Religious tenets

[gwendally]

I make a reasonable attempt to discern when my beliefs are religious in nature or based in facts.  I've finding that I've started to hold some beliefs that don't appear to be shared by everyone else, and I'm going to put them out here to stand and see how they hold up.

Stuff grown-ups are supposed to do for themselves.

1. You will need to obtain

Comments

[gwendally]

Sadly, I think it is all too common that you will NOT be affected by the results of your actions and beliefs. Chances are you will go through your life and be just fine as Bangladesh gets flooded from global climate change. The top soil lost down the Mississippi due to corn agribusiness will not cause you a moment's lost sleep. The destruction of savings of a retiree in Las Vegas due to your default on your mortgage will not cause your net worth to dip one iota below where it's already at.

In fact, I think one of my core beliefs is that externalities are not properly accounted for by nearly anyone.

I agree with the second maxim, though.

A longer post for another day

[lds]

There seems to be a philosophy that's growing in popularity wherein adults who do not meet their responsibilities feel that having others meet their responsibilities for them is considered "dignity." As in, "you owe it to me because, as a person, I deserve 'dignity.'"

I always thought failing to meet these basic responsibilities was the very definition of indignity, but I find myself increasingly in the minority with this viewpoint.

This has been on my mind lately, but I have yet to develop it fully into a post of its own.

Re: A longer post for another day

[gwendally]

They never say "you owe it to me." They say, "Society owes it to me." They would be stunned to discover that "society" might mean "you".

I'm working 12 hour days here and paying taxes at a 46% marginal rate on these hours to hear people tell me that they want to make sure they stay poor enough to receive subsidized health insurance. Meanwhile, I'm paying $15,394 in health insurance premiums. Except self-employed people don't get to pay health insurance in pre-payroll-tax dollars, so I have to earn $17,750 to get that money to pay for health insurance for our family of five.

Why would a person keep working in these circumstances? Rowing this life-boat is getting harder and harder as everyone swamps their boats and tries to climb into mine. I've got to wonder why I even bother. Religious beliefs is the answer that comes to me.

[oscarmama]

I don't think those are religious claims. I think they're just facts about the world.

[gwendally]

I edited it to add the words "for themselves".

That's where it becomes religious. A lot of people appear to believe that other people should be the ones responsible for your food, shelter and health care. Actually, this is largely in response to your assertions that society should shelter academics so they can do their great thoughts.

This makes me so very uncomfortable that I feel I need to delve into WHY it makes me feel uncomfortable. I think the answer is because it goes against my religious beliefs.

[admnaismith]

Could be the difference is semantic.

Sure, everyone needs food, shelter and a functional body in order to live.

There are a lot of possible ways people can obtain those things "for themselves".

1.They can grow or catch their own food

2.Earn money and buy food

3.Steal money or food

4. Form attachments with someone willing to feed them. Maybe as part of a domestic partnership where someone is the breadwinner and someone else raises kids, manages the household, or is maybe just really good in the sack. Or maybe something more parasitical.

5.Get food stamps or other help from the tribe or cooperative. This is maybe a larger extension of #4.

Some people consider any or all of those five options as "obtaining it for themselves", maybe not even see any ethical difference between them.

[gwendally]

I would have said that 5. was an extension of 3., not 4.

I'm editing this because it was too starkly evil even for April.

I'm feeling very, very bitter about how hard I'm working and how little I get to keep for my efforts.

I agree with your five categories, except I would distinguish 5 more to be something like

5. Get carried in the safety net people put in place for conditions that could befall any of us and for which we'd want help if it DID befall us. The safety net is for the "there but for the Grace of God Go I" situations. People who try to squeeze into it who don't fit ARE stealing.