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I thought occurred to me that perhaps we on this board are too hung up on being liberal or conservative while we argue fine points of the republicans or democrats. so I attempt this thread.
I personally think people should be responsible for what they do in life and should rely as little as possible on the federal governemnt to take care of themselves.
So forget the usual insults about rep and Dem's and how do you feel on the continuum of personal responsibility compared to dependence on governemnt to live?
As a man, a husband, a father, a professional, and as a liberal I absolutely ascribe to the belief that we are all personally responsible for the things we do. It is one of the absolutes that I have striven to teach my child and one that she has accepted with few exceptions during her brief life on this planet. But I also recognize that there are times when bad choices have detrimental affects on the lives of others and at the end of the day someone has to make the situation right.
Call it the Judeo-Christian ethic that was hammered into my head before I became an atheist, call it a sense of humanity, but as much as I believe in individuals taking responsibility for their actions, I just as strongly believe that society, we, I have an obligation to help those who have made bad choices and more importantly those who suffer as a result of the bad choices of others.
It is unconscionable for me, as a human being, to turn my back on any other human being other than those who are so incorrigible as to be beyond the help of society or myself as an individual. That is the bedrock of my political and ethical beliefs which can manifest themselves in policy prescriptions that can be construed as being either liberal or conservative depending upon the circumstances.
I thought occurred to me that perhaps we on this board are too hung up on being liberal or conservative while we argue fine points of the republicans or democrats. so I attempt this thread.
I personally think people should be responsible for what they do in life and should rely as little as possible on the federal governemnt to take care of themselves.
So forget the usual insults about rep and Dem's and how do you feel on the continuum of personal responsibility compared to dependence on governemnt to live?
This is still a fallcious premise because you're assuming these are the only factors in life. Gimme a break.
I'd say that the idea of personal responsibility for individual success is beneficial as a form of personal motivation but less beneficial as a standard for collective judgement. It's a useful illusion that we all share; when we buy into it, we do better in life, but when we buy into it too much, we turn into *******s.
I thought occurred to me that perhaps we on this board are too hung up on being liberal or conservative while we argue fine points of the republicans or democrats. so I attempt this thread.
I personally think people should be responsible for what they do in life and should rely as little as possible on the federal governemnt to take care of themselves.
So forget the usual insults about rep and Dem's and how do you feel on the continuum of personal responsibility compared to dependence on governemnt to live?
I believe that only a small segment of our population disagrees with the idea that people should be responsible. The question lies as what services do you expect the government to provide? Do you want the government to mandate morality? Do you want the government to promote religion? Do you want the government to protect the enviroment from polluters? Very few people on here would admit to leaning to one extreme, whether that means virtually no government and a quasi anarchist society, or a complete dependence on government. In summary, your question is loaded and a bit of a strawman, it could be manipulated and interpreted by both the right and the left in their favor or against
As a man, a husband, a father, a professional, and as a liberal I absolutely ascribe to the belief that we are all personally responsible for the things we do. It is one of the absolutes that I have striven to teach my child and one that she has accepted with few exceptions during her brief life on this planet. But I also recognize that there are times when bad choices have detrimental affects on the lives of others and at the end of the day someone has to make the situation right.
Call it the Judeo-Christian ethic that was hammered into my head before I became an atheist, call it a sense of humanity, but as much as I believe in individuals taking responsibility for their actions, I just as strongly believe that society, we, I have an obligation to help those who have made bad choices and more importantly those who suffer as a result of the bad choices of others.
It is unconscionable for me, as a human being, to turn my back on any other human being other than those who are so incorrigible as to be beyond the help of society or myself as an individual. That is the bedrock of my political and ethical beliefs which can manifest themselves in policy prescriptions that can be construed as being either liberal or conservative depending upon the circumstances.
There are many who suffer from the bad decisions of others, and it does not matter to me whether this suffering comes from the hands of religious leaders, family members, strangers, governments, or financial "wizards," things absolutely need to be set right again, or else we end up with an anarchic, violent, desperate, hopeless populace who does not have any hope for the future or safety from the cruelties of selfish decision-makers at the top. The light burns out, and the ones who have made it to the top will live in an ever-increasing darker world, fighting to keep what they have, with little time or energy to enjoy their spoils.
if you can get help take it.
but strive to stand on your own.
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