Lions led by Sheep -

Sep 04 2008

Do Rich People Deserve Your Sympathy… And Your Money!?

Email to a Friend

Print This Post

43 Responses to “Do Rich People Deserve Your Sympathy… And Your Money!?”

1. # Tim Redfernon 05 Sep 2008 at 5:58 pm

   In my home, hanging on a wall, is a small crocheted piece of artwork, with the quote, “One who lives content with little possesses everything”. I can also quote, and agree with, the Apostle Paul who said, “I have learned to be at peace with much, and with nothing.” I’ve been on both sides in my life. I’ve had much, and I’ve had nothing. Wealth brings more heartache and sorrow than it could ever be worth. It’s a focus on “things” that causes people their loss of peace. Materialism run rampant chokes off our desire to seek the intangible things in life that make a life truly valuable, and worth living. There have been 3 times in my life when circumstances beyond my control have wiped me out to less-than-zero, 3 times I’ve been very close to homelessness, and had to start all over again. But, in retrospect, each of those 3 times was a positive experience for me, and I emerged better-off than I’d been before. The last time it happened to me, only 2 years ago, I lost everything I owned. I now live with friends, I live alongside their home in a 33 ft. Camper-RV. I own almost nothing, but I am more joyful and more at peace than I’ve ever been in my life. The materialistic part of me is gone, and it’s been replaced with a deep desire for spiritual growth and spiritual experiences. Of course, I would never want to be wealthy, or even comfortable (financially), ever again. My faith in God is tested on a daily basis, and it grows stronger with each day. I would not have these opportunities to trust God if I were financially-set. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life right now, and I had to go thru some nasty brands of hell to get here, but it was worth every minute of it.
   Thanks, Steve, so much, for another deeply thought-provoking post. Peace, my friend!

2. # Steve N. Leeon 05 Sep 2008 at 7:21 pm

   Tim, my friend, that’s a very moving story. I’m so pleased you managed to post it as the first comment so that everyone who visits will see it - I fear many people only read the first few comments and then skip the rest.

   But not only is it moving, there’s a lot of truth in it. While I don’t follow a religion myself, I do appreciate that much religious teaching is profound and as relevant today as it was millennia ago. I hope other readers can see the beauty, and truth, in your words.

   I’ve never had wealth - I’ve chosen a simpler life over the rat race and the hell of the corporate career ladder - so I can’t talk from that point of view. But I do agree that you do not need wealth to be happy - I’ve never had it but I’ve known contentment. I don’t say I’m happy as Larry all day every day, and I don’t say I haven’t struggled and that living without enough money to live well is easy or always the most pleasurable experience. Far from it. What I mean is that the craving of wealth should not be one’s driving force. What drives me is to do the things I love - I do NOT enjoy, for want of a better phrase, working for the man!

   Of course this kind of lifestyle means I don’t drive a fast car and wear designer clothes, etc., but then I don’t want to.

   Life is about sacrifice. I’ll sacrifice those trappings to live how I want to live. I won’t sacrfice my life for work. Life is about living, not working.

   I’m so pleased for you, Tim, to hear that despite your financial position, you are truly content. That really is wonderful to hear. I hope people can find wisdom and inspiration in your story.

   Thank you. Have a wonderful weekend, Tim,
   Steve

3. # Arletteon 05 Sep 2008 at 8:26 pm

   Thank you both ! In this weired world we easely forget the true values !
   thank you both for having remembered me what is important in my life !
   THANK YOU
   arlette

4. # writeroffthelakeon 05 Sep 2008 at 9:01 pm

   Yeah, I know this post is meant to be funny, but most of it just sounds angry and bitter.

   As for the sports car that gets 8 miles to a gallon, heck, I know people living on incomes of less than $500 a month who have old vehicles that get only 6 miles to a gallon. The guy with the sports car might be only one missed payment away from reposession, you never know.

   I’ve also known rich people who had money in the bank, but the way they dressed, the cars they drove, and the houses they lived in, you’d think they had an average Joe job. And some of them made their huge money from just having average Joe jobs that turned into really successful businesses.

   I know others whose clothes are picked out of the charity bins. They do without phones and ride bicycles for transportation. They eat at soup kitchens every day - I’ve eaten there and would do so daily if I had transportation.

   Lighten up. We’re all just human beings. Who’s up today can be down tomorrow…and who’s down today can be up tomorrow.

   Be happy for those who have instead of jealous, and be sad for those who don’t, instead of condescending.

   Toss the anger and bitterness and maybe the humor of this post will become visible.

5. # Steve N. Leeon 05 Sep 2008 at 9:32 pm

   Arlette, thanks for your comment. I’m glad you found the post resonated with you.

   Writeroffthelake… where do I start?

   No, the post was NOT meant to be funny.

   People starving to death is NOT funny.
   People reduced to eating dirt or rats is NOT funny.
   People being sold and forced into prostitution is NOT funny.

   “Who’s up today can be down tomorrow…and who’s down today can be up tomorrow.”

   Tell that to the Ethiopians next time there’s a famine!

   I don’t see any point in going on.

   Sorry, but it’s attitudes like yours that keep people dying needlessly all over the world every single day!

   Lighten up?!

   YOU NEED TO WAKE UP!

   Steve

6. # writeroffthelakeon 05 Sep 2008 at 10:39 pm

   I’m shocked that the writer says the post wasn’t meant to be funny. It is as if every sentence attempted humor and didn’t know how to get it across to the reader. Is it that the writer doesn’t have enough control of his style to be able to let a reader know whether the tone is suppose to be serious or funny?

   I’m not sure what my attitude would have to do with the style of the writer’s posting, or even what my attitude would have to do with people dying needlessly all over the world, but I can say I know a lot about poverty. I saw the author’s comments as condescending to the poor, and, like most people, we don’t like being treated that way. If that was not what the author was trying to convey, he may wish to ask himself what it is in what he wrote that would give a reader that opinion.

   A novel is an story created by the cause and effects of characters interacting, not a way to attempt to send a message so convoluted that the author doesn’t seem to be able to clearly state what he’s trying to say.

   Once the author steps back from his material and rewrites it logcially instead of reacting with a two-year-old type tantrum, whatever he is trying to say may then be apparent to readers.

   For his sake, I hope it’s before too many readers discover this post, or sales of his novel will probably plummet.

