A simple question
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Society is a collective of individuals, each doing their own thing, yet, they, as a group, are quite powerful being able to, for example, influence prices in the shops and influence government policies that improve generally their well being. Government enables individualism and collectivism and thus affords them a certain quality of life and a certain quality of protection from those who might do harm.
Christian Graus wrote:
society
Society? According to a speech by Margaret Thatcher, "There is no such thing as society" but she also said in the same breath "It is all right. We joined together and we have these insurance schemes to look after it"
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
According to a speech by Margaret Thatcher
LOL - that makes her an idiot.
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
Society is a collective of individuals, each doing their own thing, yet, they, as a group, are quite powerful
Exactly my point. Government, when it works well, focuses and harnesses that power for the general good. I am not saying that always happens, but CSS's view that government always works for evil is wrong. Why did the people of the US submit to government then ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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Richard A. Abbott wrote:
According to a speech by Margaret Thatcher
LOL - that makes her an idiot.
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
Society is a collective of individuals, each doing their own thing, yet, they, as a group, are quite powerful
Exactly my point. Government, when it works well, focuses and harnesses that power for the general good. I am not saying that always happens, but CSS's view that government always works for evil is wrong. Why did the people of the US submit to government then ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
Christian Graus wrote:
CSS's view that government always works for evil is wrong. Why did the people of the US submit to government then ?
The people got fed up of the Republicans. They became almost unelectable after Bush's two terms. They did not have much of a choice, and ended up electing a democrat as POTUS. He was elected, partly, on a promise to reform health. Well, for all intent and purposes (perhaps not exactly as he would have liked), he has done what he promised to. To the American people, you elected him, you knew what he stood for. Deal with it. BUT, if you don't like what you see, change the legislature at the next electoral opportunity, then his wings will be suitably clipped until the next POTUS election.
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Christian Graus wrote:
CSS's view that government always works for evil is wrong. Why did the people of the US submit to government then ?
The people got fed up of the Republicans. They became almost unelectable after Bush's two terms. They did not have much of a choice, and ended up electing a democrat as POTUS. He was elected, partly, on a promise to reform health. Well, for all intent and purposes (perhaps not exactly as he would have liked), he has done what he promised to. To the American people, you elected him, you knew what he stood for. Deal with it. BUT, if you don't like what you see, change the legislature at the next electoral opportunity, then his wings will be suitably clipped until the next POTUS election.
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
He was elected, partly, on a promise to reform health.
OK, we got GST roughly the same way, because it was still the better overall package. But, what I meant was, historically, why did the US people submit to having a government like this at all, if it clearly leads only to tyranny ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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If society should not work together to spread risk, and increase the health and opportunities for it's members, why do we bother with government at all ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
To wage war on the French.
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To wage war on the French.
ROTFL !!! How many frenchmen does it take to win a war ? No-one will ever know.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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Richard A. Abbott wrote:
He was elected, partly, on a promise to reform health.
OK, we got GST roughly the same way, because it was still the better overall package. But, what I meant was, historically, why did the US people submit to having a government like this at all, if it clearly leads only to tyranny ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
This I suspect goes back to the days when they declared independence. Although the Constitution was written when they had 13 States, life in those days was at a much slower pace, and America became somewhat insular in its dealings with the world. The Constitution couldn't anticipate a distant future, consequently after a number of amendments, acts, and judgments from the Supreme Court, the separation of powers back then is a poor reflection of how power is controlled today. And "today" is what CSS and the Alex Jones of American society feel they have reason to rebel and protest. And the perception of tyranny is a reality if the perceived or actual threat of rebellion by the people against the established government is credible thus suspension of the Constitution can be realised.
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Richard A. Abbott wrote:
He was elected, partly, on a promise to reform health.
OK, we got GST roughly the same way, because it was still the better overall package. But, what I meant was, historically, why did the US people submit to having a government like this at all, if it clearly leads only to tyranny ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
Christian Graus wrote:
OK, we got GST roughly the same way, because it was still the better overall package. But, what I meant was, historically, why did the US people submit to having a government like this at all, if it clearly leads only to tyranny ?
I don't like what the government is doing. I will complain about it, and sometimes use hyperbole. I may have said 'communist', 'socialist', 'a bunch of aholes', maybe even (cringe) 'tyranny'. I only really meant the 'socialist' and 'ahole' comments. But I hope you're yanking CSS's chain, and don't really think the US is a tyranny. As an ignorant 'Merican, what is GST?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
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Christian Graus wrote:
OK, we got GST roughly the same way, because it was still the better overall package. But, what I meant was, historically, why did the US people submit to having a government like this at all, if it clearly leads only to tyranny ?
