Congressional GOP Are Scum!

[Odin]

Originally posted by Sava
Actually, it says more about how America treats members of it's society. Being unemployed in France, I would probably have a higher standard of living than if I were working for minimum wage in America.

The US is stuck in some kind of secular Calvinist nightmare where wanting to enjoy life instead if working 24/7 makes you somehow morally inferior.

[One_Mean_Rabbit]

Originally posted by Q Cubed

No, and no. He makes more than minimum wage, and is what I consider cheap which is beyond frugal!

So to be "successful" in the underclass requires constant self-denial.

What I mean is that we should be more like western Europe (points back to thread on 40-hr work week in France).

Why? To delude ourselves into thinking life is actually worth something? It's only value is what you assign to it. Frankly, most people overvalue life as we know it. These are the same people who also generally overvalue human intelligence. Silly optimists.

I believe in the inevitablity of things to come. It is important to point out that I include the actions of the people in this inevitablity. No point being cynical when you can be more idealistic.

Why be idealistic when you know that things will never match up to the Dream? Do you get off on being disappointed?

What, Scumbag or Libertarian? They are the same thing.

'Tis better to be a Libertarian and a member of a Third Party than to be sucked into the idiotic confines of the one-party system er, two-party Duopoly. Yes, that's right: being Libertarian is better than being Democratic or Republican, because you're becoming one with the futility of trying to change the disaster that is our political system.

Self-denial? If you mean sacrafice, then sure. If you mean delaying gratification sometimes, then yes. Do you expect life to be Care Bears? tsk tsk

While I agree optimists can be silly, so are pessimists like you. Both require emotions, not facts based on realism. While they have hope, you have depression. Both silly sometimes, only one sad. Cheer up.

[Sava]

Originally posted by Odin
secular Calvinist

you mean Calvinism without the whole sovereignity of God thing?

[Odin]

Originally posted by One_Mean_Rabbit

My father is a 2nd generation American from Mexico, and still works a blue collar job. Yet, that allows him to make enough money to own a large and nice house in a great suburb. Not to mention giving me a better shot at succeeding them his father was able to.

Yup, Your dad has a nice house in a great suburb but I bet he has to work so much that the only thing he has time to do is eat and sleep, in other words living to work.

[One_Mean_Rabbit]

Originally posted by Sava
Actually, it says more about how America treats members of it's society. Being unemployed in France, I would probably have a higher standard of living than if I were working for minimum wage in America.

BTW, I wouldn't be talking about people's character if I were you, Mr. "**** the poor they are all lazy".

But you would still be a bum...

When did I cuss, and when did I say they ALL were lazy? I mentioned several times there are hardworking poor people who consistentally make bad decisions.

Are you high on glue or do you just like making up positions in order to debate them?

[Ming]

HEY... ENOUGH WITH THE PERSONAL CRAP!

I don't care who started it... but it stops now... or your posting will!

[Odin]

Originally posted by Sava


you mean Calvinism without the whole sovereignity of God thing?

No, the "protestant work ethic" co-opted by the capitalists...

[Sava]

Originally posted by One_Mean_Rabbit
But you would still be a bum...

I'd rather be a bum than a workaholic.

When did I cuss, and when did I say they ALL were lazy? I mentioned several times there are hardworking poor people who consistentally make bad decisions.

okay, so they aren't ALL lazy... some are lazy and some are stupid.

Are you high on glue or do you just like making up positions in order to debate them?

chronic usually... but I already confessed I like to stereotype people... why do you think you would be above my stereotypes?

[Q Classic]

Why be disappointed when you know you did your best? if you follow the "your best wasn't enough" it's just pointless self-deprecation, and if you follow that "You've gained nothing" line, it's false, also, because it builds character, and mental strength.

Knowing that your best wasn't enough should, and can, drive you harder and further in a desperate attempt to do what is not meant to be. That's why you need the underclass, that's why you need someone below you: it's to remind you that you live and exist on a precipice, and to cherish the few successes that will be tossed your way.

The material reality of inevitabilty of the future, and the strength of the human spirit aren't really contradictory. The first is the classical physics of society, the second is the quantum mechanics. The first doesn't describe reality truthfully, but it does model it VERY well. The second is the true nature of things on the human level ( not if you go into neurochemistry), but it doesn't help us at all to predict the future of society. The correct model is somewhere in between. Think statistical mechanics.

Truth, pfeh. Classical Physics tells you where things will end up; what does it matter the path taken? Ends don't justify the means, but that doesn't mean that the means is important.

Self-denial? If you mean sacrafice, then sure. If you mean delaying gratification sometimes, then yes.

Self-denial is self-sacrifice.

Do you expect life to be Care Bears? tsk tsk

While I agree optimists can be silly, so are pessimists like you. Both require emotions, not facts based on realism. While they have hope, you have depression. Both silly sometimes, only one sad. Cheer up.

I'm perfectly fine, thank you. Pessimism is based on facts: it is taking what evidence is given to you, and reading the most conservative estimate. Generally, that leads you to have a negative outlook, but when things exceed your expectations, you're more likely than not pleased. To be optimistic is to take the most liberal estimate. That also means that almost everything will fail to meet your expectations.

Keeping your head down and expecting the worst will make the successes that trickle down that much sweeter.

[One_Mean_Rabbit]

Originally posted by Odin


Yup, Your dad has a nice house in a great suburb but I bet he has to work so much that the only thing he has time to do is eat and sleep, in other words living to work.

Where he did before, he definitely doesn't need work more than 40 hours a week now, or for sometime. It happens with savings, and good choices. Sure, he had to bust his ass before, but so goes life. It was especially tight when my mother stayed home to raise us, however now, she has a nice job as a PT while about to open up her own clinic.

People who think life ought to be something out of Nickelodeon need to stop watching television. Life's not fair, so stop crying.

[Sava]

Life's not fair

that doesn't mean we can't strive to make it as fair as possible

[Az]

hat's the point. So why are we trying to promote a minimum wage, since it's just the scraps. Instead, lose this silly notion that everyone successful is blessed by the stars that are in alignment, and start telling people reality.

And all of those things CAN be achieved with working, even minimum wage. There are plenty of gov't subsidies that help people live in Section 8 housing, subsidize other things, and allow grants/scholarships/student loans for college.

IT IS POSSIBLE FOLKS. IF YOU JUST WORK HARDER!

Your repetitive mantra gets kind of boring. I know people who, on the other hand did work, and lost everything, and never managed to get up on their feet, for real. Just scraps.

Of course, they can only blame themselves, and deserve society's dirt in their faces.

Btw, don't for a moment think that I weep for me: I am well on my way to doing it just great. I won't however think that those that did slightly worse than me, or maybe did better, but weren't as quick on their feet with some opportunities, deserve to live as ****.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Nope just a little bit above living like ****. Just enough to make sure that they are beholden to the sharecropper/company store/governmental entitlement system.

[Az]

It stops being funny when it is purely the cold truth, for some reason.

[Odin]

Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe
Nope just a little bit above living like ****. Just enough to make sure that they are beholden to the sharecropper/company store/governmental entitlement system.

Oh great, not the "Welfare makes people lazy" non-sense.