Not even you

I don't trust anyone who thinks they have the authority to enforce compliance to their way of life

Deep Verse

1 Corinthians 10


12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.


23 “All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up.
24 Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.
25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
26 For “the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof.”
27 If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.
28 But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience—
29 I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God,
33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.

Commie Bastards

Acts 4
³²All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 
With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 
There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 
and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Deep Thought

‎"We are all born as animals and live the life that animals live: we sleep, eat, reproduce, and fight. There is, however, another order of living, which the animals do not know, that of awe before the mystery of being, the mysterium tremendum et fascinans, that can be the root and branch of the spiritual sense of one’s days. That is the birth – the Virgin Birth – in the heart of a properly human, spiritual life."
- Joseph Campbell, Thou Art That, p. 29

Deep Thought

When religion meets politics, it all amounts to a denial of autonomy.
The left would want to make you do what you do not want to do.
The right would want to make you stop doing what you want to do.

Deep Horoscope

The coming year will be a good time for you to consider investigating the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. Devotees of this religion call themselves Pastafarians. Their main dogma is the wisdom of rejecting all dogma. Having such a light-hearted approach to spiritual matters would be quite healthy for you to experiment with. For extra credit, you could draw inspiration from a church member named Niko Alm. He convinced authorities to allow him to wear a pasta strainer on his head for his driver's license photo. Having a jaunty approach to official requirements and formal necessities will also serve you well.

scary little thing called love

I believe that in order to truly love someone, you must understand them.
Many times your heart leads, then love seems to be blind, ineffective, selfish even.
you have no idea if you are happy, if they are happy.
it's scary feeling like you're on a limb that could break any second.
You already fell without even expecting it.
You may get over it but your heart is still wounded. There's still a scar. Making it tougher. Making you guarded.

Trust

Risk management
Accept the risk only when the benefit outweighs the cost
when Love feels like a risk
Anticipate and manage risks by planning
when you don't have enough information to make a healthy decision
make risk decisions at the right level
love takes time
accept no unnecessary risks.
love does not fear.

But I realize I've been using the ORM wrong.
You're supposed to
Identify the hazard
Assess the hazard
Make risk decisions
Implement controls
Supervise

I haven't been implementing controls
I just decide that it's not worth the risk and pass it by
Or I only give what I'm willing to lose.

So what is the benefit
If there can be friendship and a heart protected.
When you love but are afraid to say it.
When I have to change my thinking from love to friend.
when love isn't something I can get rid of so easily. Ignore it, stifle it. Let it die.
What I have to tell myself.
I can be a friend. A friend who loves, supports, helps,
one who doesn't need love in return
I think a relationship is secure, there's a commitment.
What's the difference between a lover and a friend?
Is it just the physical intimacy? Is it a vulnerability?
You can be in love and still be friends. It's a bit of torture if one is not mature enough; but possible.

I feel like I'm an oddity. It's hard for me to relate to people and feel like I'm understood. Very important to me. Otherwise. It's the loneliest feeling, not being understood. This loneliness sits in your gut when you're alone or when you're in a crowd. It's worse in the crowd. It's worst in love.
I hate being confused and this is the most confusing and frustrating thing I've dealt with in a long time.

I'm in love and I'm uncomfortable with those feelings
I'm in love and it scares me
When my mind is telling me that it's not going to work and my heart is telling me that it doesn't matter, just do it.
There's no voice of hope. Nothing saying that it will work out.
Maybe that's my insecurities or maybe it's intuition. Maybe a little of both.
I wish i was able to trust someone with my heart

Word of the Day

???
Noun

A person who doesn't care about an issue that doesn't affect them.

"as long as I'm fed, I don't care if poor people eat. They need to learn how to provide for themselves. If they can't, that's just evolution at work."

What do you call this person...besides asshole?

Selfish or indifferent doesn't quite hit it.

They have compassion; but only for their causes. Everyone else be damned.

Irreverent

It's why I ask people not to take me seriously
I'm grossly irreverent
I have little to no respect for anything
Severely jaded
I don't identify with anything or anyone

I don't have any real religious or political affiliation

I'm a libertarian on paper
When I talk to other libertarians or read their writings, I don't want to have anything to do with them


In politics and religion, sarcasm rules
It's like I'm the political (and economic) atheists telling everyone they're deluded.

The only things I want is freedom
but know that it's hard to achieve.
Like happiness
no one can give it to you
It's a choice you make

But we're too brainwashed to realize that we enslave ourselves

I realize that people will defend their cause and become delusional about it.  Viewing the opposing side as ignorant, dangerous

How do you really change minds?
Convincing others that your way is better for them...

If you find a way of life that works for you, meets your needs, you should be free to live that life.
You can advocate for it; but, don't force others to follow it.
Be respectful of the fact that everyone else doesn't want to follow it.

I distrust anyone who thinks they have a way of life that will work for all people.

Class Warfare

I've always thought that underneath it all, America's foundation was built on class.

noun
the system of ordering a society in which people are divided into sets based on perceived social or economic status:

In America, the foundation of class is wealth

What masks it all is that the American elite decided who was going to be in what class.
They had to, to ensure they keep their power

Duh enough, wealthy, white, male, land owners end up in the upper class

and Everyone else ends up in the lower class empires

The government creates this thing called the middle class.

This is where our land of opportunity lives.

Every now and then, the elite allow women and other minorities into their fold. Because it really isn't about racism or sexism or whatever -ism.

It's about power. It's about empires.

Empires came into being by creating something people felt they could not live without.

Dan Snyder makes the bottom of the Forbes 400 list at

1.05 Billion Washington Redskins

Oddly enough

the black female on the list

Oprah Winfrey at

2.7 billion Harpo Productions

The next wealthiest black person

Tiger woods at 600 million

42 of the 400 are women

We must realize that America was not a clean slate

There were powers that transfered and continued

Made decisions and molded the course of America

Any economic

Bigot

Word of the day

noun
a person who is intolerant of any ideas other than his or her own, esp on religion, politics, or race

New Oxford American Dictionary

bigotry
1670s, from Fr. bigoterie "sanctimoniousness," from bigot (see bigot).
bigoted
1640s, from bigot (q.v.).
bigot (n.)
1590s, "sanctimonious person, religious hypocrite," from Fr. bigot (12c.), of unknown origin. Earliest French use of the word is as the name of a people apparently in southern Gaul, which led to the now-doubtful, on phonetic grounds, theory that the word comes from Visigothus. The typical use in Old French seems to have been as a derogatory nickname for Normans, the old theory (not universally accepted) being that it springs from their frequent use of the Germanic oath bi God. But OED dismisses in a three-exclamation-mark fury one fanciful version of the "by god" theory as "absurdly incongruous with facts." At the end, not much is left standing except Spanish bigote "mustache," which also has been proposed but not explained, and the chief virtue of which as a source seems to be there is no evidence for or against it.

