tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post225603774376694981..comments2023-09-15T08:07:28.542-06:00Comments on Western Hero: It's Not Fair!Silverfiddlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-40174146009947926252012-04-17T18:58:22.789-06:002012-04-17T18:58:22.789-06:00Thank you for that last post, Viburnum. I'm af...Thank you for that last post, Viburnum. I'm afraid I was probably guilty of the same thing I just accused Finntann of doing -- being defensive and taking things too personally.<br /><br />You may not be aware of it, but I usually see eye to eye with just about everything you contribute to these pages. I was, therefore, surprised when it looked to me as though you thought I was defending "coerced charity" when in fact I have inveighed against it forcefully in exactly those terms hundreds of times.<br /><br />I'm glad to learn I was wrong, and thank you for clarifying without taking umbrage at my misunderstanding.<br /><br />Not to belabor the point, but what I meant, of course, was that all the "do-gooding" in the world is worthless unless it stems from heartfelt sincerity. As we all should know by now, heartfelt sincerity is scarcer than hen's teeth among those who stalk The Corridors of Power.<br /><br />I know you understand, but I'm saying this for the benefit of others who may not grasp that money, fame and power are less-than nothing unless those so endowed are loving, caring, honest, unselfish human beings.<br /><br />A tall order. Almost impossible to find, but The Pearl of Great Price, nevertheless. Something for which we should never stop searching.<br /><br />Unfortunately, ROBAMANEY ain't it.<br /><br />Naturally, I'd prefer to be wrong. Only time will tell ...<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-57689471560678369362012-04-17T18:42:37.513-06:002012-04-17T18:42:37.513-06:00I meant exactly what I said -- nothing more -- not...I meant <i>exactly</i> what I said -- nothing more -- nothing less. It was, of course, a paraphrase of some of St. Pauls' most famous words from Second Corinthians. <i>[I'd have to look it up to give you Chapter and verse, and would if asked, but it ought not to be necessary.]</i><br /><br />I also said, <i>"It's a shame that feelings are running so high that just about everything that's said is used as a stimulus for opposition.<br /><br />"In simplistic terms we now look only for the "bad" and never for the "good" in what others offer."</i><br /><br />I try to write according to principles I believe in, and rarely within the narrow confines of a particular discussion. When principles are ignored, besmirched or violated, someone needs to defend them. <br /><br />So often oblique commentary is taken as some sort of "attack" by those who disagree -- or simply don't understand -- what an interlocutor driving at. <br /><br />As far as I'm concerned these discussions are not about you, or me, or Kurt, or Z, or Ducky, or any one of us, or if they are, they <i>shouldn't</i> be, <br /><br />It ought to be about exchanging IDEAS -- and the ramifications thereof -- good, bad and indifferent.<br /><br />Making things personal is petty and counterproductive -- a waste of time. Must disagreement or skepticism always be couched in terms of accusation? Why not curiosity instead?<br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-9776529990674275462012-04-17T18:32:35.891-06:002012-04-17T18:32:35.891-06:00FT: "Neither of you have the faintest idea of...FT: "Neither of you have the faintest idea of what I tried to say, or you wouldn't have reacted as you did.<br /><br /> Apparently we're both capable of misapprehending each other, as my words were posted in support of what I though was your point. Given the topic of 'fairness imposed from the top", I took "No grand gesture, no expertise, no achievement, however great is worth a tinker's dam, unless it is imbued with the spirit of Charity", to be referring to the fact that the motives of our modern day levelers are something less than pure. Spelling out what their idea of 'Charity' amounted to was my sole intent.<br /><br /> "Communication is all-but-impossible when everyone is talking a different language" <br /><br /> I think we're speaking the same language, with perhaps a different accent. I just can't help thinking that when the barbarians are at the gate, what's in order is the strident blare of trumpets, not the subtleties of fugues.viburnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15381796879179539552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-91330513963336285722012-04-17T17:56:21.632-06:002012-04-17T17:56:21.632-06:00So what exactly did you mean by:
"No grand, ...So what exactly did you mean by:<br /><br />"No grand, gesture, no expertise, no achievement, however great is worth a tinker's dam, unless it is imbued with the spirit of Charity."<br /><br />Standing alone is a wonderful statement, made in the context of the present discussion of progressive government and entitlement seems to come out as more of a rebuke to more than just I.<br /><br />CheersFinntannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234170229108668040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-2734861760097513492012-04-17T14:02:08.667-06:002012-04-17T14:02:08.667-06:00"Charity...What viburnum said!
