Last Splash

Tuesday, 13 December 2005

Random musings from today's blog selections...

"Last night I asked a xtian friend a simple question..."did Jesus accept himself as his own personal savior"...and if he didn't, is he in limbo? Speaking of which, where are all those limbo souls going? Another one is how many of these fundies would not accept Jesus in their neighborhood or schools if he returned once they saw that Star of David."

Okay, so the whole argument over Christmas this year is really starting to get to me. If you celebrate Christmas, celebrate it. If you celebrate Solstice, Kwanzaa, Hannuka, or anything else, celebrate it. If we keep arguing over it, eventually we will become so PC that no one will be able to celebrate anything except in the privacy of their closed-up homes. Imagine no Christmas lights, no candles in windows, and no discussion of any religious or secular celebration in December. This is where we're heading.

But this, this is funny. And a quite interesting question. If the only way to the "Promised Land" is through Jesus as your personal savior, what if he forgets to accept himself? I know, I know. The Trinity and all of that. He doesn't need to accept himself, because he is God, etc, but this is still funny!

And next,

"Capitalism is based on greed. Time to start teaching Marx, because everything he said about capitalism has come true."

Countered by...

"Robber barons have bought our government and are looting the Treasury.
This gives them and the corporations they control an insurmountable competitive advantage, which has caused a breakdown of capitalism.

But then it's not Marxism if the state becomes huge and omnipotent instead of "withering".
I can't think that Marx would have been too happy with what either Russia or China have become."

I can't say that I totally agree with either of these guys. My personal view of socialism is that it's one step from Communism, which is apparently where the first guy wants us to head. The breakdown of Capitalism does come in part from the government, but mostly because it's not a perfect system, just like a Democracy is also not a perfect Utopia. Capitalism allows any of us to start our own business or work for someone else's business and make (and keep) our own money. A quite beautiful idea, until you throw in that any company can grow to the size of, say, Wal-Mart, and start forcing out all the other mom and pop retailers. But who can stop Wal-Mart? Should they be stopped? They are providing jobs (although a lot of people will argue they are low paying, but they are JOBS that anyone, even uneducated single moms that can't find work anywhere else, can do). They are giving other people that chance to work and make their own money as the rest of us do, so that we stop living according to the socialist cree "work according to your ability, and get paid according to your need" (thank you Ayn Rand). Bottom line, a "democracy" (especially a bi-partisan one) will not last forever as long as the leaders don't listen to their constituents and spend their time with lobbyists. And Capitalism is not the perfect way to run your democracy (although I still hold the belief that a capitalist nation is far better than a socialist one).

posted by: Cannonball14 at 15:06 | link | comments (4) |
political bullshit

Comments:

#1 13 December 2005 - 15:50

*perk* Did you say "Ayn Rand?!"

Actually, I would agree with about 95% of what you've stated. I realize that mega-giants like WalMart have driven underground the ideals of the Mom & Pop store, but WalMart generally offers lower prices than either Mom or Pop were will to sell their items for(stingy bastards!). So, who loses out? Mom & Pop because they don't have a store any longer? Certainly not the consumers, because now we can buy many of the same items that M & P were selling, just at a lower price.

For at least the past 20 years, everybody has been prophesizing the end of Mom & Pop stores, but it hasn't really come to pass. There will always be people who want the kind of personalized service that Ma & Pa offered. Yesterdays Mom & Pop stores haven't really disappeared, merely been reclassified as boutiques, and they specialize in one type of service or type of product.

Anyway, those of the views of a capitalims apologist, without rambling on for about 4 pages.

Windhazel

#2 14 December 2005 - 14:36

I agree...I'm glad they're hanging around. I plan to own one one day.

And, they're not stingy bastards...Wal-Mart is able to buy in such bulk that they can get everything at a cheaper price. So, really, it's the wholesalers' faults!

Cannonball14

#3 14 December 2005 - 15:15

I do go to Wal-Mart because of the convenience and it is a little cheaper, BUT I prefer to go to the mom and pop shops. The people in the mom and pop shops are more personable, they really care about the consumers that come into their shops and the customer service is wonderful. Somtimes the mom and pop shops will specialize in something that places like Wal-Mart doesn't carry