In support of the "by God" theory, as a surname Bigott, Bygott are attested in Normandy and in England from the 11c., and French name etymology sources (e.g. Dauzat) explain it as a derogatory name applied by the French to the Normans and representing "by god." The English were known as goddamns 200 years later in Joan of Arc's France, and during World War I Americans serving in France were said to be known as les sommobiches (see also son of a bitch). But the sense development in bigot is difficult to explain. According to Donkin, the modern use first appears in French 16c. This and the earliest English sense, "religious hypocrite," especially a female one, might have been influenced by beguine and the words that cluster around it. Sense extended 1680s to other than religious opinions.

Deep Horoscope

In her memoir Blood, Bones & Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef,Gabrielle Hamilton suggests my horoscopes were helpful to her as she followed her dream to create her New York City restaurant, Prune. "I killed roaches, poisoned their nests, trapped rats, stuffed their little holes with steel wool and glass shards," she wrote, "while my girlfriend . . . walked through the place 'purifying' it with a burning sage smudge stick and read me my Rob Brezsny horoscopes in support." I would love to be of similar service to you in the coming months, Gemini, as you cleanse whatever needs to be cleansed in preparation for your next big breakthrough. Let the fumigation, purgation, and expiation begin!
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Here's a blurb for one of his workshops. "This day will be of absolutely no use to you. Nothing will be furthered or accomplished by coming. Expect a time of effortlessness, relaxation, and poetry, hanging out, maybe a little mindfulness meditation -- all for nothing. Some might understand this as a protest against our culture's speedy, goal-driven nature, but we know it won't amount to a hill of beans. Good intentions and purposefulness must be checked at the door."
*

Deep Thought

He is truly a Fool who trust's his :
1. Soul to a Preacher !
2. Health to a Doctor !
3. Right's to a Lawyer !
4. Money to a Banker !
6. Information from a news channel !
7. History from a school system !
8. Education from a University !
9. Security from a police force !
10. Freedom from a government !
11. Choices to a Politician !

Learn these skills for yourself!!!

Hippocrates maybe

Deep Horoscope

I'm not an either-or type of person. I don't think that there are just two sides of every story and that you have to align yourself with one or the other. That's one reason why, as an America voter, I reject the idea that I must either sympathize with the goals of the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. It's also why I'm bored by the trumped-up squabble between the atheists and the fundamentalist Christians, and the predictable arguments between dogmatic cynics and fanatical optimists. I urge you to try my approach in the coming weeks, Gemini. Find a third way between any two sides that tend to divide the world into Us against Them.

Whether it's your time to ferment in the shadows or sing in the sun, fresh power to transform yourself is on the way. Life always delivers the creative energy you need to change into the new thing you must become.*

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There was an indignant uproar after revelations in 2006 that James Frey's best-selling "memoir" A Million Little Pieces contains fabrications. He hadn't actually lived all of the experiences he depicted therein.

Hearing about it prompted me to ruminate on whether there's any such thing as a completely accurate account of any person's life. My conclusion: no.

In every autobiography and biography ever written, the author imaginatively strings together selectively chosen details to conjure up artificially coherent narratives rather than depicting the crazy-quilt ambiguity that actually characterizes everyone's journey.

If you and nine writers set out to tell your life story, you'd produce 10 wildly different tales, each rife with subjective interpretation, misplaced emphasis, unintentional distortions, and exorbitant extrapolations from insufficient data.

Celebrate the malleability of reality. Regale listeners with stories about the time you worked as a pirate in the Indian Ocean, or rode the rails through Kansas as a hobo, or gave a down-on-his-luck CIA agent sage advice in an elevator. When you call to get pizza delivered and the clerk who takes your order asks your name, say you're Brad Pitt or Paris Hilton. When someone you're meeting is annoyed because you're late, say you couldn't help it because you were smoking crack in the bus station bathroom with your mom's guru and lost track of time. If asked how much education you have, say you have three PhDs, one each in astrobiology, Russian literature, and whale songs.

Deep Thought

Americans always tend to do the right thing
after having exhausted every other alternative
Churchill

Emperor of the U.S.A: justice

In My Empire
People would solve disputes at the lowest level possible (starting directly with the people who are in disagreement), and if necessary, follow an appeals process all the way to the supreme court. The right to trial by jury will be observed

Justice system will be reparative. All non-violent criminals are released from prison and made to atone for their crime.

Grassroots investments

A friend, or any person in your community, wants to start a business. They know what they need to get it started
They don't have the capital. So they go to people in the community and ask for investments.
Face to face
Investor says they will give so much; what they get in return can be negotiated
Maybe they just want their money back
Maybe they want it back with interest
Maybe they want a portion of the profits
Maybe they want a say in decisions

No matter what the agreement, there would be no middle man, no bank or investment agency you have to go through. No imaginary digital money.

Deep Horoscope

Researchers at the University of Oregon claim that in certain circumstances, they can make water flow uphill. I'm not qualified to evaluate their evidence, but I do know that in the coming week you will have the power to accomplish the metaphorical equivalent of what they say they did. Don't squander this magic on trivial matters, please, Gemini. Use it to facilitate a transformation that's important to your long-term well-being.


*

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How would your life change if you made this idea your working hypothesis?

Sexuality: Indifferent

I understand that we don't like labels; but labels happen. If I'm gonna be labeled, it's gonna be on my own terms. I've gone from straight to bisexual to lesbian back to bisexual and now I just don't care.

I joke that I'm equal opportunity. It's pretty much true; I am "committed to a policy of providing sexual opportunities to people regardless of economic or social status and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic origin, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or physical or mental disability." (modified from the University of Kentucky website)


Problem is, I'm not hiring.
It's hard to admit; but, I am really weary of people. Especially on an intimate level.
I've never met a person I couldn't live without.  I usually get tired of people after a while.
My oxytocin works; but I've never met anyone who was worth the highs and lows.

 I've rarely seen a successful relationship.
 It's gotten to the point where I don't see many benefits in getting involved with another person.

Or maybe it is a low self esteem/high social anxiety issue.
I'm not anywhere close to a model. I know it will take a considerable effort on my part to get a person and maintain a relationship. I just don't have the desire or attention span.

As far as gender is concerned...
I don't have the tolerance for men or the attention span for women.

People seem to always test your boundaries. Men to see what they can get away with, women to see how far you will go for them

Men do things just to see if they can get away with it
and women need to be the center of someone's world. And if that's not you, she'll find another sucker.

So now I identify as Indifferent.

And if anyone asks, my response is, "are you offering or do you know someone? If not, it's none of your business."

Thank God I'm ambidextrous.

Community service to forgive loan

I talked to someone who had a $80,000 student loan.
got a MBA in computer stuff

Sucks to have to pay all that back.
But what if you could work it off?

20 hours a week
at $10 an hour
you could pay off $80,000 in 8 years.



I've heard about people wanting their student loans forgiven.
I think the interest should be forgiven.
I think they should stop charging fees if a person can't pay on time.

I think a person should do community service work to pay off their loans

Tithe

Devarim - Deuteronomy
14

22 Thou shalt surely tithe all the increase of thy seed, that which is brought forth in the field year by year.

23 And thou shalt eat before HaShem thy G-d, in the place which He shall choose to cause His name to dwell there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flock; that thou mayest learn to fear HaShem thy G-d always.

