The Age If Irresponsibility

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   SparklingJewelposted 15 years ago

   It is suppose to be The Age of Irresponsibility? (and I added the question mark)
   
   "Public expenditure can't buy virtue. It may even crowd it out. To preserve the American middle class, Obama and the Democrats want to transfer the burden of responsibility from the individual to the government. They want to raise taxes and finance expanded federal government intervention in education, health care, pensions, and the workforce. ... The stimulus bill captures the ethos of this new liberalism perfectly. The dramatic expansion of government's share of the economy is geared toward specifically liberal ends. ... It's also a huge miscalculation.
   
   Increased dependence on the state is not a solution to our lack of personal accountability. It will only encourage more of it. ... The American ethos is one of self-reliance. This is not the same as autonomous hedonism and greed. A self-reliant individual is responsible for himself and his family. He is accountable for his actions. He has to be.
   
   The welfare state, by contrast, promotes dependence. As government expands its sphere of involvement in everyday life, the number of supplicants for government assistance increases. Rather than encouraging the individual to take responsibility for his actions, the new liberals have embarked on policies that will encourage the individual to turn to government instead." --Weekly Standard editor Matthew Continetti
   
   I can see how it is a possibility and even have seen it a reality. (the last paragraph).
   
   So, let's hear the solutions to how not let that happen on a greater scale. What do people need to do, or not do, to not become dependent on the state/federal government?
   
   Even after the government/and their allowance of big business, etc. to create a bad economic situation has occurred, what can the people do to keep themselves from "falling into that mesmerism and compliance" state of soul/spirit, mind, body and emotion toward "big brother government"?
   
   Can we get some genuine answers and not a bunch of blaming and name calling stuff?

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      Mark Knowlesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Well, only the left wing socialist truly understands the responsibility that comes with god, patriotism and looking after one's fellow man.
      
      Atheistic independence is to be avoided if one truly wishes to serve the people and by extension, god's desires for one consciousness with all.
      
      With great power comes great patriotic responsibility. This is how that manifests. Just what you asked for I believe?
      
      Feel free to answer by quoting some one else and saying that you do not agree with it.....

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2. 61

   knolyourselfposted 15 years ago

   I agree. I think to pay for the mess the bush regime left, taxes should levied on all those who voted for him, enough to earase the debt that they left, and
   taxes should be eliminated for those who did not. Now that' the 'age of responisibility'. Fess up.

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   Leta Sposted 15 years ago

   Is there much difference between so-called reliance on big brother government and big brother corporations?  Really?  Both are damaging to 'virtue.'
   
   “The exercise of power in any institutionalized form – whether economic, political, religious, or sexual – brutalizes both the wielder of power and the one over whom it is exercised.”
   
   This 'dependency' worry we hear about so much.  What is it really about?  I feel like that is the question.

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4. 63

   RKHenryposted 15 years ago

   Calling each other names or point blame will get Americans nowhere fast.  Blame belongs with everyone who has ever charged something on a credit card or bought something beyond their means.  Unfortunately, can Americans really address the  issue seriously without an accounting class?  These situations need be addressed and that is hard to do without making people accountable for their actions.  Yes?  Is the posts posturing really about addressing the issue that American woman and men need to be more centered and become self-reliant?  Obama's plan says "welfare", I suppose, but look at America.  It is a mess from the highest level down.  So what else?  I find this mess very frustrating.  Bush isn't paying for his wrong choices and bad behavior.  Americans are and now with Obama Americans are tring to fumble through the mess of bad business.  I agree with you on needing to be centered and self-reliant.  But what can Americans expect from other Americans?  America doesn't know how to be centered.  Yesterday- people couldn't put enough items on credit.  Credit cards and false "credit" is what got us into the mess.  That issue needs to be considered.  Whether it is Credit card Welfare or Government Welfare- Americans need help from somewhere or some other country on how to manage money.  Yes/no, what do you think?

