Word of the day
noun
1 the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience
• [ often with infinitive ] the right to act in a specified way, delegated from one person or organization to another
• official permission; sanction
2 (often authorities) a person or organization having power or control in a particular, typically political or administrative, sphere
New Oxford American Dictionary
the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes;
jurisdiction;
the right to control, command, or determine.
a power or right delegated or given;
a person or body of persons in whom authority is vested, as a governmental agency.
Usually, authorities. persons having the legal power to make and enforce the law; government
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
You hold a belief
What gives you the authority to impose that belief on others?
ORIGIN Middle English: from Old French autorite, from Latin auctoritas, from auctor ‘originator, promoter’ (see author) .
29 February 2012
My motto
Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else;
hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights.
These limits can only be determined by law.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights.
These limits can only be determined by law.
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Life
Finding out what you want
Learning how to get it
With minimal damage to yourself or others
and accept the consequences of your actions
Learning how to get it
With minimal damage to yourself or others
and accept the consequences of your actions
UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Article 29
In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
United Nations
In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
United Nations
28 February 2012
Hazards of a mixed economy
If the government gives people money to purchase things in the market, The market will take advantage. The market will increase prices, knowing that the government has provided a steady stream of money.
This is the problem with government assistance programs. The military. And government contractors.
When the government provides funds for services, they need to ensure market prices are reasonable
This is the problem with government assistance programs. The military. And government contractors.
When the government provides funds for services, they need to ensure market prices are reasonable
Skeptic
Word of the day
noun
a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.
a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.
a person who doubts the truth of a religion, especially Christianity, or of important elements of it.
( initial capital letter ) Philosophy .
a.
a member of a philosophical school of ancient Greece, the earliest group of which consisted of Pyrrho and his followers, who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.
b.
any later thinker who doubts or questions the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
a person inclined to question or doubt all accepted opinions.
• a person who doubts the truth of Christianity and other religions; an atheist or agnostic.
Philosophy an ancient or modern philosopher who denies the possibility of knowledge, or even rational belief, in some sphere.
The leading ancient skeptic was Pyrrho, whose followers at the Academy vigorously opposed Stoicism. Modern skeptics have held diverse views: the most extreme have doubted whether any knowledge at all of the external world is possible (see solipsism), while others have questioned the existence of objects beyond our experience of them.
New Oxford American Dictionary
ORIGIN late 16th cent. (in sense 2 of the noun): from French sceptique, or via Latin from Greek skeptikos, from skepsis ‘inquiry, doubt’.
noun
a person who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be factual.
a person who maintains a doubting attitude, as toward values, plans, statements, or the character of others.
a person who doubts the truth of a religion, especially Christianity, or of important elements of it.
( initial capital letter ) Philosophy .
a.
a member of a philosophical school of ancient Greece, the earliest group of which consisted of Pyrrho and his followers, who maintained that real knowledge of things is impossible.
b.
any later thinker who doubts or questions the possibility of real knowledge of any kind.
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
a person inclined to question or doubt all accepted opinions.
• a person who doubts the truth of Christianity and other religions; an atheist or agnostic.
Philosophy an ancient or modern philosopher who denies the possibility of knowledge, or even rational belief, in some sphere.
The leading ancient skeptic was Pyrrho, whose followers at the Academy vigorously opposed Stoicism. Modern skeptics have held diverse views: the most extreme have doubted whether any knowledge at all of the external world is possible (see solipsism), while others have questioned the existence of objects beyond our experience of them.
New Oxford American Dictionary
ORIGIN late 16th cent. (in sense 2 of the noun): from French sceptique, or via Latin from Greek skeptikos, from skepsis ‘inquiry, doubt’.
27 February 2012
Popular Basis of Political Authority
On similar ground it may be proved that no society can make a perpetual constitution, or even a perpetual law. The earth belongs always to the living generation. They may manage it then, and what proceeds from it, as they please, during their usufruct. They are masters too of their own persons, and consequently may govern them as they please. But persons and property make the sum of the objects of government. The constitution and the laws of their predecessors extinguished then in their natural course with those who gave them being. This could preserve that being till it ceased to be itself, and no longer. Every constitution then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force, and not of right.--It may be said that the succeeding generation exercising in fact the power of repeal, this leaves them as free as if the constitution or law has been expressly limited to 19 years only. In the first place, this objection admits the right, in proposing an equivalent. But the power of repeal is not an equivalent. It might be indeed if every form of government were so perfectly contrived that the will of the majority could always be obtained fairly and without impediment. But this is true of no form. The people cannot assemble themselves. Their representation is unequal and vicious. Various checks are opposed to every legislative proposition. Factions get possession of the public councils. Bribery corrupts them. Personal interests lead them astray from the general interests of their constituents: and other impediments arise so as to prove to every practical man that a law of limited duration is much more manageable than one which needs a repeal.