7. # Rzon 06 Sep 2008 at 4:59 am

   I know some wealthy people who are good people. I also know some pretty rotten poor people. If you’re a rotten poor person you’ll be a rotten rich one. Same w/ being nice.
   Money is a form of energy (exchange), we’re a form of energy (spirit and matter), the Universe is all encompassing energy. I believe that if we can line up w/ the universe we can get all the benefits from its abundance.
   Unfortunately, most of us are born to parents who don’t understand the law of attraction, who lived w/ the fear of scarcity even amidst plenty.
   Mother Nature gives us fruits, vegetables, roots, all kinds of edibles in great quantities. If we enlarge our scope to see the abundance all around us, we attract more abundance in all matters. If we see scarcity, we’ll have it. Like Henry Ford said, wheather we think we can or we can’t, we’re right.
   Naturally, the poor are handicapped, especially by blind belief in religions, their teachings about destiny, being the blessed ones, coming from a “royal line” or the dumps, all kinds of mumbo-jumbo.
   If the poor learned early enough abt family planning, controlling their destiny through education & objectivity, the situation would change.
   We’re victims of our own misdirected energy when we live a life of lacking when we deserve a life of plenty: food, joy, love, beauty, health, hope…
   Of course the nnatural state of a person who has a lot, is to give, to be a source of blessings. However the spirit of negativity makes many who are enjoying plenty to want to guard it, hoard it thinking that others didn’t work as hard, don’t deserve it, other excuses.
   That’s why tithing is important no matter what we make. And I don’t mean to a church. As soon as we get some $ we should hurry to bless w/ 10% or more, whoever we know is needy. It can be an individual, a group, whatever. Money being energy, when we move it, it moves in our direction. To receive, we must give. When we don’t, we end up loosing it, big time, through mistakes, disease, etc…

8. # Barbara Liebowitzon 06 Sep 2008 at 5:30 am

   I don’t look to see how much money someone has it is how they treat people

9. # Steve N. Leeon 06 Sep 2008 at 11:38 am

   I welcome all intelligent comments to this blog. Wether they agree with my point of view or not. As long as a comment is intelligently thought out and keeps to the subject, then I encourage people to express their thoughts.

   Unfortunately, every so often, someone turns up who either misses the point totally and starts spouting garbage or purposefully writes with the sole intent of upsetting other readers.

   Writeroffthelake, or should that be Writerwayoffthemark, if you’re going to spout garbage don’t expect me to applaud.

   I think my last comment to you was more than polite considering the quality of your ‘reasoned argument’. But if you’re going to insult my writing ability, and accuse me of throwing a child-like tantrum, then you deserve the ridicule your comments allow others to lavish upon you.

   Did you even read the entire post?
   Did you see that it’s not actually about people who are, to western financial standards, rich?
   Did you notice the parts about people being so poor they have eat dirt or eat rats to stop from dying?
   Did you see the reference to human trafficking?

   “Toss the anger and bitterness and maybe the humor of this post will become visible.”

   Do you honestly think my intention was to write something to make people roll around on the floor in hysterical laughter?

   Or maybe, just maybe, was this attempt to raise awareness of poverty and, through so doing, encourage people to appreciate what they have, even if it seems too little to them?

   Hmmm… That’s a tough one!

   Let’s see if we can find an answer to that brain-breaker!

   Oops there it is. Would you believe it, it was there in front of you all the time!

   “Next time we feel that life is treating us badly - perhaps our cupboard is bare of rats and we can’t afford mud for cookies because our pimp says we haven’t screwed enough strangers - maybe we should question just how bad we really have it.

   Sometimes it’s difficult to judge who is rich… Conversely, it’s usually crystal clear who is truly poor!”

   As for all the crap you spout about some poor guy’s gas mileage compared to some rich guy’s… What world are you living in? (Maybe it should be Writerofftheplanet!) You’re ‘logic’ isn’t logic. You’re making an argument by presenting obscure realities as if they are the norm. You’re generalizing the unique. If you want to prove an argument, give documented cases that show your premise is what ACTUALLY commonly occurs, not just what CAN occur if all the remote conditions needed happen to miraculously come about.

   With odds of 14 million to one, most people will never win the lottery. But a minuscule percentage win. However, using your logic, you’d have us believe that winning the lottery happened to most people every day!

   That’s how ridiculous your argument is.

   As for a ‘convoluted message’? Well, you want to try re-reading the sentence in which you used those words!

   If anyone is still in any doubt about whether you have any sort of valid point or not, I direct attention to your ‘best’ remark one last time:

   “Who’s up today can be down tomorrow…and who’s down today can be up tomorrow.”

   Tell that to the Ethiopians next time there’s a famine!

   You’ve wasted enough of my time, Writerofftheplanet. And in so doing you’ve dragged people away from the true issues here: human rights and poverty. Good job! You should be proud. I make no wonder you hide behind some ridiculous pseudonym.

   As for your attitude and people dying? You’re obviously the kind of person who thinks Bush is a great humanitarian. I bet you’ve got his photo on your nightstand. Tell me, do you kiss it every night before you go to sleep?

   This blog is not a comedy routine. Neither is it something that moron’s mess with and get away with. So take your mock outrage and go and play your childish games somewhere else if you’ve nothing worthwhile to contribute to this conversation.

   Steve

10. # Steve N. Leeon 06 Sep 2008 at 12:04 pm

    Barbara, that’s a very commendable attitude. A pity more people don’t hold to it. Thanks for contributing.

    Rz, well, you’ve really opened up some topics there!

    Yes, in much the same way that an athlete believing he’ll never run the 100m in less than 10 seconds will never run it in less than 10 seconds, we are masters of our own failuer. But only to a degree. I do think cricumstance has a lot to do with it as well. I haven’t read much about the laws of attraction or cosmic ordering or anything of that kind of thing, so I hate to comment on it. Suffice it to say, I believe in positivity but don’t think it’s the be all and end all to solve a persons every problem.

    “If the poor learned early enough abt family planning, controlling their destiny through education & objectivity, the situation would change.”

    Yes and no. Yes, education would solve a lot of the Third World’s problem, but you make it sound as though it’s their fault for not ‘creating’ that state of affairs through the law of attraction. (Sorry, if I’ve misunderstood you there.) I can’t agree with that. Sorry. You can’t blame a baby for living in poverty. You can’t blame a woman who was raped by guerrillas. You can’t blame a farmer whose crops have failed because of no rain… As I said, I’m not well-versed in this area and I don’t know if I’ve understood you correctly, so I’ll leave it there.

    You’re right about mumbo-jumbo and about hoarding, though. Just look at where all the wealth is in the world - in the hands of around 3% of the population! And that makes them happy does it? Coincidentally, I wrote about this very subject in my novel - one of the characters is extremely wealthy so this conversation naturally occurs between two people.

    By the way, an interesting snippet I learned while researching my novel is that Islam actually has something called Zakat (excuse the spelling, please) which involves giving a percentage of your wealth away to the poor every year. A lot of westerners think of Islam only in terms of the violence they see in our media - they should note it is a very humanitarian religion, too!

    Thanks for a great comment, Rz. So great thoughts there for people to muse over.

    Have a great weekend,
    Steve

11. # And Now The Apocalypse! of www.wolfbritain.com (click here)on 06 Sep 2008 at 12:41 pm

    Steve, I “got” it! Thank you for the satire! I wonder how many people truly get what you’re saying, though? This article also deserves to be “trafficed” all over the world too! LOL! Thank you again, Mate (even though my last name’s really “Britain” and I’m not a Brit; at least except by partial ancestry)! Cheers, chin-chin and/or whatever else suits your fancy! You also have a great weekend (if you can in police state Britain)!

12. # Steve Leeon 06 Sep 2008 at 4:14 pm

    Hey Wolf,

    Glad to see my words didn’t fall on too many deaf ears! Regular readers get me immediately because they’re used to my style but to some people, well, I may as well be writing in an alien language.

    It’s always heartening when people do get it, though. And usually they all do. I don’t know if you’ve read some of my other posts, but there is a wealth of information in the comments sections - it’s a surprise and a joy to know that so many intelligent, educated people read my work and like to share their thoughts.

