Giuliani 08

[dissention]

Originally Posted by sparky

I shall get my butt out and buy this book. If someone called it socialist, I suspect it has a bunch of great ideas that are impossible to implement when factoring in human nature. Fantasy land stuff about no one being greedy and all that.

Well, there's really no way of knowing without reading it for yourself. Anyone who advocates spreading the wealth around more evenly these days, or even advocates *gasp* better housing policies, is branded a socialist, so such a label has lost quite a bit of it's luster.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by dissention

Well, there's really no way of knowing without reading it for yourself. Anyone who advocates spreading the wealth around more evenly these days, or even advocates *gasp* better housing policies, is branded a socialist, so such a label has lost quite a bit of it's luster.

Oh, I'll read it, Frank. Don't worry your pretty little head. I have a sense of humor about socialism. Ideas about spreading wealth around fascinate me. I can't imagine how such a thing is done in practical terms.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by sparky

Oh, I'll read it, Frank. Don't worry your pretty little head. I have a sense of humor about socialism. Ideas about spreading wealth around fascinate me. I can't imagine how such a thing is done in practical terms.

You had better read it or I'll get Skeletor to f*ck your ass up.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by dissention

You had better read it or I'll get Skeletor to f*ck your ass up.

You make me snicker with glee.

[ragandbone]

Just in case anyone thought I am advocating a communist or socialist system when I mentioned the enormous profits or corporations, I really am not talking about that kind of change, mostly because the former sems impossible with human nature, and the latter isn't lilely in this country, I think.

I just think that the business sector needs to come up with more sustainable business models. If you can't pay your people a living wage, and you can't manufacture produce, or distribute goods without affording to clean up after yourself, then you don't have a good business model, IMO. Start with those requirements, and let the market decide. And if the business fails, then they can "pick themselves up by their bootstaps" and try again. (ha!)

*Ok, I am getting off my soapbox now. Thanks for this thoughtful discussion.*

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by dissention

You had better read it or I'll get Skeletor to f*ck your ass up.

What's really sad is that I actually remember that cartoon...

[dissention]

Originally Posted by sparky

You make me snicker with glee.

That is my mission in life.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by ragandbone

How do we encourage empathy and understanding, and then enable people to act when they see circumstances that need to change?

That's a question that I don't think anyone has the answer to. We're a selfish nation, it's going to take something monumental to enable more empathy and understanding towards those less fortunate.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

That's a question that I don't think anyone has the answer to. We're a selfish nation, it's going to take something monumental to enable more empathy and understanding towards those less fortunate.

Well, it has not happened in the recorded history of "civilization" - so i am not holding my breath.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, it has not happened in the recorded history of "civilization" - so i am not holding my breath.

Love the quotation marks around civilization. My sentiments exactly.

[The Tower]

Originally Posted by dissention

You had better read it or I'll get Skeletor to f*ck your ass up.

HO****!!!!!!! Where's his partner in crime??

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, it has not happened in the recorded history of "civilization" - so i am not holding my breath.

I think Western Europe is doing a pretty good job of creating a social safety net for those less fortunate. It's not perfect- but it's certainly better than anything the U.S. has got going.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, it has not happened in the recorded history of "civilization" - so i am not holding my breath.

Me neither. I would likely need mouth to mouth if I did.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by The Tower

. . . I think Western Europe is doing a pretty good job of creating a social safety net for those less fortunate. It's not perfect- but it's certainly better than anything the U.S. has got going.

They do an okay job - but I think the point was 0% - which I assert will never happen because it never has. But, maybe someone smarter than I will come up with something.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by sparky

He also had a way of speaking that made people at least believe he gave a damn. For the record, I think he actually did.

So do I.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by The Tower

I think Western Europe is doing a pretty good job of creating a social safety net for those less fortunate. It's not perfect- but it's certainly better than anything the U.S. has got going.

Canada's not so bad either.