Thomas Jefferson
Letter to Madison
Thomas Jefferson
Letter to Madison
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
Approved by the National Assembly of France, August 26, 1789
The representatives of the French people, organized as a National Assembly, believing that the ignorance, neglect, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of governments, have determined to set forth in a solemn declaration the natural, unalienable, and sacred rights of man, in order that this declaration, being constantly before all the members of the Social body, shall remind them continually of their rights and duties; in order that the acts of the legislative power, as well as those of the executive power, may be compared at any moment with the objects and purposes of all political institutions and may thus be more respected, and, lastly, in order that the grievances of the citizens, based hereafter upon simple and incontestable principles, shall tend to the maintenance of the constitution and redound to the happiness of all. Therefore the National Assembly recognizes and proclaims, in the presence and under the auspices of the Supreme Being, the following rights of man and of the citizen:
Articles:
1. Men are born and remain free and equal in rights. Social distinctions may be founded only upon the general good.
2. The aim of all political association is the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of man. These rights are liberty, property, security, and resistance to oppression.
3. The principle of all sovereignty resides essentially in the nation. No body nor individual may exercise any authority which does not proceed directly from the nation.
4. Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else; hence the exercise of the natural rights of each man has no limits except those which assure to the other members of the society the enjoyment of the same rights. These limits can only be determined by law.
5. Law can only prohibit such actions as are hurtful to society. Nothing may be prevented which is not forbidden by law, and no one may be forced to do anything not provided for by law.
6. Law is the expression of the general will. Every citizen has a right to participate personally, or through his representative, in its foundation. It must be the same for all, whether it protects or punishes. All citizens, being equal in the eyes of the law, are equally eligible to all dignities and to all public positions and occupations, according to their abilities, and without distinction except that of their virtues and talents.
7. No person shall be accused, arrested, or imprisoned except in the cases and according to the forms prescribed by law. Any one soliciting, transmitting, executing, or causing to be executed, any arbitrary order, shall be punished. But any citizen summoned or arrested in virtue of the law shall submit without delay, as resistance constitutes an offense.
8. The law shall provide for such punishments only as are strictly and obviously necessary, and no one shall suffer punishment except it be legally inflicted in virtue of a law passed and promulgated before the commission of the offense.
9. As all persons are held innocent until they shall have been declared guilty, if arrest shall be deemed indispensable, all harshness not essential to the securing of the prisoner's person shall be severely repressed by law.
10. No one shall be disquieted on account of his opinions, including his religious views, provided their manifestation does not disturb the public order established by law.
11. The free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious of the rights of man. Every citizen may, accordingly, speak, write, and print with freedom, but shall be responsible for such abuses of this freedom as shall be defined by law.
12. The security of the rights of man and of the citizen requires public military forces. These forces are, therefore, established for the good of all and not for the personal advantage of those to whom they shall be intrusted.
13. A common contribution is essential for the maintenance of the public forces and for the cost of administration. This should be equitably distributed among all the citizens in proportion to their means.
14. All the citizens have a right to decide, either personally or by their representatives, as to the necessity of the public contribution; to grant this freely; to know to what uses it is put; and to fix the proportion, the mode of assessment and of collection and the duration of the taxes.
15. Society has the right to require of every public agent an account of his administration.
16. A society in which the observance of the law is not assured, nor the separation of powers defined, has no constitution at all.
17. Since property is an inviolable and sacred right, no one shall be deprived thereof except where public necessity, legally determined, shall clearly demand it, and then only on condition that the owner shall have been previously and equitably indemnified.
A cow based economics lesson
SOCIALISM
You have 2 cows.
You give one to your neighbor.
COMMUNISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and gives you some milk.
FASCISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and sells you some milk.
NAZISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both and shoots you.
BUREAUCRATISM
You have 2 cows.
The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away.
TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell one and buy a bull.
Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows.
You sell them and retire on the income.
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND (VENTURE) CAPITALISM
You have two cows.
You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows.
The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company.
The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more.
You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States , leaving you with nine cows.
No balance sheet provided with the release.
The public then buys your bull.
SURREALISM
You have two giraffes.
The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.
AN AMERICAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows.
Later, you hire a consultant to analyze why the cow has dropped dead.
A FRENCH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You go on strike, organize a riot, and block the roads, because you
want three cows.
A JAPANESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
You then create a clever cow cartoon image called a Cowkimona and market it worldwide.
AN ITALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows, but you don't know where they are.
You decide to have lunch.
A SWISS CORPORATION
You have 5000 cows. None of them belong to you.
You charge the owners for storing them.
A CHINESE CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You have 300 people milking them.
You claim that you have full employment, and high bovine productivity.
You arrest the newsman who reported the real situation.
AN INDIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
You worship them.
A BRITISH CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Both are mad.
AN IRAQI CORPORATION
Everyone thinks you have lots of cows.
You tell them that you have none.
No-one believes you, so they bomb the ** out of you and invade your country.
You still have no cows, but at least you are now a Democracy.
AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION
You have two cows.
Business seems pretty good.
You close the office and go for a few beers to celebrate.
A NEW ZEALAND CORPORATION
You have two cows.
The one on the left looks very attractive.
I got this from the internets
24 February 2012
Letter to my representatives
The military should create a combat course that is available to all military members and has the same standards for everyone.
It should teach and test all skills, physical and mental, needed to fight in all armed conflicts.
If a person, male or female, can pass this course, then they should be allowed to serve in all direct combat roles.
It should teach and test all skills, physical and mental, needed to fight in all armed conflicts.
If a person, male or female, can pass this course, then they should be allowed to serve in all direct combat roles.
23 February 2012
Deep Horoscope
"I try to take one day at a time," says Ashleigh Brilliant, "but sometimes several days attack me all at once." I think you may soon be able to say words to that effect, Gemini -- and that's a good thing. Life will seem more concentrated and meaningful than usual. Events will flow faster and your awareness will be extra intense. As a result, you should have exceptional power to unleash transformations that could create ripples lasting for months. Would you like each day to be the equivalent of nine days? Or would four be enough for you?
Would you like further inspiration as you scheme and dream to make the most of life's sometimes puzzling opportunities?
*
SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
So for example, when cabbages are planted in the midst of clover, flies lay eggs on only seven percent of them, compared to a 36 percent infestation rate on cabbages that are grown in bare soil with no clover nearby.
This could be a useful metaphor in working with your own versions of impurities and interlopers. Make sure there are always a few chickweed or henbit weeds surrounding your ripening tomatoes.
Free Will
Would you like further inspiration as you scheme and dream to make the most of life's sometimes puzzling opportunities?
*
SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
So for example, when cabbages are planted in the midst of clover, flies lay eggs on only seven percent of them, compared to a 36 percent infestation rate on cabbages that are grown in bare soil with no clover nearby.
This could be a useful metaphor in working with your own versions of impurities and interlopers. Make sure there are always a few chickweed or henbit weeds surrounding your ripening tomatoes.
Free Will
21 February 2012
Letter to my representatives
Please replace current health care legislation with a simple public option for health care. Open up medicare and medicaid to everyone who cannot afford private insurance or insurance through their employer.
Or open up the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to all who can't afford their own health care.
Charge a reduced, affordable premium based on individual income. Meaning, the public option premium would have to be far cheaper than private competitors.
This comes with a not-so-simple caveat. A thorough investigation into rising health care costs.
Don't let taxpayers get ripped off by health care fraud, waste, and abuse.
Or open up the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to all who can't afford their own health care.
Charge a reduced, affordable premium based on individual income. Meaning, the public option premium would have to be far cheaper than private competitors.
This comes with a not-so-simple caveat. A thorough investigation into rising health care costs.
Don't let taxpayers get ripped off by health care fraud, waste, and abuse.
20 February 2012
Letter to my representatives
I'm writing to ask you to support S. 2081
Senator Burr's (R-N.C) proposal is exactly the kind of legislation I am looking for. Hopefully legislation like this could be extended to all government benefit programs.
Senator Burr's (R-N.C) proposal is exactly the kind of legislation I am looking for. Hopefully legislation like this could be extended to all government benefit programs.
19 February 2012
Deep Thought
We are a series of personal mythologies
Inspired by ttbook.org
Stories of you
More reason to live in the present
Because the past is myth
Inspired by ttbook.org
Stories of you
More reason to live in the present
Because the past is myth
Deep Thought
It's more important to learn something than to prove something
-NPR
KUOW2
I don't know when it started (probably when I discovered the internet) but everytime I get into an argument with someone, I always research the topic afterwards.
For a while, it was just to find more and better ways to prove my point
Sometimes it still is about that...
Now, it's more about learning.
updated March 2012
-NPR
KUOW2
I don't know when it started (probably when I discovered the internet) but everytime I get into an argument with someone, I always research the topic afterwards.