24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it, because the place is too far from thee, which HaShem thy G-d shall choose to set His name there, when HaShem thy G-d shall bless thee;

25 then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thy hand, and shalt go unto the place which HaShem thy G-d shall choose.

26 And thou shalt bestow the money for whatsoever thy soul desireth, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul asketh of thee; and thou shalt eat there before HaShem thy G-d, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household.

27 And the Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee.

28 At the end of every three years, even in the same year, thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase, and shall lay it up within thy gates.

29 And the Levite, because he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that HaShem thy G-d may bless thee in all the work of thy hand which thou doest.

Devarim - Deuteronomy
Chapter 24

19 When thou reapest thy harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go back to fetch it; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow; that HaShem thy G-d may bless thee in all the work of thy hands.

20 When thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it after thee; it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt; therefore I command thee to do this thing.


Devarim - Deuteronomy
Chapter 26

1 And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which HaShem thy G-d giveth thee for an inheritance, and dost possess it, and dwell therein;

2 that thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which thou shalt bring in from thy land that HaShem thy G-d giveth thee; and thou shalt put it in a basket and shalt go unto the place which HaShem thy G-d shall choose to cause His name to dwell there.

3 And thou shalt come unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him: 'I profess this day unto HaShem thy G-d, that I am come unto the land which HaShem swore unto our fathers to give us.'

4 And the priest shall take the basket out of thy hand, and set it down before the altar of HaShem thy G-d.

5 And thou shalt speak and say before HaShem thy G-d: 'A wandering Aramean was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there, few in number; and he became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous.

6 And the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage.

7 And we cried unto HaShem, the G-d of our fathers, and HaShem heard our voice, and saw our affliction, and our toil, and our oppression.

8 And HaShem brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders.

9 And He hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

10 And now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the land, which Thou, O HaShem, hast given me.' And thou shalt set it down before HaShem thy G-d, and worship before HaShem thy G-d.

11 And thou shalt rejoice in all the good which HaShem thy G-d hath given unto thee, and unto thy house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is in the midst of thee.

12 When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithe of thine increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be satisfied,

13 then thou shalt say before HaShem thy G-d: 'I have put away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all Thy commandment which Thou hast commanded me; I have not transgressed any of Thy commandments, neither have I forgotten them.

Shemot - Exodus
Chapter 23

10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and gather in the increase thereof;

11 but the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of thy people may eat; and what they leave the beast of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.


As I read it, what was really happening.
The people would store a tenth of their produce with the levites. The levites would give a tenth of that (1%) to the priests. Every three years that tithe would be brought out so that the poor could eat
So tithe is charity
Now It's something completely different
If churches were true to tradition, people would put their money in the collection plate
1% of that would go directly to the church and the rest would be used for charity.

I'd like to see a resurgence of tithing  We have to think of an effective way to enact it in our current society.  Every business and person gives 10% of their product, services, or labour freely to the poor.  Sounds easy enough.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/

An average day

Lets start by saying that a person gets 8 hours of sleep a night.
Then they work 4/8/10/12 hours in a day
Then they work on their fitness for 30 minutes to 1 hour
Take an evening meal for 30 minutes to 1 hour
Some have a spiritual or calming ritual for 30 minutes to 1 hour

How much do you have?
13/17/19/21 hours spent
3/5/7/11 hours left

You know what doesn't make sense? Dating

Dating is completely outside of my realm of human interaction
It takes me a while to even start talking to people I don't know
Then, I have to have regular, constant interactions with them
Like, school or work.

I'm open to something in the future;
but, I have to spend a considerable amount of time getting used to someone else's presence.
I have to observe people before I engage with them.
Or sometimes I can quickly come to the conclusion that I don't care what you think.

Tried it. Didn't like it
And I don't have to try things over and over to get that they don't work for me
It seems so ass backwards or unnecessarily accelerated
Something is wrong with the timeline
There are phases to letting someone in
Levels of trust
takes a long time to develop trust
the kind of trust where I know a person is not going to use me against me
Seems like you skip a whole lot or go through them too quickly for my taste
I'd rather just enjoy an experience without all the assumptions and expectations.

I've never met a person that I needed or wanted anything from.
I've never met a person I couldn't do without.
And frankly, the idea of someone having any sort of influence over my life is unsettling


Then there's the sex. Fucks everything up to a certain degree.
Certain things that need to be seen get cloudy. Certain boundaries get crossed.

I need to have a relationship that is rooted in a friendship
Don't expect me to put any effort into it.

Deep Horoscope

One of my Gemini acquaintances, Tara, has been playing a slow-moving game of tag with three friends since they were all in second grade together. They're 27 years old now, and still live in the same city. Currently, Tara is "It," and has been so for quite some time. But she confided in me that she plans to make a move this week. She says she'll sneak up on one of the other players during his lunch break at work, tag him, and run away before he can tag her back. I told her she's likely to meet with success, since this is an excellent time for you Geminis to gain an advantage in pretty much any kind of game you're playing.



*

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Why you treat me so bad

Contentment and self-worth are not profitable
How can you appreciate the worth of someone else when you don't have it in yourself
When people are telling you that you are not good enough
and their product will make you better
And there's always something that can be better

A law unto Themselves

Romans 2
12All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
13For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
14(Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,
15since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)
16This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Taxes and Job Growth

Question.

What taxes prevent/stop businesses from hiring workers?

Deep Question

What will society look like when human labor becomes obsolete?

Subtle Differences

Looking on the grassroots movements in the USA
Both the right and the left
have said that they cannot trust government to provide for people
Difference
the left says
Let's provide for each other
the right says
Every man for himself

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.’S STEPS OF NONVIOLENCE

Step 1: Gather Information
Learn all you can about the problems you see in your community through the media, social and civic organizations,
and by talking to the people involved.

Step 2: Educate Others
Armed with your new knowledge, it is your duty to help those around you, such as your neighbors, relatives, friends and co-workers, better understand the problems facing society.
Build a team of people devoted to finding solutions.
Be sure to include those who will be directly affected by your work.

Step 3: Remain Committed
Accept that you will face many obstacles and challenges as you and your team try to change society.
Agree to encourage and inspire one another along the journey.

Step 4: Peacefully Negotiate
Talk with both sides.
go to the people in your community who are in trouble and who are deeply hurt by society’s ills.
Also go to those people who are contributing to the breakdown of a peaceful society.
Use humor, intelligence and grace to lead to solutions that benefit the greater good.

Step 5: Take Action Peacefully
This step is often used when negotiation fails to produce results, or when people need to draw broader attention to a problem.
it can include tactics such as peaceful demonstrations, letter-writing and petition campaign.

Step 6: Reconcile
Keep all actions and negotiations peaceful and constructive.
Agree to disagree with some people and with some groups as you work to improve society.
Show all involved the benefits of changing, not what they will give up by changing.

