Politics.

AikiRooster

PainMaster.
TDWoj

TDWoj said:
I also wanted to point out that what looks like "lazy" from one angle may in fact be something else entirely from a different angle. The label itself is an act of demonisation, and I was simply trying to caution against assuming that what's true for a few is true for all..


The same can be said the other way around. You and other welfare people wish to not be labeled lazy but it seems ok if CEO's are labeled as the wealthy trying to get wealthier or whatever similar titles you seem to feel free to sling at them? However, at the same time, its inapprpriate for them to think of welfare persons as lazy? What's fair about that?




TDWoj said:
The truth of the matter is that big business is in business for itself, not for the benefit of society. The bigger the business, the more profits it wants to generate, and the way to do that is to cut staff at every opportunity. ..


The truth of the matter is that any business big or small is in business for itself. That's why people go into business. If you had a business, I bet you would live off the profit, which also means your in busniess for yourself or you would be anyway. Cutting staff at every opportunity? I doubt business would consider that an opportunity. If you were in business for yourself, you too would cut off come staff to keep your way of life you built for yourself as long as you could. If you had a way of life you have gotten used to and your family likes it too, guess what? if production was slacking because of the economy and money coming in slowed down, I bet you wouldn't take away from your family to make sure those huge amounts of employees were able to keep there lives going as is. Thats not the way it works TD. Your bisness you keep your way of life as long as possible, the man at the bottom gets cut first, as the old saying goes, s h i t roles downhill.




TDWoj said:
It was interesting to note that during the recession of the late '80s to the early '90s, the companies that did poorly were the ones laying off staff left and right; while other companies who hired rather than fired, did very well. This seems to fly in the face of logic, and the survey was in fact very quietly reported. Even today, many of the business that did massive lay-offs during the recession have been reluctant to hire more staff, resulting in a greater incidence of staff absenteeism, from staff who have been required to work far more hours than they had when there was sufficient staff.

These businesses continue to lose ground with each person they fire; and yet the CEOs of these companies continue to rake in huge salaries and bonuses, while the company lays off staff and more people are forced onto the unemployment rolls.

We recently had a situation with, I believe it was Nortel, where the top executives were forced to give back their bonuses because they were based on a fraudulent financial statement of earnings for the company which had never been realised. One hears on the news all the time of CEOs making ridiculously huge sums in salaries and bonuses, while the financial report for that company show that the profits realised were due in large part to massive layoffs. ..



I cannot comment much on what the CEO's decided to do as I have never been one. I do not know what is entailed in the decision making process or the strategizing involved that they utilize for each individual company. As a police officer, we too are understaffed and over worked. 11 Sept 01 we worked 13 to 20 hrs a day, 6 days a week for about a year and a half. That problem is in the government as well. Fair, I don't think so but to the characters sitting cozy offices making the decisions it seems to be as long as there not the ones on the streets doing the BS. Again you seem to think like these big business people are going to make themsleves and there families suffer before the lower man on the totum pole just baffles me that you think it works like that. If you were in business, my bet is you would do the same thing. I doubt you would make your family suffer while your employees are all kept at the same pay rate while your life style changes because in order to make sure your employees salaries and lives go unchanged, you have to make yours decline. I don't think so TD, at least not for very long. For a month or so I can see that maybe, but for it to be the way it is permanent until things get better years down the road, I don't think if you knew it would take that long to bring the numbers up that you would put your family through that as a companies CEO.



TDWoj said:
I applaud your belief that everyone should be as happy as possible. A lot of people can and are able to manufacture a good life for themselves through hard work and endurance. But for those for whom a helping hand might lift them up, I'm very much afraid that the right-wing conservative believer is all too eager to leave them to suffer by the side of the road, on the assumption that anyone who needs help is lazy and should not be helped but rather punished for being poor.


In this section you claim to applaud me for my belief but it appears to me that if you meant that the rest of what you wrote would not have followed.
Again, it appears to me that it is ok for you to label CEO's as greedy, corrupt or whatever else but yet they are not suppose to think of you or label you as lazy for needing there wealth to bail you out of your personal situation that you wish to not be in. It is ok for them to work and make a good living for themselves and want it for themselves but because you are not in as positive of a situation as they are they are to be punished then and have the government steal it from them to help you? The more I read of your posts TD, the more it appears extremely hypocritical to me of your logic.
 

