Gotcha -keep reading, you'll find it. I wasn't lying.
I'm not sure where to start this article. There are sadly, so many options.
It all started when I read an article that I found here : Enough is Enough, Time to Act by john(nakedjazzman) resler ? environment, education, law | Gather ) I found as I read along that I wanted to respond to several things that were being said. Not just things that the author spoke of, but also to some of the comments, too.
If I took the time in a comment to reply to everything, I would hijack his article. This was bound to be a long reply. I know me. If you do too, then you also understand. I am very opinionated about this country and the things going on around me. I didn't want to do that. I think instead, I will write my own article about them. John would like to see his message spread and, whether I agree with him fully or not, this way I'm still doing my part. I would advise you to follow the link to John's original article. Not because we have formed some weird "Survivor-esque points alliance" -we haven't, but because it will help it all make sense to you. I'm pretty sure you can prolly just figure it out, too. You're all pretty smart folks, so there shouldn't be anything to worry about. That's the beauty of it - It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. It takes time. Time to actually think about it all. More Americans should take some...
I'm not really sure how to go about formatting a reply in article form, so I'm wing'en it here.
As you all know, I don't play the Plagiarism game very well, so I guess we will do it like this:
John Doe (A) - "this"
J.Doe refers to person who made statement or claim
(A) refers to where it was stated. In this case, article. Reply would be (R)
"this" refers to exactly what they said"
My thoughts on what they said will follow. They aren't necessarily a reply to the person who said it, more my thoughts on it in general. Directed at anyone really.
Again, you're smart. You'll do fine. It's easy, really. Ready? Ok, then we're off...
John (A) -"CAPITALISM the free market concept that says if you work hard and produce well you keep your rewards for this effort. You also compete with others on a level playing field to improve and increase product outcome which means the entire society advances technologically as well as economically."
This went out the window when corporations and conglomerates entered the picture. That's just something else we slowly allowed without realizing it. The little guy is screwed. There are no level playing fields any more. There is no easy button to undo that damage, either. We will see and feel the repercussions of that for a long time to come, I think. But, you're right. It did work. Very well, too. We never should have let it get away from us.
John (A) -"It wasn't free money and healthcare after all!"
It never really was. Taxpayers paid that money. They funded the programs that the government attached their names too. The government just mishandled it (as usual). If the program was functioning in a more economical, rational, and dare I say - logical way, it would have served it's intended purpose much better than it is. Now I believe there is no going back, it is hopelessly destined to be what it is currently. I don't think the American citizens would agree to do away with the majority of programs. Though it would take a lot to reform it, someone needs to try. Put a "regular everyday mom" in there -you'd see some changes. We work with budgets daily. We're good at it too. We have to be.
And while we are on the subject of welfare and 'helpful programs'... let me tell you a little story:
(plus the background, in short version)
The adjustable mortgage we got sucked into keeps rising. George has graciously agreed to help the Americans with this problem, right? He has said eligible homeowners would be those who obtained the mortgages between the Jan. 1, 2005, and July 31, 2007.
We closed ours in July of 2004. As of this month, my payment is now $1600.00.
I live in Michigan. Our foreclosure rate is through the roof. We tried to refinance, and were denied. Our home value has dropped to less than what we owe.
I haven't been to the doctor in several months. None of my family has. My husband pays over $70.00 a week for medical insurance. Our co-pay is $30.00 per visit. There isn't enough money.
I applied for state aid. Food Stamps, wow. That was a tough thing to do. Having been self supporting for over 30 years it was a rough decision to reach -for both of us. Working 40 hours a week and still not being able to make it? Something we had been able to do since we got married in 1987. Except for 5 years or so, we did it on one income, too. We tried not to have apply. I've been looking for work for over a year.
I live in Michigan. Our unemployment rate is through the roof.
When it comes to responsibilities and priorities...family comes before pride.
We were denied. We missed the cut off for allowed income. We were over by $300.00.
At $75.00 a week, times 4 for insurance...you do the math.
Remember, we can't afford to go to the doctor.
John (A) "In the last ten years there have no less then 200 new laws passed to restrict what we learn,what we can earn,what we eat,what we teach our children,wether we can smoke,how we dress,where we go and when we can go. This does not include amendments that have been suspended,or federal guidelines that have been tightened,or local ordinances that have been instituted. And all this happened with out benefit voting by United States Citizens."
