Let's get honest about how we live.

[Taichiliberal]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the main problem with our society is that it's based on competition for limited resources and opportunities. This starts as early as grade school, were it is imbedded into your mind that unless you past certain test within a certain time frame, you are essentially finished and of no use to society other than the most menial and unpleasant jobs and living conditions.

That means there are winners and losers....and the winners really don't want to be bothered with the losers beyond a certain point (i.e., servitude or entertainment).

Mind you, there are factions of our society that are compassionate...which is why you have charities, soup kitchens, etc. And there are factions that are rational and practical....which is why you have social security, unemployment insurance and welfare.

But a large portion of the "winners" balk at the very notion of a fraction of their earnings be put into a communal trust so that people don't end up homeless beggars on the street. Which is essentially irrational given that these same people don't want to have to deal with crime and living next to squalor.

And let's face it, people are NOT going to ceremonially commit suicide because they don't make the grade for this job or that career, or are suddenly jobless and homeless due to the mismanagement, greed or illicit activities of some of the winners. So yes, there will be crime of all sorts....and then there will be people who just snap and commit acts of violence. And then there will be those who are overwhelmed with despair and take to drugs and alcohol. Or those who will create "alternative" means to make a living that may not sit well with the winner's idealism.

And the "winners" will surround themselves with gates and walls and paid security....and expect that waiter to have that dinner on time and properly served, or that cup of coffee and doughnut ready in the morning (while driving/walking on clean streets). It's not their concern that the people who keep the lights on or mine the metal ore or do all the little things can't afford to live where they work or afford the items they produce.

Hence the problems we see now.

Do I have the solution to all of this? Well, I could say "learn to share and be nice to each other", or "stop penalizing women in the workplace for being able to give birth" or "you don't have to like or agree with someone to give them the respect and courtesy YOU expect" or "stop being greedy" or "just give people a decent wage to afford simple, decent living" or "acknowledge that smart, rich people can be corrupt and should be stopped"......but these seem to be to hard for most people to accept, let alone do.

CHANGE IS HARD, BUT DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER HOPING FOR DIFFERENT RESULTS IS INSANE.

So it's back to discussion, voting, advocating, and the threat of civil unrest/violence. Who knows, maybe people will catch on before turning the world into a garbage heap and incurring the wrath of God and nature (aka- "global warming")? Let's hope so.

[Lightbringer]

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the main problem with our society is that it's based on competition for limited resources and opportunities.

This is the problem right here. I don't agree with you. I don't see limited resources and opportunities. We have wildly different worldviews and because of that we can't agree on anything.

[Matt Dillon]

We have everything we need in America, wtf is TaiChi's problem?

[Lightbringer]

We have everything we need in America, wtf is TaiChi's problem?

Taichi likes to control people by telling them they're helpless even when they aren't.

[Matt Dillon]

Taichi likes to control people by telling them they're helpless even when they aren't.

Well fuck him. I'll give you a "fuck you too" later, k?

[Lightbringer]

Well fuck him. I'll give you a "fuck you too" later, k?

I'll just say fuck you right now.

[domer76]

This is the problem right here. I don't agree with you. I don't see limited resources and opportunities. We have wildly different worldviews and because of that we can't agree on anything.

Apparently, you believe both resources and opportunities are limitless. They’re not.

He is correct in the respect that greed is the problem with ANY society, not just ours. Even the Bible says something to the effect “the love of money is the source of all evil.”

The Tao
The Stoics
The 10 Commandments (coveting)
Other philosophies, I’m sure.

All get down to ego as the driving force for the ills of our world.

Money
Property
Prestige
Greed

Billionaires. When is enough, enough? Why the need for more when one already has everything they need, times thousands?

[BidenPresident]

Apparently, you believe both resources and opportunities are limitless. They’re not.

He is correct in the respect that greed is the problem with ANY society, not just ours. Even the Bible says something to the effect “the love of money is the source of all evil.”

The Tao
The Stoics
The 10 Commandments (coveting)
Other philosophies, I’m sure.

All get down to ego as the driving force for the ills of our world.

Money
Property
Prestige
Greed

Billionaires. When is enough, enough? Why the need for more when one already has everything they need, times thousands?

Greed is not a problem. Our laws are the problem.

[Uncensored2008]

We have everything we need in America, wtf is TaiChi's problem?

That some are smarter and more talented than he, ergo have more than he.

[Uncensored2008]

Apparently, you believe both resources and opportunities are limitless. They’re not.

dumber, do you believe that the average person has more or less access to resources today than the average person did 500 years ago? Is there less food per capita now, or more? Why do you "think" that is? If there is more food per person, is that because the "rich" gave up some of theirs? Or did capitalism result in greater production and prosperity for all?

Do you live better or worse than your parents did?

[domer76]

Greed is not a problem. Our laws are the problem.

We need laws for only one reason.

Ego

[BidenPresident]

We need laws for only one reason.

Ego

We need laws because of "Ego?" What does that mean?

[domer76]

dumber, do you believe that the average person has more or less access to resources today than the average person did 500 years ago? Is there less food per capita now, or more? Why do you "think" that is? If there is more food per person, is that because the "rich" gave up some of theirs? Or did capitalism result in greater production and prosperity for all?

Do you live better or worse than your parents did?

All irrelevant questions.

Resources are not limitless. And access to resources are not equal.

[domer76]

We need laws because of "Ego?" What does that mean?

It means if everybody took care of business as they should, there would be no laws needed for:

Tax evasion
Gun violence
Theft
Speeding

Name one.

But, we are all human and unable to let go of self. So, people steal, lie, cheat, murder and we need laws to deter and punish.

[BidenPresident]

It means if everybody took care of business as they should, there would be no laws needed for:

Tax evasion
Gun violence
Theft
Speeding

Name one.

But, we are all human and unable to let go of self. So, people steal, lie, cheat, murder and we need laws to deter and punish.

Really a matter of tax law.