which infringes the rights of the people as stated in the constitution is UN constitutional, and therefore unpatriotic. Thus the things Obama objects to about our country are infringments of the constitution in the first place.
People can interpret the constitution in in different ways, which is amazing considering how simple and clear cut the language is, but when the constitution is limited by subsequent laws, and by unconstitutional actions by the government, then a true patriot is obligated to stand up to the government and defend the constitution against the current government.
Unfortunately neither Obama, nor McCain, nor Edwards for that matter took a stand against the Patriot act which does conflict with the constitution. OF all the Senators and Representitives, only Russell Feingold voted against it, He was the only one! To me he is a lot more of a patriot than anyone else, because he sought to defend the constitution from infringment. He may well by definition be the ONLY patriot in Washington. Possibly the only one not guilty of treason, just for signing that thing. Unfortunately he was not on the ballot.
Mindlessly agreeing with a treasonous president, and treasonous senators isn't Patriotism. In that light, McCain is just as unpatriotic as the next senator. That I take from my Right wing leanings, and not my left.
I am extreme in my views both far left and far right. For example, Gun control is Unconstitutional, from a far right POV, and useless from a Liberal POV. As a liberal I have the common sense to know that nothing that exists will ever be gotten rid of. There will always be guns, always be drugs, always be alcohol, and tobacco. There is no way to irradicate it, thus I feel that in order to be fair, these things should be readily accessable to everyone. Criminals will always have guns, and the good citizens should also have them to prevent victimization. Without infriging on our freedoms these things cannot be controled anyway. If the government is watching you to the point you can't buy a gun, and to the point you can't score drugs, then they are watching too close and infringing on your privacy. IF they don't have probable cause to suspect someone they shouldn't be allowed to snoop in your business that much.
Stoner:
I was not suggesting violence only getting involved in a group which shares your views. You are young and passionate in your views. You could make a difference and I believe that you have potential to do so. There are things you need to learn before you start speaking publically, but I just have a feeling that if you could focus your thoughts into words, in a well organized manner, maybe you could make a difference... but you are going to have to gain some control of your emotions, because you are correct Violence isn't the answer, nor is acting like you have that potential. You have some interesting views, which are fairly unique, and you should be able to state them rationally.
I don't mind if you complain. I am just saying that your complaints aren't as effective as they could be if you learned to state your case better.
Well, I checked and the electorial vote of every single state was just as the vote count dictated. Apparently your point was made by the people in mass. Now I do not know as to the accuracy of the count, but it looked legitimate. A running tabulation was being posted on line for each state, and updated every three minutes, or every time a group of votes was counted. I checked at least a dozen of them as frequently as humanly possible, and it certainly appeared that they were counting. IT looked much more legitimate than last election... and to my knowledge there were no chads to hang up this time. ;D I really think we got a fair election this time. I admit that the last two were rigged, but this one was probably legitimate. I mean the world WAS watching, and I think if they had cheated even other countries would have called them out on it, and the citizens might have rioted.
That makes sense. Personally I only have trouble with our government under some of the Republican Presidents, and at times when it was hijacked by one or more government agencies. The ATF, the Pentagon, the army, and others have all at times overstepped their authority in their actions, but that isn't the fault of our governmental system as a whole... I am pretty sure the pentegon itself is unconstituational. There wasn't even supposed to be a standing army, much less a perpetual war machine like the Pentagon.
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Yes, but as a citizen living in the US you have a lot more opportunity to express your opinion than the starving children in Africa do, so use your voice to defend them. Use your voice, to uphold humane treatment of all peole. Your vote is your voice, but also political activism is your voice.
Opportunities are not given, they are taken. I don't mean violently either. I mean you have to make a plan and create your opportunities. Sometimes ppushing is necessary to get anywhere. I admit I am not pushy enough either, but I do know that we both can when it is necessary.
I think you Should express your opinions, but if they aren't well recieved you should find better ways to express them, until they are. There are many ways to say the same thing. The most important thing is to get your facts straight, and express them in a compelling way.