The thing about this is, we let this happen. We might not have realized, but we did. We gave them the authority to make our choices, and give our two cents. We did so when allowing them to speak for us. By allowing a party instead of a person. It is easy to know what a person thinks. It's a lot harder to know what the people behind them do. In order to get 'insert any idea here" into the works, you have to put a person there to do it. Someone who cares about it. The thing is, even though they may feel the same as you on "Topic A", it doesn't mean that they do about "Topic B". Or, that the people financially backing them do.
That's a huge issue. They are going to listen to the guy who has the money. His views and positions become important then, not yours. But you got him there, and he thanks you.
The problem is, once they are there, they do what they want. That, of course, translates to "they do what the guy with the money wants". If they don't get time to even work on 'topic A', oh well they tried, right? Give em a few more years, they'll get to it. Right after they are done putting "topic B", the one that the money is concerned about, in motion. It probably was a topic you felt didn't warrant so much attention. Too bad, they did. You trusted their judgement, or you wouldn't have voted them in, right?
I'm sure you see the problem. It's an easy one.
It's too bad the answer isn't as easy to identify, as the problem was.
Claude Gelinas (R) "This information doesn't get promoted to the mainstream media because they're part of the overall plot against the US citizens."
I can't say that I agree that it is part of any plot. I can say that the media is definitely a cause for concern when it comes to the American citizen getting accurate information. Anyone who takes the time to look to an outside source of info would find a vast difference in both what is being stated as 'fact', and what is being stated as opinion. Look outside of the US for truth, as well as inside. When in doubt, seek out the info, and do the comparisons for yourself instead of taking someone else's word. Be in doubt, a lot. Take the time, it doesn't take long.
Ceena Vuocolo (R) "My dead husband said that soon one day there would be a revolution...we the people would revolt...is that possible...... "
It's a scary thought, isn't it? It isn't all bad to be afraid....
Fear comes from care. If you don't care, you don't fear. If more people would think about it, rather than assuming it will take care of itself, they'd be afraid too. Fear also produces adrenaline. That might be what it takes to see some movement toward change. People can do amazing things when fear and adrenaline take over. When there is enough fear, and less non-caring, things will start to happen. At least, it is possible.
John (R) " A people should not fear their government, the government should fear it's people"
More specifically it was Thomas Jefferson who said "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty." He also said "Does the government fear us? Or do we fear the government? When the people fear the government, tyranny has found victory. The federal government is our servant, not our master! "
Interesting, when you think about them in their most simplest form. I find it most interesting, and want to point out -that he said the first quote about our right to bear arms. Citing it as a reason that we should be allowed the right, in the first place. We have fought very hard to continue to have that right over the years. The question I ask, is for what reason? Just think about it...I bet it never occurred to you, that that reason existed, did you?
Who do you consider your master? Prolly never considered it at all, have you? Who do you answer too? Make a list and then look at it. Who's on that list?
Now, think about it again, with what you know now...
Dave H (R) said something about Drugs and the war on Iraq. Two things he didn't mention about them is this:
A. The war on Iraq wasn't a war. It was about taking a man we didn't like out of power using whatever reason we could. We never declared war on Iraq, we declared war on terrorism. Saddam didn't provoke the terrorism inflicted on our country on 911...despite what most people think.
Saddam is Saddam, Iraq is Iraq, and 911 is Osama Bin Laden. They all are different.
B. When it comes to drugs there are a ton of issues that need to be reformed within the issue. The entire thing is a joke. If you get bored, do some research into the practices being used to 'curb' drug use, as well as how the entire thing became an issue in the first place. Too big to get into here, but yep, the government had a hand in most of it being what it is today. I think it's pretty similar to the alcohol crap and prohibition in a lot of ways.
Then it falls under other categories as well. What is a drug? Which should be illegal? Why should it be illegal? I think if it is a naturally occurring substance, then let it be. If it in concocted, then sure, police it. It's the concocted ones that'll get ya anyhow. Natural things, while they might not be good for you, are up to God and Mother Nature to police in my opinion. I'm gonna answer to them, as it should be, in the end. That's why things like that, should be a choice each person makes. If I do something stupid while doing it then punish me because I wronged you. Not because I wronged me. (Same with helmet and seat belt laws too) While we are on the subject let me also add my two cents about drug testing and employment...If I do something on your time, and it effects work - fine bust me. If I do it on my time, leave me the hell alone. Policing what someone does 24/7, when they work for you 8/7 is slavery. It implies a sense of ownership, even if it's of my time. Last time I checked, we outlawed that. I don't have all the answers, drugs are one of those gray areas that it will take a lot of time to sort out. That doesn't mean we shouldn't take it though. And, I mean the time, not the drugs.