Social Democracy

political ideology that advocates a peaceful, evolutionary transition of society from capitalism to socialism using established political processes.
Based on 19th-century socialism and the tenets of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels,
social democracy shares common ideological roots with communism
but eschews its militancy and totalitarianism.
Social democracy was originally known as revisionism because it represented a change in basic Marxist doctrine,
primarily in the former's repudiation of the use of revolution to establish a socialist society.

August Bebel imbued social democracy with the belief that socialism must be installed through lawful means rather than by force.

In his Die Voraussetzungen des Sozialismus und die Aufgaben der Sozialdemokratie (1899; “The Preconditions of Socialism and the Tasks of Social Democracy”; Eng. trans. Evolutionary Socialism), Bernstein challenged the Marxist orthodoxy that capitalism was doomed, pointing out that capitalism was overcoming many of its weaknesses, such as unemployment, overproduction, and the inequitable distribution of wealth. Ownership of industry was becoming more widely diffused, rather than more concentrated in the hands of a few. Whereas Marx had declared that the subjugation of the working class would inevitably culminate in socialist revolution, Bernstein argued that success for socialism depended not on the continued and intensifying misery of the working class but rather on eliminating that misery. He further noted that social conditions were improving and that with universal suffrage the working class could establish socialism by electing socialist representatives. The violence of the Russian Revolution in 1917 and its aftermath precipitated the final schism between the social-democratic parties and the communist parties.

In addition to abandoning violence and revolution as tools of social change, social democracy took a stand in opposition to totalitarianism. The Marxist view of democracy as a “bourgeois” facade for class rule was abandoned, and democracy was proclaimed essential for socialist ideals. Increasingly, social democracy adopted the goal of state regulation, but not state ownership, of business and industry as sufficient to further economic growth and equitable income.

"social democracy." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011.
http://library.eb.com/eb/article-9068443

Who do you love?

People tend to fall in love with someone they created or someone they once knew.
When it all comes down to it, people want others to do what they need to do for themselves.
You don't love your wife, husband, mother, etc.; you love what they do for you. You love their love for you.
One day I would like to meet someone I love for them and not for me.

Government Regulations and Job Growth

Question.
What government regulations stop/prevent people from hiring workers?

HP on Regulations and jobs

WP on regulations and jobs


Deregulation Won't Lead To Job Growth: Congressional Budget Office

Old School to New School

Time to get back to the basics: Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic. Then teach the kids how to navigate through the world and make informed decisions. I'll call it the 4 R's: reading, writing, arithmetic, and research.

Instead of giving the schools the money for each child; give the parents the money.

using critical thinking.
gathering information in their community (including internet)

Teachers are facilitators
Helping children present their findings through written and oral presentation. Also using art.

Using popular education
education that centers on the learner's life and community, making education relevant to the individual
A sort of functional education

Teach them conflict resolution skills

Research Based on intelligence cycle
planning
collecting data
processing data
producing presentation
dissemination

For job skills, more apprenticeships and OJT

Deep Thought

Nonviolence is the answer
to the crucial political and moral questions of our time:
the need for man to overcome oppression and violence
without resorting to oppression and violence.
Man must evolve for all human conflict
a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation.
The foundation of such a method is love.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Questions about Democracy

The etymological origins of the term democracy hint at a number of urgent problems that go far beyond semantic issues. If a government of or by the people—a “popular” government—is to be established, at least five fundamental questions must be confronted at the outset, and two more are almost certain to be posed if the democracy continues to exist for long.


(1) What is the appropriate unit or association within which a democratic government should be established? A town or city? A country? A business corporation? A university? An international organization? All of these?


(2) Given an appropriate association—a city, for example—who among its members should enjoy full citizenship? Which persons, in other words, should constitute the demos? Is every member of the association entitled to participate in governing it? Assuming that children should not be allowed to participate (as most adults would agree), should the demos include all adults? If it includes only a subset of the adult population, how small can the subset be before the association ceases to be a democracy and becomes something else, such as an aristocracy (government by the best, aristos) or an oligarchy (government by the few, oligos)?


(3) Assuming a proper association and a proper demos, how are citizens to govern? What political organizations or institutions will they need? Will these institutions differ between different kinds of associations—for example, a small town and a large country?


(4) When citizens are divided on an issue, as they often will be, whose views should prevail, and in what circumstances? Should a majority always prevail, or should minorities sometimes be empowered to block or overcome majority rule?


(5) If a majority is ordinarily to prevail, what is to constitute a proper majority? A majority of all citizens? A majority of voters? Should a proper majority comprise not individual citizens but certain groups or associations of citizens, such as hereditary groups or territorial associations?

(6) The preceding questions presuppose an adequate answer to a sixth and even more important question: Why should “the people” rule? Is democracy really better than aristocracy or monarchy? Perhaps, as Plato argues in the Republic, the best government would be led by a minority of the most highly qualified persons—an aristocracy of “philosopher-kings.” What reasons could be given to show that Plato's view is wrong?


(7) No association could maintain a democratic government for very long if a majority of the demos—or a majority of the government—believed that some other form of government were better. Thus, a minimum condition for the continued existence of a democracy is that a substantial proportion of both the demos and the leadership believes that popular government is better than any feasible alternative. What conditions, in addition to this one, favour the continued existence of democracy? What conditions are harmful to it? Why have some democracies managed to endure, even through periods of severe crisis, while so many others have collapsed?

Encyclopædia Britannica

capitalism

word of the day
noun
an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit,
rather than by the state.

New Oxford American Dictionary

also called free market economy , or free enterprise economy economic system, dominant in the Western world since the breakup of feudalism, in which most of the means of production are privately owned and production is guided and income distributed largely through the operation of markets.

...is based on private ownership of the means of production and allows individual choices in a free market to determine how goods and services are distributed.
Socialists complain that capitalism necessarily leads to unfair and exploitative concentrations of wealth and power in the hands of the relative few who emerge victorious from free-market competition—people who then use their wealth and power to reinforce their dominance in society.
Because such people are rich, they may choose where and how to live, and their choices in turn limit the options of the poor.
As a result, terms such as individual freedom and equality of opportunity may be meaningful for capitalists but can only ring hollow for working people, who must do the capitalists' bidding if they are to survive.


Encyclopædia Britannica.

What gets me is how some people see capitalism as inherently evil
probably do to profit motive and competition
which relies on people's greed and violence

Then there are others who say that capitalism is the most humane system
People having the freedom to conduct their lives as they choose.

I see capitalism as amoral
Meaning it is as moral as the person practicing it.

Seems that Adam Smith proposed that capitalism only works when it is practiced by moral people.
He seemed to be the first to believe in 'trickle down' economics

*Adam Smith has sometimes been caricatured as someone who saw no role for government in economic life. In fact, he believed that government had an important role to play. Like most modern believers in free markets, Smith believed that the government should enforce contracts and grant patents and copyrights to encourage inventions and new ideas. He also thought that the government should provide public works, such as roads and bridges, that, he assumed, would not be worthwhile for individuals to provide. Interestingly, though, he wanted the users of such public works to pay in proportion to their use.