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   pgrundyposted 15 years ago

   Check out Kevin Phillips new book "Bad Money" and then we can talk about who has been irresponsible and who hasn't.
   
   I would like to usher in a new era of responsibility with some indictments or maybe just some public hangings of bankers and financiers.
   
   I'll bring my knitting.

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   knolyourselfposted 15 years ago

   Speaking of welfare and responsibility.
   "Nov. 12 (Bloomberg) -- General Electric Co. said the U.S. government agreed to insure as much as $139 billion in debt for lending arm GE Capital Corp., the second time in a month it has turned to a federal program designed to help companies during a global credit crunch."
   Now this is good because GE is the owner and pays all the salaries of CNBC
   buisness channel, the crowd therein that has been screaming of late about Obama's socialist welfare bailouts.

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7. 67

   SparklingJewelposted 15 years ago

   I understand how hard it is to not blame...but we get no where in that.
   
   We need to get out of the woulda, coulda, shoulda and get into the now and looking to the future
   
   Here are a few things I am doing, learning and suggesting.
   
   Get more information on the history of the economy and how it is run, I put several here for instance that i came across (and watched and listened to them too) so putting into action changes from new knowledge.
   
   But to me it really does come down to the psychology of one and all, regardless of which side of life you live in. That's what bothers me most...the fact that it is possible to live in a healthy patriotic way regardless (for the most part, anyway)of one's philosophical/spiritual take on it all.
   
   To find that centered place of being a healthy, ethical and caring human when it comes to money here are a few ideas, that i found in my search.
   
   No matter who you are,  to stop inflation, one needs to: sacrifice the need for immediate gain, inordinate profits and a life of only leisure- for the long term gains of prosperity and sound management of govt. and businesses, that are based upon the realities of the money supply and the resources at hand.
   
   One needs to recognize that the true value of life rests on the Golden Rule ( when one's psychology of what that means is correct )...that serves the needs of community through love, caring, compassion, charity and the sharing of joys of the abundant life with those that have an impoverished sense.
   
   Deal with the aspects of self that are resistant to the responsibilities of living and working together in honor and dignity.
   
   One needs to get out of the greed that has a stranglehold of selfishness and "the bottomline" materialism mentality that thinks it is more important than other people's needs for freedom from coercion and oppression, slavery to the monetary system, fear  and manipulation of others for one's own gain.
   
   This system of economy is not real, it is synthetic, an illusion of materialism without a sense of the importance of living in and being a part of an Ordered Universe (God) that shows you exactly what happens when you stray from that love for life...(if it isn't clear to people now I don't know what to say ) and has created a totally unreal consciousness of the abundant life.
   
   This psychological separation from the Universe (God) and all Creation leaves one blind to the realities of the abundant life and loving one's neighbor. This is a deadly condition of the Spirit of humanity that makes them blind and accepting of whatever those "in charge" say needs to be.
   
   We need to "bring down those that "preach all is well" and tell us that the band-aids will work....until we need another band-aid. Sucking everyone dry (the upper unethical taking the life blood of the middle and lower classes). And if they really don't know who they are, the people need to stand up and say so.!
   
   I have gotten involved with online speaking out for the things I believe in and try to change my life accordingly. AND never give up or give in to the subversions of reality.
   
   I don't trust anyone in govt. or big business now any more than I have the last decade or more...but I am a lot more informed

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      Mark Knowlesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      And proud of your new car. GOD BLESS YOUR TROOPS
      
      Sheesh....................

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      Leta Sposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Jewel-
      
      The fact that you are thinking, questioning, and seeking answers period--regardless of what others might think, or even the end result--says a lot about your personally.
      
      I think you'd be surprised by the number of people who stop doing that and just are going on knee jerk reactions philosophically or politically. 