For a while, it was just to find more and better ways to prove my point
Sometimes it still is about that...
Now, it's more about learning.
updated March 2012
Vulnerable
Word of the day
adj
susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm
...how is it that we are asked to be vulnerable in relationships?
adj
susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm
...how is it that we are asked to be vulnerable in relationships?
What every American (or everyone period) should have
A job that provides them with a living wage.
A wage that allows them to afford healthy food, a safe home, an adequate education, adequate health care, and transportation
A wage that allows them to afford healthy food, a safe home, an adequate education, adequate health care, and transportation
16 February 2012
Deep Horoscope
In the animated film The Lion King, two of the central characters are a talking meerkat named Timon and a talking warthog named Pumbaa. Their actions are often heroic. They help the star of the tale, Simba, rise to his rightful role as king. The human actors who provided the voices for Timon and Pumbaa, Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella, originally auditioned for the lesser roles of hyenas. They set their sights too low. Fortunately fate conspired to give them more than what they asked for. Don't start out as they did, Gemini. Aim high right from the beginning -- not for the bit part or the minor role but rather for the catalyst who actually gets things done.
How much do you want to know about your life? How far do you dare to go in your quest for self-mastery?
*
SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
The New York Times ran a story about philosopher Nick Bostrom, who believes there's a significant chance our world is actually a computer simulation. In his scenario, you and I are living in a version of The Matrix. Our "brains" are merely webs of computer circuits created by our post-human descendants, who are studying "ancestor simulations" of their past. I bring this to your attention because I'd like to invite you to find out, one way or another, whether Bostrom is correct.
Make it your intention to cultivate a talent for knowing what's real and what's not. Develop a knack for escaping what's illusory and gravitating toward what's authentic. If you do these simple things, I bet you will earn a big reward: a chronic, low-key, blissful sense of union with pretty much everything that's appealing to you.
Bonus: Even if you do find out that we're living in The Matrix, you could become a messiah with resemblances to the character that Keanu Reeves played in the film trilogy. He could fly.
How much do you want to know about your life? How far do you dare to go in your quest for self-mastery?
*
SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
The New York Times ran a story about philosopher Nick Bostrom, who believes there's a significant chance our world is actually a computer simulation. In his scenario, you and I are living in a version of The Matrix. Our "brains" are merely webs of computer circuits created by our post-human descendants, who are studying "ancestor simulations" of their past. I bring this to your attention because I'd like to invite you to find out, one way or another, whether Bostrom is correct.
Make it your intention to cultivate a talent for knowing what's real and what's not. Develop a knack for escaping what's illusory and gravitating toward what's authentic. If you do these simple things, I bet you will earn a big reward: a chronic, low-key, blissful sense of union with pretty much everything that's appealing to you.
Bonus: Even if you do find out that we're living in The Matrix, you could become a messiah with resemblances to the character that Keanu Reeves played in the film trilogy. He could fly.
Relations
How hard is it to be honest about what you want and what you're willing to give?
Assuming you know
Or maybe we always want more
But are too afraid to ask
Or too afraid of the responsibility that goes along with it
too afraid of rejection
vulnerability is a bitch
Assuming you know
Or maybe we always want more
But are too afraid to ask
Or too afraid of the responsibility that goes along with it
too afraid of rejection
vulnerability is a bitch
15 February 2012
Letter to my "Representatives"
I agree that the debt is out of control. I know that there are wasteful, fraudulent, and abused government programs that need to be scrutinized.
I agree that the government is sometimes inefficient.
I have no problem with budget cuts.
My problem is with irresponsible cuts. There are people who rely on these services. What alternatives do they have?
Shouldn't you make sure there are private services that are truly affordable and viable before you cut a government program?
Shouldn't you advertise these private services to the people as a better alternative so they don't feel like the rug has been snatched?
Wouldn't it be better to turn a program over to a private non-profit instead of just getting rid of it or cutting it to the point where it is more ineffective?
Responsible budget cuts are not contracting. It is not responsible for the government to pay a contractor to do work. That leads to fraud, waste, and abuse.
It is not responsible to just cut funding or completely cut a program.
It's not responsible just assuming that charities, churches, and non profits will take up the slack.
It's calling out to private enterprises. Determining if they can support all clients and services and ensuring that they can provide better services.
Make it easier for compassionate individuals to build businesses that cater to those who will suffer when government programs are cut.
I agree that the government is sometimes inefficient.
I have no problem with budget cuts.
My problem is with irresponsible cuts. There are people who rely on these services. What alternatives do they have?
Shouldn't you make sure there are private services that are truly affordable and viable before you cut a government program?
