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#466064 02/23/10 12:51 PM
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Anyone seen this? I just saw this movie (will be released on DVD in March).

I believe this is a must watch for all Americans and Canadians alike. Wanna know what happen to the "dream" this movie provides some good insight. Some of you may not like Michael Moore but ask yourself this....what are you doing to make your country better?


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Quote:

Michael Moore but ask yourself this....what are you doing to make your country better?






I'm certainly not making movies bending the truth to guilt everyone to thinking how horrible we are.

Besides ... shouldn't this movie be called, "Capitalism: I'm a Hypocrite and thank you for all the money! You can't have it back!"

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Quote:

Quote:

Michael Moore but ask yourself this....what are you doing to make your country better?






I'm certainly not making movies bending the truth to guilt everyone to thinking how horrible we are.

Besides ... shouldn't this movie be called, "Capitalism: I'm a Hypocrite and thank you for all the money! You can't have it back!"




At least the man has the you know what to stand up for the middle class blue collar worker. That's about as patriotic as one can be. Of course people will try everything to discredit him....they do the same to anyone else that tries to uncover the truth. I feel sorry for those that ignore others opinions (based mostly on facts) and get pulled through life by the puppet strings held by goverment propaganda. Life must get lonely.


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Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

Michael Moore but ask yourself this....what are you doing to make your country better?






I'm certainly not making movies bending the truth to guilt everyone to thinking how horrible we are.

Besides ... shouldn't this movie be called, "Capitalism: I'm a Hypocrite and thank you for all the money! You can't have it back!"




At least the man has the you know what to stand up for the middle class blue collar worker. That's about as patriotic as one can be. Of course people will try everything to discredit him....they do the same to anyone else that tries to uncover the truth. I feel sorry for those that ignore others opinions (based mostly on facts) and get pulled through life by the puppet strings held by goverment propaganda. Life must get lonely.




MIchael Moore lives the capitalist dream - he makes movies the masses WANT to see - they don't need to be based on any facts, and he plays very loosely with all the facts - so he can make a movie - so he can make money.

Moore cares about himself - and he'll do whatever it takes to make his money. Good for him - I don't blame him. But for people to take his movies as gospel? That's ridiculous. He's out to make money, and he's found a niche making money by making movies that hold no water in fact - but it sells to the people buying tickets.

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pulled through life by the puppet strings held by goverment propaganda.




I haven't seen this movie...but I have seen most of Michael Moore's movies....

are you saying his movies are not propaganda?


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That's funny.. A Michael Moore film being good.. that's a joke right.

Look, he's doing exactly the thing that he seems to fight against.

He makes a movie, doesn't give all the facts and even the ones he gives are twisted. Then he charges you to go see it, rent it, or buy it.. he's making a ton of cash on the deal.

Personally, I wish I'd have thought of it.


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Quote:

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pulled through life by the puppet strings held by goverment propaganda.




I haven't seen this movie...but I have seen most of Michael Moore's movies....

are you saying his movies are not propaganda?




I think that his direction is rather right on but sometimes the numbers are not exact. I think there is enough evidence in his movies to cause concern. People calimed he was out of his mind with his movie Farenheit 911 but go watch it again and you will see he was spot on in many instances.

Do I believe everything he says? Of course not...I don't trust any media source. I don't hold on to his words like it's gospel by any means and those that do are just as ignorant as those that ignore him because some media outlet supported by privatley owned pharmeceutical companies lied about his stats in Sicko.


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Quote:

That's funny.. A Michael Moore film being good.. that's a joke right.

Look, he's doing exactly the thing that he seems to fight against.

He makes a movie, doesn't give all the facts and even the ones he gives are twisted. Then he charges you to go see it, rent it, or buy it.. he's making a ton of cash on the deal.

Personally, I wish I'd have thought of it.




How would you suggest that he gets his films out to the masses?


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How would you suggest that his films have any credible information at all???


I thought I was wrong once....but I was mistaken...

What's the use of wearing your lucky rocketship underpants if nobody wants to see them????
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I think that his direction is rather right on but sometimes the numbers are not exact. I think there is enough evidence in his movies to cause concern. People calimed he was out of his mind with his movie Farenheit 911 but go watch it again and you will see he was spot on in many instances.