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         RKHenryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I, for one am in complete agreement here.  I would also like to add here, that the probability of the problems Americans are facing is because of the fact that this country can't stop from   swinging so far left or so far right.  It seems that is how American leaders can only lead.  Are there any coalitions teaching Americans responsibility and accounting?   America is truly in a mess.   People can talk all day long about God, new cars, resourcing and educating themselves; is that relevant concerning the ones standing in the welfare lines or applying for more credit cards? Can Americans change for real?  The debt left for young kids these days is unfathomable.  The debt left for my generation is a non-obtainable figure.  My parents generation a joke.  Americans are leaving debt for people who aren't even born yet to deal with x5.  Crazy.

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         1. 67

            SparklingJewelposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I like some of the things I have heard so far from Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich...though I am in no way "in thier camp" with the little bit of information I know of them.
            
            Yes, as far as I am concerned talking about those things, God and education are relevant...Those two for instance can bring hope to many. But it is only a partial hope because people have to learn to work together honorably and ethically, and to what ends mutually.
            
            It's the proverbial two edged sword, people can't maintain a correct and honorable status beyond themselves as long as unethical big business and government are ruling it over them...but without the "big boys" (when they are in the "correct mindset" of ethics and reform) greater expanses of people (logistically speaking) can't be helped.
            
            I have wondered, how did the early Americans gather so much unity in thier purpose and focus, with such poor communication abilities (no technology, for instance)...can you imagine the mail post riders...they were a busy lot !
            
            But I do believe prayer and those types of spiritual connections had a lot to do with it. Though many these days don't have that kind of "sense" of things for life...they tend to think only of human ability, and not the unity of  Divine Providence with the human.

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               Paragliderposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               Education is important. Even if education is undefined, it is still more or less universally agreed to be a good idea. God is not important because god is wholly alien to many people. It is a distraction.

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   Leta Sposted 15 years ago

   A universal ethics does not have to include a monotheistic--or any conception--of a God.  Agreed.

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      SparklingJewelposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      The God I am always talking about is the concept of ones place in the whole scheme of things...that all that we do affects others and the environment, and all others do affects the same.
      The concept is not a distraction at all but an extremely important point...that if one does not feel/believe he/she has validity and purpose in life that that one cannot muster  consistent ethical actions because there is no internal drive to care for oneself or others or the environment.

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   Leta Sposted 15 years ago

   Jewel-
   I don't think it is necessary to communicate or name such.  There are atheists and agnostics who have ethics or drive that you mention without explicitly naming or believing.  Language or stated belief concerning a God alienates these people who have no need for such--but may still share core values for reasons of their own.

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    RKHenryposted 15 years ago

    I think the common ground for early Americans was freedom.  Oddly enough freedom from religion too.  Freedom.  What is America's common ground now?  God, taxes and credit.  Americans love to believe in God, love buying on credit and hate paying taxes.   
    America is a democracy.  Most Americans don't give sway to what other non-Americans think about it.  Its a democracy.  Those who haven't been raised with American Liberty don't understand the role God does play in American hearts.  Objective understanding proves America becomes more centered under God.   Americans oddly enough are trying to discover how to free themselves of credit.  It might take a miracle.  It is not impossible.   Like early Americans freed themselves of English ideas and government.  According to history books, that was something of a magical event, thought impossible but wasn't.

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       Mark Knowlesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       America is not a democracy - it is a republic.
       
       God plays a big role in places where they do not have "American Liberty." You know - biometric passports and Guantanamo bay torture. LOL
       
       Not sure what happened to freedom along the way.

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11. 63

    RKHenryposted 15 years ago

    The Tower of London.     American?

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       Mark Knowlesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       The Bay of Guantanamo? Freedom?

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    RKHenryposted 15 years ago

    I been thinking about traveling to Northern Ireland to study English history.  Since I am an American, I thought Northern Ireland would be the perfect place.  India.  India, I thought about studying English law with the peasants of India.  How old is England anyways?  I guess I'll ask some South Africans if they know.  Been thinking about studying English history there too.  Already been to Jamaica and Haiti.  Been to VA, WV, MD,MA, NY, CT,VT,RI, PA, OH, NC and studied English policies.  I have even studied English law in England.  How about that Buckingham Palace?

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