Originally posted by shavixmirI don't agree with all of your conclusions , but certainly understand the sentiment . I do agree with the basic premise that there's an atmosphere of fear that is damaging to society .
[i]I leave the land of the living for three weeks and insanity strikes at the heart of my homelands. Pretty typical.
I heard about the London bombings just before I left on holiday and knew then that Britain's response would be completely irrational.
But this just really gets on my tits and surprises me. Have a look at the reaction page on the BBC w ...[text shortened]... e and fall. You'll be scared. You'll be insecure and you really won't enjoy yourself.
xxx
What I have to add is something as an American that has been gnawing at me since 9-11 . It comes to the fore every time I hear someone proclaim how great a president W is . When America was attacked by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor , FDR told the American people "We have nothing to fear but fear itself ." The present administration as you pointed out , acts as though we need to be fearful , tells us there are terrorist cells everywhere , has a color coded system for it's citizens to look at to know how fearful they should be that day , says we need to search the little old lady from Omaha's wheel chair because it could contain a bomb . I am far more fearful of what my government could do to my life with the Patriot Act than I am of radical terrorist bombers .
Originally posted by Moldy CrowGets my rec too, MC. As a country, there's no reason to fear the terrorists at all. The color coded alerts are just stupid. The inane, incessant, infantile arguing between the parties demoralizes the entire country.
I don't agree with all of your conclusions , but certainly understand the sentiment . I do agree with the basic premise that there's an atmosphere of fear that is damaging to society .
What I have to add is something as an American that has been gnawing at me since 9-11 . It comes to the fore every time I hear someone proclaim how great a president W ...[text shortened]... my government could do to my life with the Patriot Act than I am of radical terrorist bombers .
Originally posted by Bosse de NageMoney is not the root of all evil. Although it is funny that from day one you are told that money doesn't really matter, it's happiness that counts. And at the same time you're programmed from that very same day to be a productive member of society, hell bent on making someone else richer.
The root of the evil is really money, isn't it? Otherwise nobody would bother playing the Great Game. Good luck dismantling that one.
R. Buckminster Fuller. "You must choose between making money and making sense.
The two are mutually exclusive."
I shall now put on a Communards record and wear my socialist hat.
Is the monetary system in ...[text shortened]... iting for everyone to form a circle and hold hands--let's get on with it ourselves...
mhmmm...yes...
However, the problem, as I just stated isn't money. Money is just a method of making swapping easier. The problem is profit.
Because of profit, money becomes more important than labour.
Money becomes more important than say...food.
That's the problem.
Yes, profit is the problem.
But on a small scale don't we all contribute to the problem?
At first thought most people might be happy to live hand-to-mouth, with a few luxuries. But jobs are not guaranteed for life. So we have to save for a rainy day, or retirement.
Of course that's just the minimum. If you start wanting a holiday, or a car, you need more profit.
As yoo go up the food chain this profiteering increases.
Originally posted by VargThis isn't profit you're talking about though.
Yes, profit is the problem.
But on a small scale don't we all contribute to the problem?
At first thought most people might be happy to live hand-to-mouth, with a few luxuries. But jobs are not guaranteed for life. So we have to save for a rainy day, or retirement.
Of course that's just the minimum. If you start wanting a holiday, or a car, you need more profit.
As yoo go up the food chain this profiteering increases.
Everything you describe is basically a swap. Money for a car, money for a holiday. Etc.
Profit is when money becomes mroe important than the car or the holiday. So people start hoarding it.
If you think of a system which deletes the use of hoarding money, you destroy profit.
For instance: Say you get paid in cash, but that cash has to be spent within a week. It's no use saving it. Everything retains its value.