AikiRooster

PainMaster.
TDWoj:


Keep an open mind and don't assume things are as they appear just because the folks around you who are down and out say so. In the future, including now I hope you have gotten out of that hell of a life you seemd to have been in. Not all CEO's or people in general that get less of there paycheck to help the welfare recipients collect there funds are going to be very thought of very highly. That is generally though, doesn't mean you specifically. People like CEO's or hard working individuals don't know you but they know that alot of the money they earned thats taken out of there paychecks is because of people on welfare and/or other social programs that they have to contribute to in order for those programs to exist is just crap when you do see the ones who squeeks threw the cracks. You seem to make it like its ok that its not a bad system because only a few sneak through the cracks but if you were working would you like your contribution thats taken out of your paycheck to go to that one that snuck through the cracks? I don't think so either, at least I know I wouldn't.
 

Lollipop

Banned
I think we should drop it and take care of more important things! I want mention what things they are, but something about a mind and a gutter!!!!!!
Let't talk about Steven Seagal !
 

AikiRooster

PainMaster.
Hey this is the politic section as well as off topic so I can talk here about things like this or maybe even bean soup, basil too, maybe even some peanut butter and raisen sandwiches even, hahahaha.
 

TDWoj

Administrator
Staff member
Actually, I've been quite enjoying this exchange, Mr. Rooster. I'm trying to understand the point of view of someone who is a right-wing conservative, and I confess I am finding it very heavy weather. It never occurred to me, for example, that I should feel sorry for the millionaire CEO and the suffering and hardship his family will undergo if he fails to get his 2.5 million dollar bonus, based on a favourable bottom line achieved by the layoffs of 6000 workers in his company...

Okay, I'm being facetious (though that has actually happened in the business world).

I think we will have to agree to disagree on just about everything to do with politics and social justice, Rooster. I think people have the right to live in and be treated with dignity and respect, no matter what their economic status is. I'm not sure what your viewpoint is on that score. I get the impression that people who are wealthy are more deserving of being treated with respect and dignity than the man or woman struggling to survive on a pittance. That is the impression I get not only from you but from others leaning to the far right of conservatism. If this is wrong, please advise.

-TD, one of the lazy bums taking money out of the mouths of trust-fund babies
 

Jules

Potters Clay
another thought

It helps immensely when you keep an open mind. Not all people are corrupt in the world. All businessmen want to make a profit and keep their business running. Everyone wants to provide for their families. We all are not wealthy. We all are not poor. We all are not liberal democrates. We all are not conservative republicans. We are all trying to make ends meet for our families and for families that work for us.(if you are an employer) My husband and I have one employee. Our business does not do well....it makes it hard to pay the bills. Can't pay the bills...can't pay the help....can't feed my family either. Chain reaction that hits all. If you were an honest business person, would you want people calling you corrupt because your business was doing well? If you were an honest wealthy person....would you want to be punished for being successful?
It is a good thing it is not bible times. In the bible it says if you do not work, you do not eat.Back then people who couldn't work begged for money and food. He also said the poor we would always have. Why? And why? Hmmm..I am not God. I don't know the answer. (Fall of mankind when Adam and Eve sinned maybe?)
Now we have programs that help those who can't work and the ones who can't find work and the ones who don't want to work.(I have met some who don't WANT to work) The government doesn't pay alot. It is better than nothing I guess. I have a friend who is a single mom. Working part time. Trying to provide for three children. Government help doesn't go far enough to cover all her bases. She is thankful for what she does get. She doesn't expect to get as much as a person working 40 hours a week at $10 an hour either. Everyone expects a real big nipple for nothing. The money has to come from somewhere. Everyone wants to help the disadvantaged. whether it is because of weather related, terrorist here on sept. 11, or abroad. People have a big heart and want to help.
Is is bad to be successful? Is it bad to want to help others? I think both parties could do better at the economy, healthcare, etc. Neither party is perfect. Faults they DO have.
Personally...I think if the government followed what God said in the bible in making laws and such this country would be better off. Since when is man smarter than God?
I had better stop here before I get tossed over into the religion section.

I can see where a liberal democrate is coming from....I also see what a conservative republican sees. I prefer(speaking for me only) to ask God what can "I" do to help others? Not government, not who ever.....Just little ole ME!

We can respectfully disagree on politics and roll up our sleeves and do what WE can FOR each other.... or fight. (Jules is rolling her sleeves up)(Jules is not a fighter)

Man...I feel like Paul Harvey. sigh....
Good day!
Jules
 

kickingbird

candle lighter
Real Treasure

Just a thought since this thread is mostly about political feelings ... here's one with "religious" overtones:
There are some who feel the only "real" wealth is God and His Divine Qualities of Love, Compassion, Tolerance, and treating all Lives as Our Own. To strive for and obtain these Qualities is a full-time job, and the reward is eternal. Finding that Light and putting the candle in one's Heart will dispel the darkness of the world with all its wars, poverty, hatred and anger. No matter what situation one finds in life, that "wealth" can not be taken away. Find the Treasure my friends and what goes on in this upside-down world will seem secondary. It doesn't matter what religion, path, doctrone, belief system or non-belief in a "higher being" - there IS a Point in the Heart that is universal and which has no religion. Search for That. Obtain That and life will be peaceful.
Peace and Blessings to you all
 

AikiRooster

PainMaster.
Jules and Kickingbird.

