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You're over-generalizing a bit Isaac Send a noteboard - 06/04/2013 01:49:02 AM

View original postI forgot that nobody believes in personal responsibility anymore.

Personal responsibility is something we need more of and we need to impress upon everyone how vital that is to improving the human condition, every bit as important as a full stomach and more so. But we also can't be blind to real hurdles in opportunity presented by things like generational poverty. It's not a blank check to set low goals or forgive crimes and I'm not suggesting we should dump more money into the various mostly feel-good urban renewal projects and similar but there's a difference between not accepting any of the current proposed solutions as morally valid and financially efficient and just writing the whole problem off like it doesn't exist.

As a general note, I don't know if you're dead serious or engaging in a bit of hyperbole but whichever the case sounding like the antagonist from a Dickens novel ain't exactly helping the anti-welfare-state brand name. The general goal of that cause is to convince people that the welfare state reinforces generational poverty and feelings of depression and being trapped, not to say we have no responsibility to the poor. In fact it doesn't matter if we have that responsibility or not, as the philosophy revolves around the notion that enhancing feelings of self-determination, the control of ones own fate, represents a profitable investment; lowering crime and law enforcement cost and raising the tax base and pool of innovators and makers. Personally I think there's a moral imperative in there too, but that's merely an added personal incentive.

So again, big difference between noting a slum is a gigantic soul-crushing pit that imports money and exports crime and despair, and just shrugging it off with a fuck 'em attitude.

