A Question For The Free Thinkers Here

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   Poppa Bluesposted 15 years ago

   Way back in American history some people were guaranteed to have clothes, food, shelter and jobs and it was all paid for by the rich!
   
   It was known as slavery!
   
   So, what do you call it when government gives you the same guarantees?

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      Sab Ohposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      The question is, does the government take the same from you in exchange as in that prior arrangement? And do you have the same say in the matter?

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      Deborah Sextonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Ah the slavery topic again.
      Let it go it was in the past.
      
      I call clothing, food and shelter a blessing.

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      Evan G Rogersposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      First off, it's pointless to try to link Slavery to American History. Slavery has pretty much always existed throughout all of mankind's history. It's through the amazing capital achievements of the past 200 or so years that slavery has finally been abolished
      
      Second, your argument that "because some people were guaranteed X, and now because the government guarantees the same things, the two are the same" doesn't quite hold water. I was guaranteed clothes, food and shelter by my parents as a child, that didn't mean that I was a slave.
      
      Third, I wouldn't consider government services so much as a benefit of slavery so much as a benefit of theft. Sure, slavery and theft can be seen as the same thing: I'll grant you this argument if you want to equate them. But the way government provides services is that they threaten to throw you in jail if you don't pay up - hence it's more along the lines of having someone put a gun to your head and demand your wallet.
      
      I wouldn't call government programs slavery, I'd simply call it a sort of robbery. I am forced to have my money spent a certain way instead of spending it how I want, and people are prevented from spending their money a certain way by law.

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   Sarra Garrettposted 15 years ago

   A Lie

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   premierkjposted 15 years ago

   you are clearly bitter and spoilt if you are comparing slavery to today's society. grow up

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      Poppa Bluesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not bitter or spoilt er the correct word is spoiled, perhaps you were denied your RIGHT to an education.
      
      I have worked for everything I have and I'm not asking anyone for anything. My fate is in my hands, but it seems Americans more and more are expecting government to provide for their needs. If we continue to do this, what will it be called when it's achieved? A simple question.

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         premierkjposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I was not denied an education, simply afforded a good one. The word 'spoilt' is the prefered spelling in the english language in the UK and Ireland.
         
         In my country, when people are old, unemployed or unable to take care of themselves, the rest of us give a small amount of what we have to help them out. We do this by paying taxes, I'm sure you have heard of them. The government then distributes the taxes in a way that they think is fair. It seems to work quite well. I guess the answer to your question of what you should call an America that takes care of the less fortunate is 'a humane society'.

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            Poppa Bluesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I'm sorry, excuse my ignorance. I didn't expect someone from across the pond to respond to the question.
            
            What makes America different is our constitution which limits the power of government and promotes individual freedom and guarantees only the PURSUIT of life, liberty, and happiness. We don't believe that government should as you say
            
            "distributes the taxes in a way that they think is fair."
            
            
            Grover Cleveland, our 22nd and 24th president and a democrat used his veto power more than any other president. Once when farmers in Texas experienced a horrific drought, a bill that offered 10,000 dollars to those farmers came to his desk and he refused to sign it, noting that the constitution doesn't provide for the government to help or hinder it's citizens in such matters. Americans on their own raised 100,000 dollars for those farmers!
            
            That's the difference. Americans are generous people and will share their blessings with those in need. We don't need nor want nor rely on the government to be our conscience. What we require of our government is to keep us free!

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               premierkjposted 15 years agoin reply to this

               That's interesting, perhaps I was harsh in my initial reaction in that I was not sure exactly what you were referring to. As I understand, America wants little to do with socialism. In Ireland, a lot of people want to be told what to do by the government. The fear of failure drives us to a form of socialism as opposed to the American view where aspirations of success drives capitalism. 
               
               We are obviously approaching this topic from very different backgrounds and as you are an American, you will understand the American situation more than I. I think it is hard to strike the right balance between being free and being utterly alone and self dependent. The rich want one thing and the poor want another.
               
               From my cultural perspective, there appears to be a wider gap in America between the rich and the poor. It seems a cold and unforgiving place if one is unsuccessful. But then, I think maybe Ireland is too forgiving.

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   iskra1916posted 15 years ago

   Sounds like Orwellian reasoning to me, 'newspeak'

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   Mikel G Robertsposted 15 years ago

   "Way back in American history some people were guaranteed to have clothes, food, shelter and jobs and it was all paid for by the rich!
   
   It was known as slavery!
   
   So, what do you call it when government gives you the same guarantees?"
   _______________________________________________________________
   
   First off slaves were not given much of anything. They definately were not guaranteed clothes, food, or shelter. Jobs by my definition are paid, there-fore no 'jobs' either.
   
   They were forced to work. They were kept however their owner decided to keep them... naked, hungry and outside if the owner desired.
   Second if a Government guarantees something I call one of two things  1 a lie or 2 a misprint.
   
   I looked up liar in the dictionary, there were pictures of politicians???

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      Poppa Bluesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      http://www.granburyisd.org/986208191443 … owners.pdf
      
      Actually slave owners often worked side by side with their slaves. Owners relied upon them. Yes they were beaten for committing crimes or avoiding work, but is that any different than what society does now with criminals? Ok, well we don't beat people for not working anymore, we reward them now!

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   Paradise7posted 15 years ago

   Whoa, Poppa Blues, that's a fire-starting question.
   
   I really do think we are better off now, than then.
   
   I don't think you're spoiled.  The idea probably made you laugh!

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   marinealways24posted 15 years ago

   Creating dependency for control.

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      Justine76posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      this
      and its sad to see so many people gladly hand over thier freedom, to get their "benifits"

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         marinealways24posted 15 years agoin reply to this

         I agree. I see this the same as how religion operates. I think they are both governments from the same philosophies. Like government, people give over freedom of mind to get a belief with benefits. Like government, religion creates dependency for control.

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   Aya Katzposted 15 years ago

   Poppa Blues, it's called the same as it was back then. Obviously.

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