Shouldn't you advertise these private services to the people as a better alternative so they don't feel like the rug has been snatched?
Wouldn't it be better to turn a program over to a private non-profit instead of just getting rid of it or cutting it to the point where it is more ineffective?
Responsible budget cuts are not contracting. It is not responsible for the government to pay a contractor to do work. That leads to fraud, waste, and abuse.
It is not responsible to just cut funding or completely cut a program.
It's not responsible just assuming that charities, churches, and non profits will take up the slack.
It's calling out to private enterprises. Determining if they can support all clients and services and ensuring that they can provide better services.
Make it easier for compassionate individuals to build businesses that cater to those who will suffer when government programs are cut.
09 February 2012
Deep Horoscope
I've ghostwritten a personal ad for you to give to your Valentine or potential Valentine: "I'm looking for a free yet disciplined spirit I can roll down hills with on sunny days and solve thorny puzzles with when the skies are cloudy. Can you see the absurd in the serious and the serious in the absurd? Are you a curious chameleon always working to sharpen your communication skills? Might you be attracted to a sweet-talking wise-ass who's evolving into a holy goofball? Emotional baggage is expected, of course, but please make sure yours is organized and well-packed. Let's create the most unpredictably intriguing versions of beauty and truth that anyone ever imagined."
*
SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
Borrowing the words of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, I've prepared a love note for you to use as your own. Feel free to give it to the person whose destiny needs to be woven more closely together with yours. "I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out."
*
SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
Borrowing the words of poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, I've prepared a love note for you to use as your own. Feel free to give it to the person whose destiny needs to be woven more closely together with yours. "I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out."
07 February 2012
Letter to my representatives
I propose replacing all government assistance programs with community service programs.
This means anyone who is in need of assistance (TANF, housing, childcare, food, medical, education, utilities, etc.) would have to provide at least 10 hours of community service work per week to receive benefits.
The person should be allowed to decide what sort of community service work they will do. If they can not decide, the state can provide options amongst institutions that have a need for volunteer work. I emphasize having the person choose what work they will do instead of the state placing them into positions. The government would communicate with the business/institution to track the hours of service.
This includes all government loan programs. Especially student loans. I believe former students could erase their student loan debt if the government took over their loan in exchange for volunteer work.
I think this would lead to people gaining more skills and experience to become more valuable workers. This would allow people to negotiate for better jobs and better wages so they will not need government assistance.
This means anyone who is in need of assistance (TANF, housing, childcare, food, medical, education, utilities, etc.) would have to provide at least 10 hours of community service work per week to receive benefits.
The person should be allowed to decide what sort of community service work they will do. If they can not decide, the state can provide options amongst institutions that have a need for volunteer work. I emphasize having the person choose what work they will do instead of the state placing them into positions. The government would communicate with the business/institution to track the hours of service.
This includes all government loan programs. Especially student loans. I believe former students could erase their student loan debt if the government took over their loan in exchange for volunteer work.
I think this would lead to people gaining more skills and experience to become more valuable workers. This would allow people to negotiate for better jobs and better wages so they will not need government assistance.
05 February 2012
Welfare
Word of the day
n
statutory procedure or social effort designed to promote the basic physical and material well-being of people in need:
the protection of rights to education, housing, and welfare.
• financial support given for this purpose.
concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life. The general term may cover a variety of forms of economic and social organization.
A fundamental feature of the welfare state is social insurance, a provision common to most advanced industrialized countries (e.g., National Insurance in the United Kingdom and Social Security in the United States). Such insurance is usually financed by compulsory contributions and is intended to provide benefits to persons and families during periods of greatest need. It is widely recognized, however, that in practice these cash benefits fall considerably short of the levels intended by the designers of the plans.
The welfare state also usually includes public provision of basic education, health services, and housing (in some cases at low cost or without charge). In these respects the welfare state is considerably more extensive in western European countries than in the United States, featuring in many cases comprehensive health coverage and provision of state-subsidized tertiary education.
The modern use of the term is associated with the comprehensive measures of social insurance adopted in 1948 by Great Britain on the basis of the report on Social Insurance and Allied Services (1942) by Sir William (later Lord) Beveridge. In the 20th century, as the earlier concept of the passive laissez-faire state was gradually abandoned, almost all states sought to provide at least some of the measures of social insurance associated with the welfare state. Thus, in the United States the New Deal of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Fair Deal of Pres. Harry S. Truman, and a large part of the domestic programs of later presidents were based on welfare state principles. In its more thoroughgoing form, the welfare state provides state aid for the individual in almost all phases of life—“from the cradle to the grave”—as exemplified in the Netherlands and the Social Democratic governments of the Scandinavian countries. Many less-developed countries have the establishment of some form of welfare state as their goal.