Jessica I (R) "The makers of this nation would roll over in their grave if they saw what we've done with the America they created. I, for one, am ashamed of what being American represents in today's society. The world sees us as a bunch of fat politically corrupt pigs."
What does Democracy, loyalty and being patriotic mean? Webster's defines the term patriotic:
Main Entry: pa·tri·ot·ic
Function: adjective
Pronunciation: "pA-tre-'ä-tik, chiefly British "pa-
1 : inspired by patriotism
2 : befitting or characteristic of a patriot
- pa·tri·ot·i·cal·ly/-ti-k(&-)le/ adverb
Function: adjective
Pronunciation: "pA-tre-'ä-tik, chiefly British "pa-
1 : inspired by patriotism
2 : befitting or characteristic of a patriot
- pa·tri·ot·i·cal·ly/-ti-k(&-)le/ adverb
and Patriot as:
Main Entry: pa·tri·ot
Function: noun
Pronunciation: 'pA-tre-&t, -"ät, chiefly British 'pa-tre-&t
Etymology: Middle French patriote compatriot, from Late Latin patriota, from Greek patriOtes, from patria lineage, from patr-, pater father
: one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests
Function: noun
Pronunciation: 'pA-tre-&t, -"ät, chiefly British 'pa-tre-&t
Etymology: Middle French patriote compatriot, from Late Latin patriota, from Greek patriOtes, from patria lineage, from patr-, pater father
: one who loves his or her country and supports its authority and interests
and democracy as:
Main Entry: de·moc·ra·cy
Function: noun
Pronunciation: di-'mä-kr&-se
Inflected Form(s): plural -cies
Etymology: Middle French democratie, from Late Latin democratia, from Greek demokratia, from demos + -kratia -cracy
1 a : government by the people ; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections
2 : a political unit that has a democratic government
3 capitalized : the principles and policies of the Democratic party in the U·S.
4 : the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority
5 : the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges
Function: noun
Pronunciation: di-'mä-kr&-se
Inflected Form(s): plural -cies
Etymology: Middle French democratie, from Late Latin democratia, from Greek demokratia, from demos + -kratia -cracy
1 a : government by the people ; especially : rule of the majority b : a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections
2 : a political unit that has a democratic government
3 capitalized : the principles and policies of the Democratic party in the U·S.
4 : the common people especially when constituting the source of political authority
5 : the absence of hereditary or arbitrary class distinctions or privileges
To me, if being patriotic means following the beliefs of a patriot, and being a patriot means supporting it's authority (their words) and being a democracy means a government by the people (again, their words) then that means, I (as a citizen) should be supporting me and you -our society -and what we, as a democracy would want. Not the people we put there by accident - just because they're there.
We need to get them out of there.
We need to correct our mistakes.
It's the right thing to do.
For the Country...
OUR country.
Do with it what you want, but at least think about it.
There is no easy button for our problems. They aren't just going to disappear on their own.
I don't have all the answers, I don't think anyone does.
I'm not sure what nudism has to do with getting change, but hey, I'm all for someone standing up for the American people. That's what makes this counry so great. It gives him the chance.
But I guarantee you, he's on the right track -change is a step in the right direction, no matter who takes that first one. Even if it's a baby step. At least he's trying.
Care enough to think about it.
But, think about all of it ok?
... not just the naked parts.
: )
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Comments: 11
(Don't get me wrong--it works a whole lot better than communism. But it's not an inherently beautiful and fair system where the people who work the hardest are the richest. Surely most people have noticed that.)
Nobody's ever practiced capitalism or communism on a very large scale. All communist countries have been dictatorships where the state owned everything. All capitalist countries have had economies that were gamed in an amazing variety of ways by the government and wealthy people and businesses.
I just keep repeating "I love Gather" over and over instead now.
Right now, a revolution is in order...
...second laugh of the day. : )