One definite difference between Smith and most modern believers in free markets is that Smith favored retaliatory tariffs. Retaliation to bring down high tariff rates in other countries, he thought, would work. “The recovery of a great foreign market,” he wrote “will generally more than compensate the transitory inconvenience of paying dearer during a short time for some sorts of goods.”*
Smith

*The role of government had been gradually narrowed until Smith could describe its duties as consisting of only three functions:
(1) the provision of national defense,
(2) the protection of each member of society from the injustice or oppression of any other, and
(3) the erection and maintenance of those public works and public institutions (including education) that would not repay the expense of any private enterpriser, although they might “do much more than repay it” to society as a whole.*


*One final attribute of the emerging system must be noted. This is the tearing apart of the formerly seamless tapestry of social coordination. Under capitalism two realms of authority existed where there had formerly been only one—a realm of political governance for such purposes as war or law and order and a realm of economic governance over the processes of production and distribution. Each realm was largely shielded from the reach of the other. The capitalists who dominated the market system were not automatically entitled to governing power, and the members of government were not entrusted with decisions as to what goods should be produced or how social rewards should be distributed. This new dual structure brought with it two consequences of immense importance. The first was a limitation of political power that proved of very great importance in establishing democratic forms of government. The second, closer to the present theme, was the need for a new kind of analysis intended to clarify the workings of this new semi-independent realm within the larger social order. As a result, the emergence of capitalism gave rise to the discipline of economics.*

Encyclopædia Britannica.

There's the rub. When two realms were supposed to form and they did not. America has always had market systems mixing with governance. And Government deciding matters of distribution.
It seems ridiculous to even think you could separate the two

Some things don't ring true for me
I think you can have a private owner without a profit motive
Aren't non-profit corporations still capitalist due to their private nature
Or are we saying they are socialist due to their lack of a profit motive

1854, "condition of having capital;" from capital + -ism. Meaning "political/economic system which encourages capitalists" is recorded by 1877.

Deep Horoscope

"When I see your face, the stones start spinning!" wrote the poet Rumi, as translated by Coleman Barks. "Water turns pearly. Fire dies down and doesn't destroy. In your presence I don't want what I thought I wanted." I think you need to be in the presence of a face like that, Gemini. You've got to get your fixations scrambled by an arresting vision of soulful authenticity. You need your colors transposed and your fire and water reconfigured. Most of all, it's crucial that you get nudged into transforming your ideas about what you really want. So go find that healingly disruptive prod, please. It's not necessarily the face of a gorgeous icon. It could be the face of a whisperer in the darkness or of a humble hero who's skilled in the art of surrender. Do you know where to look?

Grace emerges in the ebb and flow, not just the flow. The waning reveals a different blessing than the waxing. Where are you in the great cycle of your life?

*

SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
There's a three-mile stretch of Interstate 880 south of Oakland, California, that I call the Singing Highway. For reasons I don't understand, it generates low humming melodies every time I drive over it, similar to the guttural chants of Tibetan monks. Sometimes I swear I can even hear lyrics.

Once, as I was driving to the airport on the Singing Highway, I swear I heard the same lyric repeating over and over again: "a shortcut to the path with heart / a shortcut to the path with heart / a shortcut to the path with heart."

Where's the path with heart for you? What would it involve for you to take a shortcut to get on it?

Accountability

Word of the Day
accountable
adjective
1 (of a person, organization, or institution) required or expected to justify actions or decisions; responsible:
government must be accountable to its citizens | parents could be held accountable for their children's actions.
2 explicable; understandable:
the delayed introduction of characters' names is accountable, if we consider that names have a low priority.

New Oxford American Dictionary

one of the biggest problem our country faces is the lack of accountability

Emperor of the U.S.A: military

In my empire
I would assess all international military facilities. If the country wants us there, they have to pay us. If they don't want us there then we will leave.

Give it away

How did the president gain so much power?
Congress gave it to him.
Every power the president has outside of what's written in the constitution was enacted by law.

Weakness of Violence

The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral,
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy.
Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it.
Through violence you murder the hater, but you do not murder hate.
In fact, violence merely increases hate.
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence,
adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness;
only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Deep Thought

Since Aristotle's time, political philosophers generally have insisted that no actual political system is likely to attain, to the fullest extent possible, all the features of its corresponding ideal.

Encyclopædia Britannica.

House the homeless

'There is no right to sleep indefinitely in public or private parks' implies that the homeless are breaking the law by sleeping in public.
In this case every society, especially those claiming to be humane, have a moral obligation to house their homeless.

Ralph Maver
On the Daily Beast FB page in response to Occupy Wall Street Movement Has No Right to Sleep in Parks

syndicalism

word of the day

noun historical
a movement for transferring the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution to workers' unions.
Influenced by Proudhon and by the French social philosopher Georges Sorel (1847–1922),
syndicalism developed in French labor unions during the late 19th century and was at its most vigorous between 1900 and 1914, particularly in France, Italy, Spain, and the US.

New Oxford American Dictionary

The hallmarks of syndicalism were workers' control and “direct action.” Syndicalists such as Fernand Pelloutier distrusted both the state, which they regarded as an agent of capitalism, and political parties, which they thought were incapable of achieving radical change. Their aim was to replace capitalism and the state with a loose federation of local workers' groups, which they meant to bring about through direct action—especially a general strike of workers that would bring down the government as it brought the economy to a halt. Georges Sorel elaborated on this idea in his Réflexions sur la violence (1908; Reflections on Violence), in which he treated the general strike not as the inevitable result of social developments but as a “myth” that could lead to the overthrow of capitalism if only enough people could be inspired to act on it.


Encyclopædia Britannica.

syndicalism
1907, from Fr. syndicalisme "movement to transfer ownership of means of production and distribution to industrial workers," from syndical "of a labor union," from syndic "chief representative" (see syndic).

Charitable taxation

10 percent tax. Tax in the form of a charitable donation.
It could be 10 percent of your time, services, goods, etc.
The citizen makes the choice of what they will donate.
The donations are documented and made available to the public.

Questions for the Elite

If you make more than a million dollars, how can you live with yourself knowing that there are people who don't have a home or have nothing to eat or went bankrupt over medical bills?

What percentage of your income did you actually pay in taxes?

If you own a business...
How did you make a profit during the recession?
Why did you fire people?
Why won't you hire people?
What regulations stop you from hiring?
Have you had a hand in law making?
What legislation did you help write?
How much money did you give politicians?
Why does health care cost So much?
Have you participated in any policy that hinder your competition or small business?
Why are you lying?
Why do you need subsidies?
What do you do with your record profits?

Martin Luther King jr's Six Principles of Nonviolence

Principle One: Non-violence is a way of life for courageous people.

It is active non-violent resistance to evil. It is aggressive spiritually, mentally and emotionally. It is always persuading the opponent of righteousness of your cause.

Principle Two: Non-violence seeks to win friendship and understanding.
The end result of nonviolence is redemption and reconciliation.
The purpose of nonviolence is the creation of the Beloved Community.

Principle Three: Non-violence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.

Non-violence recognizes that evildoers are also victims, and not evil people.
The non-violent resister seeks to defeat evil, not people.

