Note the quote about cooperation. The only way a social contract can maintain order is through cooperation. If that breaks down, then there are clearly signs of that particular contract coming to an end...
In a universe of constant change, any extreme is dangerous. Absolutes limit options. "No" to "this" means amputation of an infinite range of possibilities based on one imposed absolute. If everything changes, than what labels are ever permanent, including such terms as "old" and "bad idea". There is a time for everything, and what may not work one day is only conditional of that being true if the universe were static. But its not.
Bottom line. There is only one absolute: There are no absolutes.
Here's a post I made the other day that examines the nature of respect in the midst of opinions that do not agree.
It is in the agenda of some NOT to get along. They have no respect for others of the opposing label, ultimately, because they have no respect for themselves. Demanding respect but not giving it, using sweeping generalizations based on the perceived differences between labels, and ultimately, being intellectually dishonest with themselves about the basic dignity required us for being human. I don't deny anyone else their humanity. Why should I allow anyone to deny mine?
That is the true reality of personal empowerment. Mind first, guns second. The freedom to own a gun is useless if my ability to think freely is hobbled or denied.
Be a liberal. Be a pepper. Be a christian. Be an atheist. But, ultimately, exercise your freedom to BE. Allow others the same freedom, and allow nobody the power to take that being away from you, not even yourself.
Steps down from soap-box. We now return you to your regularly scheduled vitriol.
No. I want it to not be marginalized and thus ineligible for insurance coverage by a lot of the major carriers. I want more options, not less. The dependence on symptomatic therapy has to stop. Diet and exercise need to be reinforced instead of allowing the lazy and unmotivated to drive the costs up with their lifestyles. You're free to live however you want, but I don't want to have to pay for it.
Because when these same studies are run with naturopathic products, the FDA refuses to evaluate their efficacy, stating they don't review "supplementary" therapy. It's only supplementary because the AMA refuses to acknowledge any validity to holistic treatment. They can't get their eyes off the microscope long enough to evaluate the big picture.
Because when these same studies are run with naturopathic products, the FDA refuses to evaluate their efficacy, stating they don't review "supplementary" therapy. It's only supplementary because the AMA refuses to acknowledge any validity to holistic treatment. They can't get their eyes off the microscope long enough to evaluate the big picture.
AKA Orwell? We all have our favorites. Orwell dealt with contemporary political-science. I would say Herbert took a more long term, sociological view of power and politics, so...I like chocolate and you like vanilla. So...sue me.
Oops. Sorry for the blank quoting...if you achieve oligarchy through unethical and self-serving regulation, then how is that free enterprise? As well, in the case of anti-depressants, they only have to provide 2 cases to the FDA where the efficacy is significantly above the placebo control. And they get to pick the two cases. They could run 1000's of tests to get those two cases, in which case, any conclusions based on these two cases as to efficacy in the general population are grossly misleading.
They have MADE themselves that way. They haven't become that way. 800% + markup. That is the profit they make on each pill. Holistic Naturopathy could treat the majority of symptoms for a tenth of a price, but the conspiracy is to marginalize these "home-grown" treatments in favor of symptomatic therapy. Again, people can grow herbs at home. Why go to the doctor for the majority of reason's people do? Hmmm. Can't be having that. There's people in their 50's who can't get it up. Let's convince them they don't have to change their diet and habits. All they have to do is take this little blue pill.
Its a culture of laziness and dependence. And I hate it.
There is absolutely NO capitalistic incentive, and that is what health-care has become; capitalism. I can remember my father talking about house calls. Gone is health "care". Nobody cares. It's a giant snake-oil scam now in the name of the almighty dollar and both parties are in on it.
"The Watchdogs of Justice eventually become blinded in their self-satisfaction of a job well-done. Forgotten are the means taken to achieve Justice that wound the the very Liberties that they are meant to serve. This is what is meant when it is said that Justice is blind.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? should be our motto. Forever should we maintain vigilance over ourselves. Forget transparency to the nation or the world. First, we must be transparent with ourselves, or all else is hypocrisy. Truly do we then become our own worst enemy." - Me, right now, on Connecting singles, emulating the role of a Bene Gesserit aphorism from Frank Herbert's Dune
I wouldn't think of running for President. The time hasn't come for true Libertarian values to preside in America. I think Goldwater had it right when he said the Religious Right has high-jacked the Conservative movement. Their rhetoric leaves a bad taste in my mouth and I refuse to be that dishonest. To thineself be true. The audience isn't listening so why waste my breath?
Lawyers and drug companies buy more and more advertising time on television, hawking the latest class-action suit, or selling the latest miracle drug with side effects that make the treated condition sound like the sniffles. Couldn't this money be better spent?
This is why tort reform is so important, and why both parties shy away from it. Politicians are lawyers. They argue intangibles for a tangible return. None of them want to rock the boat of their colleagues. America is the most litigious Nation on the planet. In my opinion, actuarial tables take this into account and the prices of insurance reflect this tort orientation culture.