Very interesting posts you shared, Thanks for that. Sometimes some of the things one might be trying to say, another may be better at finding the appropriate words to launch the message intended. I agree very with you Jules. Makes alot of sense to me the things you wrote. Kickingbird, I think I understand you too I think and that is an "of course" response appropriate post. I do indeed always try to ask the little bit of God in me that God gave me to always try to do the right things and help the needy as I never know when my time to meet with God and answer for my deeds may come. This however, I am sure does not mean I should just throw my things out the window because I might have something that someone else does not have and I'm suppose to feel guilty for it. Just as Budo means to stop war, well you have to be able to war in order to stop war, the same is true of helping others. We have to have good fortune in the place in order to share our good fortune with others. Makes sense to me, how about you ay?
 

Jules

Potters Clay
I really think if you really want to help the world we all need to get off our duffs and stop complaining. That is why my husband jumped into the political arena. Maybe when my children are older I wouldn't mind doing it too. Right now....I help where I can in physical, financial, and a variety of stuff I have others could use. I feel like I have done something to help others when I roll up my sleeves. It is nicer when they "don't" know you have done it for them. I feel bad for the people who are "down on their luck" so to speak. The ones I have a hard time feeling sorry for are the ones who have no ambition to try. We had tenants that bragged they were "milking" the system because they didn't want to work.(told us so too!) In the end...we lost $3,000 dollars when they moved and didn't pay all their rent. I feel sorry for their new landlord. I hope they have a good contract. We do now.
Unfortunately people seem to think the government is a never ending money train. New York state is taxing us to death. The government is expected to pay for things people used to do for each other. Some areas I think they could do more, and others I think it does too much. It is getting to where the government is also intruding in our private lives. To me it seems that America is slipping towards a socialist country. To me a socialist country is one step away from communism. I prefer America to stay a country where we have a democracy. A country where "WE" decide on things that effect our lives and not big government.
 

AikiRooster

PainMaster.
Thats ok for now Little Dragon, your a young fella and have some living to do before you truly understand the difference. Really! Just stay good in your heart and help people when you can, stay in school too. Thats all you need to do for now little buddy.


Jules:

Much of your complaint about New York has an easy answer. HILLARY THE COMMIE CLINTON!
 

kickingbird

candle lighter
Politics is something I tend to shy away from, since it usually dissolves into either anger or fear.
By keeping God in the Heart, it doesn't mean throwing everything else away or not acting to help others - simply keeping That Point helps one be peaceful and tolerant no matter what is happening around oneself.
I once witnessed a humble Sufi master give a talk about discarding everything but God. A young man came walking up to the chair he was sitting in and began taking off his clothes [taking the Sufi's teaching literally], and the Sufi master explained that one doesn't have to "give up" any worldly things - only the attachments and desire for them - because those attachments and desires take up all the room in our hearts and don't leave much room for God. Cleaning house - clearing the heart - polishing the mirror - all these actions will leave room for God within the Heart. The more we polish the mirror, the more God will shine. The more "stuff" we discard from the Heart, the more God will be There. The more God is in the Heart, the more His Compassion and His Charity will pour forth from one to help all those around. There may be a limit to one person's ability to help - to give charity; however, there is no limit to God's Grace. One drop of His Divine "Food" and all hunger is dispelled. If we can learn to give That to others in times of need, there would be no more suffering.
Peace
 

AikiRooster

PainMaster.
Understand better mam [kickingbird]. However, that require more then just you or me to fix all those problems, everyone needs to check themself and make sure they operating the way God would want them to if he was right in front of them watching all they did and or said.
 

Jules

Potters Clay
"Much of your complaint about New York has an easy answer: HILLARY THE COMMIE CLINTION!"

Well Mr. Rooster...she can't take all the blame. Senator Chuck Shumer and our Governor are not any better. I voted Independant the last time Governor Pataki ran.
 

kickingbird

candle lighter
Yes, Rooster, it would be wonderful if everyone would "clean the heart" and take a step up on the ladder of Grace ... but even one small person can change the course of things; if enough people become good it can make a difference. Even then, even if the world should fall down around us, if we have that Treasure within our Hearts, that Treasure will always exist, no matter what. Let's hope for the best.
 

Lollipop

Banned
You are so sweet

Littledragon said:
Well I am just 16 and still too young to vote but right now I feel like I am more of a Democrat. ;)


You are such a good person, simply state what you think, you don't criticize others and then you move on to the next thread! I wish we all could be like you! Don't grow up!!
 
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