And a broken clock is right two times a day. MM has made an art out of cherry picking facts, editing things out of context, and bending the truth as much as possible to get people to believe it.

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MM has made an art out of cherry picking facts, editing things out of context, and bending the truth as much as possible to get people to believe it.




agreed and that is pretty much the definition of propaganda.


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Have fun w/ your thread, MyDawgsBite. A big ol' conservative tidal wave is about to crash down on your head.

There are things I like about Moore's films and things I don't. To me he's the liberal equivalent of Rush Limbaugh. As far out to the left as Rush is to the right. In other words, not realistic.

Haven't seen the one you're talking about, but I have seen Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine and Farenheitt 911.

Common sense lies in the middle.

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Quote:

Have fun w/ your thread, MyDawgsBite. A big ol' conservative tidal wave is about to crash down on your head.

There are things I like about Moore's films and things I don't. To me he's the liberal equivalent of Rush Limbaugh. As far out to the left as Rush is to the right. In other words, not realistic.

Haven't seen the one you're talking about, but I have seen Roger & Me, Bowling for Columbine and Farenheitt 911.

Common sense lies in the middle.




I'm done. I suggested a movie and it's up to people to watch it. This board is vastly conservative and my views are right down the middle. I'm not going to try to change anyones beliefs but IMO you must take all the information and then come up with a reasoning. To just say I won't even give someone the time of day because they are more liberal/conservative minded is why we are in the shape we are in now. Like I said earlier too many puppets on strings.


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That's funny.. A Michael Moore film being good.. that's a joke right.





Canadian Bacon is a pretty good but underrated movie..


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You are lauding the propogandic works of Michael Moore and then have the gall to say others are puppets on strings????


I thought I was wrong once....but I was mistaken...

What's the use of wearing your lucky rocketship underpants if nobody wants to see them????
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And his views are "right down the middle"??

Why is it that those who lean left are in complete denial about it?

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Quote:

And his views are "right down the middle"??




Sure they are.

And so are mine. Just ask me.

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IMO you must take all the information and then come up with a reasoning.




I agree and I have seen some of his films for just that reason....


You started a thread on a movie from a director who is known for propagandic work. Without mentioning the points of interest for debate from the movie itself, there is not much else for people to comment on other than that they know this director is known for being biased.

Quote:

Like I said earlier too many puppets on strings.




Then, despite the predictable response, you stoke the fire with the dismissive statement above to anyone that disagrees that everyone has to see the movie, while still not noting WHY people should see this movie.

If you started the thread with WHY you thought this was an important movie, noted that the director is known to be a bit left-biased so take what he says with a grain of salt and point out what parts you agreed with.....well, then we could of at least had a healthy debate.


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Quote:

And his views are "right down the middle"??

Why is it that those who lean left are in complete denial about it?



I'm always suspicious of anybody who claims to be right down the middle... they are either in denial or too dense to form their own opinion.... and what would a person believe who is "right down the middle"? Perhaps we need taxes raised and lowered at the same time, abortion should be legal, except in the cases where it is illegal, and we need more social programs but less money to fund them, and we should overthrow evil dictators but only in a compassionate and loving sort of way, perhaps man-made global warming really is naturally occuring...


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Michael Moore may be the most pompous and egoistical man I've ever met in my life.

He's an incredibly gifted filmmaker ... he truly is. His films are often a distortion of the truth -- when you boil it down, he's a photo negative of Rush Limbaugh ... but he is good at what he does in terms of flow and emotion and such.

His films are always worth seeing ... just so long as they're taken in the context of entertainment and opinion.

With all that said, I've yet to see this film.

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I'm always suspicious of anybody who claims to be right down the middle... they are either in denial or too dense to form their own opinion.... and what would a person believe who is "right down the middle"? Perhaps we need taxes raised and lowered at the same time, abortion should be legal, except in the cases where it is illegal, and we need more social programs but less money to fund them, and we should overthrow evil dictators but only in a compassionate and loving sort of way, perhaps man-made global warming really is naturally occuring...




flip what you said about abortion and those are pretty much my views summed up pretty well there


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Michael Moore doesn't define capitalism properly.