OK I am going to critique this in order to help you understand what I mean by stating your opinion eloquently. Rule number one don't contradict yourself. Playing objective listener to this, I have to ask these questions. So what is the problem? I mean if you don't need the system and can do whatever you want without it, then why are you complaining? Yet you just said you had no money, and no assets, and you were powerless to do anything... so which is it. Are you powerless, or can you make your ideas and opinions a reality?
I know the answer to this question, but do you? My answer would be that you can, but it would take more drive and interest and incentive than you have been able to muster yet. I am not putting you down on this. I usually have to have a mustering period myself, where I have to get motivated. Our self esteme is key to motivation... why try to do anything if you don't believe in your ability to do it... and of course you have to plan. I saw below that you are actually seriously working on a plan. I know that you have to plan it out, and figure out how to make it work, and that might take time, but don't talk yourself out of it. Do what you think needs to be done. Not saying you can't change your mind on your course of action, but I am saying you need to make a plan and act on it. I don't care what the plan is, but you need a plan.
Exactly!!!
I know you aren't God, and if you are truely doing all you CAN then good. I just want you to realize that you DO have free will, but the second part of free will is WILL. I know what it is like to have your will weakened by circumstances, and sometimes we do have feelings of powerlessness that are keep us from seeing potential opportunities. It is so easy to fall into the I'll do it next week mentality. I am bad about that myself. I am just saying, Do something while you are young, because the longer you wait, the harder it will be to break out of the pattern of procrastination.
I think I was just talking about working to change the current government into something more palitable. Trying to change it a little at a time with your voice, your vote, and your will. It takes time, but change is possible.
Yes, I think that is where your heart is, and possibly you should follow your heart, and work towards helping them with their goals in whatever way you can. Maybe that would include education or learning a skill that would be helpful for them. In general I know that you have some kind of calling, but only you have the final say in what exactly that is.
That's good to know, because many of your ideas are revolutinary to me. I am not familiar with some of the ideas you express... I am glad you are not alone in them though.
I don't see how this could get started. Farming is a tremendously expensive, difficult and profitless proposition from the beginning, and the price that farmers get for their crops barely pays for the expenses as it is. The farmer doesn't get most of the money for his work anyway. Who gets the money? The stores! The packaging plants! Those who ship the food, and assemble it on the store shelves! If you paid, what the farmer gets for his products, you'd save more than 95 percent of your grocery bill. If you could devise a system where individuals could pay wholsale for raw farm goods and process them, themselves then it would solve the problem... and when you get down to it the problem is this. The average American will not buy wheat when they can buy flour. They won't buy flour if they can buy ready made bread, and they won't buy readymade bread if they can pick up a sandwich already made.
Fruther most don't look for wholesalers, they all run to the supermarket for every little thing. They don't stock up on supplies for cooking, they get a few packages of over processed single serving sized junk, because it is easier. People do not have a lifestyle that affords the extra time and energy it would take to turn wheat, and a side of beef, into a sandwich... except the Mormons... maybe you should join the Mormons? Or at least look to them for a role model of lifestyle.
As for construction... the main cost is materials, and homeless people could learn to build their own houses. The main problem I see is the standards that housing has to pass as well. Homes could be built much more cheeply than they are, and be just as solid, maybe more so, but building codes keep people from thinking outside the box on creative construction. At the same time though if someone makes a mistake in construction or wiring the house could fall in on people, or catch on fire and kill them. Building codes are a two edged sword. On one hand they are saving lives, by insisting on their tried and true building codes, and keeping people from just haphazardly throwing up a structure that won't hold up, but on the other hand, at least in most states the code is so specific that it allows little room for recycled materials. Were it not for building codes, capable people with a brain and some brawn, could build a house out of materials they could scavange from the dump, or save from packaging off household goods. During the depression people used everything. They saved tinfoil. They saved string. They kept the cloth bags their flour and sugar came in and made them into clothing. Now days, no one sews, no one makes things out of trash, and no one even cooks much, so it is really lazyness and waste that is destroying this country more than the system.