I don't like what the government is doing. I will complain about it, and sometimes use hyperbole. I may have said 'communist', 'socialist', 'a bunch of aholes', maybe even (cringe) 'tyranny'. I only really meant the 'socialist' and 'ahole' comments. But I hope you're yanking CSS's chain, and don't really think the US is a tyranny. As an ignorant 'Merican, what is GST?
Opacity, the new Transparency.
RichardM1 wrote:
But I hope you're yanking CSS's chain, and don't really think the US is a tyranny.
No, I am using his words. If his conclusions are correct, then why did the founding fathers decide on this system ?
RichardM1 wrote:
As an ignorant 'Merican, what is GST?
Goods and Services Tax, means a VAT, a tax that is paid when I buy something, or pay someone to do work for me.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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RichardM1 wrote:
But I hope you're yanking CSS's chain, and don't really think the US is a tyranny.
No, I am using his words. If his conclusions are correct, then why did the founding fathers decide on this system ?
RichardM1 wrote:
As an ignorant 'Merican, what is GST?
Goods and Services Tax, means a VAT, a tax that is paid when I buy something, or pay someone to do work for me.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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Christian Graus wrote:
If his conclusions are correct
Why would they start being correct now?
Christian Graus wrote:
VAT
Ah, part of the Australian tyranny in action. :-D
Opacity, the new Transparency.
RichardM1 wrote:
Why would they start being correct now?
They wouldn't, but that's what I was presenting a case against.
RichardM1 wrote:
Ah, part of the Australian tyranny in action.
*grin* well, I don't like it, but it does stop people cheating on their tax.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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To wage war on the French.
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If society should not work together to spread risk, and increase the health and opportunities for it's members, why do we bother with government at all ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
CSS isn't the majority of Americans. Having sought differing opinions and points of view of the people around me I can tell you that views here are a lot more dynamic and varying than CSS would you have believe and that's one of the reasons he gets so pissed off. Like most idealogs(sp?) he believes that everyone should believe exactly as he does. This is, in my opinion, the fallacy of terrorist driven groups like Al Qaeda. They believe it should be their way or the highway. Clearly the majority tells this minority to hit the road they advertise so well and get lost. We have government to do all the things we can't do as individuals. We come under government for protection, and unity. Anything that's a team effort. In a way we naturally come together to form an organism much like our own human bodies. Each kind of cell isn't better or worse than another, just different. Usually people like to refer to crime as a cancer on society, but seldom do I hear individuals being thought of as cells in a societal body only different and never better or worse. People like CSS simply remind us what not to be and that we do need to be ever vigilant in our selection of government officials. For all his crazy misguided attempts to get us all to believe in the boogy man, he and others like him do server as that ever present reminder. The rest of us just have to make sure those people don't get out of control and hurt the rest of us in the process. Just my long bit of 2 cents for whatever its worth. :laugh:
That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_
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If society should not work together to spread risk, and increase the health and opportunities for it's members, why do we bother with government at all ?
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.
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So we can keep our stuff of course. The government should protect our stuff, not take any of it, but mostly make sure no one else takes my stuff.