    I’ve taken a quick browse of your site. Interesting. I’ll be popping back when time allows. Thanks for the link.

    All the best, Wolf - keep the truth coming!
    Steve
    P.S. ‘Chin, chin’? Has my blog crossed time? I don’t think people have said that since the 1930s! ‘Cheers mate’ will do just fine.

13. # Marena Chenon 06 Sep 2008 at 5:06 pm

    Hi Steve.

    It’s ironical that some people read this as attempted satire when all it did was to point out the “facts of life” .

    My husband and I are 74 and 70 respectively and are not well off by any stretch of the imagination (we don’t have pensions, free medical etc in my country which is hard on seniors) but we still work in order to survive. But we thank God everyday for His provision and envy noone. We do wish we had a bit more so that we can help some of those who are even worse off than we are. We sold our home in Singapore few years back after moving back to Malaysia but the lawyer stole all our money and we had to start all over again in our 60th. Yet we still praise God that we have a roof over our head and food to eat and try to help where and when we can.

    Count your blessings one and all.

14. # Bonnieon 06 Sep 2008 at 5:39 pm

    Hello Steve:

    Far too many out there do not like to hear the truth, nor be smacked in the face with it. Your post is bringing forward a very sad comment on today’s society, worldwide…and GOOD for you.

    It never ceases to amaze me, the amount of complacency so evident out there, nor the amount of human greed that inflicts so much pain and suffering. Everyone either has a get rich quick scheme to con someone else, corporations increase their profits at the expense of consumers, governments increase taxes and cut social benefits.

    No where in your post did I find any finger pointed at the poor as suggested by writeroffthelake. You are making a point not pointing a finger.

    I learned a long time ago that the greatest riches one may have is their family, their friends, their inner spirit and their gratefulness for even the most simplest things in life.

    Thank you for taking a shot where it counts. Keep it up.

15. # Steve N. Leeon 06 Sep 2008 at 7:34 pm

    Bonnie, you hit the nail on the head yourself - everyone is out to grab as much of your cash as they can, whether it’s corporations, government, or whoever. I’ve covered such issues before here but I’m always reassured when people comment to that effect - it means there are real people with real thoughts who can recognise the truth out there and while that’s the case, there’s still hope for us.

    I know many people feel like you but are wary of saying so out loud for fear of who might discover how they truly feel. I’m sure they’ll take heart in knowing they aren’t alone (and that it isn’t just me and whackos like me who have simply lost the plot and dragged them along for the ride!)

    It is the simple things in life for which we should be the most grateful. It’s something of a cliché, but that’s because it’s true so well-used.

    Thanks for a valuable contribution and saying what a lot of readers are probably thinking themselves. And, of course, thank you for your kind support.

    Marena, that’s an absolutely awful story. And highlights just what Bonnie is talking about - many people today are only out to con you! I’m deeply sorry to hear that you’ve had to go through such an experience, especially so late in life when you are supposed to be able to relax and enjoy your leisure as worry free as possible.

    I hope in the midst of adversity that, like Tim, you’ve managed to salvage contentment instead of becoming bogged down in misery.

    Unfortunately, you are right - this post does highlight the facts of life. THE fact of life, in fact - survival of the fittest. Purely on grounds of geographical ancestry (maybe I’ve just invented a new term there!) most of the Western world has been blessed with relative abundance, whereas those in most other areas have absolutely squat. We don’t deserve our good fortune, yet we cling to it and fail to share it as if we’ve sweated our blood day after day to achieve all we have.

    Survival of the fittest is fine within the animal kingdom, but shouldn’t we know better after millennia of civilization!?

    Thanks Bonnie and Marena. Enjoy the rest of your weekend,
    Steve

16. # writeroffthelakeon 06 Sep 2008 at 11:24 pm

    I tried to comprehend this writer’s comments on his novel, but all he seems to do is go off on tangents.

    Are you trying to sell you or novel or are you just trying to post messages?

    The purpose of this blog seems to have gotten lost.

    I obviously came to the blog to learn more about the novel - is a comedy or a tragedy - I certainly can’t tell from this blog.

    Considering how many novels there are in the English language, since I can’t get any info on this one, I’ll move on to the next.

    I hope the author is able to write a better blog for the next novel he publishes!

17. # Steve N. Leeon 07 Sep 2008 at 12:02 am

    This writer, also known to you as the author, has a name. Just like you do Writeroffthelake, or should I say Vanessa?

    If you honestly came to to my blog to learn more about my novel, there are plenty of links that will take you to pages dedicated to it. They are so clearly labeled a child could find them.

    This blog is a totally independent entity. As it says on every single page, at the top of every single page, this blog is an exploration of environmental, rights, and conservation issues. It is not a sales page! If I mention my novel at all it is only in the context of the subject of a post or of a comment.

    You came to my blog and not only questioned my writing ability but politely ridiculed my post.

    Then, after I’d had the audacity to question the logicality and humanity of your comment, you came back again and insulted me personally and professionally.

    Now you’ve come back a third time and left some garbled message about simply wanting to learn more of my work. Vanessa, having learned a little about you, under different circumstances I’m sure we could have been friends…

    But… for someone who works with writers I am stunned at how disrespectful you are of a person’s work.

    Some people love cheeseburgers; some people loathe them. Some people will love my work; some people will loathe it. I accept that.

    The problem is, this is a blog about global issues we all must come to terms with if we are to create a world we can proudly present to our children. You didn’t accept it as such and for some unknown reason saw it as an opportunity to critique a writer’s work even though he hadn’t asked for it.

    I don’t want unadulterated praise, but I don’t want people I don’t know telling me how to write either. If I want editorial advice, I’ll seek it.

    Please don’t buy my book as, hating my writing style as you do, it will simply be a waste of your money.

    Steve
    P.S. If any of my readers on American’s Eastern seaboard have a cheap vehicle for sale, please let me know as Vanessa is desperate for one for medical reasons. I won’t say more or publish her email address but I will pass on any details.

18. # Gregon 07 Sep 2008 at 5:14 am

    Hey Steve,

    I dunno, maybe I’m too simple, but it seemed the point of your article was pretty obvious.

    We frequently complain about our circumstances and our aches and pains and we don’t begin to appreciate what we have or what we can be. So lets go in the other direction here.

    How about the Olympic athlete who competes on the Rings with a broken leg? How about the runner with one leg? The people who play basketball in wheelchairs? The guy in a wheelchair who participates in a high level martial arts demonstration (breaking stacks of GLASS, among other things.)

    Ok, they aren’t is a place where they’re selling mud cookies. They’re in a place where they CAN make a choice, but they still do amazing things with sometimes amazing “handicaps.”

    The US (and other countries) gives billions in aid to these countries each each. How much makes it down to the people? Not much, but some does. It’d be nice to get rid of the blockages to that aid and then be able to teach those people to rebuild and create their own wealth.

    The western countries didn’t achieve their wealth through luck or fortune. It was achieved, in part, through governments becoming sane and providing certain freedoms to the governed. The wealth was, in large part anyway, earned, and by being in a place where the earning was possible. Certainly there was exploitation, but that’s hardly unique to the west.