And I might a...<i>"Charity...What viburnum said!<br /><br />And I might add Charity under threat is extortion.<br /><br />Welcome to the Gimmees!"</i><br /><br />Neither of you have the faintest idea of what I tried to say, or you wouldn't have reacted as you did.<br /><br />Communication is all-but-impossible when everyone is talking a different language.<br /><br />That's what the upheaval of the Sick-sties has done to us -- widen the Generation Gap to the point where bridging it may no longer be possible.<br /><br />Divide and Conquer rules again.<br /><br />I will, however, keep trying to get through. One never knows who's looking and listening.<br /><br />It's a shame that feelings are running so high that just about everything that's said is used as a stimulus for opposition.<br /><br />In simplistic terms we now look only for the "bad" and never for the "good" in what others offer.<br /><br />Too bad! <br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-57873380133967534042012-04-17T06:45:35.022-06:002012-04-17T06:45:35.022-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Finntannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234170229108668040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-56480107810435976362012-04-17T06:45:34.126-06:002012-04-17T06:45:34.126-06:00Charity...What viburnum said!
And I might add Cha...Charity...What viburnum said!<br /><br />And I might add Charity under threat is extortion.<br /><br />Welcome to the Gimmees!Finntannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234170229108668040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-76762858827852718632012-04-17T05:49:12.097-06:002012-04-17T05:49:12.097-06:00Jersey,
they will spend their money - their wealth...Jersey,<br /><i>they will spend their money - their wealth - on their medical care. That money comes to the younger generations as we car for them. Yes, their care will be more expensive than most can afford, and the tax payers will be stuck with that, but that too will end. Eventually, they will die...</i><br /><br />The bulk of that money isn't going to those who actually do the hands-on care. Most nursing home are run by corporations. In addition, Medicare and Medicaid fraud is rampant. I saw that for myself when Mr. AOW was in a nursing home.<br /><br />Many Boomers are expected to live into their 90s. "Eventually" will be a long time coming: 30-40 years, I think.<br /><br />With fewer children from the Boomers, there will be a glut of houses. Well, unless immigration makes up that difference.<br /><br />Yes, the wealth will go somewhere. But I don't think that wealth will go where you think it will. I believe that a great deal of the inherited wealth will be spent on the college education of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Boomers. Furthermore, once the Boomers are gone, the medical-care industry will suffer a serious downturn -- more people out hunting for work.<br /><br />I do wonder what will happen to all the shopping malls and strip malls that were built specifically to provide services for Boomers.<br /><br />In any case, within this century, America will undergo one hell of a demographic upheaval.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-52748082650990289922012-04-17T05:40:39.043-06:002012-04-17T05:40:39.043-06:00FT,
...flamboyant examples of bad taste that clutt...FT,<br /><i>...flamboyant examples of bad taste that clutter up the landscape...</i><br /><br />When the faux Victorians first appeared here in my neighborhood in 1982, a newspaper said something like the following: <br /><br />"These houses have burst upon the quiet neighborhood like a group of gaudy cancan dancers."<br /><br />And, yes, they are poorly built. The porches were built with unseasoned wood and warped like crazy within a few years. Some of the siding was also incorrectly made and popped off.<br /><br />And the maintenance required! All those colors of paint! These houses scream, "Look at <b>ME</b>!"<br /><br />These houses are still standing, but not very marketable as the faux-Victorian style is no longer the fad. Also, they are considered too small. Go figure.Always On Watchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192688822955022541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-61711180389224477302012-04-17T04:11:31.673-06:002012-04-17T04:11:31.673-06:00FT: "...unless it is imbued with the spirit o...FT: "...unless it is imbued with the spirit of Charity."<br /><br /> Charity is an act of volition. Charity mandated, collected, administered, and distributed by the government is communism, or as it's known in today's lexicon, "Fairness"viburnumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15381796879179539552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-65488669922436836362012-04-17T00:20:07.226-06:002012-04-17T00:20:07.226-06:00Im am trying to decide where to apply -- the GSA o...Im am trying to decide where to apply -- the GSA or Secret Service.KPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13788103894599339102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-63926876047952026932012-04-16T23:37:12.342-06:002012-04-16T23:37:12.342-06:00Finntann....I suppose you're right.