"welfare state." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.
.
The basic concerns of social welfare—poverty, disability and disease, the dependent young and elderly—are as old as society itself. The laws of survival once severely limited the means by which these concerns could be addressed; to share another's burden meant to weaken one's own standing in the fierce struggle of daily existence. As societies developed, however, with their patterns of dependence between members, there arose more systematic responses to the factors that rendered individuals, and thus society at large, vulnerable.
Religion and philosophy have tended to provide frameworks for the conduct of social welfare. The edicts of the Buddhist emperor Asoka in India, the sociopolitical doctrines of ancient Greece and Rome, and the simple rules of the early Christian communities are only a few examples of systems that addressed social needs. The Elizabethan Poor Laws in England, which sought relief of paupers through care services and workhouses administered at the parish level, provided precedents for many modern legislative responses to poverty. In Victorian times a more stringent legal view of poverty as a moral failing was met with the rise of humanitarianism and a proliferation of social reformers. The social charities and philanthropic societies founded by these pioneers formed the basis for many of today's welfare services.
Because perceived needs and the ability to address them determine each society's range of welfare services, there exists no universal vocabulary of social welfare. In some countries a distinction is drawn between “social services,” denoting programs, such as health care and education, that serve the general population, and “welfare services,” denoting aid directed to vulnerable groups, such as the poor, the disabled, or the delinquent. According to another classification, remedial services address the basic needs of individuals in acute or chronic distress; preventive services seek to reduce the pressures and obstacles that cause such distress; and supportive services attempt, through educational, health, employment, and other programs, to maintain and improve the functioning of individuals in society. Social welfare services originated as emergency measures that were to be applied when all else failed. However, they are now generally regarded as a necessary function in any society and a means not only of rescuing the endangered but also of fostering a society's ongoing, corporate well-being.
"social service." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.
.
n
statutory procedure or social effort designed to promote the basic physical and material well-being of people in need:
the protection of rights to education, housing, and welfare.
• financial support given for this purpose.
concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life. The general term may cover a variety of forms of economic and social organization.
A fundamental feature of the welfare state is social insurance, a provision common to most advanced industrialized countries (e.g., National Insurance in the United Kingdom and Social Security in the United States). Such insurance is usually financed by compulsory contributions and is intended to provide benefits to persons and families during periods of greatest need. It is widely recognized, however, that in practice these cash benefits fall considerably short of the levels intended by the designers of the plans.
The welfare state also usually includes public provision of basic education, health services, and housing (in some cases at low cost or without charge). In these respects the welfare state is considerably more extensive in western European countries than in the United States, featuring in many cases comprehensive health coverage and provision of state-subsidized tertiary education.
The modern use of the term is associated with the comprehensive measures of social insurance adopted in 1948 by Great Britain on the basis of the report on Social Insurance and Allied Services (1942) by Sir William (later Lord) Beveridge. In the 20th century, as the earlier concept of the passive laissez-faire state was gradually abandoned, almost all states sought to provide at least some of the measures of social insurance associated with the welfare state. Thus, in the United States the New Deal of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Fair Deal of Pres. Harry S. Truman, and a large part of the domestic programs of later presidents were based on welfare state principles. In its more thoroughgoing form, the welfare state provides state aid for the individual in almost all phases of life—“from the cradle to the grave”—as exemplified in the Netherlands and the Social Democratic governments of the Scandinavian countries. Many less-developed countries have the establishment of some form of welfare state as their goal.
"welfare state." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.
The basic concerns of social welfare—poverty, disability and disease, the dependent young and elderly—are as old as society itself. The laws of survival once severely limited the means by which these concerns could be addressed; to share another's burden meant to weaken one's own standing in the fierce struggle of daily existence. As societies developed, however, with their patterns of dependence between members, there arose more systematic responses to the factors that rendered individuals, and thus society at large, vulnerable.
Religion and philosophy have tended to provide frameworks for the conduct of social welfare. The edicts of the Buddhist emperor Asoka in India, the sociopolitical doctrines of ancient Greece and Rome, and the simple rules of the early Christian communities are only a few examples of systems that addressed social needs. The Elizabethan Poor Laws in England, which sought relief of paupers through care services and workhouses administered at the parish level, provided precedents for many modern legislative responses to poverty. In Victorian times a more stringent legal view of poverty as a moral failing was met with the rise of humanitarianism and a proliferation of social reformers. The social charities and philanthropic societies founded by these pioneers formed the basis for many of today's welfare services.