So you* end up in the emergency room without insurance, and the hospital is legally obligated to treat you anyway, even though you can't pay for it, and the hospital has to raise prices across the board to make up for the freeloaders, hence increasing the premiums of everyone who DOES have insurance...... Basically your point is... "The government shouldn't take MY stuff... It should take OTHER PEOPLE'S stuff instead!" * Not you specifically... But we all know this happens quite often.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
CSS isn't the majority of Americans. Having sought differing opinions and points of view of the people around me I can tell you that views here are a lot more dynamic and varying than CSS would you have believe and that's one of the reasons he gets so pissed off. Like most idealogs(sp?) he believes that everyone should believe exactly as he does. This is, in my opinion, the fallacy of terrorist driven groups like Al Qaeda. They believe it should be their way or the highway. Clearly the majority tells this minority to hit the road they advertise so well and get lost. We have government to do all the things we can't do as individuals. We come under government for protection, and unity. Anything that's a team effort. In a way we naturally come together to form an organism much like our own human bodies. Each kind of cell isn't better or worse than another, just different. Usually people like to refer to crime as a cancer on society, but seldom do I hear individuals being thought of as cells in a societal body only different and never better or worse. People like CSS simply remind us what not to be and that we do need to be ever vigilant in our selection of government officials. For all his crazy misguided attempts to get us all to believe in the boogy man, he and others like him do server as that ever present reminder. The rest of us just have to make sure those people don't get out of control and hurt the rest of us in the process. Just my long bit of 2 cents for whatever its worth. :laugh:
That's called seagull management (or sometimes pigeon management)... Fly in, flap your arms and squawk a lot, crap all over everything and fly out again... by _Damian S_
Mostly agreed, though there are two sides to every coin (Actually a lot more, if you count the edge as a side... Then there are a LOT of sides, since it's round)... Idiots like CSS should be kicked aside, sure, but not everyone who shares his views is an idiot. Part of the strength of the civilized world is our willingness to listen to all sorts of viewpoints, whether or not we agree with them. Everyone knows the old quote, which I'm sure I'm butchering: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight to defend your right to say it." I mean, ya gotta be fair... Don't assume the message is garbage* just because the messenger is clueless... I mean, look at Al Gore for an example on the other side. * (For the record, I disagree with 95% of CSS's message - But just being fair about it)
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
Christian Graus wrote:
If his conclusions are correct
Why would they start being correct now?
Christian Graus wrote:
VAT
Ah, part of the Australian tyranny in action. :-D
Opacity, the new Transparency.
RichardM1 wrote:
Christian Graus wrote: VAT Ah, part of the Australian tyranny in action.
Yeah, cause it's so much less tyrannical to call it Sales Tax :)
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
So you* end up in the emergency room without insurance, and the hospital is legally obligated to treat you anyway, even though you can't pay for it, and the hospital has to raise prices across the board to make up for the freeloaders, hence increasing the premiums of everyone who DOES have insurance...... Basically your point is... "The government shouldn't take MY stuff... It should take OTHER PEOPLE'S stuff instead!" * Not you specifically... But we all know this happens quite often.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
So you* end up in the emergency room without insurance, and the hospital is legally obligated to treat you anyway, even though you can't pay for it, and the hospital has to raise prices across the board to make up for the freeloaders, hence increasing the premiums of everyone who DOES have insurance...... Basically your point is... "The government shouldn't take MY stuff... It should take OTHER PEOPLE'S stuff instead!" * Not you specifically... But we all know this happens quite often.
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels)And the ones who get really screwed who are the poor who are working and have something but can't afford or get health insurance for some reason even more so than the insurance companies. My the end of my last little visit to the hospital, which lasted approximately 64 hours, I was presented with a bill for $107,000. Since my insurance company had a contract with the hospital, they immediately knocked off something like $40,000. If I hadn't had insurance, I'd have been on the hook for the whole $107,000. I have enough assets to do that once or twice but then a big truck would roll up and they'd vacuum up my front yard to cover the bill. Right now my insurance is covered by my wife's employer but a few years ago we were buing it for ourselves, two adults, and it was costing on the order of $10,000 a year.
You measure democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents, not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists.
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RichardM1 wrote:
Christian Graus wrote: VAT Ah, part of the Australian tyranny in action.
Yeah, cause it's so much less tyrannical to call it Sales Tax :)
Proud to have finally moved to the A-Ark. Which one are you in?
Author of the Guardians Saga (Sci-Fi/Fantasy novels) -
And the ones who get really screwed who are the poor who are working and have something but can't afford or get health insurance for some reason even more so than the insurance companies. My the end of my last little visit to the hospital, which lasted approximately 64 hours, I was presented with a bill for $107,000. Since my insurance company had a contract with the hospital, they immediately knocked off something like $40,000. If I hadn't had insurance, I'd have been on the hook for the whole $107,000. I have enough assets to do that once or twice but then a big truck would roll up and they'd vacuum up my front yard to cover the bill. Right now my insurance is covered by my wife's employer but a few years ago we were buing it for ourselves, two adults, and it was costing on the order of $10,000 a year.
You measure democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents, not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists.
Tim Craig wrote:
but a few years ago we were buing it for ourselves, two adults, and it was costing on the order of $10,000 a year.
This is the issue. In Australia, the tax that pays for basic health and my health insurance for a family of four, adds up to a lot less than $10k. $4k, perhaps. And most of that is private health, but the cost of the public health is enough that I'd have got that operation for free.
Christian Graus Driven to the arms of OSX by Vista. Read my blog to find out how I've worked around bugs in Microsoft tools and frameworks.