I never di...Finntann....I suppose you're right.<br />I never did government work. And, though I spec'd a lot of very high-end products, I never was approached with "here's lunch, buy my product." I guess they knew I specified what was best for the job.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15989573357446569262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-7270417249841236522012-04-16T23:03:24.294-06:002012-04-16T23:03:24.294-06:00If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not...<i>If I can stop one heart from breaking,<br />I shall not live in vain;<br />If I can ease one life the aching,<br />Or cool one pain,<br />Or help one fainting robin<br />Unto his nest again,<br />I shall not live in vain.</i><br /><br />~ Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)<br /><br />Submitted by FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-56814025563386984542012-04-16T22:59:58.130-06:002012-04-16T22:59:58.130-06:00No grand, gesture, no expertise, no achievement, h...No grand, gesture, no expertise, no achievement, however great is worth a tinker's dam, unless it is imbued with the spirit of Charity.<br /><br />Without morality -- as defined by seminal concepts of the Judeo-Christian tradition -- freedom quickly turns to Chaos and the The Law of the Jungle obtains. Life becomes "nasty, brutish and short" as it was in the Beginning.<br /><br />Existence is a paradox. One of the greatest paradoxes within that paradox is that we cannot enjoy the blessings of freedom without subjecting ourselves to rigorous forms of discipline and self-denial.<br /><br />Brazen selfishness with no regard for the needs and feelings of others is not only immoral, it's uncivilized. What's more it's just <i>begging</i> for trouble.<br /><br /><br />~ FreeThinkeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-31689873020815877432012-04-16T22:32:41.732-06:002012-04-16T22:32:41.732-06:00The false premise in Ducky's logic is that any...The false premise in Ducky's logic is that anyone is entitled to a portion of somebody else's wealth or labor that they did not earn by mere virtue of their existance.<br /><br />Having started at the bottom, working dawn to dusk, with nothing from nobody... I'll say this:<br /><br />No, I don't have a right to or vested interest in say the proceeds of Vanderbilt estate. The fact that Cornelius made a ton of money and gave it to his kids is completely irrelevant. It was his money, earned and taxed under the laws at the time. Now, if you can prove malfeasance or illegality (under the laws at the time)...have at it.<br /><br />Now, I have no problem paying for the governments enumerated powers, defense, infrastructure, state, etc. But the fact that the government seizes a portion of my labor to put food on someone elses table, cover the costs of their drug rehab, or put their kids through college, is just plain immoral. <br /><br />You wouldn't expect me to come buy and mow your lawn, why do you think your entitled to a more abstract form of my labor?<br /><br />As it stands now, I toil away on the pyramids for about three months a year for mighty Pharoah while a significant portion of my fellow countrymen sit back and enjoy the view. Yeah, I just paid Pharoah his annual tribute so he can go out and buy votes this fall and I'm pissed.<br /><br />Cheers!Finntannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234170229108668040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-14511280874001361002012-04-16T21:52:12.887-06:002012-04-16T21:52:12.887-06:00Z said: "That's a little much; can they b...Z said: "That's a little much; can they be taken to LUNCH? That's part of doing business, getting to know each other."<br /><br />Honest answer? NO! Want to get to know each other, go Dutch.<br /><br />From my past experience (25 years) with the DoD, that's the existing rule for government employees who are not elected. Why should congressmen be treated differently?<br /><br />Of course the defense contractors generally put out a pretty good spread. In the real world, the way it works is like this...