    Africa, as a whole, has incredible natural resources, but Africa is a thrice damned country. Brutal, horrible governments, diseases, and opportunists who exploit that country’s resources (eg; China) and support the oppression. Slavery is still real over there (and elsewhere.) Fascinating that it rarely gets talked about.

    You’re right, there is always someone worse off and most of us haven’t got squat to complain about. Most of us are very wealthy by the standards of much of the rest of the world and that rest of the world will stay stuck there until their own governments become open to the idea of certain freedoms. Getting rid of the Castros and the Mugabes and their ilk (assuming a decent replacement exists) would be a huge first step.

    Great article and your PS about Vanessa was surprising. More twists and turns from Steve. :)

19. # Steve N. Leeon 07 Sep 2008 at 12:24 pm

    My P.S.? Vanessa might have been an absolute pain in how she approached my post, but I bare her no ill. Due to a medical condition, she has issued a desperate plea on her website for cheap transportation, so it seemed only decent to try to help if that’s possible. After all, I could hardly justify this blog’s existence if I failed to show compassion, could I?

    That said, it was a one-off - please don’t inundate me with requests to place ‘adverts’ on my blog. It’s not going to happen. I did it as much to show that we should be able to forgive those who we feel have wronged us as to actually offer assistance. You see, it was not a totally ‘unselfish’ act!

    Wow, it’s Sunday and I’m sounding like I’m standing in a pulpit preaching to my congregation! I better get rid of the religious connotations quick or many people will bolt!

    Greg, that’s a great comment, not least for your remarks on ‘handicaps’ and the problems of charitable aid.

    You’re spot on - if only there was some way to cut out all the corruption and ensure our charity went to those it was intended for. Well, if it did, we’d end poverty overnight! It really is that simple. We give billions, as you say, and yet year after year we have to empty our wallets again to give billions more. Why? What do these poor people do with it? Blow it all on the horses or beer and loose women? Of course not - they never see it. Probably don’t even know it’s been given.

    In fact, Marena above gave an excellent example from her own misfortune - being conned out of her life savings. Unfortunately that’s happening to us all every day of our lives by greedy corporations. They get away with it by calling it the law of supply and demand, the free market economy, selling us what we need.

    There’s one word for it: greed. Greed is killing the world.

    Thanks, Greg. Great comment with a lot for readers to think about.
    Steve
    P.S. I promised you a post that battered Britain as much as the US this week, to show I was unbiased. Unfortunately, the first draft of this post proved so long I had to cut it in half so those stats I mentioned last week will be appearing in a few of weeks.

20. # franciscoon 07 Sep 2008 at 8:13 pm

    The Messiah, His Life example and Teachings, Teachings He received from The Only True GOD(Our Father), revealed that “a simple and spiritual life is the only life that will survive”!

    Apart from such a life, naught but the destruction and perversion of Creation(land, air, water, creatures, Light, Truth, Love, Peace, Mercy, Hope, etc.) can be expected.

    And The Creator, Our Father, HE is going to “destroy those who destroy the earth(Creation)”.

    But there is Hope!

    For Miracles do happen!

    Hope is there would be those who experience The Miracle that is receiving “a love of The Truth” for they “see” “The Light” that is The Messiah and no longer will they be of those who are destroying and perverting Creation.

    Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this wicked world and it’s systems of religion, for “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth.

    Truth is never ending…….

21. # Gregon 07 Sep 2008 at 9:23 pm

    “In fact, Marena above gave an excellent example from her own misfortune - being conned out of her life savings. Unfortunately that’s happening to us all every day of our lives by greedy corporations. They get away with it by calling it the law of supply and demand, the free market economy, selling us what we need.”

    Some of us hold Government in greater contempt than we do corporations and far more than we do capitalism. That free market is far and away the best hope for people to lift themselves out of whatever miserable circumstances they happen to be in. Yes, some will prosper and get rich and most will have jobs created by the efforts of those rich people. Everyone’s boat is lifted.

    Keep the socialists and nanny statists far far away from that and provide just enough Gov to support infrastructure, provide a legal system and somewhat fair playing field. Some safety net can be provided for those who really need it, but it’s the economic growth provided by the capitalists/entrepreneurs that will ultimately fund that.

    Those corporations also give many billions of dollars a year to all kinds of charities. Sure there’s greed there and sure there have been abuses. But corporations don’t roll over countries (China, USSR) or exterminate populations (Hitler, Hussein’s Iraq) or lay waste to the environment (at least to the same degree as any communist country.)

    You’re right, greed is killing the world, but it’s also the greed of the people who want to rule us, not just corporate greed. And it’s the doormatitis among us and the need to be nannied that will let them.

    By the way, you mentioned Islam at one point. Arab/Islamic hospitality is well known, but you might want to research certain aspects of Islam which pose yet other, um, interesting possibilities along the “rule us” lines.

22. # writeroffthelakeon 07 Sep 2008 at 10:16 pm

    If this blog is totally independent of your attempts to sell your novel, then why did you just send me a link to here in a “personal message” you sent me asking me to check out your new novel?

    As I said before, I find your attempts at humor too insulting to the poor, of which I’m proud to say I qualify by being more than 150% below the poverty level (income of less than 7700 a year).

    Quit sending me invites through “personal messages”; I have no interest in your novel and will not come back here as long as I don’t get any more of your “personal invites”.

23. # Steve N. Leeon 08 Sep 2008 at 7:29 am

    Writeroffthelake - Vanessa - I’ve been polite with you; I’ve been VERY patient with you; I’ve tried to reason logically with you.

    And having learned of your financial and health situation, I’ve even tried to help you - more fool me!

    You are obviously one of those cantankerous old buggers who loves to get their teeth into a ‘problem’ and then go on and on and on and on…

    After the number of ‘personal messages’ you’ve received in the last two days, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to see that those ‘personal messages’ are not personal at all - they are all the same, aren’t they, each and every one?! They are not ‘personal’ but an automated response that my blog takes care of for me. I simply don’t have the time to reply to everyone personally both on the blog and through email (especially when ’some people’ love wasting my time so much!).

    Haven’t you noticed that they are all the same and arrive just seconds/minutes after you’ve made ANOTHER comment? Is it so difficult to work out? Or do you honestly think I’ve nothing better to do with my life than sit here 24/7 praying for someone to write to me so I can write back?

    As for my humour being offensive? I find everything about you offensive:
    your comments
    the way you address me (or purposefully don’t do so, but use the third person instead, i.e. ‘the writer of this post’ or ‘the author’ - very insulting!)
    the way you fail to see any reasoned logic
    the way you constantly shift your ‘problem’ with me and my blog to something else after I’ve proven your argument unreasonable.

    Everything about you is insulting and offensive. You are a thoroughly dislikeable and obnoxious person who obviously takes a perverse pleasure in trying to upset and argue with total strangers who have the misfortune to meet you online.

    Do not come back here. I have wasted enough time on you.
    Steve

24. # Steve N. Leeon 08 Sep 2008 at 7:52 am

    Thanks for adding further to the conversation, Greg.

    Yes, I should have added ‘government’ to that. You’re right. I don’t mean only corporations but corporations in tandem with government. But then, the two are so entwined, sometimes it’s hard to see where one starts and the other ends.

