(no subject)
Republicans tend to talk about entitlement. Who's entitled? The people who work for it, that's who. It's a strong point. Hard to argue with. After all, the question frames the issue in terms of people who work and those who don't. Even "the little guy" wants to feel the pride of having earned his/her wages. Feeling like you deserve what you get feels good.
They also argue against cost of living wages increases, calling them: "entitlement raises". The idea being that people like teachers, if given cost of living wage increases, will not feel they have to work at being a good teacher. In other words, they won't have to compete with other potential teachers who might want their job. (aside: no one wants to be a teacher because they get paid dick. so, there's a bit of a problem with the logic. but, back to the point...)
so, the focus is on hard work and enforcing that hard work through a system that creates competition. if you *must* work hard simply in order to get a job, keep a job, or get a raise, then you're much more likely to work hard. The assumption is that the best in a field will rise to the top and all others will have to find a different field to work in. simple. find your niche by finding where you can 1) survive, and hopefully 2) thrive.
What I've been thinking lately is that everyone gets exactly what they deserve, no matter what. There is no such thing as entitlement. Republicans are more likely to agree with this that Democrats, I think. But I don't know. It seems so predictable, that people generally think they deserve all good things that happen to them or all things that make them comfortable, and think they don't deserve what makes them unhappy or uncomfortable. It's so predictable, one might think it's a part of human nature. It's absurd though. Why do I deserve anything? I was born into this wealthy country, to a family that wasn't rich but is very capable when it comes to managing money. I have a fair intellect which helps me win at everything I care to work at. Do I deserve what I have? Why? Why am I not starving to death? Why am I not getting raped and shot at in downtown Baghdad? Why am I not the Queen of England? Do I deserve to have better than what I have? When someone says something nice about me, do I deserve it? When I get a raise or get fired, do I deserve it?
I think we all get exactly what we deserve because their is no such thing as being deserving. There is only getting, and not getting what makes you comfortable and happy.
what I have, good and bad, is my fault and my achievement.
does this mean I'm a Republican?
I think the argument isn't framed correctly. While it may be true that I deserve what I am able to work for, I think working for something which results only in taking that thing from someone else, is morally and spiritually vacant. Working against someone for my own gain diminishes society as a whole, rather than enriching it. Ignoring everyone while "looking out for number 1" and my family and friends, weakens our country by demoralizing the citizenry. I get mine and hold onto it! Don't tax me!
Why are we in country so focused on winning? On getting what I want and need? Why are we completely blind to anyone's pain and suffering except our own, our family's and close friends? Why are we so willing to ignore the suffering and confusion of those unable to earn their own way?
Capitalism is a disease. I'm not advocating that we adopt an economy that's not free... that's not driven and controlled to some large extent by market forces. No. I am wishing that we could work for each other, rather than against one another. I wish we could work to boost each other up, rather than each of us fighting so hard against everyone else to make our own little piles of gold, which we then have to guard from thieves. I want to help everyone. Not just the people I like and/or happen to agree with. If I struggle to help everyone, and everyone else takes up the same struggle, then we all lift each other up and are all together lifted.
To some extent this idea is almost always enforced by government. We do it in the US to a small degree with taxes that we use to provide health care and small retirement funds. In communist countries the idea is taken to the extreme... nearly all private ownership is abolished and people are made to work for what seems to be nothing at all. what are they suffering for? their life never improves while some politicians live in opulence and a military is maintained.
enforcing it removes the charity and makes it undesirable. it removes my ability to help others through my own good will, and instead forces it to happen through an unfeeling state and a miserable, inevitably corrupt bureaucracy.
well, it doesn't really remove the charity for me. when I pay taxes, I think of the people it will help and the good it will do, and try not to think of all the weapons I'm helping to purchase. but, this is aside the point.
so... what is the point? well, how does one create a society focused on helping itself by each individual staying focused as possible on helping all their neighbors... no matter how distant and no matter how much alike we are to them? How does one create a society in which all individuals work for the greater good, rather that just for themselves?
Why I want this? I want it because I want to help, and I want to be helped. This is the kind of society I would like to be a part of. One that takes the risk that some will take advantage of a free ride, but that shuns those who do. One focused on optimism and personal spiritual growth, rather than making sure my own needs are met at everyone else's expense. This is a society I would love to participate in. real community.
I find I have very little trouble forming community lately in the people I happen to surround myself with. We've been able to come together to build projects and help one another with little things. Providing moral support and all that. Outside of those little communities, is a world that seems bent on squeezing whatever it can from me. It has no interest in helping me succeed. It is totally focused on using me for how well I am able to prop it up. I feel like we're a drowning nation... all, in a panic, pushing each other under so that we can get our own breath. I'm tired of it.
