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clover
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« on: May 14, 2011, 05:55:56 PM » |
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What a wonderful article. Let me digress for just a moment, to tell you about how life is outside the marketing demographic. I live much of the year in the Third World country of Belize, Central America, a nation so damned poor that our cash bounces. True, it ain't Zimbabwe, or the Sudan -- there are no dying people in the streets. But food security is easily the biggest problem and growing by the day.
Yet, despite our meager and diminishing resources down there, and much government corruption, people are still citizens, not marketing demographics, not yet anyway. Citizens who struggle toward a just society. They have made more progress than the United States in some respects. For instance, we have: A level of free medical care for the poor, though we lack much equipment and facilities. Maternity pay if either you or your spouse are employed. Retirement on Social Security at age 60. Worker rights, such as mandatory accrued severance pay for workers, even temporary workers. Most Belizeans own their homes outright, and all citizens are entitled to a free piece of land upon which to build one. Employment is scarce, and that has a down side: Many folks waste a lot of valuable time having sex , perhaps because they have too much time on their hands. Maybe practice milpa agriculture with Mayans on the Guatemalan border, watching corn grow for three months. Fish in a lonely dugout, sun-up to sun-down, in the dying reefs of the Caribbean, with only a meal or two of fish as your reward. Do such things for a month or two.
First you will experience boredom, then comes an internal psychic violence and anger, much like the experience of zazen, or sitting meditation, as the layers of your mind conditioning peel away. Don't quit, keep at it, endure it, to the end. And when you return you will find that deeply experiencing a non-conditioned reality changes things forever. What you have experienced will animate whatever intellectual life you have developed. Or negate much of it. But in serious, intelligent people, experiencing non-manufactured reality usually gives lifelong meaning and insight to the work. You will have experienced the eternal verities of the world and mankind at ground zero. And you will find that the healthy social structures our well intentioned Western minds seek are already inherent in the psyche of mankind, but imprisoned. And the startling realization that you and I are the unknowing captors.http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2009/04/escape-from-the-zombie-food-court.html |
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« Last Edit: May 14, 2011, 06:22:15 PM by clover »
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Never argue with a fool. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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ragman
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« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2011, 12:10:25 PM » |
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What a wonderful article. I think most Liberals would love this article. It follows their main theme that every fault in the world is caused some how by the USA and that we lead such a decadent life style. One good thing about this article though, there will not be any more at least from this individual pointing out how capitalism is so terrible.  Mike, you should read a few articles about all the good that the USA has done in say the last 100 years. The world wars of course but I'm thinking more of the many break thoroughs in Medicines, Medical Techniques, Engineering of all types and many things that have made lives around the globe so much better for everyone. And I'm thinking of the American's who are the most generous people in the world who have opened up their hearts and wallets to all kinds of problems suffered by others. (not so much the liberal segment except with some ones else money) If you indulged in a few articles like this maybe, just maybe you would change your voting pattern.  |
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Jim
You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
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clover
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« Reply #2 on: May 16, 2011, 07:16:49 AM » |
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"Reason consists of always seeing things as they are". Voltaire
Ragman- I think you need to re-read the article. The author isn't punking the USA, just pointing out it's lifestyle, and contrasting it with the lifestyle of Belize.
Look, I'm sorry the Battle Hymn of the Republic wasn't playing in the background while Henry Fonda reads Ronnie Reagan quotes. The article does however tell the truth without insulting anyone. Facts are facts.
As far as the rest of your response. I've made a good living in the capitalist system, and I chose to retire in the USA and spend my US dollars in the USA. I only buy American cars. I volunteered for military service. I've spent a lifetime donating to US charities, and some foreign charities. I cannot bring myself to be a registered Republican, and that does not make me a bad American. I see things as they are.....and I use my own money. You guys are so brainwashed....I'm beginning to think we need to form a charity for recovering Republicans.
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Never argue with a fool. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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deadserious
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« Reply #3 on: May 16, 2011, 07:42:47 AM » |
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"Reason consists of always seeing things as they are". Voltaire
Beautiful quote. Ragman- I think you need to re-read the article. The author isn't punking the USA, just pointing out it's lifestyle, and contrasting it with the lifestyle of Belize.
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As far as the rest of your response. I've made a good living in the capitalist system, and I chose to retire in the USA and spend my US dollars in the USA. I only buy American cars. I volunteered for military service. I've spent a lifetime donating to US charities, and some foreign charities. I cannot bring myself to be a registered Republican, and that does not make me a bad American. I see things as they are.....and I use my own money. You guys are so brainwashed....I'm beginning to think we need to form a charity for recovering Republicans.
And this contrast is exactly why we decided to raise our daughter here instead of in the USA. I'm hardly anti-capitalist, but if you look at it honestly, even through the socialistic tendency that exists here in Belize, there is probably more capitalistic opportunities here than back in the USA. The USA long ago swapped capitalism for corporatism and the barrier of entry for new business is very high. Between taxes, permits, licenses and marketplace noise you have a huge initial hurdle. Tack on that the concept of corporate welfare where your potential competitors are given unfair governmental advantages to succeed without a viable business model, and it's almost not even worth trying. Here in Belize, the market is small, and opportunities select, but easy and inexpensive to undertake. Nearly anyone can start a business in Belize with the hope improve their stake in life, and isn't that what the American Dream is all about? |
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clover
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« Reply #4 on: May 16, 2011, 08:18:39 AM » |
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Someone saw the point of the article Capitalism has been on the planet long before the US became a nation. I think the socialist tendency in Belize will always be there until the people finally roust the oligopolistic nature of the present government. But you have to give them a chance...it's a very young nation. |
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Never argue with a fool. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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peterbj7
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« Reply #5 on: May 16, 2011, 04:48:51 PM » |
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The problem Belize has is not oligopoly but sheer corruption.
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clover
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« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2011, 06:30:37 PM » |
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Just an observation....but there is only one beer company in Belize....The PM's nephew or something is in charge of oil concessions nationwide.....that sure sounds like oligopoly.
what kind of corruption are you talking about?
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Never argue with a fool. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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peterbj7
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« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2011, 10:17:31 PM » |
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What kind of corruption do you want?
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deadserious
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« Reply #8 on: May 17, 2011, 12:42:38 AM » |
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All governments are corrupt.
The difference between Belize and the USA is that in Belize you know who to pay and that the price asked will be something you can afford.
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clover
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« Reply #9 on: May 17, 2011, 06:12:35 AM » |
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What kind of corruption do you want?
Start with the corruption that annoys YOU the most. I'd like to know your take on the BTL circus! |
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Never argue with a fool. They'll drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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deadserious
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« Reply #10 on: May 17, 2011, 07:23:05 AM » |
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deadserious
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« Reply #11 on: May 17, 2011, 07:27:12 AM » |
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Start with the corruption that annoys YOU the most. I'd like to know your take on the BTL circus! The protected monopolies like BTL and Bowen irritate me the most. Those are the businesses ripest for competition. |
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deadserious
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« Reply #13 on: May 17, 2011, 09:02:47 AM » |
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peterbj7
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« Reply #14 on: May 17, 2011, 09:11:09 AM » |
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The corruption that irks me the most in Belize is the way judges can be bought, and "legal" judgements given that bear no relation to reality. Yes, the corrupt mockery of the legal system the British left behind, where there is just a shell and what is inside it is manipulated by the rich and powerful to their own ends.
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