    Yes, the free market economy can help man, but only if it serves man. More and more these days I see it as being purely a means for the greedy to grab more money and power. So many elements within it don’t exist to serve our needs but exist to create need where there really is none, thus wasting valuable resources and depriving us of our money which could be better spent.

    In some areas I’d prefer less government involvement, yes, but in many areas, on the contrary, I’d like to see strong intervention as the greedy do not ‘police’ themselves but try to get away with whatever they can.

    I do have to disagree with you on one point, though - corporations do lay waste to the environment! I hate picking an easy target, but look at the oil industry.

    Islam actually advocates peace and not ruling by the sword but extremists have seen that is seldom acknowledged in our media. (I’m no Islamic scholar but I have read the Qu’ran as research for my novel.) But, yes, I get your drift.

    Thanks, Greg. More great points for readers to get their teeth into.
    Steve

25. # Steve N. Leeon 08 Sep 2008 at 10:58 am

    Unfortunately, Francisco, I’m no theologian to be able to give you as complete an answer as I would like. As research for my book, I did read the Bible (in fact, I actually used that same quote, “… destroy those who destroy the earth…” etc, plus a couple of others in a chapter which saw the main characters fighting against religious zealots and extremism.), but I can’t talk with any authority on religious matters.

    The ‘philosophy’ of religious teachings is a different matter, however.

    That said, yes, you make a valid point. As I’ve said above, there is great wisdom in some teachings. And while I don’t want to offend, that wisdom is not exclusive to Christianity.

    “… a simple and spiritual life is the only life that will survive.” I don’t know about the last part, but the first is something we should all aim for. Though, I hasten to add that as far as I’m concerned, spirituality can be entirely separate from religious beliefs.

    I don’t think anyone reading this will argue with your last point about the world being under control of ‘the evil one’, though, they may differ on who/what exactly that is.

    Thanks for adding another dimension to the discussion, Francisco. Enjoy your week,
    Steve

26. # E Irving-Waddletonon 08 Sep 2008 at 1:37 pm

    Steve,
    Came here because of an invitation from Care2. Don’t like your blog. Don’t like your knee-jerk reactions to any criticisms.
    Life isn’t fair. Some people are born lucky and are jerks. Some aren’t. Poverty sucks. That’s all you’re saying.
    No attempts at solutions. No attempt from you to engage in discussion or conversations to learn from those who respond to you. I bet you don’t like my attitude either. That’s okay.
    As the symbol of Yin and Yang suggests, please strive for balance.
    Sincerely, **Elizabeth

27. # Steve N. Leeon 08 Sep 2008 at 2:48 pm

    Hi Elizabeth,

    On the contrary, Elizabeth, as I always say, I welcome intelligent comments. The problems come when comments are not intelligent.

    I always engage in conversation with people who leave comments, as I am with you. Likewise, if someone wants to criticize my post and show me where I’m wrong, give me something to work with to improve my take on the world, then fine. I welcome that too.

    However, what I don’t like is someone not only telling me I can’t write, as Vanessa did, but also telling me to ‘lighten up’ when I’m trying to raise awareness of poverty!

    Telling me that people who are down today will be up tomorrow is absolute and utter garbage in relation to the subject matter of this post. A woman sold into prostitution will not be ‘up tomorrow’. Surprisingly, she won’t even be up the day after! She might never be ‘up’. Talking like that belittles the situation and, to people new to the area, confuses the issues and makes light of such problems.

    Yes, you’re right, this post doesn’t offer any solutions. But then what solutions can I offer? How can ‘I’ end people trafficking and world hunger when global charities and governments find them impossible issues? If the solutions were so simple don’t you think they’d have been implemented by now?

    Apart from that, I am not in the game of providing impossible solutions - what I am trying to do is raise awareness of vital issues. Through raising awareness will come understanding, and through understanding will come solutions. Most people have no awareness, so no understanding, so no solutions.

    That said, in some of my previous posts I have offered solutions to problems, I’ve also provided links to relevant sites. That’s all I can do.

    I’m sorry you feel as you do. Some people don’t like my in-your-face truth and the fact I have a limited tolerance for weak-willed, bleeding heart, liberal crap and power-mongering, corporate greed. That’s their choice. Mine is to use an aggressive style to hit home about issues that we all should be very concerned about.

    Steve

28. # Steve N. Leeon 08 Sep 2008 at 3:06 pm

    Sorry, Elizabeth, I forgot this part: “Life isn’t fair. Some people are born lucky and are jerks. Some aren’t. Poverty sucks. That’s all you’re saying.”

    No, I’m sorry, but you’re completely wrong. That is NOT all I’m saying.

    Firstly, it’s a reminder to those of us who live decent lives to appreciate what we have and stop moaning about minor ‘injustices’ that befall us, because, in the true scheme of things, they’re totally irrelevant.

    Secondly, and more crucially:

    Did you know that Haiti is gripped by such hunger that its poor are reduced to eating dirt?

    Did you know that India’s local government ministers are encouraging India’s poor to eat rats?

    Did you know that up to two million people are trafficked each year?

    You might have. But I didn’t!

    And I’m damn sure that the average person doesn’t know either.

    By presenting this information, in this form, I believe not only can I educate those who are ignorant of this TRUTH, but in educating them, move us all closer to a solution.

    You might see my blog as a waste of space because it offers no ’solutions’. I disagree entirely, I think revealing the truth to those ignorant of it is a major step towards a solution to any problem.

    (As for your lucky jerks reference, sorry, I don’t see where you get that at all.)

    Steve

29. # franciscoon 08 Sep 2008 at 4:43 pm

    “Lions seeking to kill all the sheep”

    Believe that better states what is happening to those
    in haiti and those who are naturally hungry thruout this
    wicked, evil world.

    Sadly, the “lions” have told their lies often enough and
    long enough that the multitudes believe the LIE and
    when the gift that is Truth is given them they reject it.

    As for “religion”, religion is anti-Great Spirit indeed and Truth!

    However, Faith? Faith is victorious! for Faith will not create
    a system of religion. Faith conquered and will conquer all
    that is not of The Truth. Faith will overcome this world, it’s
    ‘god’, and death itself.

    “Who Are The Real Savages”?

    Those who are of, and in, what is known as the “civilized” world called,
    and some yet call, the “uneducated”, indigenous peoples “savages”.

    Consider that the most dangerous “savage” is the one who wars against
    Light, Truth, Love, Peace, Hope, Simplicity, etc., all that is of The GREAT
    Spirit.

    Such a “savage” seeks to kill the Creator conscience spirit within man and
    fill the void with a love for the things that are of this wicked world, a love
    for the self-life, and a love for the lies that are of this world’s systems of
    religion ;-(

    And yes, “atheism”, “drugs”, “sexual perverseness”, “alcohol”, “greed”,
    etc. , all have “savages” who follow their religious ways ;-( Ways that lead
    mankind along the broad way of destruction and death ;-(

    “atheism”, “drugs”, “sexual perversion”, “alcohol”, “greed”, “humanism”,
    “philosophy”, “education”,,, etc.

    Not “religion” you say?

    Sadly, they are ;-( For one’s “god”, “supreme being”, “great spirit”, etc.,
    is that which, what, or whom, someone serves and is devoted too. That
    which you serve, is that which you worship(desire and hold in the highest
    esteem), and that which you worship is your “religion”.