<br /><br />They cater the meeting.<br /><br />They put out a cup for contributions.<br /><br />It's all done on the honor system.<br /><br />There is seldom enough money in the cup to cover the costs.<br /><br />Technically, if you take it gratis you've created a COI (Conflict of Interest). In reality, does a free, or subsidized lunch influence anyone? Most likely not.<br /><br />But the way the rules are written, you not only can't have a COI, you can't have the appearance of a COI.<br /><br />Over the past 20 or so years, the rules have become more restrictive not less.<br /><br />The company I currently work for deals with a variety of clients. For company to company interaction, business development usually foots the bill if it is catered and warranted. For any interaction with state or federal government, there might be coffee and donuts (which the company has daily anyway)...still a contribution cup goes out for the government employees. <br /><br />Anything more than a cup of coffee, we either break for lunch, take individual orders off an a la carte catering menu, or charge a conference fee if fully catered.<br /><br />For example, the Department of Interior's rule is as follows:<br /><br />An employee may accept unsolicited gifts having an aggregate market value of $20 or less per occasion, provided that the aggregate market value of individual gifts received from any one person under the authority of this paragraph shall not exceed $50 in a calendar year. This exception does not apply to gifts of cash or of investment interests such as stock, bonds, or certificates of deposit. Where the market value of a gift or the aggregate market value of gifts offered on any single occasion exceeds $20, the employee may not pay the excess value over $20 in order to accept that portion of the gift or those gifts worth $20.<br /><br />Cheers!Finntannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09234170229108668040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-34864249149004799832012-04-16T21:28:15.776-06:002012-04-16T21:28:15.776-06:00"Actually Jersey, I would support your amendm..."Actually Jersey, I would support your amendment."<br /><br />Unfortunately, the moneyed class that have always run this nation would not stand for that, and it may be extremely dangerous.<br /><br />It would be too much of a change from what we have now.<br /><br />We're stuck with what we have now.<br /><br />But we, liberals, conservatives, libertarians, could make a few points that could change things - only people are people, only speech is speech, and bribery is always just bribery. If culturally people could come to find those ideals, with deference to our environment, we could have a much cleaner, more efficient, better government.<br /><br />JMJJersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-70611320177965869982012-04-16T20:55:53.942-06:002012-04-16T20:55:53.942-06:00"In the need for as incorruptible a governmen..."In the need for as incorruptible a government as possible, no person running for public office may accept any money, gift, or favor from any person of value more than ten dollars, and only once ever in the course of their public service."<br /><br />That's a little much; can they be taken to LUNCH? That's part of doing business, getting to know each other.<br /><br />On the other hand, I hate to agree with you, but I definitely do: there are no lobbyists of our kind in Germany and they also don't suffer from this kind of corruption (they've got their own homemade type, but not this type of corruption)<br /><br />They also get a set amount for each person running, after having passed a kind of 'test' that shows they're a popular enough candidate to be taken seriously. Everybody gets the same amount. I'm for that but have been screeched at over at my blog for even suggesting it.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15989573357446569262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-48881565523265789512012-04-16T20:54:27.805-06:002012-04-16T20:54:27.805-06:00Actually Jersey, I would support your amendment.