The voluntary exchange of goods and services = Capitalism

The coerced theft of goods and services = Socialism / Statism.

Republicans and Democrats agree on one thing: They have the right to take your money whether or not you want their services.

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And his views are "right down the middle"??

Why is it that those who lean left are in complete denial about it?




That goes both ways.

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....what are you doing to make your country better?




I don't live in this country to make it better. I live in this country to exchange goods and services, and if the country benefits from my doing so, great. If not, oh well.

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I don't live in this country to make it better. I live in this country to exchange goods and services, and if the country benefits from my doing so, great. If not, oh well.




Wow... really?

Damn.

I can't imagine living here (or anywhere) for the sole purpose of engaging in commerce. I guess I'd like to get a little more out of being here than that.

Speaking only for myself here, but I gotta admit- when I mentor a young person to make better choices for their lives, it feels pretty good in my tired old soul. I like it because it helps someone else on a personal level, helps to make them better citizens, and that helps to make our country better. And when get to do it, not a dollar changes hands between me and another person. Every time I do it, I'm walking on air for the rest of the week. It feels good- damned good- because I know I'm making a difference for the better. It brings me one step closer to the standard that Jesus set for us all, it makes me a better member of my community, and it makes my community a healthier, stronger one to be a part of. My community. My American Community.

I get that chance again tomorrow morning... when I'll be privileged enough to spend 2 more hours working with kids at my local Youth Detention Facility.

Maybe it's just me... but I get a much bigger charge from doing that than I get from buying a new piece of stereo gear at my local high-end salon or getting my car serviced at the local Acura dealership.

Goods and services are a part of life, to be sure... but I'd hope that Life means a bit more than just that.

Perhaps that's the greatest thing about living in the United States of America... each of us is still free to define what 'The American Dream' means for him/herself. For me, that means doing what I can to enjoy the freedoms I've been granted by mere citizenship, and doing what I can to enable less fortunate others to access the same for themselves. For others, it may mean shopping at the mall, getting one's nails manicured, or paying for lap dances at the local strip club.

Each to his own, I guess.


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Wow... really?




A society (or state's) philosophy, is to exchange goods and services, other than that, there isn't a reason for a society, or state. If I help people out by means of charity, etc., it's because I want to, not because I'm obligated or compelled to. The former, yes, absolutely. The latter, absolutely not.

Quote:

Speaking only for myself here, but I gotta admit- when I mentor a young person to make better choices for their lives, it feels pretty good in my tired old soul. I like it because it helps someone else on a personal level, helps to make them better citizens, and that helps to make our country better. And when get to do it, not a dollar changes hands between me and another person. Every time I do it, I'm walking on air for the rest of the week. It feels good- damned good- because I know I'm making a difference for the better.




Mentoring young people, or helping out the community, in the spirit of charity, is wonderful, and is an example of practicing commerce, and exchanging services. Commerce isn't exclusive to money:

Quote:

Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer OR commerce is the exchange of goods and services from the producer to the consumer. It comprises the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information, or money between two or more entities.



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Quote:

Quote:

....what are you doing to make your country better?




I don't live in this country to make it better. I live in this country to exchange goods and services, and if the country benefits from my doing so, great. If not, oh well.




Remind me not to exchange tickets with you.


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Remind me not to exchange tickets with you.




I have no idea what you're talking about.

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Each to his own, I guess.




No guessing about it. Indeed to each his own. Within that and the context of this thread I believe that jackfrosty's post was apt. Additionally, virtuousness is not exclusive to America.

Btw, I applaud you for such involvement. It's just that I also agree with jack's point.



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To me he's the liberal equivalent of Rush Limbaugh.




Quote:

he's a photo negative of Rush Limbaugh





Brownoholic and Phil kinda beat me to it, but I'll offer this anyway.....

Michael Moore is to Rush Limbaugh as _______ is to ________


I was going to say "peanut butter" to "jelly", but that's not quite right. Have at if you will.

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Just so people don't get confused.....I listen to Rush as well. Once again I consider myself a collector of opinions. When I say that I think down the middle I mean just that. I try my best to ask myself "What would Jesus do". I don't support the moral issues of the democratic party but I tend to support the social issues.