    Yes, even “atheists” have “religion” and worship their ‘god’, and no matter
    what it’s name may be, they “see” their “god” every time they look in a
    mirror ;-(

    Most all systems of religion are self-serving ;-( Sadly, in the darkness
    that encompasses the religious ways of this world, hides the “god” of
    all “systems of religion”, he who is “the god of this world”, “the father
    of lies”, “d”evil author of deception, delusion, destruction and death ;-(

    And all who follow his worldly way’s of death and destruction serve, and
    are held captive by, the spirit of death, as they but serve “time” in the prison that is his world ;-(

    And the primary temptation used by the “god’s” of the”religious systems”
    that are of this wicked, evil world?

    M-O-N-E-Y!

    Oh, how they worship those colored marks written on a dead tree ;-(

    Capitalism is the primary buzzword, used for the worship of money, by
    most systems of religion ;-( And so it is that, that which was once called
    “covetousness(greed)” was then called “materialism” and today?

    Sadly today, those of this world’s systems of religion call “greed”, “good
    management” ;-(

    Question? Why is it that 100 years ago, in so-called “progressive”
    countries, the “citizens” of such countries had 10 needs and 100
    wants, and today they have 100 “needs”? and 1000 “wants”?

    And what of the so-called “progress” they have made?

    They progressively destroy and pervert Creation(land, air, water,
    creatures, Light, Truth, Peace, Love, Hope, .etc.) and such destruction
    and perversion has multiplied exponentially as time passes by ;-(

    “Spiritual savages” ;-(

    Oh my, how they have increased ;-(

    Yet, while there is breath(spirit) there is hope!

    For Miracles do happen!

    Hope is there would be those who experience The Miracle that is
    receiving “a love of The Truth”!

    Truth is Spirit, all that is “Good” is Spirit!

    And mankind can not systematize Spirit.

    At best, mankind can only answer The Call of The Spirit, nurture not
    destroy and pervert Creation, believe The Creator knows what is best,
    and understand that apart from their Creator(Father) they fall victim to
    the whims of greedy, profit and power seeking, perverse mutations
    whose intent is to destroy the land, air, water, and creatures; and rather
    than Light, promote darkness; rather than live The Truth, die in the LIE;
    rather than Love, promote hate, bigotry, lust, etc.; rather than Peace,
    engage in war, competition, dis-ease(no-peace); rather than a forever
    Hope they promote the golden ring on the merry-go-round they call “life”;
    rather than Mercy they promote “the letter of their law”; rather than Simplicity they promote confusion, complexity and double-speak; rather
    than Reality, that which WAS and IS, they do all they can to feed
    mankind’s “imag”ination, for mankind’s “imag”ination produces the
    mutations that are destroying and perverting Creation;-(

    Yet, there is Hope!

    For Miracles do happen!

    Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(no-peace) that is of this wicked world and it’s systems of religion, for “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth.

    Truth is never ending…….

30. # Hankaon 08 Sep 2008 at 5:00 pm

    I don’t get these people who don’t like Steve’s post.

    I said before, English is not my first language, so even though I struggle from time to time with the vocabulary, I completely understand the concepts.

    I love Steve’s blog because it opens my eyes to many aspects I didn’t know or didn’t care about and which I am very ashamed of. I pass the messages to my friends and …we do talk about what kind of input we could have to change the world, even though it would be only the tiniest bit. And it always comes out that we should start from the very basics, from ourselves.

    So…people who don’t like Steve’s blog, just back off and live your lives as you wish but don’t interfer so that others make the same mistakes.

31. # Jillyanne Michelle Capeon 08 Sep 2008 at 5:03 pm

    Corporations do need to be regulated and are much to blame for the destruction of our environment. They definitely need to be policed. Problem is that much of our government is bought out by these corporations, so who is really ruling who here? My brother works as a corporate attorney for Monsanto, one of the most destructive corporations on the planet. I could not look myself in the mirror everyday if I did what he does for a living. Yet he is my father’s pride and joy. He makes good money. To my father, money and power are everything. He (my father) is also an extremely corrupt individual at times and does things he shouldn’t just to get ahead. Stepping on others is not a problem for him. He has no respect for anyone he considers weak in any way. He always finds a way to justify his behavior at least in his own twisted mind. If you are down, it must somehow be your own fault. Even if it isn’t, he doesn’t particularly care because he just can’t afford it. He is too busy chasing after the mighty dollar and polishing his huge vehicles…etc… Needless to say, we are not close. Might I also add that my brother is miserable. He is not a happy man. So money does not buy happiness. I, on the other hand, am on disability due to health problems mostly genetic except for the PTSD which is not my fault either. Life is not always fair. Everyone is not dealt the same hand. Just to say that teaching the poor not to have so many children or whatever is extremely insulting. There are many people living in poor conditions due to circumstances completely beyond their control. Not only in other countries but right here in America, where things are getting worse and not looking for the better anytime soon. I cannot work at this point in time and may never be able to hold a fulltime job again. Got screwed out of my government retirement benefits as the agency I worked for rejected my doctor’s claims, even though the same government (but different agency) agreed that I was definitely disabled and is paying me social security benefits. My doctors tried to get me to quit working years before I finally could not go on any longer. I fought it long and hard. I lost all the money saved for retirement having to support myself until I got my disability benefits as it always takes a year or two until they will even give you a hearing, unless you are terminally ill and expected to expire within a few months. Also had help from friends and relatives which has helped to sustain me. I lost my former home due to foreclosure in January. Tried hard to hold on to it, but it was too late by the time I got my settlement and the money was not enough to cover the expenses of living there or settling any past debts. Had to file a chapter 13 bankruptcy case initially to keep the house until I got my settlement, but then when it was apparent that I still would not be able to stay there had to switch to a chapter 7 bankruptcy and let the house go. Have bought a house in a small town about 65 miles outside the metro area as there was nothing in town in a decent neighborhood that was suitable to live in on my income level. Without help from family and friends, God only knows where I would be, as they have spent tens of thousands of dollars in the past few years trying to bail me out. None of this has been easy to take. I had a good job with good benefits and a nice income. My former home was worth about a hundred grand more than the old house I am living in now, but this place is adequate in most respects. My friends and family are farther away now and I miss them. I have a car but cannot afford the gas to go into town often and when I do, there is so much I need to get done business wise that I don’t get enough time to visit with anyone much. I have learned quite a bit about life in the past few years that I don’t think anyone really relates to unless it happens to them. Then the reality sets in. Then all of a sudden you know just how easily one could wind up on the streets. The help that is supposed to be there is somewhat illusory. The agencies that are supposed to help are practically worthless. This you find out when you are the one going for help. The “help” is all hype. I had other plans for my life. I had hopes and dreams. My family is not wealthy but they are not poor, I have always had a decent standard of living. Never before have I experienced having to live with an income below poverty level. People still give me money, food…etc…buy my gasoline, mow my lawn. I was able to keep my pets, which I cherish dearly. I am definitely blessed. Still trying to adjust. I am used to being independent. It is hard to accept being “needy”. It is a humbling experience, but also a very enlightening one. I have more compassion for others and a much better understanding of how the real world operates. I see other dimensions that others look right past as if they don’t exist. Truth is most don’t want to acknowledge. Don’t want to be bothered. Like my father. Thankfully I have other people in my life who are supportive, even if they don’t fully understand my PTSD or know what it is like to have an intractible migraine. They care. I wish my situation were different. I would rather be on the giving end. Right now I still have debts to pay and issues to deal with, how to figure out how to live a life unlike anything I am used to. One thing that bothers me is that I see more people in situations like mine all the time. The gap between the rich and poor is growing bigger everyday. If it were only me I don’t think I would be quite as uneasy. I think a lot of people are headed for tough times. Some of us are already there. More empty boarded up houses and businesses closed down. More people walking carrying their bags on the side of the road. A man trying to ride a bicycle in seven inches of wet snow, without a winter coat even to keep him warm. Thrift stores everywhere. Dollar stores everywhere. Then of course, there’s a Wal-Mart everywhere. Even with what little money I have, I refuse to spend any there. I am socially conscious of my resources, much as they are not right now. I am learning to be more careful with everything. My impact may be a small one, but I still intend to do what I can, in the right direction. I have ethics and moral standards. I care about the future of the world. I have to make it a habit to count my blessings and to think of all the people out there who are worse off. The statistics are staggering and sad. I know I will be OK, but what about the rest?