...Actually Jersey, I would support your amendment.<br /><br />Like a good liberal (please take this with the spirit of charity that I intend) you look at the constitution wrong.<br /><br />It is a document of negative rights as they pertain to the people. It does not authorize our actions. It circumscribes government's actions against our liberties.<br /><br />For the federal government, it details positive "rights." If the constitution does not enumerate it, the government may not do it. That solves the problem you posit.<br /><br />If it doesn't mention it, the government may not do it. Nothing in there allows the federal government to hand out money to wall street, so they are violating the law.<br /><br />I'll leave it to the father of the constitution to explain it:<br /><br />“I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents.”Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-82474020151895926672012-04-16T20:52:28.494-06:002012-04-16T20:52:28.494-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Zhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15989573357446569262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-24312803926597661522012-04-16T20:43:07.777-06:002012-04-16T20:43:07.777-06:00"We have a matrix, it's called the US Con..."We have a matrix, it's called the US Constitution. If government would follow it we wouldn't have Wall Street moles on the inside and corporate parasites permanently attached to the host." <br /><br />May I add, Silver, I would love to know how this would be so. How exactly do you propose we, from this matrix of the constitution, get the Wall Street moles out?<br /><br />How?<br /><br />What part of the Constitution would you cite?<br /><br />The fact of the matter is that the Constitution was written by, for, and of wealthy interests. Yes, it's a great document - perhaps the "best so far" as they say - but let's not pretend it is a law of physics, or the word of God.<br /><br />"Wall Street" is the same moneyed class as was around 250 years ago here. The only difference is that today's wealthy interests seem to care a lot more for a life of leisure than building a great nation.<br /><br />There's nothing in the Constitution to stop this. We have to amend it. Or better said - there IS something in the Constitution for dealing with this, and it IS an amendment.<br /><br />But you righties would NEVER go for it.<br /><br />This is my amendment:<br /><br />"In the need for as incorruptible a government as possible, no person running for public office may accept any money, gift, or favor from any person of value more than ten dollars, and only once ever in the course of their public service." <br /><br />What we do about after they serve would require yet another, or preferably better worded amendment. <br /><br />JMJJersey McJoneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15426560061830038806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-31682868055350414692012-04-16T20:03:16.126-06:002012-04-16T20:03:16.126-06:00I'm not cornered. We have a beautiful republi...I'm not cornered. We have a beautiful republic, if only our venal politicians would obey the law.<br /><br />When people start yammering about "matrices" and they're not discussing mathematics, grab your wallet and be on guard for your liberties.Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-28319390126158378032012-04-16T19:21:15.693-06:002012-04-16T19:21:15.693-06:00Failed means that like in the robber baron age the...Failed means that like in the robber baron age the wealth discrepancy becomes so large that you get serious social instability.<br /><br />The Constitution is a game theory matrix? Please, put it away for a bit.The Constitution is not a blueprint for laissez-faire.<br /><br />Get those right wingers yammering about the Constitution or the founders and you know they're cornered.Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-45650908829243590072012-04-16T19:12:59.100-06:002012-04-16T19:12:59.100-06:00We have a matrix, it's called the US Constitut...We have a matrix, it's called the US Constitution. If government would follow it we wouldn't have Wall Street moles on the inside and corporate parasites permanently attached to the host. <br /><br /><i>laissez-faire has always failed whenever it's been tried</i><br /><br />You'll need to define your terms and provide examples. Actually, it's socialism that's failed everywhere it'be been tried.<br /><br />You think the age of the robber barons was a horror show? Try studying Cuba or communist Eastern Europe.Silverfiddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13541652236676260219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7674333464171899932.post-78359314780971907582012-04-16T18:22:06.573-06:002012-04-16T18:22:06.573-06:00It is a difficulty, but we can construct a matrix ...It is a difficulty, but we can construct a matrix that is superior to pure laissez-faire (unless you consider the days of the robber barons a success, laissez-faire has always failed whenever it's been tried).<br /><br />A culture where the payout allows for a decent diet, basic medical care, education and housing is he start. We've got a way to go but this is doable and we will have a more productive society when we succeed.<br /><br />Strange game? You cooperate and you win, imagine that.Ducky's herehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14608115001116619877noreply@blogger.com