Poll:- life better now or in 1959?

SirJosephPorter

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Really? Why is that?


If you think about it countryboy, a dictatorship is pretty much like a religion. A dictatorship has certain beliefs, the dictator is supreme, he gives out rewards and punishments, it is not really much different from religion. The important difference is of course that in a religion, the Messiah or God threatens you with eternal damnation, eternal torture after you die, the dictator threatens to do it while you are alive.

But there are many similarities. Since Atheists do not bow down to any God, they would not bow down to any dictator either. The first people that a dictator wants to eliminate is independent thinkers, Atheists are the original independent thinkers.

So different dictatorships may put different factions in concentration camp. Nazis may put homosexuals, Jews, Communists there, Communists may put religious people, those who are disloyal to the Party there, Christian, Muslim Fundamentalist dictatorships will put other religions in concentration camps.

But you can be sure that they all will put Atheists in the concentration camp first. So it doesn’t matter whether the dictatorship is Nazi, Communist, Islamic Fundamentalist or Christian Fundamentalist, you can be sure that people like be will be the first ones to be herded into concentration camps.
 

SirJosephPorter

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But then again, as you have pointed out, core values can change over time. I've known a few to change their tunes on capital punishment, especially when a loved one is lost in a murder.


That is perfectly understandable, counrtyboy. But the last poll I saw showed a substantial majority opposed to capital punishment, at least here in Canada.
 

JLM

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You got it countryboy, I don’t believe in moral absolutes. And what does this have anything to do with releasing the criminals early? Isn’t that the responsibility of the parole board?

Another huge flaw in your argument- parole boards aren't always responsible, if your grand daughter got murdered as the final result of some parole board screw up, you'd be the first to scream blue bloody murder.
 

SirJosephPorter

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Another huge flaw in your argument- parole boards aren't always responsible, if your grand daughter got murdered as the final result of some parole board screw up, you'd be the first to scream blue bloody murder.

Surely parole board is always responsible for releasing prisoners on parole, I don't understand what you are saying here. How can they not be responsible?
 

countryboy

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Nov 30, 2009
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If you think about it countryboy, a dictatorship is pretty much like a religion. A dictatorship has certain beliefs, the dictator is supreme, he gives out rewards and punishments, it is not really much different from religion. The important difference is of course that in a religion, the Messiah or God threatens you with eternal damnation, eternal torture after you die, the dictator threatens to do it while you are alive.

But there are many similarities. Since Atheists do not bow down to any God, they would not bow down to any dictator either. The first people that a dictator wants to eliminate is independent thinkers, Atheists are the original independent thinkers.

So different dictatorships may put different factions in concentration camp. Nazis may put homosexuals, Jews, Communists there, Communists may put religious people, those who are disloyal to the Party there, Christian, Muslim Fundamentalist dictatorships will put other religions in concentration camps.

But you can be sure that they all will put Atheists in the concentration camp first. So it doesn’t matter whether the dictatorship is Nazi, Communist, Islamic Fundamentalist or Christian Fundamentalist, you can be sure that people like be will be the first ones to be herded into concentration camps.

Holy smokes, those are some pretty extreme views on religion. Intolerant perhaps, but unquestionably ignorant. Whaddya' mean, "a dictatorship is pretty much like a religion?" Pretty much? What kind of an absolute is that? Makes the rest of your argument baseless, in my opinion. And, you prefaced that with the remark, "If you think about it, countryboy..." which implies that I did not? An incorrect assumption. Mind you, I might not have thought about it exactly the same way you did, but I do have that right, do I not? After all, the Charter tells me so!

And you followed that up by saying, and I quote, "The important difference is of course that in a religion, the Messiah or God threatens you with eternal damnation, eternal torture after you die,...". You have made a pretty sweeping statement there, sir. Have you read The Teachings of Buddah? I have. In fact, I live with a Buddhist. Your ramblings don't work there. Ditto for Shintoism.

Well, your basic hypothesis on religion is worthless, thus rendering anything that follows it (the dictator stuff) irrevalent and immaterial. Try again, if you wish.
 

DurkaDurka

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Mar 15, 2006
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Were the chicks ****tier in 1959? I always thought it would be kinda cool to travel back in time and impregnate a bunch of hussies, only to warp back to the present, leaving bastards in my wake.
 

