Albert Einstein talks about socialism

[Captain Awesome]

So, the exact opposite of cooperation?

More of a "control only what you can control" thing. Trying to get society off consumerism is futile, but if I can do for me and my family - that's all that matters. If I can quit the rat race at 40 and enjoy life while I'm still young - who cares what everybody else is doing. Moon base by myself might be hard to do though. But hey...

[hobbyguy]

If you don't care what politicians do, they will pick your pockets to the point where you can't do what you want to do for your family. That applies regardless of political party. If they think, or worse know, that you aren't watching, it enables them. Apathey is not a good strategy.

[Captain Awesome]

If you don't care what politicians do, they will pick your pockets.

You care about politicians, I don't. Yet yours and my pockets are being picked at the same rate. So, no correlation between results and efforts.

[Woodenhead]

I'm totally with Captain Awesome in this thread. And hobbyguy's first post is bang-on. Kudos to you for that, sir.

[steven lloyd]

And hobbyguy's first post is bang-on. Kudos to you for that, sir.

I'll second that. Great post hg !

[Atomoa]

HG's post is great summation of the roots and current fracture points of the system as it exists.

While my hope that politicians will do the right thing is slim, it will be a certainty if I give in and refuse to advocate for change as much as possible. When I lived in the Kootenays I met many people who have carved out a little piece and have given up hope that change was possible. Protect what they can on a smaller scale and fence it all off. Meanwhile, right from underneath them, the entire country was bought and sold and their piece is is rapidly shrinking.

It is a failed methodology. 35,000 liters of jet fuel into Lemon Creek and straight into the Slocan River last year. This year they found 8 fuel-soaked booms left in Lemon Creek from last year (suppose to be cleaned up - highest priority). Water is still undrinkable. No compensation. Entire crops lost. You can fence things away until it's right on your doorstep.

[hobbyguy]

CA - and what you say is true, we both get our pockets picked in the same ways, the difference is that I watch the politicians closely and try to make what tiny little bit of difference I can.

I have no illusions about that. When I write a letter to our local so-called representative, I know what file it ends up in (hint - the round one). But that doesn't stop me, because 1 or 5 or 50 people I don't know did the same thing. And if it got to be 500, just maybe the clapping seal would actually pay attention - or not.

I just don't see giving up as a viable option, as that is the absolutely guaranteed way to fail. My efforts impact the behavior of the local guy? Probably very ineffectual, but if you happened to write him on the same subject etc. etc. Still, the odds are about as good as the 649, but then I still buy a ticket now and then...

And I do get the satisfaction of knowing that I am contributing to the janitor getting paid at the constituency office...

[nicdoug]

[quote="Atomoa"]Global government debt is about 53 trillion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qe03mYVfmg This a fairly long documentary that questions everything about the way we live today and lays out a practical alternative. Be warned it is long but worth the time. Please keep an open mind and you will be rewarded. The second half is the payoff. Thoroughly thought provoking, scary and inspiring all at the same time. 

[Woodenhead]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qe03mYVfmg This a fairly long documentary that questions everything about the way we live today and lays out a practical alternative. Be warned it is long but worth the time. Please keep an open mind and you will be rewarded. The second half is the payoff. Thoroughly thought provoking, scary and inspiring all at the same time. 

For those of you who don't feel like watching some made-for-youtube movie, I'll summarize the vid: it's just Zitgeist Movement stuff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Zeitgeist_Movement

[JLives]

I wouldn't say "just". There is some good ideas to be found there. Working collectively without borders and using technology to it's fullest will be essential to our survival. We need to be Socialists to continue the species.

[Atomoa]

Cooperation, not competition.

[Captain Awesome]

Zitgeist is awesome. Really shows that people can dream. They dream big, dream huge, and dream infinite, and then they get munchies.

[coolworx]

It's their money, as a private entreprise, to 'waste' their money as they see fit. Not yours, mine or anyone else's (except the shareholders).

None of your business.

Except for all the external waste products that foul my planet.
Besides that, it's none of my business.