Americans, why do you let this continue?

"government would be better run by technicians than politicians".

I believe that wholeheartedly. The government should be a sleek,well oiled machine that runs efficiently regardless of its "inhabitants"and continually passed on to the citizens as such,devoid of the endless "sea changes" of one set of beliefs to its opposite. It should be running smoothly enough,so that it doesn't seem like a catastrophe to some and succor to others every election cycle.

Then I say to myself--"dream on dummy."

 

Yes, I am making a moral argument. You believe the problem of the next generation being brought up believing ridiculous things about their rights is a technical problem. How is that a technical problem?

As much as you hate to hear complaining, the first step in overcoming a situation is to recognize it as something needing to be overcome. If you don't like the manner in which I choose to bring things to light, then you are in the wrong thread.

And if it weren't for my self-serving moral determination, there would be roughly fifty dogs in the neighborhood who would not have straw in their dog houses when the sub-zero temps hit. My complaining, squeaky-wheel approach to the problem was more than the animal shelter people were willing to put up with. I made them do their job. I'll bet you think this is self-serving, too.

 

Absolutely. You hit it on the head this time, or, you knocked a few together, heads that is.

I think your sense of right and wrong interferes with your situational awareness.
The world has no value apart from that which you give it. Further what you find as moral straightness is not universally accepted. Since your idea of moral straightness is not universally accepted, it qualifies as belief. You are ready to knock heads for the sake then, of your beliefs, not for any situational certitude.

The only universal morality is the instinct for self extension/preservation. Until you recognize that, you will be forever flustered that no one shares your level of concern.

I think I am in the right thread.

 

We are experiencing a redundant pattern of the rise and fall of ideas of civility, civilizations. At this point the current system is bankrupt and in decline so I look forward to the fact that the meek inherit the earth, at which point we have a chance to try again. I agree with storch that education is of the essence, but I wouldn't educate in cultural or moral value but rather the function of human being. Ignorance of the system is ignorance of the persons that put the system in place.

 

I am ready to knock heads not because I believe that cold can be torture, but because I know it is. You are having a problem seeing the difference between serving a belief and serving those who can't speak for themselves. I feel sorry for you that your cynicism would cause you to be so blind when it comes to motive.

As one who has said that you will not grieve the death of your significant other, your estimation of my intentions is hardly surprising. Nothing real can be threatened, right?

 

Perhaps the problem is that you are bent on serving your beliefs about my beliefs to the extent that you would question the motives of one who wants to keep dogs from freezing. So noble of you.

Sometimes, you have to make the miracle happen because that's how they happen.

 

Is there anyone out there from Princeton? Anyone at all?

 

I regard your motive the same as every one else's. You would have your good depending on your model of good. Perhaps trying to make dogs comfortable is your model of good. Good for you.

What do you think a miracle is? A miracle is not rearranging the world to suit your view of what is nice, that is what war is about. Miracles are all happening, when they are not apparent something has gone awry. But that something is not remote. Remember appearances are a matter of perception and perception is not knowledge. Love is beyond what can be taught or litigated. A squeaky wheel sometimes gets greased, but very often it is left to squeak. Or perhaps the whole conveyance becomes suspect such that we say, this old thing is falling apart, let's get a new one. A wheel in good working order doesn't squeak.

 

Do you think you have saved the world some misery? I personally have had my share of cold experiences and one would think I would want to prevent such things, but it is not possible over time. I certainly can't put mine back in the bottle. You see that cold can be tortuously uncomfortable and so you become afraid of that eventuality. What day of your life had you not found some discomfort with your conditions? We are constantly adjusting for temperate climes. The cold, we have with us always.

 

My model of good is to end suffering where I can. Yes, I know that that is good for me. It is good for you, too.

I'm sorry, but as to the second part of your post, I sense that you are beginning to become somewhat ambiguous. It might just be me; you know how sometimes something that didn't make sense one day makes perfect sense the next day? Well, I'm going to have to wait until tomorrow to answer your post.

However, your claim that a wheel in good working order doesn't squeak does not apply to the situation I described. If I hadn't squeaked, nothing would have been done for those dogs. No squeak, no straw. Surely you understand that simple equation.

 

Can you see that you are trying to explain why giving assistance to a fellow creature is somehow a detriment to the creature as well as myself. You are getting curiouser and curiouser.

What about you, dope? Do you think I saved the world some misery?

 

Perhaps the problem is that you are bent on serving your beliefs about my beliefs to the extent that you would question the motives of one who wants to keep dogs from freezing. So noble of you.

 

You misunderstand me. I suggest that it is inappropriate to suggest others are less than virtuous because they don't share your sense of priorities.

I think helpful is a matter of timing. We can't save lives but we can spend ours wisely. Are you less miserable for your actions.

 

I would say that I am more fulfilled in my purpose because of my actions. Asking if I am less miserable for my actions is really you seeing the glass as half empty, I must say.

 

You could say that but my purpose was to ascertain if you had spared the world some misery. I can't interview the dogs.

 

You are telling me that you cannot figure out (ascertain) if I had spared the world some misery by seeing to the warmth of some animals when their owners wouldn't. You are going to have people wondering just how insightful and perceptive you are.

 

How do you weigh suffering? I haven't noticed any body has stopped complaining. So in absence of any reliable metric I ask the question of you, are you less miserable. I don't attempt to weigh either good or suffering. The truth sets us free.

 

You do not weigh suffering; you know it when you see it. You said that you haven't noticed that anyone has stopped complaining. You should ask the dogs I spoke of. What's the difference between a shiver and complaint?

And no, I am not less miserable; I am more gratified.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hN1SKVx31s&list=HL1343165957&feature=mh_lolz"]Run DMC - Its Like That (Original) - YouTube

Unemployment at a record highs
People coming, people going, people born to die
Don't ask me, because I don't know why
But it's like that, and that's the way it is

[D.M.C.]
People in the world tryin to make ends meet
You try to ride car, train, bus, or feet
I said you got to work hard, you want to compete
It's like that, and that's the way it is
Huh!

[Run & D.M.C. alternate lines for the remainder of the song]
Money is the key to end all your woes
Your ups, your downs, your highs and your lows
Won't you tell me the last time that love bought you clothes?
It's like that, and that's the way it is

Bills rise higher every day
We receive much lower pay
I'd rather stay young, go out and play
It's like that, and that's the way it is
Huh!

Wars going on across the sea
Street soldiers killing the elderly
Whatever happened to unity?
It's like that, and that's the way it is

Disillusion is the word
That's used by me when I'm not heard
I just go through life with my glasses blurred
It's like that, and that's the way it is
Huh!

You can see a lot in this lifespan
Like a bum eating out of a garbage can
You noticed one time he was your man
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is

You should have gone to school, you could've learned a trade
But you laid in the bed where the bums have laid
Now all the time you're crying that you're underpaid
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is
Huh!

One thing I know is that life is short
So listen up homeboy, give this a thought
The next time someone's teaching why don't you get taught?
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is

If you really think about it times aren't that bad
The one that flexes with successes will make you glad
Stop playing start praying, you won't be sad
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is
Huh!

When you feel you fail sometimes it hurts
For a meaning in life is why you search
Take the bus or the train, drive to school or the church
It's like that, and that's the way it is

Here's another point in life you should not miss
Do not be a fool who's prejudiced
Because we're all written down on the same list
It's like that (what?) and that's the way it is
Huh!

You know it's like that, and that's the way it is
Because it's like that, and that's the way it is

 

But more gratified. Then no, I don't think you spared the world any misery.