Ambulance chasers need to be run over by the Ambulance once in awhile in order to know how it feels on the other side of the laws.
I find the idea of a "Noble lie" To be quite interesting, and it inevitably seems to lead to corruption. The corrupting influence of the "lie", no matter how "noble" inevitably leads people to power who want the power or prestige of the apparent entitlements that are attributed to any sort of nobility. The realities of power inevitably corrupt any sort of idealism.
"The Watchdogs of Justice eventually become blinded in their self-satisfaction of a job well-done. Forgotten are the means taken to achieve Justice that wound the the very Liberties that they are meant to serve. This is what is meant when it is said that Justice is blind.
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? should be our motto. Forever should we maintain vigilance over ourselves. Forget transparency to the nation or the world. First, we must be transparent with ourselves, or all else is hypocrisy. Truly do we then become our own worst enemy." - Me, right now, on Connecting singles, emulating the role of a Bene Gesserit aphorism.
The author of Dune among other stories. That is what he's best known for however. If you haven't read or heard of it then I understand your confusion. Sorry.
IMO, violence can take many forms, both physical and verbal. Everything from subtle coercion to organized warfare fits into the category of the term violence. Hence, forcing people to adhere to laws they didn't vote for and had no direct participation in legislating is a form of violence.
In that perspective, everything from eminent domain to a declaration of war is a violent act. Somewhere in the center of this argument is legislating mandatory insurance coverage for people who don't choose to have anything to do with such amoral and exploitative institutions as banks and insurance companies when they can possibly help it.
Franklin Patrick Herbert, Jr. (October 8, 1920 – February 11, 1986) was perhaps the 20th Century's best science fiction author in terms of his astute analysis of politics, power, and religion. His quotes are classics; as you can see by the span of his life he died over 20 years ago, making them antique, but their insight is still relevant today.
I propose to post one every week as a thread for discussion on his ideas. They transcend every partisan in-fighting or out-fighting that I can think of, and should lead to some common-ground discussions that I think can remain remarkably civil in that we are talking about things we cannot deny, whether we're one wing or another.
Here is this weeks' quote. Feel free to add any other quotes you may like to correlate in the discussion.
I will vote for the person and not the party. In this case, as in the last 12-15 years, I will be voting again for Ron Wyden.
Having met the guy numerous times, and sat in on some of his town hall meetings, I have to say, I like him. He's a likable guy.
His focus as a House member was on passing or voting for legislation that benefited his constituents that were senior citizens. Some people like to label him as a liberal. Call him whatever you want. I call him an Oregonian.
No. I don't think you hate coming off as rude. I think you rather enjoy it.
"Patriotism is a virtue of the vicious." - Oscar Wilde.
The only reason the world is a dog eat dog place is because nobody knows how to share. You got yours and to hell with everyone else.
I grew up in a place in Oregon where there was a sense of community, not communism. People had their own, and helped each other increase each others profit.
One year Dan needs a barn built, so Jerry and Rob help him build it. The next year, Jerry has a crop failure because of wet weather, so Dan and Rob help Jerry and his family out with surplus from their crops. The next year Rob has a fire and his ranch house burns down.
Does he ask the government for help? No. He asks his neighbors...
These are American values. Greed and vitriol are the values of hypocrites who have forgotten what community and value truly mean. So don't try to tell me how the world works. What you have to tell me is how the world doesn't work.
And on that note, I shall leave you all to spout your vitriol. I have neighbors I need to tend to.
So what you're advocating is two wrongs in order to make a right?
A witch-hunt is a witch-hunt. I can't believe liberals and conservatives are so convinced they're right that they both insist on bringing back the Inquisition in order to make sure they're the only ones around to be right.
Is there a statement of note anywhere here on CS? Or is it all just noise while people google the next item to prop up their opinion, instead of having the common courtesy to listen to what people say, and have the respect to accept it as is, rather than attaching their own personal realities as a reaction to opinions they don't agree with?
Personally, I don't need to defend my opinion with links or statements made by other people or numbers and graphs and warrants and slants and the other numerous relational items people create as a justification for their stance in life.
The beauty of life is you get to pick your own filters for reality. I choose mine carefully and don't allow people to arbitrate the inferences that they often associate with my statements. I am my own reality and I accept that other people live in an equally separate and mutually exclusive dimension in their own minds.
I can't convince people of anything except through living it myself and setting my own actions as an object lesson. The freedom of your perception is that you don't have to respect my opinion, but the responsibility of your perception is you do have to respect me. Anything less than that is dishonest and hypocritical if you demand respect but aren't willing to give it.
Galactic_bodhi Forum Posts (9,196)
RE: IS GUN CONTROL COMING TO AMERICA....GIFT FROM HILLARY CLINTON
Alienation. Degradation. Oscillation. Tion tion sions...