I believe that war is the last alternative and that each one of us has an obligation to support those less fortunate (notice I'm not saying the lazy because that's against my beliefs). I believe that people should be allowed to be free willed as long as they are not effecting others (abortion is not birth control and it's taking anothers rights away IMO). If they are doing wrong with their personal lives then the man upstairs can deal with it. I believe that corporate greed is enemy number one and is destroying North America as a whole. I believe that the powers to be don't give a damn about us and a change is needed before they take all of us down with the ship. That is democracy. We, as people, need to stand up and fight for those that are struggling, even if that means taking in immigrants that need our help. I mean both the US and Canada was founded by immigrants that came here for a better life....at what point was this to stop?

Maybe I'm all over the place with how I feel but I believe that I'm structuring my belief system around what the prince of peace believed in and taught. Then again they crucified him too.


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What's funny about this post of yours MDB, is that I"m almost in complete agreement with you. For the longest time I've been of the opinion that neither side in these debates has all the answers. Yet neither side seems to want to give a little in order to reach common ground that best serves the majority of folks in the USA..

It's really a lot like Divide and Conquer. If they keep us divided it's easier to control us.

No way they can control us if we are of one mind. No way.

But how do we get "of one mind"? Believe it or not, I think its easier than you might think!

People will always fight over abortion. We all know that some hate it and others accept it. But if both sides put down thier weapons, quit listening to those that stand up and shout about either side, try and find the good in both sides,, an agreement can be reached. I'm positive about that.

Gun Control.. Look, I don't own a gun.. not sure I ever will to be honest, but I like the fact that I can if I want to. Some people find it perfectly acceptable to have Uzis (not sure of the spelling of that LOL),, now I don't see the need for them in someones personal arsenal.. But that's just me.

Somewhere in there, there is common ground.. I'm sure of it. Maybe ban uzis, but keep some other weapon.. anyway, I'm sure that if reasonable people sit down with the idea to solve the issue, it will go away as an issue.

Of course, there are those that stand to gain financially from having the freedom to own assault rifles.. First things first, if you have a financial stake in the outcome,, you aren't allowed at the table.. That goes for everything.

But that's just my opinion.. in the grand scheme of things.,, I don't really matter unless there are 300 million of me...


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You know, I bet if you talked to most of the "conservatives" on this board, you would find that they support most of your social issues as well. Where I and many of them disagree is that the government should not be the ones IMPLEMENTING it.

Thats MY responsibility...thats YOUR responsibility..thats OUR responsibility. That is NOT the governments responsibility. By allowing the government to take that responsibility from us PERSONALLY...it not only makes us weaker as it allows us the classic Scroogian "I pay taxes should that not be enough" out. It also holds us back in our development as human beings because we shrug that responsibility that we should be taking on ourselves.

We don't advance as a people because something got done. We advance when something got done the CORRECT WAY. And the correct way is that we take care of each other because we want to, because it is right, and not because some outside entity says we have to.

We need to get it out of our heads that the government is not here to take care of us...it is here to represent us. There is a difference.


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Quote:

And the correct way is that we take care of each other because we want to, because it is right, and not because some outside entity says we have to.





See, that's what I was talking about. It's a point of view. Not one shared by everyone, but a point of view all the same..

You start with that on one side and then you look at the one that says, let the goverment do it..

Somewhere in between is an answer. Open, uncorrupted minds will reach a conclusion that meets with approval of a majority of folks.. again, anyone with a financial stake in whatever decision needs made can't be involved. not by themselves or politicians and lobby groups they support either. If they are, you will ALWAYS get a stilted view.


(keep in mind, there isn't anything you can do that will please everyone.. just won't happen)


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I won't say I don't agree with you because I do for the most part. Here's one of my issue with not involving government.

For example...