Principle Four: Non-violence holds that suffering educates and reforms.

Non-violence accepts suffering without retaliation. Non-violence accepts violence if necessary, but will never inflict it.
Non-violence willingly accepts the consequences of its acts.
Unearned suffering is redemptive and has tremendous educational and transforming possibilities.
Suffering has the power to convert the enemy when reason fails.

Principle Five: Non-violence chooses love instead of hate.

Non-violence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body.
Non-violent love is spontaneous, unmotivated, unselfish and creative.
Non-violent love gives willingly, knowing that the return might be hostility.
Non-violent love is active, not passive.
Non-violent love is unending in its ability to forgive in order to restore community.
Non-violent love does not sink to the level of the hater.
Love for the enemy is how we demonstrate love for ourselves.
Love restores community and resists injustice.
Non-violence recognizes the fact that all life is interrelated.

Principle Six: Non-violence believes that the universe is on the side of justice.

The non-violent resister has deep faith that justice will eventually win.
Non-violence believes that God is a God of justice.

Changing terms

I wonder if I can avoid confusion by staying away from words like 'capitalism' and 'socialism'
Instead, using phrases like 'state owned', 'privately owned', 'publicly owned' or even 'worker owned'

Rejection of God for a king

1 Samuel 8


1When Samuel became old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
3Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah
5and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations."

6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.
8According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.
9Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."


10So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking for a king from him.
11He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots.
12And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots.
13He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and bakers.
14 He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive orchards and give them to his servants.
15He will take the tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give it to his officers and to his servants.
16He will take your male servants and female servants and the best of your young men[a] and your donkeys, and put them to his work.
17He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you shall be his slaves.
18And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day."

19But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us,
20 that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."
21And when Samuel had heard all the words of the people, he repeated them in the ears of the LORD.
22And the LORD said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and make them a king."

Private Property rights

What if the only property you had the right to was the space you were taking up at the time?
The only thing you owned was what you made or what was gifted to you.

A new economy

Learning from the past means you have more empirical data to help you create a better future
We don't have to repeat the past.
We see what works for our purposes and what stifles our purpose

We talk about capitalism and socialism of the future based on what it looked like in the past

Who steps up to say that it doesn't have to look that way?
That we have created something better out of that rubble

I've seen that the best economies are a mixture of both
A mixture of individualism and collectivism
We can look at a capitalism that is not driven by profit.
We can look at a socialism that is not controlled by a despot.

What is best now? Social democracies. A bridge between socialism and capitalism.
public sector provides for basic needs.
private sector provides all else.

Corporate Power

Corporations get their power from the government
To do the ridiculous things they do
to the detriment of the workers and consumers
and to their competition

Replace unemployment benefits

Replace Unemployment benefits with a retraining program.
Person gets tools needed to start a new career.
Degree program or certification/licensing program.
Receive living assistance during retraining

Interdependent

word of the day

adjective
(of two or more people or things) dependent on each other:
the increasingly global nature of human society, with interdependent economies.

New Oxford American Dictionary

Deep Horoscope

In Santa Cruz there used to be a nightclub that featured live rock bands on a big stage but enforced a strict policy forbidding its patrons from dancing. The one time I went there, the music was loud and infectious, and I naturally felt the urge to move in vigorous rhythm. Moments after I launched into my groove, a bouncer accosted me and forced me to stop. I think this situation has certain resemblances to the one you're in now, Gemini. Some natural response mechanism in you is being unduly inhibited; some organic inclination is being unreasonably restrained or dampened. Why should you continue to accept this?

I hope the oracle above provides you with the inspiration you need to do what you've got to do and change what needs to be changed.

*

SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
Dumb suffering is the kind of suffering you're compulsively drawn back to over and over again out of habit. It's familiar, and thus perversely comfortable. Smart suffering is the kind of pain that surprises you with valuable teachings and inspires you to see the world with new eyes.

While stupid suffering is often born of fear, wise suffering is typically stirred up by love. The dumb, unproductive stuff comes from allowing yourself to be controlled by your early conditioning and from doing things that are out of harmony with your essence. The smart, useful variety arises out of an intention to approach life as an interesting work of art and uncanny game that's worthy of your curiosity.

Come up with two more definitions about the difference between dumb suffering and smart suffering.

Deep Thought

"We have no morally persuasive power with those who can feel our underlying contempt for them."

-- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

US Constitution Article IV

States' Relations

The citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states

The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government,
and shall protect each of them against invasion;
and on application of the legislature,
or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened) against domestic violence.
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

XXII Amendment

1. No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice,
and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.
But this Article shall not apply to any person holding the office of President,
when this Article was proposed by the Congress,
and shall not prevent any person who may be holding the office of President, or acting as President, during the term within which this Article becomes operative from holding the office of President or acting as President during the remainder of such term.

2. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States within seven years from the date of its submission to the States by the Congress.

my thoughts

Term limits should apply to congress too. And the Courts.

Discrimination

Word of the day
noun
1 the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, esp. on the grounds of race, age, or sex:
victims of racial discrimination | discrimination against homosexuals.

2 recognition and understanding of the difference between one thing and another:
discrimination between right and wrong | young children have difficulties in making fine discriminations.
• the ability to discern what is of high quality; good judgment or taste: those who could afford to buy showed little taste or discrimination.
• Psychology the ability to distinguish between different stimuli:
[ as modifier ] :
discrimination learning.

New Oxford American Dictionary

discriminate (v.)
1620s, from L. discriminatus, pp. of discriminare "to divide, separate," from discrimen (gen. discriminis) "interval, distinction, difference," derived noun from discernere (see discern). The adverse (usually racial) sense is first recorded 1866, Amer.Eng. Positive sense remains in discriminating. Related: Discriminated. Also used 17c. and after as an adjective meaning "distinct."
discrimination
1640s, "the making of distinctions," from L.L. discriminationem (nom. discriminatio), noun of action from pp. stem of discriminare (see discriminate). Especially in a prejudicial way, based on race, 1866, Amer.Eng. Meaning "discernment" is from 1814.
It especially annoys me when racists are accused of 'discrimination.' The ability to discriminate is a precious facility; by judging all members of one 'race' to be the same, the racist precisely shows himself incapable of discrimination. [Christopher Hitchens]

US Constitution Article III

Judicial Department

The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority;--to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls;--to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction;--to controversies to which the United States shall be a party;--to controversies between two or more states;--between a state and citizens of another state;--between citizens of different states;--between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.

as per constitution
focus on protecting individual life and liberty.
4 year term limits

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

Emperor of the U.S.A: Economics

In my empire
People would be able to participate in any consensual exchange of goods, services, and labor.
Government's only Job would be a last resort measure to protect life and liberty

Currency will be set with coined precious metals. measured in grams.

People would be made aware of their own worth and ability.
Know that you buy things for convenience

Racism

Word of the day

noun

the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

• prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief:

a program to combat racism.