That said, people do build houses for the homeless. Habitat for humanity is a huge organization that does exactly that. In addition Brad Pit is raising money and hiring people to build houses in New Orleans. Many other groups including small church groups also build homes for people. It is not uncommon at all. Maybe you should volunteer for habitat for humanity. You could learn useful skills that would help you be useful in helping that Dakota project. Meeting people who are involved in Habitat, might help you find a job, and from which you could get some funds up to fulfil your dreams.
Your life depends on you. Sure random chance can close doors, but if you keep looking you will eventually come upon an open door, or one you can by repeatedly knocking get someone to open for you. The system isn't to blame for you not being able to do anything. That is about you.
You are going to have to weed through your idea, and figure out which ones are core, and which ones are extranious. Which ones you can make work, or anybody could make work, and which ones are ill thought out and impractical. Like most people you have some of each. Part of thinking is figuring out which of your ideas are gold, and which are sh*t. You currently have a mix of genius, and pipe dream. It's time to seperate the wheat from the chaff and make a plan.
You need to up your communication skills if you are going to represent yourself. Smooth it out and keep it even. Ranting isn't productive. So far you vent more than you persuade. You complain more than you explain, and your statement of facts is still weak.
I think you should bitch, but bitch effectively. Bitch eloquently, make yourself quoteable. Give solutions, and make sure they have a potential to work... show how they could work. Explain how we get from this selfish, greedy, lazy, profit obcessed reality to the part where we get the free stuff... make it a reasonable plan, instead of this jump in evolution. Right now, nothing is free but air, and if they could tax that they would, so how do we get from there to being able to make our free house, and obtain our free food. For that you will need research to understand the current system better before you can critizise it. Learn how things really work, and you will find that some of your complaints are not factual... and others are just not stated in a way that is possible.
Your right to vote, your right to type anything on the internet and have it read by others, your ability to speak to others about your dissatisfaction, without being hauled off to jail, is unique to this and a few other affluent countires. Many countries do not have these advantages, and poor people in third world countries don't even have computers. In that way you are very privilaged. You just don't see your advantage, and your privilages. You are too hung up on what you don't have, to see what you do have. You speak of only having your body, but with that body you have a voice, you have your good health and strength. You have a brain, you have two hand, and a strong back. In addition you have a computer. You can read and write, and you know how to can speak. You have a library card, or if not then you could get one. They are free, and so are the books you can borrow, as lone as you return them on time. You have access to the world wide web, and with that you can learn the answers to all your questions, and find the facts you need to make strong points, instead of ranting about things you don't have the details of.
You have many assets that you don't count, and you could develop others using what you have now. You have friends. You have family, and many people love you. You are cared about.
Then take advantage of the freedoms you have. Take advantage of the assets you have instead of focusing on what you don't have. You have more freedom than a lot of people in the world.
Ordinary people do make a difference. Look at Cindy Sheehan. She's getting national attention, and her protest has been heard. There are reasons for that. He protest is peaceful, but bold. She speaks well, and she her desire for shange is heartfelt. She took real action, going to Crawford Texas, and then running for public office where she could make a difference. She's made an impact, and people are talking about her. She helped move the country away from Bush, and away from this war.
See, this is what I mean. Communication like this does not make a point, it just shows your frustration. What are you even talking about,when you say taking responsibility for others? You just said people should give others food, and a house. That is taking responsibility for others. No one OWES anyone a house, or food. If they give that then that is taking responsibilty for another person's responsibility. It is each individual's responsibility to provide for themselves, and if they have children then they are responsible for them. If they marry then they are responsible for the other person's bills. If you have employees you are responsible for their actions when they are at work. If they don't do their job right you suffer. If they choose to help others then they are taking responsiblity for them, at least to a degree. We are are sometimes responsible for others. I am not sure what this has to do with anything, but Yes we ARE responsible for others. We are responsible for the results of our decisions, and for being indecisive, and just letting things happen to us, because we didn't act when we should have.
You are ranting and this makes no sense. You are responsible for your words, which I am reading 2800 miles from your body. You are responsible for the effect of those words, whether you get your point across, or if you just offend people, or if you sound like you know what you are talking about or not.