Personally I believe that it's important for us as human beings to make every attempt at providing for those that are not as fortunate. I also believe that everyone has the right to health care. As I said above about following what Jesus would do and I feel strongly that Jesus would support a non profit health care program rather than the system we have now. (so I don't confuse anyone I am an American living in Canada and the United States will always be my home in my heart and that's why I say we). People are getting ripped off and losing everything with the system we have in place Some of you may be happy with your benefit package now but wait till you lose your job and benefits and you go to get insurance. They will rip you off and try their hardest not to pay for your medical bills, God forbid if anything pre-existing shows up from 20 years ago that they can link to any health issues now. We all know it's a business and their goal is to profit from you. So whose going to step in and stop it? Us? LOL!! The government? These guys are funded by these crooks. So someone enlighten me how we are going to make this work without someone in power finally working for the people. Can this be done without the goverment? I know this is getting off subject here but I want to know...someone please fill me.


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Wow, this thread sure has taken a dramatic turn toward civility... what the heck is that all about?

I tend to be very much in agreement with what Pete said...

Quote:

You know, I bet if you talked to most of the "conservatives" on this board, you would find that they support most of your social issues as well. Where I and many of them disagree is that the government should not be the ones IMPLEMENTING it.

Thats MY responsibility...thats YOUR responsibility..thats OUR responsibility. That is NOT the governments responsibility.



Amen brother. The biggest split between me and the "liberals" is not whether or not we should help those in need, it's HOW we should help those in need, and WHO should control it. Look, let's say my time at work is worth $30/hour... therefore my time is worth that amount. So if I donate 10 hours of my time to helping kids by tutoring kids, talking to them about responsibility, teaching them a skill, teaching them to read... and let's say I go to the grocery store and buy $100 worth of food and deliver it to the local food bank so they can give it to families that need it to feed their kids... I've made, essentially, a $400 contribution to those who need my help (because I could have spent that time at work and pocketed that $300 in wages and kept that $100 worth of food for my family).... Now if I send $400 in taxes to Washington, DC that gets earmarked for social programs, how much of it ends up getting back to the people that need it? $20? $40? $100 (not likely)... the vast majority of it gets gobbled up by the beaurocracy and red tape of thousands of people who work in limestone buildings inside the beltway who have no freakin' idea how best to help the underprivileged kids in my community, so what do they do? They send the family a check... now how much of that check, in a lot of cases, actually goes toward helping that kid succeed in life and how much goes to dads smokes or moms cell phone bill? So I can either give $400 worth of myself to my community... or I can give $400 to the government and they can reinvest about $10 of it back into some community somewhere.. probably in the Congo.

I also get tired of the people that suggest, "Why can't you do both?" Because I have a job, I have a family to support, I have a family to interact with, I have other responsibilities.. I have neither the time, the resources, or the desire to give and give of myself on a local level while supporting 20 beaurocrats families in DC by paying their salaries through my taxes and contributing to help people far away that I don't know and have no idea how to help.


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By allowing the government to take that responsibility from us PERSONALLY...it not only makes us weaker as it allows us the classic Scroogian "I pay taxes should that not be enough" out. It also holds us back in our development as human beings because we shrug that responsibility that we should be taking on ourselves.



Which is exactly what has happened. People no longer feel the PERSONAL need to help those around them like they used to. A lot of people do, like Clem, which is absolutely fantastic.. and I do and I'm sure a lot of others do... but how much more COULD I give.. how might my attitude be different if I didn't have this slightly jaded opinion on how much of my tax dollars are already being spent (wasted) on the effort to help people? ... I don't really know.

Look at the post-Katrina effort... who was the most effective at getting help to those in need? The Red Cross, the United Way, churches, civic groups... who was the least effective? The federal government.... but yet who was everybody relying on almost exclusively to do it? The federal government.... why? Because that's their job. I disagree. Their job is (or should be) search and rescue, maintain order, and to simply clear the way and provide avenues for the non-profits to get in and do what they do best.. It should not be the federal governments JOB to deliver blankets and soup and water.. why? Because they suck at it.


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First things first, if you have a financial stake in the outcome,, you aren't allowed at the table.. That goes for everything.




Then you've just eliminated half of the people.

Mr Damanshot, you must understand that people are going to act on self-interest. The idea that we, the people, can come together, while agreeing to disagree on issues is romantic, but it's not realistic. I respect you, as an individual, and your view-points, but when it comes to asserting them, there's going to be disagreement and counter-points. As much as you, and I, wish there were some common ground, and we may be reasonable individuals, but the reality is, we still disagree, and ultimately, when it comes down to it, there's philosophical differences and differences are naturally divisive, in their proper respects.

