Mostly Political
so im thinking, how does one enter a vulnerable situation? And is it really possible to have a casual relationship? And how do you make sure you're both on the same page? I'm a woman, so I like to protect myself. I will always put up walls where they are necessary. I just don't like to get hurt.
Another thought, totally unrelated: reading Milton Friedman, and he actually makes some good and interesting points. Firstly: Friedman accuses liberals as being arrogant and patronizing, assuming that they know what's best for the rest of society (thus assuming an individual could not invest for themselves as they see fit, in social security for example). I admit this is true. But I do believe in an Absolute Right and Wrong, and it is for this reason that I justify social action. Perhaps this makes me a liberal. Perhaps that means I am arrogant. So be it. I also believe in individual liberty, as he does, but I believe that there are other values equally or more important.
Bush used Friedman's arguments to support privatizing social security, and the reason why that campaign was so unsuccessful is a. people have grown accustomed to the system of SS b. the way he approached it made him appear dispassionate about social issues. I don't believe that social security should be abolished entirely, but I do believe it should be minimized. Individual liberty is important, but so is social justice: we must try to equalize every person's liberty by opening up opportunity. Therefore, measures of social justice should be precise and limited, specifically when it comes from government. Social security should exist, but only for those who desperately need it. The majority of the middle class should not (and usually does not) rely on social security as their only means of retirement. People should save, people should invest. And to some extent, if they do not do this on their own, they should suffer the consequences. But this is assuming that everyone has equal sources of information and opportunity. Since, in reality, some people are naturally at a disadvantage monetarily and socially, we should support these people (this includes not just the poor, but the disabled, the orphaned, etc.), with the hopes that they may reinvest themselves in society, or that their children will, or at the very least, that they will not harm others in society.
Therefore, social security and similar programs (welfare, etc.) should exist, but only for the very extreme cases. After all, the purpose of government is to establish justice, and isn't that what such programs are fundamentally about?
Our current social security system certainly needs some radical adjustments. Not just because soon there will not be enough money to continue the program, but also because Americans need to learn how to save on their own, and because the less money given to the government (even if it is to be redistributed to all) the less potential for corruption, and the better those funds will be spent. I would need to do more research on these matters, but I believe that in order for the social security program to be more successful, it should raise the age at which one can receive benefits, and also put a restriction on what level income may receive it. There is no reason why a wealthy person, or even a middle-class person should receive these benefits. The actual goal of the program is redistribution of wealth, and so it shouldn't disguise itself as anything else by equally distributing funds. It should truly be for those so disadvantaged, and the reason why everyone else should support it is because it will give us the comfort, that should we ever fall in such a disadvantageous situation, we will be taken care of. But it should not become something that we are reliant on.
Anyway, enough of my political rant, as interesting as that might have been :). Want to go to a big party. Want to fly. It is fucking freezing here! In the 20's, windchill makes it way way way less. God, they call it the windy city for some reason.
Looking forward to Thanksgiving to see everyone, particularly my friends! (A little worried about seeing Jon, we are going to have a serious talk, apparently, when I come home. I feel really shitty about this situation.) Want to see my family, but I must admit I'm a bit worried...haven't seen them in two months, and I don't know how that will all go. Worried there may be a fight impending with my mother. Not for any particular reason, just because I'm worried about the tension. I feel so far from my family, feel as though I've changed and grown and learned so much in the past two months, I feel like I will be unrecognizable to my family (not physically of course). College has been everything I hoped, and a whole lot more (and back to relationships, I'm glad I've done it single), and because I'm so far away, I've finally been able to learn about myself, without my family, without Marielle, without Jon. I'm discovering who exactly Alyssa is, and who she will be, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the ride. Everything is scary and wonderful and terribly new and I love it. I'm afraid going back home will feel like receding in some way.
But then again, maybe it will just be nice.
Another thought, totally unrelated: reading Milton Friedman, and he actually makes some good and interesting points. Firstly: Friedman accuses liberals as being arrogant and patronizing, assuming that they know what's best for the rest of society (thus assuming an individual could not invest for themselves as they see fit, in social security for example). I admit this is true. But I do believe in an Absolute Right and Wrong, and it is for this reason that I justify social action. Perhaps this makes me a liberal. Perhaps that means I am arrogant. So be it. I also believe in individual liberty, as he does, but I believe that there are other values equally or more important.
Bush used Friedman's arguments to support privatizing social security, and the reason why that campaign was so unsuccessful is a. people have grown accustomed to the system of SS b. the way he approached it made him appear dispassionate about social issues. I don't believe that social security should be abolished entirely, but I do believe it should be minimized. Individual liberty is important, but so is social justice: we must try to equalize every person's liberty by opening up opportunity. Therefore, measures of social justice should be precise and limited, specifically when it comes from government. Social security should exist, but only for those who desperately need it. The majority of the middle class should not (and usually does not) rely on social security as their only means of retirement. People should save, people should invest. And to some extent, if they do not do this on their own, they should suffer the consequences. But this is assuming that everyone has equal sources of information and opportunity. Since, in reality, some people are naturally at a disadvantage monetarily and socially, we should support these people (this includes not just the poor, but the disabled, the orphaned, etc.), with the hopes that they may reinvest themselves in society, or that their children will, or at the very least, that they will not harm others in society.
Therefore, social security and similar programs (welfare, etc.) should exist, but only for the very extreme cases. After all, the purpose of government is to establish justice, and isn't that what such programs are fundamentally about?
Our current social security system certainly needs some radical adjustments. Not just because soon there will not be enough money to continue the program, but also because Americans need to learn how to save on their own, and because the less money given to the government (even if it is to be redistributed to all) the less potential for corruption, and the better those funds will be spent. I would need to do more research on these matters, but I believe that in order for the social security program to be more successful, it should raise the age at which one can receive benefits, and also put a restriction on what level income may receive it. There is no reason why a wealthy person, or even a middle-class person should receive these benefits. The actual goal of the program is redistribution of wealth, and so it shouldn't disguise itself as anything else by equally distributing funds. It should truly be for those so disadvantaged, and the reason why everyone else should support it is because it will give us the comfort, that should we ever fall in such a disadvantageous situation, we will be taken care of. But it should not become something that we are reliant on.
Anyway, enough of my political rant, as interesting as that might have been :). Want to go to a big party. Want to fly. It is fucking freezing here! In the 20's, windchill makes it way way way less. God, they call it the windy city for some reason.
Looking forward to Thanksgiving to see everyone, particularly my friends! (A little worried about seeing Jon, we are going to have a serious talk, apparently, when I come home. I feel really shitty about this situation.) Want to see my family, but I must admit I'm a bit worried...haven't seen them in two months, and I don't know how that will all go. Worried there may be a fight impending with my mother. Not for any particular reason, just because I'm worried about the tension. I feel so far from my family, feel as though I've changed and grown and learned so much in the past two months, I feel like I will be unrecognizable to my family (not physically of course). College has been everything I hoped, and a whole lot more (and back to relationships, I'm glad I've done it single), and because I'm so far away, I've finally been able to learn about myself, without my family, without Marielle, without Jon. I'm discovering who exactly Alyssa is, and who she will be, and I'm thoroughly enjoying the ride. Everything is scary and wonderful and terribly new and I love it. I'm afraid going back home will feel like receding in some way.
But then again, maybe it will just be nice.