what's BAD about democracy(for once)?

[DocFrance]

Though, judging by the past 2 US elections, not quite enough smart people.

Alright, this kind of thing really grates my nerves. What you're basically saying is that people who have a different opinion than you aren't smart. A lot of very intelligent people voted for Bush, and you can't simply dismiss them as idiots just because they disagree with you.

[Madame Adequate]

Well, duh. How else would you expect people to vote? In the interest of other people?

Yeah. I would. It's called socialism.

Yeah, that's the proof right there of how flawed an idea socialism is.

[DarkLadyNyara]

Yeah, that's the proof right there of how flawed an idea socialism is.

All ideas are flawed. It's called 'human nature'. Besides, don't most religions tell you to think of others?

[bipper]

I think that a government should not be free of religon, but offer freedom of religion. I have stressed this so many times. I think I will just shut up on this point though

A government can only exist in any form only if it is sincere to its residence. When the government becomes used as a tool by 'Mob rule', corporate positioning or etc. It will fail. I really am not sure how much further America can stumble before she falls. I hope that time never comes, but I think it has come and past like a theif in the night . The morals of today's America, seem so different to me. Then again, one must change with the times, or get stuck in the past.

Alright, this kind of thing really grates my nerves. What you're basically saying is that people who have a different opinion than you aren't smart. A lot of very intelligent people voted for Bush, and you can't simply dismiss them as idiots just because they disagree with you.

Quoted for severe truth. I have opinions, and I stress them as opinions. If the American government suddenly got baptised again, and became a beacon of christianity, then failed because of this, I would graciously accept the fact that I was wrong. Since I try not to call people's ideals stoopidz, I would hope that in the shadows of my defeat, they would be as gracious to me as I would be to them.

Bipper

[Madame Adequate]

Yeah, that's the proof right there of how flawed an idea socialism is.

All ideas are flawed. It's called 'human nature'. Besides, don't most religions tell you to think of others?

Yes, most religions also place at least a little bit of emphasis on the individual. As I'm sure Raist and Hachi also feel, I don't have any problem with helping someone who I feel deserves my help. I do have a problem with my money being taken to help someone I've never met and can't in any way be sure will make any kind of worthwhile use of what is mine.

Of course, this is all built around the notion that the single fundamental right of life is self-jurisdiction, from which all other rights stem.

[Cloud No.9]

god him self does not give self determination. all in the great plan.

and the money that is "yours" has been earned. and you are richer because africans are starving. frankly. the food you eat is cheaper purely because the us and eu insist on watching 50,000 people starve to death.

by all means milf take the money and use it for your own desires rather than help the follow man. but it has blood on it.

[Madame Adequate]

god him self does not give self determination. all in the great plan.

and the money that is "yours" has been earned. and you are richer because africans are starving. frankly. the food you eat is cheaper purely because the us and eu insist on watching 50,000 people starve to death.

by all means milf take the money and use it for your own desires rather than help the follow man. but it has blood on it.

Blood which is on my hands. Blood which I choose to have there. Just as you do, because you're spending who knows how much buying a computer, installing an internet setup, and maintaining that.

I don't believe in God. But if you want to get into a religious debate about free will, go start the thread.

[bipper]

I belive in God, and I wish that he was included in our government. At least, Christianities take on God. God does work to individuals, look at Moses, Job, and many others. God has a grand plan, but individual's good deeds and good servitude, will naturally be rewarded here or in heaven. This is clearly pointed out by Job's story. Granted to model a government based right off christianity would end in failure. Based on the fact that it would pretty much be a monarchy with an all knowing being as king. Us men will have to make due in the master's absence.

While having strict laws is important, always having room to sway will prevent a tree from snapping ins severe turmoil.

[Cloud No.9]

well milf my computer is needed due to my dyspraxia. and my internet is free through the master point service in these university halls.

and while my hands are still dirty through necessity. all food that i can buy is fairly traded or purchased from outwith the eu and us (and a few other countries). 10% of my monthly wage goes to charity each and every month regardless of anything. my hands are just less dirty with the blood of 30,000 children yesterday, today and tomorrow.

and having god who has a habit of murdering non-believers as leader is a truly bad idea.

[Raistlin]

Yeah. I would. It's called socialism.

Hahahahaha. Socialism has never, and (hopefully) will never work, because humans, as a whole, are still too rational for it. Rationality, any sort of logic, promotes a semblence of self-interest. Damn good thing, too.

[Cloud No.9]

works in cuba.

[Raistlin]

Oh yes, Cuba is obviously an excellent place to live. That's why so many Cubans try to flee to the US. And, interesting fact, the average Cuban standard of living now is lower than during that big recession in the early '90s caused by the disappearance of Soviet subsidies. CIA World Factbook.

And private citizens also can't buy computers or even access the internet without authorization. Woah. Yeah, definitely where I want to live.

[Cloud No.9]

fabolous health care and research, hugely high standards of education.

what is crippling them (like africa) is american interference in their trade.

[Raistlin]

The fact that you can type this stuff apparently seriously amuses me.

Great research, you say, but as late as 2000, Cuba was ineffectively treating their drinking water. But who needs drinking water, adequate housing, and free access to basic goods when we can have advancements in the biomedical industry?

Cuba's only making headway in that singular department because it has totalitarian control of the economy. It's analogous to WWII Soviet Russia, when the Soviet Union had a huge industrial surge. But every other aspect of the country suggested horrible living conditions. Cuba's not as extreme as the Soviet Union, but it is similar. It boasts great living conditions, and points to the free health care as proof, but the veneer is belied by the fact that thousands flee the country in tiny rafts ever year to struggle to come to the US where they have a chance at freedom. People fled East Berlin, too.

EDIT: While looking up the CIA Factbook, I also found this article, which I love very much.

[Cloud No.9]

free-market health care dooms the poor to die for being poor. can you tell me that is right?