They also argue against cost of living wages increases, calling them: "entitlement raises". The idea being that people like teachers, if given cost of living wage increases, will not feel they have to work at being a good teacher. In other words, they won't have to compete with other potential teachers who might want their job. (aside: no one wants to be a teacher because they get paid dick. so, there's a bit of a problem with the logic. but, back to the point...)
so, the focus is on hard work and enforcing that hard work through a system that creates competition. if you *must* work hard simply in order to get a job, keep a job, or get a raise, then you're much more likely to work hard. The assumption is that the best in a field will rise to the top and all others will have to find a different field to work in. simple. find your niche by finding where you can 1) survive, and hopefully 2) thrive.
What I've been thinking lately is that everyone gets exactly what they deserve, no matter what. There is no such thing as entitlement. Republicans are more likely to agree with this that Democrats, I think. But I don't know. It seems so predictable, that people generally think they deserve all good things that happen to them or all things that make them comfortable, and think they don't deserve what makes them unhappy or uncomfortable. It's so predictable, one might think it's a part of human nature. It's absurd though. Why do I deserve anything? I was born into this wealthy country, to a family that wasn't rich but is very capable when it comes to managing money. I have a fair intellect which helps me win at everything I care to work at. Do I deserve what I have? Why? Why am I not starving to death? Why am I not getting raped and shot at in downtown Baghdad? Why am I not the Queen of England? Do I deserve to have better than what I have? When someone says something nice about me, do I deserve it? When I get a raise or get fired, do I deserve it?
I think we all get exactly what we deserve because their is no such thing as being deserving. There is only getting, and not getting what makes you comfortable and happy.
what I have, good and bad, is my fault and my achievement.
does this mean I'm a Republican?
I think the argument isn't framed correctly. While it may be true that I deserve what I am able to work for, I think working for something which results only in taking that thing from someone else, is morally and spiritually vacant. Working against someone for my own gain diminishes society as a whole, rather than enriching it. Ignoring everyone while "looking out for number 1" and my family and friends, weakens our country by demoralizing the citizenry. I get mine and hold onto it! Don't tax me!
Why are we in country so focused on winning? On getting what I want and need? Why are we completely blind to anyone's pain and suffering except our own, our family's and close friends? Why are we so willing to ignore the suffering and confusion of those unable to earn their own way?
Capitalism is a disease. I'm not advocating that we adopt an economy that's not free... that's not driven and controlled to some large extent by market forces. No. I am wishing that we could work for each other, rather than against one another. I wish we could work to boost each other up, rather than each of us fighting so hard against everyone else to make our own little piles of gold, which we then have to guard from thieves. I want to help everyone. Not just the people I like and/or happen to agree with. If I struggle to help everyone, and everyone else takes up the same struggle, then we all lift each other up and are all together lifted.
To some extent this idea is almost always enforced by government. We do it in the US to a small degree with taxes that we use to provide health care and small retirement funds. In communist countries the idea is taken to the extreme... nearly all private ownership is abolished and people are made to work for what seems to be nothing at all. what are they suffering for? their life never improves while some politicians live in opulence and a military is maintained.
enforcing it removes the charity and makes it undesirable. it removes my ability to help others through my own good will, and instead forces it to happen through an unfeeling state and a miserable, inevitably corrupt bureaucracy.
well, it doesn't really remove the charity for me. when I pay taxes, I think of the people it will help and the good it will do, and try not to think of all the weapons I'm helping to purchase. but, this is aside the point.
so... what is the point? well, how does one create a society focused on helping itself by each individual staying focused as possible on helping all their neighbors... no matter how distant and no matter how much alike we are to them? How does one create a society in which all individuals work for the greater good, rather that just for themselves?
Why I want this? I want it because I want to help, and I want to be helped. This is the kind of society I would like to be a part of. One that takes the risk that some will take advantage of a free ride, but that shuns those who do. One focused on optimism and personal spiritual growth, rather than making sure my own needs are met at everyone else's expense. This is a society I would love to participate in. real community.
I find I have very little trouble forming community lately in the people I happen to surround myself with. We've been able to come together to build projects and help one another with little things. Providing moral support and all that. Outside of those little communities, is a world that seems bent on squeezing whatever it can from me. It has no interest in helping me succeed. It is totally focused on using me for how well I am able to prop it up. I feel like we're a drowning nation... all, in a panic, pushing each other under so that we can get our own breath. I'm tired of it.