The government is not a person, but it is made up of people. Decisions are made by voting. Each person votes for a representative who is likely to vote in a way that you would like. IF people vote stupidly, like the second election of Bush, then that is the people who cast their vote in that way's fault. Members of the religious right is responsible for the actions of G.W. Bush as president, because they worked to put him in office, and in addition they influenced his views and behavior in the wrong way, instead of the right way. They taught him, they accepted whatever he did, and they believe in him. They are responsible. INdividuals act. The government itself does nothing. It is an inanimate thing, People have a choice to act fairly and wisely. They make mistakes, and sometimes they are deliberately unfair, but they are just people. When you think about it there is no Government, just guys we decide to trust to run things. If you don't vote, then you aren't taking part in the decision on who runs things, and thus you are in essence saying there is no difference in individuals, and you know that isn't ture. Obama is very different from McCain, and though they would both make mistakes, they would make opposite mistakes, because they have opposite views. When people vote they are deciding whom they trust to make decisions which effect us all. Decisions do have to be made, and it is impractical to think that it isn't necessary to have leaders.
Very few people really take responsibility for their actions. Most people blame others, or the system, or some other thing that caused them to screw up. Sometimes it is true to a degree, but if people HAVE to make something work, they will do what they have to, regardless of who or what is trying to stop them. the minute they decide it is necessary for their survival, they will confront, or get around their obsticals. Until then despite the excuses they are just playing games, and looking for excuses... or maybe they are striving to find their way, but in any case obsticals get a lot less imposing if overcoming them is viewed as a necessity rather than a luxury. Everyone has obsticals, but everyone can overcome those obsticals if they TRY, and keep trying. Life isn't easy for anyone, and for some people it is quite difficult, but sometimes the people with the most adversity make it fruther than those who have less.
I was making the point that you aren't just some mindless crackpot, because you were sounding that way with some of your comments. The ideas you are expressing need more research. You critique our government but you obviously don't know anything much about how it works. You listen to what people tell you, but it is usually in passing, and then you take it out of context and blow it out of proportion without additional research.
If I thought you had nothing to say, I would not tell you these things. If I thought you were stupid I would encourage you to express yourself in the same stupid sounding ways, so that no one would ever listen to you. Instead I think some of your ideas have a lot of merrit, and others just need to be developed into something that makes sense to others and that would work. You need a greater understanding of how the current system, and past systems have worked. You need to understand why things are the way they are in a given area before you start critizising.
Also I'd ask you to give Obama and the new senators a chance to make a difference in the way things are going, and also to be open minded about the way things should be handled. People will always need currency, government, and laws of some kind. Admittedly we could do with a lot less of the kind of leadership we've had for the last 8 year.
Our constitution is a beautiful document, and I am loyal to the principals stated in it. Much of what you talk about is stated in it, especially personal freedom. Our Statue of Liberty has a lovely verse printed at the bottom which expresses my own personal feelings towards others, better than anything else I have ever read. It is only in practice that our government fails, due to human failings. It is the same with many other governments, and also with all religions. The principles of our government are good. Many of our laws are made to protect people, to preserve people and many of our programs are designed to feed clothe and shelter people who are poor... however in practice these things fall short, and sometimes elected officials miss the point of these principles. That is't the fault of the system that is the fault of individual people who are weak, fearful, and lack wisdom. Sometimes elected officials are even malicious, but in general it is still the individual who takes wrong action, not because of the principles of our government, but because they choose to ignore those principlese in order to protect themselves and perpetuate their own interests.
Our system of govenment is not flawed from it's inception. The world overall is flawed, in its physical form, and people are flawed in their nature, because of fear. People are just fine till they loose their sense of security, and get overcome with fear. Fear is the problem at the root of it. We need to free the world from fear, and defensive behavior when none is called for. We need to learn to act in ways that show courage, and character. None of the problems with the government are the fault of the "system" it is people who are the problem. Voting for better people means better decisions, and better decisions make for a better system.