32. # Steve N. Leeon 08 Sep 2008 at 5:33 pm

    Hanka, thanks for your vote of confidence. It’s reassuring to hear that I’m not going crazy, that I am doing some good despite some people being so adamant that I’m spouting useless garbage!

    Thank you. That means a lot.

    Not that people will stop me spouting my ‘useless garbage’ of course. Oh, I’m way too pig-headed for that!

    Thank you. I hope your week has started well.

    Jillyanne, it’s good to hear from you again.

    Believe me I know just what you mean about being screwed out of a disability claim - it happened to a member of my family. Oh, employers/goverment love you to give them your all, don’t they, but, boy, how they squirm and cheat and lie and manipulate if they have to give anything back over and above your pittance of a paycheck!

    I remember you speaking about yours and your family’s contrasting world views before - it is sad. I hope one day you find some form of reconciliation and they see that money and power are as fleeting as the wind and as hard to grasp, because you can never have enough, can you? Once you develop that appetite, you just can’t sate it no matter how hard you try.

    That is a sad picture you paint. Very sad. I don’t really know what to say as I’ve never been in such an extreme position. It’s heartening to know that you’ve good friends, and that you still have your pets for companionship. But most heartening, is that despite all the absolute crap that has hit you, you are still thinking of others, both globally, as in your shopping preferences, and locally, as in empathizing with the guy on the bike.

    And that was one of the main points of this post which you have illustrated wonderfully - you were left penniless and yet instead of drowning in self-pity you are still aware of how lucky you are in relation to people like those poor Haitians, etc.

    I feel for you, Jillyanne. I hope that in time you find a balance returns to your life and that you develop the kind of contentment that Tim spoke about in the first comment on his post after he went through similar upheavel to you.

    With your caring nature and positive outlook, I’m sure you’re right - you will be okay, Jillyanne.
    Steve

33. # Steve N. Leeon 08 Sep 2008 at 5:48 pm

    Francisco, thanks for coming back with more thoughts.

    I hope I’m right in thinking that what you call Faith, I call Spirituality - concepts that can be entirely independent of a religion. And therein lay the world’s ultimate problem - too much religion, not enough spirituality!

    I understand what you mean about people choosing Gods outside of ‘normal’ religion. And they do - consumerism/materialism is one such ‘religion’ that I love to rally support against. People worship the almighty dollar for the wonderful things it can bring them, just the same as other people praying to their God for what they want out of life. Very sad.

    “Oh, how they worship those colored marks written on a dead tree ;-( ” That’s a wonderful line. And so true.

    I imagine many readers will know just where you’re coming from with you last paragraph. (It’s concepts that I return to on his blog quite often - greedy, manipulative, cheating…) Oh, yes, that’s politicians and corporations all over for you. The problem is people believe their lies and are swayed to follow that path themselves.

    Our problem is how to wean them off it!

    Thanks for sharing more of your thoughts, Francisco. Enjoy your week,
    Steve

34. # Gregon 08 Sep 2008 at 6:45 pm

    Hey Steve.

    Useless garbage? Far from it.

    “Islam actually advocates peace and not ruling by the sword…” Muslim scholars frequently disagree with this. In any case their extremists will make it very difficult to bring prosperity to those parts of the world which they control. Gaza, for example.

    “but exist to create need where there really is none, thus wasting valuable resources and depriving us of our money which could be better spent.”

    Wealth is created by the development of resources and the creation of new things in a complex web, which is why the GDP of countries can constantly increase. That wealth also permits exotic new uses of resources previously untapped. Hydrogen power for our cars, for example. Hydrogen is also potentially a source of energy for very poor countries.

    The US, Britain, Europe, and a few other places could all do with a lot less government, but as I mentioned there are places which do need some - stable, predictable government of and for the people that provides an infrastructure and a legal system and then gets out of the way.

    Sorry, but what the Oil Cos may have done to the environment (and they’re far cleaner these days) pales beside what state run companies have done. Bad as they might be (and I think the press is worse than the reality) The Oil Cos are at least responsible to market pressures and shareholder input and have to follow the rules, to some extent anyway. State run companies have no such stops, no incentives to clean up, and often have tanks helping them out.

    An oppressive corporation has conditions that force it to at least act in its own interests and pretend to give a s***. An oppressive government doesn’t.

    And then you have the government run corporations. Ugh. There’s an entity with no checks or balances.

    I agree that the markets do have to serve people. But wealth is created through the efforts of people working to create it, not the state, which works to spend it. People create, distribute, and sell products and along the way there are a lot of jobs created and a lot of openings for creative people. Iraq, for example, has an economy that is growing quite nicely for this reason. The creativity of people when left to their own freedom is quite impressive and is only stifled by government. The greedy and power-hungry will still show, whether its capitalist, government, or terrorist.

    China realizes this too, unfortunately it has a brutal communist thugocracy at the core. It has realized though that the way to wealth is to let capitalism in around the edges and that’s what going to lift its people out of the muck. That government will be doing a fancy dance trying to keep the energy of its entrepreneurs from cracking their system too much.

    The best thing for those people with the mud cookie business would be for their government to allow investment into that country and make a business friendly environment, along with a few rule to insure fair play and the hiring/training of local peoples. They then collect a certain amount of taxes which they can then stuff away in hidden bank accounts, er… use to help build that infrastructure and start building a real economy.

    No, there’s no way that those people will get anywhere with just a change of outlook. They need to have something to eat, first, and then something to start building with. And they WILL build, if they’re given a chance and a little helpful guidance.

    BY the way, I entirely agree that a little respect for one’s fellow human being would go a long way in any scenario. Jillyanne’s Monstanto fellow, for one. (Jillyanne, please use paragraphs, your stuff will be lots easier to read.)

    Like you said its a tough situation and most of us, in the Western world anyway, are pretty lucky to be where we are, bitching and moaning about our little issues and pointing fingers.

    Want a mud cookie?

35. # franciscoon 08 Sep 2008 at 6:54 pm

    “A Simple and Spiritual Life is the only life that will survive”.

