Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Right Wing Extremist Thread -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Neocon who wrote (3984)	2/3/2001 12:43:04 AM
From: TH	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 59480

Neocon, Seen traffic yet? HAGO TH

To: Neocon who wrote (3984)	2/3/2001 10:43:24 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 59480

Your argument is good as far as it goes, but I think with respect to the United States, at least, it leaves out something I think is very important. Many Protestants believe that if you are a success on earth that is a sign that God is pleased with you, and vice versa. So people who are prosperous are undoubtedly better people, more virtuous, harder working, etc. As a Catholic, I believe that we are all equal in the eyes of the Lord. And I believe that material prosperity is not a sign of God's love or approval, or vice versa. I believe that the people who please God the most are people like Mother Teresa, who gave up all material comfort in order to help the less fortunate, but I would not exalt such people through the powers of government. I don't believe government enters into the equation. Government exists to provide certain services, just as doctors provide certain services, truck drivers provide certain services, architects provide certain services, engineers provide certain services, and so on. The problem that we have with government in this country is that we have had a devil of a time eradicating the remnants of monarchy and feudalism. There is an element of our culture that dearly loves a king, that wants to be a lord, that gets excited by gold, feathers, and other frippery. With respect to government, the real question is what is the proper function of government - that is the only question - and what do we do to make the government function properly? I know a lot of judges - which is a very respectable job - but it's just a job, and a hard one. I don't know any judges who think their job entails social redistribution - even the liberal ones that I know believe that their job is deciding who wins a case, although they are more likely to find for the little guy, maybe. And my husband works for the federal government - he's a patent examiner - he's GS 14, there's a good chance he'll make GS 15 (SES) before he retires - but no matter how high he goes - he'll always think his job involves either examining patents or making sure that patents are examined, according to the standards (whether the invention is novel, infringes on prior art, etc.) I don't know anyone but philosophers - which I guess includes academics and ministers - who really think about social justice. I'm not saying they don't exist - they do - but they never seem to have real jobs in government (or anywhere else)! They seem to be hangers-on to the coattails of elected officials, e.g., Ira Magaziner and that ilk.