However, I do believe we can come to some agreement necessary for co-operation. Unfortunately, there are those who are completely unreasonable to begin with, and this is the road-block: In law there's a legal fiction called a reasonable person, which is an objective measuring stick for individual conduct. Any deviation from it, under reasonable circumstances, is deemed unreasonable, and thus irrational. The point? Particular persons in modern day are taught, or spoon-fed to act on ego, and emotionalism. Particular persons are taught to disregard listening to others' points, to disregard their validity, and to act on pure impulse (an example: look up Sam Harris and conversational intolerance, or more depressingly, flamers, in certain chats, forums, etc., who burst into a bout of insanity). I've ran into this far too many times than I would prefer, and what I'm getting at is particular individuals are not reasonable persons to begin with, and trying to be reasonable with an unreasonable person is futile. If we are to come together, and reach some agreement, we must be educated correctly. What does it mean to be educated correctly? It means being a reasonable person.

From personal experience, there just is not enough reasonable persons. It doesn't help when particular individuals Bill Maher keeps telling us, the people, we're not bright enough to understand certain issues, either.

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But that's just my opinion.. in the grand scheme of things.,, I don't really matter unless there are 300 million of me...




You must also rid yourself of this. You, as an individual, are the foundation of society, and a republic (such as the U.S.) where the individual is important, or in Thomas Jefferson's political philosophy, you, as an individual, are the yeoman farmer of his democracy, and government policy should be for your benefit.

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I also believe that everyone has the right to health care. As I said above about following what Jesus would do and I feel strongly that Jesus would support a non profit health care program rather than the system we have now. (so I don't confuse anyone I am an American living in Canada and the United States will always be my home in my heart and that's why I say we).




Have to disagree MyDawgsBite. There are multiple times in Scripture, and I am a Christian (so you know where I'm coming from) where Jesus was passive towards helping individuals without their demonstrating their faith, or telling Peter to give to God what is God's, and give to Caesar what is Caesar's.

That doesn't mean I don't enjoy, or want to help people, that's false, I am a humanitarian at heart. My point is that there's a time and place for everything, and if you feel inspired to provide charity, by all means.

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I also believe that everyone has the right to health care. As I said above about following what Jesus would do and I feel strongly that Jesus would support a non profit health care program rather than the system we have now. (so I don't confuse anyone I am an American living in Canada and the United States will always be my home in my heart and that's why I say we).




Have to disagree MyDawgsBite. There are multiple times in Scripture, and I am a Christian (so you know where I'm coming from) where Jesus was passive towards helping individuals without their demonstrating their faith, or telling Peter to give to God what is God's, and give to Caesar what is Caesar's.

That doesn't mean I don't enjoy, or want to help people, that's false, I am a humanitarian at heart. My point is that there's a time and place for everything, and if you feel inspired to provide charity, by all means.




There are far more instances where Jesus helped the poor and sick. Oh....and he didn't ask if they were insured.


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There are far more instances where Jesus helped the poor and sick. Oh....and he didn't ask if they were insured.



He also didn't give all of his belongings to Cesar and say, "Here, this is for the poor and sick ... I'll trust that you'll know what to do with it".

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Then you've just eliminated half of the people.




I should have been more specific,, but I really thought folks would get what I meant.. I don't like lobbyists.. I don't like how they literally pay for action that you and I can't get.....

so, if we are debating healthcare for instance, I don't want lobbyists for the insurance industry in the building.

Believe me, I recognize that that is an almost impossible task, but it's what I'd want...

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But that's just my opinion.. in the grand scheme of things.,, I don't really matter unless there are 300 million of me...


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You must also rid yourself of this. You, as an individual, are the foundation of society, and a republic (such as the U.S.) where the individual is important, or in Thomas Jefferson's political philosophy, you, as an individual, are the yeoman farmer of his democracy, and government policy should be for your benefit.










I feel much better about myself now.. thanks


#GMSTRONG

“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan

"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
Damanshot
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