Freethinker's corner

I am watching the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s battle with religious bigots with much delight.

The FFRF had installed a sign at the capitol expressing the sentiment that religion is a myth. That sign, weighing around 50 pounds, was stolen by some outraged "Christian" criminal.

Why do these bigots, and make no mistake, that is exactly what they are, fight to remove this message from public view.

The only reason that can be is that they are afraid that someone will be turned from their archaic, negativistic belief system. They remove opposing arguments because their arguments are too weak to stand scrutiny.

(human behavior observation: 081205)

I’m praying for you, god be with you!

Translation: There is nothing I can do for you, and I really intend to do nothing to help you, but I feel I must pretend to do something.

Humans feel a need to pretend to not be helpless and yet saying I’m praying for you, is just the same as admitting just that.

Why not just say the truth: I can not do anything to alleviate or ameliorate your present state and yet I hope that things turn out ok. Even a mundane "Best Wishes" would be preferable to a lie. Of course, where humans are concerned, the truth would be an odd commodity. It would be too refreshing to hear someone admit their inability to provide assistance, or even that they simply will not provide assistance: I could help you, but I simply don’t want to, or I am simply too freakin’ lazy to help you. Or even: I hate your guts, and though I could alleviate all your suffering, I prefer to see you suffer.

Humans seem to prefer putting forth a facade  rather than to display the simple truth. Perhaps some of this confusion is caused by a desire not to denigrate or upset the individual, or to deny that they are helpless, or that the situation really is that dire.

Sometimes you wish that people came with a truth button on their foreheads. You could reach out, depress the button, and receive the truth for a change.

(Human Observation: 081201)

http://secularseasons.org/december/winter_solstice.html

Why is the fiscal year of business timed so that if economic forecasts are dismal, layoffs or closings must occur during the time of the year which is reserved for happiness and celebration? It happens every year. You hear each year about this or that plant closing or laying off multitudes of employees.

Perhaps because of some twisted and evil reason they believe the season will make it easier on these unfortunates to accept the destruction of their lives. Or perhaps it is as I believe, that business owners are calloused and uncaring individuals to whom only their financial success matters.

The present economic calamity was generated by stupidity. Everyone is afraid to spend, because everyone is afraid to spend.

People are so neurotic that they are the cause of this recession. They believe they are protecting themselves, when all they are doing is creating the crisis they are afraid of.

al·tru·ism [áltroo ìzzəm]

n

1.
selflessness: an attitude or way of behaving marked by unselfish concern for the welfare of others

2.
belief in acting for others’ good: the belief that acting for the benefit of others is right and good

Extrapolating from the first definition, altruism is being a benefactor to others without the expectation of reward of any kind.

Assertion: There is no altruism in human society.

Human generosity exists because people believe they will be rewarded in some imagined life after death, or because of the good feeling of helping others. There are no exceptions unless you consider the atheist who throws himself in front of a bullet meant for someone else.

Conclusion: There is no altruism in human society.

(Human behavior observation 081111)

Animal Farm was written originally to  decry the elements of a socialist dictatorship where different classes of individuals existed. Whereas, socialism was supposed to be the people in essence ruling themselves, instead an upper crust of individuals who thought themselves better ruled those below. The upper crust, depicted by pigs, worked the lower class to death, the horses, to meet their idealistic goals.

Capitalism was supposed to be different. Alas, instead of the bourgeois in power of the people, we have business replacing the role of pigs, and the workers, the employees being the horses, who, having been worked to death, blood spurting from their sweat glands, then are cast aside.

In essence, the systems, though different in structure, compare similar in the ends. Those who consider themselves better using those who are in retrospect, their slaves.

There will never be a perfect system, as a perfect system would require perfect people of perfect morality and purpose. People are of such a flawed nature, full of avarice, that such a system will only exist in the minds of those who are presently oppressed.

(human behavior observation: 081110)

Ultimately the failure of Capitalism is starkly depicted by one thing. If one person, yes, only one, who wants a job but is denied one or there is none, then Capitalism has failed.

The moment one person, yes, singular, is laid off, then capitalism has failed.

This aside, Capitalism is the best system devised so far by humans. It feeds the inherent greed of human kind and so is perpetuated by human kind. Socialism does not, or is not supposed to, feed the greed. Where ever Socialism is instituted it is fought. Socialism can only exist where there is a dictatorship, or, if you imagine an unreal scenario, where there are perfect people.

Obama is a scary entity. If you were to believe the grapevine if Obama were to win we would be headed down the road to socialism. His spread the wealth comment is straight out of the Marxist handbook. Perhaps, as in many statements he has made, the spread the wealth comment was made out of inexperience, or ignorance.

If Obama wins there will be change. Will it be good or bad? Time will tell. I certainly do not see anything good in what he says.

Prediction: Based on and dependent on the propaganda surrounding this man;  If Obama wins there will be an economic calamity rivaling the Depression. Business will plummet, jobs will vanish, soup lines will form. Those left that can pay taxes will find their net income will dwindle to a non-living wage level. Misery will spread to a degree not seen in decades. If you can believe the rumors, socialism will be the state of the American economy. All that we have known will be left in ruins.

Or will it?