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein

King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
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Liberalism has officially failed - Poverty reaches 1960 levels - - 04/04/2013 12:33:15 AM 1373 Views
As has Conservatism. - 04/04/2013 12:37:23 AM 832 Views
I know it hurts.....but the truth about liberalism will set you free! - 04/04/2013 12:42:57 AM 954 Views
Have you ever tried to fish when really hungry? - 04/04/2013 06:32:17 AM 884 Views
HA! HA! In your dreams that's how liberalism works. How about..... - 04/04/2013 04:59:33 PM 813 Views
and lo, Jesus said unto the poor gathered to him: "begone freeloaders! the wealthy need more money" - 04/04/2013 06:43:32 PM 913 Views
Interestingly enough.... - 04/04/2013 09:20:06 PM 904 Views
Re: Interestingly enough.... - 04/04/2013 09:31:27 PM 891 Views
Well here is where theology gets fun.... - 04/04/2013 09:48:50 PM 924 Views
The entire post...as well as many of the sub-threads....prompts the question of: - 04/04/2013 09:39:16 PM 933 Views
it depends on what your definition of "succeed" is i guess.... - 04/04/2013 10:27:30 PM 981 Views
And that is certainly your opinion.... - 04/04/2013 10:54:08 PM 978 Views
Re: And that is certainly your opinion.... - 04/04/2013 11:57:34 PM 1048 Views
Hmm good questions - 04/04/2013 10:29:45 PM 964 Views
you contradicted yourself - 04/04/2013 10:44:47 PM 873 Views
Re: you contradicted yourself - 04/04/2013 10:54:35 PM 982 Views
i think i understand where you're coming from.... - 05/04/2013 07:33:32 PM 945 Views
I see the problem - 04/04/2013 06:45:53 PM 902 Views
since you don't trust the gov't, what are you doing to help the poor survive? - 04/04/2013 12:58:49 AM 978 Views
A few serious answers, if you can handle them..... - 04/04/2013 04:15:32 AM 877 Views
Re: A few serious answers, if you can handle them..... - 04/04/2013 06:42:00 PM 1010 Views
Perhaps its time to try a little fact checking. - 04/04/2013 03:34:44 AM 1151 Views
I'm happy you agree with me, liberalism has failed and it's time for something different. - 04/04/2013 03:47:17 AM 851 Views
Oh the cleverness of you. - 04/04/2013 03:52:07 AM 1038 Views
Wow, I'm shocked. Yes, let's stick with the failed status quo. Good plan! - 04/04/2013 04:17:32 AM 801 Views
Who said anything about the status quo? I just said I didn't agree with your solution. *NM* - 04/04/2013 04:19:37 AM 522 Views
Then time to step up, what's your idea? - 04/04/2013 04:22:58 AM 796 Views
As you might say, "What do you expect, a free ride?" - 04/04/2013 11:45:02 AM 1046 Views
How typicaly conservative! And no. - 04/04/2013 02:05:00 PM 838 Views
Agreed and this is how we will finance such a move - 04/04/2013 04:01:46 AM 938 Views
I'm glad you agree! - 04/04/2013 04:21:25 AM 861 Views
No, in Europe, liberalism is generally successful - 04/04/2013 06:15:34 AM 857 Views
Liberalism & Conservatism 'officially fail' about ever other year I've noticed, still around though *NM* - 04/04/2013 09:02:42 AM 422 Views
Yes. I wonder if there will ever be an age of fiscally responsible/conservative liberals. - 05/04/2013 03:41:09 AM 923 Views
I guess it depends on how you define the terms - 05/04/2013 08:52:25 AM 1093 Views
*nod* - 05/04/2013 01:30:47 PM 919 Views
Re: *nod* - 05/04/2013 03:12:17 PM 861 Views
Off topic: are you gardening yet? - 05/04/2013 02:25:06 PM 774 Views
Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 03:21:25 PM 757 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 07:10:57 PM 840 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 08:19:16 PM 899 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 11:21:56 PM 892 Views
I didn't know they make LED grow lights! - 06/04/2013 12:18:25 AM 1020 Views
It's a bit newer because of the price, that's been dropping - 06/04/2013 01:20:10 AM 929 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 11:11:12 PM 1026 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 05/04/2013 07:56:47 PM 924 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 06/04/2013 12:36:10 AM 1062 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 06/04/2013 02:01:59 AM 961 Views
Re: Initial stuff - 06/04/2013 03:19:39 AM 817 Views
Yes, the logical step is to go for Nordic style socialism. - 04/04/2013 03:19:17 PM 918 Views
well that and a tiny homogenous population funded by large oil reserves - 04/04/2013 06:57:51 PM 866 Views
Eh, you're describing norway. - 04/04/2013 08:11:25 PM 821 Views
The Economist (of all people) was singing the praises of the Nordic countries recently. - 04/04/2013 08:49:36 PM 883 Views
Hey, guess what? - 04/04/2013 08:55:59 PM 826 Views
Awesome. - 04/04/2013 09:22:13 PM 753 Views
Oh my gosh! - 04/04/2013 09:27:17 PM 771 Views
Yes! - 04/04/2013 09:33:45 PM 806 Views
Yay! - 04/04/2013 09:37:40 PM 870 Views
We're Maryland, actually, as I recall. - 04/04/2013 10:15:49 PM 808 Views
Eh survival of the fittest - 04/04/2013 06:18:52 PM 947 Views
Excuse me? - 04/04/2013 08:42:24 PM 854 Views
Cry me a river - 04/04/2013 08:55:40 PM 884 Views
Funny. - 04/04/2013 09:18:15 PM 874 Views
Re: Funny. - 04/04/2013 10:19:35 PM 879 Views
good for you for making it but you are so full of bullshit - 04/04/2013 10:38:45 PM 887 Views
Re: good for you for making it but you are so full of bullshit - 04/04/2013 10:49:14 PM 902 Views
Wow. - 04/04/2013 11:27:06 PM 871 Views
Re: Wow. - 05/04/2013 12:18:08 AM 1000 Views
congrats on being part of the problem.... *NM* - 05/04/2013 04:48:58 AM 478 Views
It's pointless to argue with those who don't understand the psychology of generational poverty. *NM* - 05/04/2013 03:43:40 AM 432 Views
Clearly. *NM* - 05/04/2013 07:32:21 PM 398 Views
Oh the "it's nobody's fault excuse" - 05/04/2013 08:56:51 PM 828 Views
Get back to me when you know wtf you're talking about. *NM* - 05/04/2013 09:03:08 PM 430 Views
I'm back *NM* - 06/04/2013 01:40:47 AM 401 Views
You're over-generalizing a bit - 06/04/2013 01:49:02 AM 967 Views

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