August 8, 2006

'Im a little teapot...
Annatar

... short and stout, here's my handle and heres my spout, when I get all steamed up hear me shout, tip me up and pour me out."

Okay dokie... hmmmm where to start. Well first off its just after a bank holiday here and Ive got a little headache so I cant really be arsed to get into this too deep... at least today.

Everett... People who would use taxation as an excuse etc etc... my evidence is ME. I know in myself that there is a huge desire to avoid doing good. It is the nature of the beast that is human. Yeah I dare say if we had taxation for the poor Id use it as an excuse, at the very least Id consider it. Perhaps you are a better person than I (not a difficult thing to be).

All versions of Capitalism is based on greed. Greed is hardly a good thing. However by adding a little social awareness - awareness of our fellow citizens who are poor, unemployed, disabled etc etc we can use capitalism to help each other, instead of capitalism using us. Extreme Capitalism, at least to my mind is devoid of compassion, the weak are to be crushed. Money is God.
The desire to make money is good. But only when is doesnt destroy the lives of others.
Capitalism is the best form for lifting people outa poverty, but unbridled it is a cruel master.
"I find your allusion to John Paul the Great unconvincing..." - The Pope warned of the dangers of Capitalism, of placing too much importance on wealth and wealth generation, especially when it hurts the poor.
Sweat shops have Capitalism (in part!) to thank for being.



About the EU, Personnally I want a proper Federal Europe; but Im in a tiny minority. The movers and shakers in Europe, well the majority of them DO want this. However they will have the devils own time convincing the public. It will be a Loonngg time before it can be sold to them.

"They're trying to get a European Constitution implemented even after it has been soundly rejected by two EU member states" - No thats not strictly true. They are re-negotiating the wording etc so the public will agree. Besides, rejection of the constitution had more to do with dislike of their respective governments than of the Constitution itself.
The Constitution, may also have been misnamed(Constitution carries the bagage of nationhood). It is/was an attempt to simplify all the previous treaties and agreements into a single "simple" document. There is a lot of red tape that could be cut back a bit.


"There are attempts to establish a European military" The only thing that comes anyway close to this is the Battle Groups. Ireland is actually part of this, but with ALOT of restrictions, UN, Dail etc etc approval for mission. You cannot have a European army if a large chuck of the countries involved are Neutral and have no desire of being otherwise.

Tax harmonization - only France wants this. It will be a cold day in hell before Ireland allows this. Thats also ignoring the fact the rest aint so keen either. Tax harmonization - not gonna happen for a mentally long time. If ever.

"There's already a common currency" - OOhh whats the score so far? ermmm 11 of the 25 countries have the Euro.
It is the exception rather than the rule, so it is hardly a Common European currency as such.

So in short, I support the idea of a Federal Europe but I wont hold my breath. It may not be in my lifetime....



"Ultimately, you ask the wrong question when you ask if these things are worth the life of a single, starving baby, because unless that baby is your own or your immediate concern (i.e. it's right there in front of you) the fact that you give a rat's behind is a conseqence of the culture in which you developed your moral code."
Well no, the fact I give a rat's behind is because of God. As we know God is the God of All. He speaks to everyone, believer and unbeliever alike. The fact that I care, is because God guides me so. This is true for everyone, and not dependant on Culture (although a Culture of Greed, hate, indifference may rally against God's message of Love). And so it is not the wrong question.
You also mentioned before of the survival of the fitest when it comes to culture. This is true to a point. The Culture that carries God's message will ALWAYS succeed. The rest is just window dressing and of no massive import.


"...fantastical elements of your views of human nature." Fantastical to believe that God's message should be our guiding light? Fantastical to know that we, all of us, are greedy, small minded little creatures?
No, sad to say I know what people are like. We are always having to struggle to do what is right, we never struggle to do what is wrong. It comes way too easy.
If I have a fantastical views of human nature, then I guess you a very naive view, and buy glasses in the rose tinted store.
On the whole perhaps its better to be you. Perhaps I am too cynical.




Farlas agus Farlas' Mother - How the blazes are ye!!!?!
hehehe
Oh becareful what ya wish for, you might just get it! HMmmmmm how much IS a flight to the US...? You dont mind "house guests"?? :D

"Why y'all would want to be in a club when you could simply stay under your own banners and be friendly is beyond me. " - Because basically it doesnt work. It was swings and roundabouts. Prussia + England against France. England + France against Germany etc etc it never ends. The best way is to intergrate a little and work together more. The proof is in the pudding, like I said Europe has never been so peaceful.
Besides we still have our own banners, we just have an extra one.
Just because Im a European doesnt mean Im not Irish, or an Ulsterman or a Donegal Man.

The UN... hmmmmm tis a case of not throwing out the baby with the dish water. It is a lame duck alot of the time when it comes to big stuff. But it is great when it comes to Aid/health, education etc. It does need fixing but it aint THAT bad.


Never seen Blackadder!!!!??? Now thats just plain evil! What are they showing ye all over there!? Okay series 1 is not as great as the others, so you can just ignore that till later.
Series 1 - Richard III 'esc era
Series 2 - Elizabethan
Series 3 - Regency period
Series 4 - WWI - Trenches
Try/buy series 4, probably the best (althooouughh series 2 is pretty brilliant)

"But if you don't mind, I'd rather have my tongue beaten wafer thin by a steak tenderizer, and then stapled to the floor with a croquet hoop"

Baldrick: Well, were going over aren't we sir?
Blackadder: Yes we are, unless I can think of some brilliant plan.
Baldrick: Would you like some Rat-o-van to help you think?
Blackadder: Rat-o-van?
Baldrick: Yeah it's rat, that's been...
Blackadder and Baldrick: ...run over by a van."

George: Oh sir, just one thing. If we should happen to tread on a mine, what do we do?
Blackadder: Well normal procedure Lieutenant, is to jump 200 ft into the air, and then scatter yourself over a wide area.

Baldrick: you know the funny thing is, my father was a nun.
Blackadder: No he wasn't.
Baldrick: He was so sir. I know because whenever he was up in court, and the judge would say occupation, he'd say 'nun'



Sorry but I couldnt resist sticking in a few quotes.


Oh ah yeah The whole 666 - 667 thang.
Recently discovered in an ancient document rubbish tip in Egypt was a fragment from Revelations, it says the number as 667. Which corresponds nicely with the name of the Emperor of the time of St John.
Okay its hardly rock hard proof, indeed the typo could have been with this version. It is interesting though... oooh curiouser n curiouser!


In regards to Toblerone, you should watch a bit Billy "the big Yin" Connolly does about it. He does have a point - they can be an instrument of torture. Ever try and bite one off?! an "alp" goes through the top of your mouth ARggGGhh!


Better head off :) Ash Nazg...

PS
Didnt think Id be typing much but hey ho.
My head aches gone... nearly gone too.