New Oxford American Dictionary

Deep Thought

Don't make a decision when you're angry
Don't make a promise when you're happy
B Scott

US Constitution Article II

Executive Department

The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

The executive department should only consist of agencies that deal with foreign affairs and defense. All other departments and agencies will be controlled by the states.
Only focus on situations that are a threat to the U.S.
No interfering with other countries when there is no real threat to the U.S.
Countries should ask U.N. for help in conflicts.

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

XVI Amendment

The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.

my thoughts
Repeal income tax of all kind. Enact state sales tax. Congress creates budget.
States provide funds for budget based on population or revenue of state.
Purchasing of housing and farmed foods ( produce: meats, diary, grains, vegetables, fruits) are exempt

or adopt voluntary funding where people donate to government programs of their choice

Prejudice

word of the day
noun
1 preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience:
English prejudice against foreigners |
anti-Jewish prejudices.
• dislike, hostility, or unjust behavior formed on such a basis:
accusations of racial prejudice.

2 chiefly Law harm or injury that results or may result from some action or judgment:
prejudice resulting from delay in the institution of the proceedings.

New Oxford American Dictionary

Don't make assumptions about me based on what other people do
Don't compare me to other people

Boundaries

Surprised I didn't write about this already

Realized when fight or flight are my choices, I choose flight.
Rather than tell someone that they have crossed a boundary

Not realizing someone has crossed a boundary

Then ignoring the boundaries
bottling up
feeling like shit
how long would that last?

Acknowledge shit I don't feel comfortable with.
Boundaries can be set on the spot
Acknowledge headaches and stomach aches are symptoms of emotional turmoil

it's good to write down some boundaries and review written boundaries maybe once a month

Self Defense Is Always Authorized

In response to people who think that women should not learn self-defense to combat domestic violence/sexual violence/or any other type of violence because that just perpetuates the cycle of violence.

That is a great sentiment and I'll totally agree when:
Boys are not encouraged to defend themselves. When Parents do not encourage boys to defend themselves. When boys do not learn how do defend themselves just from being indoctrinated into society.
And when all people can be rationalized with.

Until all this happens, I will advocate for women and girls to be able to defend themselves as well as any boy in this world.

We should all be able to defend ourselves against those who are not rational. Those who find pleasure in violence, or think that their God (or the other voices in their heads) told them to be violent.

Keep in mind, self defense can turn into pure violence
Self defense is only used to stop a threat. To put yourself in a safe situation
There is a deadly force triangle
Capability
when a person has a weapon or the means to harm others
Opportunity
when people are in the range of a weapon or other means of harm
Intent
when a person wants to harm others

Self defense is used to break this triangle
You can use a strong presence or gentle communication to diminish intent
You can use evasive actions or running away to lessen the opportunity
You can disarm to get rid of the capability

Once you have broken the triangle, there is no need for further action.

There is a line between defense and retribution

Unhealthy decisions

This train of thought was called mistakes. I don't like that word anymore

Getting involved too early
Ignoring boundaries
Not trusting my instincts
Having sex to early
Not being friends first
Not backing off when I feel something is off
Staying in an uncomfortable situation
Not knowing the difference between irrational fear and survival instincts

Not knowing your common purpose, goal, identity or rationale for existing together
you don't know of anything you can build a friendship on

Taking a risk
Knowing there was a high probability of failure
and underestimating the severity of it.

Emotional Stability

Acknowledging an emotion when it is present
Knowing the source of that emotion
observing it and it's source objectively, no aversion, no craving
Never stifling an emotion
knowing that repression is toxic

expressing that emotion without hurting yourself or others

letting an emotion do it's work
then letting it go

Emotion, like a sneeze or a cough
A symptom of something going on in the body
alerting you to pay attention to what's going on inside you
a means of expelling.
Treat the cause not the symptoms

US Constitution Article I

Legislative Branch
restricted to duties defined in constitution
when not in session, weekly meetings with leadership in their respective states
all legislation passed by congress require vote from citizens. Vote only valid if more than 3/4th of electorate vote (less than 3/4 means the people don't care and the legislation passes). Citizen vote must pass with >50%
(Contemplating consensual legislation)
4 year term limits
Congress shall have the power to accept donations and collect fees. (abolish taxes)

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

XIV Amendment

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws

Emperor of the U.S.A: federal power

In my empire

I would maintain and rearrange all executive departments and agencies that deal with foreign affairs and commerce
I would transfer all other departments, agencies, and codes to the states.
All laws and codes would be seen as guidelines and suggestions.
The people of each state will vote to keep or do away with the laws transfered to the states.

Stereotype

word of the day

noun
1 a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing:
the stereotype of the woman as the carer |
sexual and racial stereotypes.
• a person or thing that conforms to such an image:
don't treat anyone as a stereotype.

New Oxford American Dictionary

Emperor of the U.S.A: funding

In my Empire
Government will be funded by donations and fees.
Government would run a Pledge Drive for funding programs
I would pay off all debt owed to foreign entities.
Internal government debt is paid off in property or other assets.

Democracy

word of the day
noun ( pl. democracies )
a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives:
capitalism and democracy are ascendant in the third world.
• a state governed in such a way:
a multiparty democracy.
• control of an organization or group by the majority of its members:
the intended extension of industrial democracy.
• the practice or principles of social equality:
demands for greater democracy.

New Oxford American Dictionary

literally, rule by the people.
The term is derived from the Greek demokratia,
which was coined from demos (“people”) and kratos (“rule”) in the middle of the 5th century BC to denote the political systems then existing in some Greek city-states, notably Athens.

Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2011.

democracy
1570s, from M.Fr. démocratie (14c.), from M.L. democratia (13c.), from Gk. demokratia "popular government," from demos "common people," originally "district" (see demotic), + kratos "rule, strength" (see -cracy).
Democracy implies that the man must take the responsibility for choosing his rulers and representatives, and for the maintenance of his own 'rights' against the possible and probable encroachments of the government which he has sanctioned to act for him in public matters. [Ezra Pound, "ABC of Economics," 1933]
democratic
c.1600, from Fr. démocratique, from M.L. democraticus, from Gk. demokratikos "of or for democracy; favoring democracy," from demokratia (see democracy). Earlier was democratian (1570s). As a political faction name, from 1790 in reference to France. U.S. political usage (with a capital D) attested from c.1800. The party originally was the Anti-Federal party, then the Democratic-Republican (Democratic for short). It formed among those opposed to extensive powers for the U.S. federal government. The name of the party was not formally shortened to Democratic until 1829. Democratic socialism is attested from 1849.
democrat
1790, "adherent of democracy," with reference to France, from Fr. démocrate (18c., opposed to aristocrate), back formation from démocratie (see democracy); revived in U.S. as a political party affiliation 1798, with a capital D. As a shortening of this, Demo (1793) is older than Dem (c.1840).

US Constitution Preamble

We the People of the United States, 
in Order to form a more perfect Union, 
establish Justice, 
insure domestic Tranquility, 
provide for the common defense, 
promote the general Welfare, 
and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, 
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html

Socialism

word of the day

noun
a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.
• policy or practice based on this theory.
• (in Marxist theory) a transitional social state between the overthrow of capitalism and the realization of communism.