Because perceived needs and the ability to address them determine each society's range of welfare services, there exists no universal vocabulary of social welfare. In some countries a distinction is drawn between “social services,” denoting programs, such as health care and education, that serve the general population, and “welfare services,” denoting aid directed to vulnerable groups, such as the poor, the disabled, or the delinquent. According to another classification, remedial services address the basic needs of individuals in acute or chronic distress; preventive services seek to reduce the pressures and obstacles that cause such distress; and supportive services attempt, through educational, health, employment, and other programs, to maintain and improve the functioning of individuals in society. Social welfare services originated as emergency measures that were to be applied when all else failed. However, they are now generally regarded as a necessary function in any society and a means not only of rescuing the endangered but also of fostering a society's ongoing, corporate well-being.
"social service." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Library Edition.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 2012. Web. 5 Feb. 2012.
Bare Economics
What do I need
Food,
shelter,
transportation,
education,
health care?
How am I going to get it
make it myself,
make it with others,
buy it from someone else,
get someone else to do it for me?
If I provide something (including labor)
do I give it for free,
trade it for the price it cost to develop that commodity,
trade it for an equivalent commodity (determined by the negotiating parties),
trade it for the price of living,
trade it for a profit?
If I get capital from others to create something
do I get it for free
do I pay it back in a lump sum
do I pay it back in installments
do I pay it back with interest
do I allow them to get a portion of the profits of my creation?
If I pay for something
do I allow the creator to set the price
do I set the price
do I pay for what it cost to make the product?
If I get something
keep it to myself,
share it with others,
get only as much as I need at the time,
get enough to save some for later,
get some for now and throw away the rest?
Food,
shelter,
transportation,
education,
health care?
How am I going to get it
make it myself,
make it with others,
buy it from someone else,
get someone else to do it for me?
If I provide something (including labor)
do I give it for free,
trade it for the price it cost to develop that commodity,
trade it for an equivalent commodity (determined by the negotiating parties),
trade it for the price of living,
trade it for a profit?
If I get capital from others to create something
do I get it for free
do I pay it back in a lump sum
do I pay it back in installments
do I pay it back with interest
do I allow them to get a portion of the profits of my creation?
If I pay for something
do I allow the creator to set the price
do I set the price
do I pay for what it cost to make the product?
If I get something
keep it to myself,
share it with others,
get only as much as I need at the time,
get enough to save some for later,
get some for now and throw away the rest?
04 February 2012
Deep Thought
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
But after observation and analysis,
when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all,
then accept it and live up to it.
-Buddha
Read more: beliefnet
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
But after observation and analysis,
when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all,
then accept it and live up to it.
-Buddha
Read more: beliefnet
All men are created equal
That phrase has been trampled on Because the very people who wrote it, didn't believe in it themselves
Hypocrites have a way of undermining an ideology, No matter how right or true it is.
Especially when their livelihoods were supported by inequality. They made their living by 'proving' that all men were not created equal.
They used the phrase to procure their own freedom then used religion and science to deny other people freedom.
And now they use the phrase mockingly. Knowing that they are taking advantage of a system that has been built to ensure people are not equal.
Hypocrites have a way of undermining an ideology, No matter how right or true it is.
Especially when their livelihoods were supported by inequality. They made their living by 'proving' that all men were not created equal.
They used the phrase to procure their own freedom then used religion and science to deny other people freedom.
And now they use the phrase mockingly. Knowing that they are taking advantage of a system that has been built to ensure people are not equal.
03 February 2012
Jesus really wasn't a fan of wealth
Matthew 19
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Mark 10 (retelling of matthew 19)
Luke 6
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 12
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.
19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 14
12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.
13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 16
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,
28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 18 (retelling of Matthew 19)
And it continues after Jesus
2 Corinthians 8
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
I'll note that James really crapped on them.
James 1
10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
James 2
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
James 5
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
1 Timothy 6
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
Revelation 3
17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Mark 10 (retelling of matthew 19)
Luke 6
24 “But woe to you who are rich,
for you have already received your comfort.
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
for you will go hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.
30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.
34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 12
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
14 Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.
19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Luke 14
12 Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.
13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Luke 16
19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
20 At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores
21 and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
23 In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
24 So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
25 “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family,
28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”
Luke 18 (retelling of Matthew 19)
And it continues after Jesus
2 Corinthians 8
9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
I'll note that James really crapped on them.
James 1
10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower.
11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
James 2
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
James 5
1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.
2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
1 Timothy 6
17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
Revelation 3
17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Evolution in short
Your point in life is to make sure your genes survive for as long as possible in your environment
This means reproducing so your genes can live on when you die.
