Mike Nobody wrote:BassBastard wrote:As for the class warfare part: That is the state-ist tool to keep us squabling while we are slowly losing rights.
A peasant would tell you that his life sucks so the rich must be brought down as well.
A free citizen will see that improving the life of everyone will help us all. Rich and poor. AKA- rising tide lifts all boats.
I do not begrudge the rich thier money and success. Quite the opposite. I work to get there too. I have often stolen a quote I do not remember the originator of: "A poor man never gave me a job". I can not improve the life of anyone if I am working to destroy the success of others. I can improve the lives of others if I work to improve my own.
Thus self interest, profit and success are not evil.
I guess you never heard the Golden Rule, "Whoever has the gold makes the rules." And they've re-written the rules in their favor.
I have no interest in "bringing down" anybody. But, wealth is power. And it is often abused at the expense of those with too little of it.
Everybody Does Better When Everybody Does Better
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CBMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rinconucc.org%2FPortals%2F385%2FVan%2520Kuiken%2520Sermons%2FEveryone%2520Does%2520Better%2520When%2520Everyone%2520Does%2520Better.pdf&ei=CYIfTebtIsSkngeexKiXDg&usg=AFQjCNGzFQRZ3wTPeshW1U0ADZdPev3N4w
But Mike- "everybody" will never do better. Some have hussle, some don't. Some truly are bums. Some actually want wealth. Some of us are not materialists but still wish to eat every day and have good guitars.
You've played in bands thus I think we may assume you've met your share of stumblebums. Should they be entitled to the same portion as those of us who actually pull our weight?
The problem with our culture is that it has become so difficult to be poor UNLESS you are willing to become a ward of the state which all too many embrace freely. (This is actually why I sadly forsee chaos in our society)
When I did the starving artist routine there was plenty of cheap housing (before the FEDGOV got involved) and low end jobs that didn't need drug tests and a fifty page printout of your life story. I'd be surprised if a young kid could pull off all the antics I did back then. "Helpful" govt has poisoned the well.
I've thought long and hard on how to downsize my already rather simple life style - but the drop from where I am now to ANYWHERE else is a long one.
cheers
Talbot