The term “socialism” has been used to describe positions as far apart as anarchism, Soviet state communism, and social democracy;
however, it necessarily implies an opposition to the untrammeled workings of the economic market.
The socialist parties that have arisen in most European countries from the late 19th century have generally tended toward social democracy.

New Oxford American Dictionary

social and economic doctrine that calls for public rather than private ownership or control of property and natural resources. According to the socialist view, individuals do not live or work in isolation but live in cooperation with one another. Furthermore, everything that people produce is in some sense a social product, and everyone who contributes to the production of a good is entitled to a share in it. Society as a whole, therefore, should own or at least control property for the benefit of all its members.


This conviction puts socialism in opposition to capitalism, which is based on private ownership of the means of production and allows individual choices in a free market to determine how goods and services are distributed. Socialists complain that capitalism necessarily leads to unfair and exploitative concentrations of wealth and power in the hands of the relative few who emerge victorious from free-market competition—people who then use their wealth and power to reinforce their dominance in society. Because such people are rich, they may choose where and how to live, and their choices in turn limit the options of the poor. As a result, terms such as individual freedom and equality of opportunity may be meaningful for capitalists but can only ring hollow for working people, who must do the capitalists' bidding if they are to survive. As socialists see it, true freedom and true equality require social control of the resources that provide the basis for prosperity in any society. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels made this point in Manifesto of the Communist Party (1848) when they proclaimed that in a socialist society “the condition for the free development of each is the free development of all.”


This fundamental conviction nevertheless leaves room for socialists to disagree among themselves with regard to two key points. The first concerns the extent and the kind of property that society should own or control. Some socialists have thought that almost everything except personal items such as clothing should be public property; this is true, for example, of the society envisioned by the English humanist Sir Thomas More in his Utopia (1516). Other socialists, however, have been willing to accept or even welcome private ownership of farms, shops, and other small or medium-sized businesses.


The second disagreement concerns the way in which society is to exercise its control of property and other resources. In this case the main camps consist of loosely defined groups of centralists and decentralists. On the centralist side are socialists who want to invest public control of property in some central authority, such as the state—or the state under the guidance of a political party, as was the case in the Soviet Union. Those in the decentralist camp believe that decisions about the use of public property and resources should be made at the local, or lowest-possible, level by the people who will be most directly affected by those decisions. This conflict has persisted throughout the history of socialism as a political movement.

Encyclopædia Britannica

socialism
1832, from Fr. socialisme or from social + -ism. Cf. socialist. Apparently first in reference to Robert Owen's communes. "Pierre Leroux (1797-1871), idealistic social reformer and Saint-Simonian publicist, expressly claims to be the originator of the word socialisme" [Klein]. The word begins to be used in French in the modern sense c.1835.

socialist
1827, from Fr. socialiste, in reference to the teachings of Comte de Saint-Simon, founder of French socialism. The word begins to be used in French in the modern sense c.1835. Socialista, with a different sense, was applied 18c. to followers and pupils of Dutch jurist Grotius (1583-1645).
Prison is a Socialist's Paradise, where equality prevails, everything is supplied and competition is eliminated. [Elbert Hubbard, "The Note Book," 1927]

Petition the government for the release of all non-violent criminals

Release all non-violent inmates. Incorporate restorative justice in the criminal justice system. Allow criminals to pay a debt to society that is pertinent to their crime.

Why Occupy Wall Street

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER: Peter, one thing we haven't seen a lot at Occupy Wall Street protests is Wall Street businessmen like yourself going down there. What are you trying to accomplish in doing that? 


PETER SCHIFF: Well, you know, I sympathize with the situation that they have, but I'm trying to help encourage them to direct their anger towards Washington. 


You know, it's big government that has wrecked the U.S. economy, not capitalism. They need to understand that. And if they really want a bright future to this -- for the country, it's capitalism that's going to provide it, not government.


(END VIDEO CLIP)


COOPER: What do you think he does not get? 


MICHAEL MOORE: Oh, my God. 


(LAUGHTER) 


MOORE: Wow. Wow. That's -- that's such a huge disconnect. I'm afraid anything I would say would be just too mean. And I...


(CROSSTALK) 


(LAUGHTER) 


MOORE: I will tell you, Professor Cornel West said that he needed both to sit down with him over coffee and Cognac, because it would require that to kind of come to some sort of understanding. 


MOORE: Yes. 


(LAUGHTER) 


MOORE: Yes. Yes. Yes. I think so. 

I think what he doesn't, Mr. Schiff doesn't understand is that the reason we're not occupying Congress or D.C. right now is because the congressmen and the senators are the employees of Wall Street. They work for Wall Street. They're funded by Wall Street. And they do the bidding of Wall Street and K Street, which is the lobbying arm of Wall Street. So we're kind of tired of going and dealing with the middleman or the servant. We'd rather go to the big house and take it there, because that's really where the problem is. It is with capitalism. It is with corporate America. Capitalism right now -- and it's important to define a word in its present form. 

Just like you wouldn't define the word marriage as a woman has to get permission from her father in order to marry, but that was the definition 100 or 200 years ago. So let's not use the old definition. When we say capitalism, we're talking about 2011 -- 2011 capitalism is an evil system set up to benefit the few at the expense of the many. 

That's what's happened. And that's what people are so tired of, which is too bad for the capitalists, because I think a lot of people, perhaps in this crowd, probably used to support the old style of capitalism. 

COOPER: So what system do you want? 

MOORE: They have completely lost them. 

Well, no. Well, there's no system right now that exists. We're going to create that system. This movement -- this movement in the next year or two or few years is going to create a democratic economic system. That's the most important thing. Whatever we come up with, it has to have at its core the American people are going to be the ones controlling this economy. 

We're going to have a say, a big say, the say, in how this economy is run. That say cannot happen by the people in the penthouse offices on Wall Street. That is over. That is over. We have declared it over. Now it's just a matter of time until we actually make this happen, when we bring democracy, true democracy to this country. 

We're no longer settling for, you know, oh, we live in a democracy because I can vote for a politician. Uh-uh. No. No. True democracy means I also have a say in my future and I have a say in how this economy is run. And you're not going to use me and abuse me like this. 

I mean, how many people -- we talk about the people who've lost their jobs. How about the people who still have jobs? You know what their job is now? If you're working on an assembly line in Flint or Detroit, you're now doing the job of one or two or three -- I'm sorry -- one person is doing the job of two or three people. 

They have killed the other ones off. And now everyone's got to work harder, harder, longer hours, for less pay, less benefits. The damage that this has done to people, to their physical lives, to their mental lives, to their families, I just think there's so much carnage as a result of capitalism, 2011 capitalism, that they overplayed their hand and now the people are going to come up with a better system that's going to be run by the people. 


COOPER: Michael Moore, appreciate your time. Michael, thank you. 


MOORE: Thank you, Anderson, for being here and giving voice. And, remember, I'm only one voice here. Everybody here has a story. Everybody in this movement is a spokesperson and a leader. 


COOPER: Michael, thank you. 


MOORE: Thank you.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1110/28/acd.02.html