Mowich

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Dec 25, 2005
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Holy smokes, those are some pretty extreme views on religion. Intolerant perhaps, but unquestionably ignorant. Whaddya' mean, "a dictatorship is pretty much like a religion?" Pretty much? What kind of an absolute is that? Makes the rest of your argument baseless, in my opinion. And, you prefaced that with the remark, "If you think about it, countryboy..." which implies that I did not? An incorrect assumption. Mind you, I might not have thought about it exactly the same way you did, but I do have that right, do I not? After all, the Charter tells me so!

And you followed that up by saying, and I quote, "The important difference is of course that in a religion, the Messiah or God threatens you with eternal damnation, eternal torture after you die,...". You have made a pretty sweeping statement there, sir. Have you read The Teachings of Buddah? I have. In fact, I live with a Buddhist. Your ramblings don't work there. Ditto for Shintoism.

Well, your basic hypothesis on religion is worthless, thus rendering anything that follows it (the dictator stuff) irrevalent and immaterial. Try again, if you wish.

I was struck by the "A dictatorship has certain beliefs" bit, countryboy. Correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't it be more truthfully put this way...'a dictatorship imposes certain beliefs' ? To me, has and imposes are worlds apart in meaning.

But then, SirJP might just think I was nitpicking. You think??? 8O
 

Mowich

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Were the chicks ****tier in 1959? I always thought it would be kinda cool to travel back in time and impregnate a bunch of hussies, only to warp back to the present, leaving bastards in my wake.

That post brought to mind a saying I rather like, Durka,Durka. It is people like you who personify the need for a life-guard in the gene pool.
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:
 

countryboy

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I was struck by the "A dictatorship has certain beliefs" bit, countryboy. Correct me if I am wrong but wouldn't it be more truthfully put this way...'a dictatorship imposes certain beliefs' ? To me, has and imposes are worlds apart in meaning.

But then, SirJP might just think I was nitpicking. You think??? 8O

Nitpicking? Heaven forbid...is that allowed in this Forum?

But, you picked up on an important point here...I think SirJP is mistaking his opinion on things for absolute truths. Gosh, I like to think someone could be that perfect, but I understand we're all human. Well, some are more human that others, but "imperfect" would describe us all.
 

DurkaDurka

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That post brought to mind a saying I rather like, Durka,Durka. It is people like you who personify the need for a life-guard in the gene pool.
:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Indeed, yet you're still here so apparently the life guard failed. :smile:
 

Mowich

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Nitpicking? Heaven forbid...is that allowed in this Forum?

But, you picked up on an important point here...I think SirJP is mistaking his opinion on things for absolute truths. Gosh, I like to think someone could be that perfect, but I understand we're all human. Well, some are more human that others, but "imperfect" would describe us all.

So, did you agree or disagree, CB?

Besides, perfection is highly over-rated. :lol::lol::lol:
 

TenPenny

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Definitions of words like "decency" don't change a lot over time, while some things may become more or less acceptable, core values don't change much.

I would think that depends on your idea of 'core values'.

'decency' has changed a lot in 50 years with regards to divorce; inter racial marriage; inter racial adoption; tolerance for homosexuality; etc.
 

Mowich

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Indeed, yet you're still here so apparently the life guard failed. :smile:

Actually, when I was born there was a life-guard, unfortunately due to government cut-backs there wasn't one in place when you popped in which of course explains everything. :lol:
 

countryboy

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Were the chicks ****tier in 1959? I always thought it would be kinda cool to travel back in time and impregnate a bunch of hussies, only to warp back to the present, leaving bastards in my wake.

Doubtful that could happen. Chicks - even the "hussies" had taste back in '59.
 

DurkaDurka

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Actually, when I was born there was a life-guard, unfortunately due to government cut-backs there wasn't one in place when you popped in which of course explains everything. :lol:

The withdrawl method is hardly a life guard, your DNA was destined for some women's face but apparently Jesus intervened.
 

JLM

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Surely parole board is always responsible for releasing prisoners on parole, I don't understand what you are saying here. How can they not be responsible?


How??????? every week on the news there are reports of parole violations by convicts who never should have been paroled in the first place. If you are to accept a system, S.J. then you have to consider the entire system, If I'm not confident of every aspect I veto it.
 

JLM

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That is what life without parole is for, JLM. I don't think death penalty is ever deserved, premeditated, cold blooded killing by the government is always wrong.

Besides, as experience in USA has showed, death penalty is much more expensive that life without parole.

Of course it is- that doesn't make the execution wrong, that makes the timing wrong. That wouldn't be a problem if time on death row was reduced from 20 years to 7 days.