There are various ways you can help the survival of your genes
increase the chances of procreation
You can compete with the other beings to acquire resources
or you can cooperate with other beings to share resources
While all this is happening, your genes are changing
Mutations happen because of the environment (or by chance?)
All beings are genetically different
variation
These mutations either help you survive in your environment or make it harder.
The mutations that help you survive, logically will be promoted
natural selection
"Back in Darwin's day, a contemporary of his (Herbert Spencer) invented a sound bite for natural selection: he called it 'survival of the fittest,' with 'fit' meaning best adapted-not necessarily the biggest and strongest. Correctly understood, though, natural selection is survival of the fit enough. It is not, in fact, only the individuals who are most perfectly suited to the environment that survive; reproduction, after all, is a matter of degree...
As long as an individual reproduces at all, it is fit, even if some are fitter than others."
Evolution vs. creationism: an introduction
By Eugenie Carol Scott
This means reproducing so your genes can live on when you die.
There are various ways you can help the survival of your genes
increase the chances of procreation
You can compete with the other beings to acquire resources
or you can cooperate with other beings to share resources
While all this is happening, your genes are changing
Mutations happen because of the environment (or by chance?)
All beings are genetically different
variation
These mutations either help you survive in your environment or make it harder.
The mutations that help you survive, logically will be promoted
natural selection
"Back in Darwin's day, a contemporary of his (Herbert Spencer) invented a sound bite for natural selection: he called it 'survival of the fittest,' with 'fit' meaning best adapted-not necessarily the biggest and strongest. Correctly understood, though, natural selection is survival of the fit enough. It is not, in fact, only the individuals who are most perfectly suited to the environment that survive; reproduction, after all, is a matter of degree...
As long as an individual reproduces at all, it is fit, even if some are fitter than others."
Evolution vs. creationism: an introduction
By Eugenie Carol Scott
02 February 2012
Generosity
2 Corinthians 9
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever."
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:
“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
their righteousness endures forever."
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.
11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.
13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.
14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you.
15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Deep Thought
It is important that when pursing our own self-interest we should be “wise selfish” and not “foolish selfish”. Being foolish selfish means pursuing our own interests in a narrow, shortsighted way. Being wise selfish means taking a broader view and recognizing that our own long-term individual interest lies in the welfare of everyone. Being wise selfish means being compassionate.
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
Individual vs collective
This speaks to what it takes for all to reach their potential.
This is a lesson in balance.
Two things are extremely important.
One needs to learn what they can provide for themselves and what they need from others
Learn what they can give to others and what they should keep for themselves.
If you aren't currently using it, should you hold on to it if someone else needs it?
People need support In order to Reach their full potential. We need each other.
Interdependence
Wisdom from the Dalai Lama says compassion is the best way to serve your own self interests.
This is a lesson in balance.
Two things are extremely important.
One needs to learn what they can provide for themselves and what they need from others
Learn what they can give to others and what they should keep for themselves.
If you aren't currently using it, should you hold on to it if someone else needs it?
People need support In order to Reach their full potential. We need each other.
Interdependence
Wisdom from the Dalai Lama says compassion is the best way to serve your own self interests.
Deep Horoscope
"If Mark Twain had had Twitter," says humorist Andy Borowitz, "he would have been amazing at it. But he probably wouldn't have gotten around to writing Huckleberry Finn." I think you're facing a comparable choice, Gemini. You can either get a lot of little things done that will serve your short-term aims, or else you can at least partially withdraw from the day-to-day give-and-take so as to devote yourself with more focus to a long-range goal. I'm not here to tell you which way to go; I just want to make sure you know the nature of the decision before you.
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SACRED ADVERTISEMENT
One of my favorite memories is gazing into my daughter Zoe's face just moments after her complicated birth. She had been through a heroic ordeal that scared the hell out of me, and yet she looked calm, beatific, and amused.
"She's part-Buddha and part-elf," I thought to myself as I held her in my arms. Gazing back at me, her shiny face blended two states I had never before witnessed together in anyone, let alone in an infant: elegant compassion and playful serenity. This revelation imprinted me like a blood oath and has informed my life and my work ever since.
Do you have a comparable memory? A time when a key to your destiny was suddenly laid bare? A turning point when you got a gift that has fueled your quest for years? Revisit that breakthrough. Then ask life for another one.
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01 February 2012
Deep Thought
The very purpose of spirituality is self-discipline. Rather than criticizing others, we should evaluate and criticize ourselves. Ask yourself, what am I doing about my anger, my attachment, my pride, my jealousy? These are the things we should check in our day to day lives.
Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
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