    Simply, “Spirituality” is to have Faith in that which is Spirit.

    “The substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen”.

    Truth is never ending…….

36. # Steve N. Leeon 09 Sep 2008 at 11:33 am

    Hi Greg,

    Another great comment. I take your point, but I’d advocate more legislation, not less. I hope you’ll appreciate my point if I expand.

    Yes, the free market economy can improve life, but that’s not what it’s doing most of the time. Most of the time in developed countries it’s not giving us ‘life’ choices, but merely ‘life style’ choices. I’m sure you’ll appreciate there’s a huge difference.

    Let me give you an example:

    Gasoline powered lawn mowers are attracting more legislation from the U.S. EPA to make them more fuel efficient and reduce pollution. Both worthwhile aims, I’m sure you’ll agree. But with no government intervention, the manufacturers would be very happy with their products and would continue selling them as they are - a detriment to your pocket, health and the health of the planet. The problem is that business is not generally self-policing. Business does not do things for the good of the people, the planet, or even the economy. Business does things for the benefit of the balance sheet and stockholders! More legislation is needed to even that balance.

    The problem comes from the fact that most governments are hand in pocket with business, and politicians have their own agendas. What’s needed is government that is intelligent, compassionate, and responsible. Sadly, that’s way too much to ask for with the worldviews/goals most people currently hold.

    Actually, I’m starting to wonder if it might be better to write a proper post on this topic as there’s way too much to go into here. You’ve raised some good points which need addressing but that’s way beyond the scope of a simple comment.

    I’ve already drafted the next post - another one to get your creative juices flowing and see you pounding on the keyboard, Greg! Give me a week or two and I’ll pen a post specifically aimed at this subject. It is difficult though, as I aim for posts to be around 800 words but frequently go 50+% over that and have to cut like mad, so leaving out vital information. I think that’s better than overwhelming people with masses and masses of info in very lengthy posts, though.

    Anyway, I hope I’ve answered your comment enough for now but will come back with a proper post with real depth. I hope you approve.

    Thanks, Greg. I hope your comments make others think as much as they do me!
    Steve

37. # Heidi M.on 22 Sep 2008 at 12:34 pm

    Reading all the comments posted here is an education in itself. Some people just don’t “get it” which is why the world is in the state it’s in. A friend of mine says she can’t do anything about it, so she doesn’t think about it. HUH? We are global citizens and are “our brother’s keeper”. I could also say “if everyone lit just one candle……….” but I think that would be one cliche over the top.

    I too have had a lot: money, success, etc. But through a series of bad choices, I’ve hit bottom and am scrambling just to buy groceries. In the US, though, our view of what poverty is is vastly different from the world reality. I work as a caseworker for a non-profit agency and it always amazes me how people view themselves as poor. Many of the people who come to me for assistance make more on government funding than I earn. They think they are poor because they can’t have everything they want. They really believe that what they want is what they need. Yes, there are some in this country who truly have nothing. But it is a very small percentage compared with the real poverty in the third world. The majority of the “poor” in this country are eligible for food stamps, soup kitchens, housing assistance and free clinics. And even though I have had to make the decision whether to buy medicine or groceries, I at least have never had to resort to eating rats or dirt.

    Francisco is right about the worship of “false gods”. Fame and fortune are fickle gods indeed. If we recognized that, maybe our worldview would be a lot clearer and we could work together to right the injustices of the world.

38. # franciscoon 22 Sep 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Simply, that which is of The Truth was revealed more than 2000 years past.

    “You can not serve GOD(The Great Spirit, Creator, Father) and m-o-n-e-y”!

    “Choose you this day, that which or Whom you will serve”!

    And for the atheists? Once again, you see your ‘god’ each and every time you look in the mirror ;-(

    Why is it that 100 years past most people in the so-called “civilized world” had 7 needs and 70 wants and today they have 70 needs and 700 wants?

    What is naturally needed more than each other?

    Those excessive so-called needs, and the media induced wants all are playing their part in the destruction and perversion of Creation(land, air, water, creatures, Light, Truth, Peace, Love, Hope, etc.) ;-(

    Hope is there would be those who “see” “The Light”!

    “A Simple and Spiritual Life is the only Life that will survive”.

    Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(greed) that is of this wicked world and it’s systems of relgion, for “the WHOLE world is under the control of the evil one” indeed and Truth…….

    Truth is never ending…….

39. # Steve N. Leeon 22 Sep 2008 at 4:06 pm

    Heidi, you hit the nail right on the head with these two sentences:

    “They think they are poor because they can’t have everything they want. They really believe that what they want is what they need.”

    Yes, need and want - two very different things that, sadly, many people these days find totally indistinguishable.

    I’m sorry to hear you’ve had to choose between your health and your stomach at times. Maybe if more people had to endure that they world would be a much better place. But what a sad state of affairs when we cannot simply empathise with someone else’s plight, we must actually suffer to understand. Haven’t come very far since the Dark Ages, in reality, have we!?

    Yes, Francisco, you can’t serve the better good AND money. Yes, it’s people’s greed that is to blame, and, yes, it’s our media that has a lot to answer for in that department.

    Thanks for great comments, you guys,
    Steve

40. # franciscoon 22 Sep 2008 at 5:01 pm

    And thank you for sharing that from which comments could flow.

    Sadly, it’s getting darker and darker all the time ;-(

    And a prime reason for such darkness is that which is called “religion” ;-(

    Believe i am to begin a blog, and originate forums bearing the “title” of
    “The Destruction and Perversion of Creation”, and i hope you wouldn’t mind me posting the primary article in such a blog here. Has to do with a vision i had about 10, or so, years past.

    And even though i am assured that the vision was of The Spirit, it resulted in a physical, yet un-natural, scientific understanding of one way the earth was physically being destroyed. I have not read a published article anywhere that defines such destruction.

    Please let me know if such a posting would be an affront to you. It is somewhat related to the posting and comments in that the primary cause of such destruction is greed, yet the vision revealed only that which was physical yet un-natural, and a scientific understanding of one root cause of the earth’s being destroyed.

    Sadly, i do not believe the earth can be “saved” , yet i also believe that no one has to “play their part” in the destructive processes.

    We have a choice!

    So there is hope that there would be those who choose wisely!

    “A Simple and Spiritual Life is the only Life that will survive”.

    Peace, in spite of the dis-ease(destruction) that is of this world…….

    Truth is never ending…….

41. # Steve N. Leeon 23 Sep 2008 at 9:56 am

    Hi Francisco,

    Thanks for considering my blog worthy of posting a complete article of your thoughts but at the moment I’m not inviting guest writers to post on Lions Led By Sheep. Sorry to disappoint at this time, Francisco.

    Good luck with your own blog. (And a word of advice - use Wordpress, not Blogger or Typepad. You’ll have a lot more options and freedom even if it might be a little more tricky getting everything up and running.)

    Thanks,
    Steve

42. # Vickion 16 Dec 2008 at 1:20 am

    One of the 7 deadly sins, ‘GREED”.

43. # Steve N, Leeon 17 Dec 2008 at 12:51 pm

    That it is, Vicki. It’s a pity some people seem to think it’s something to be proud of instead of ashamed, isn’t it? (And think of the population loss if it actually was deadly!)

    Thanks for stopping by.
    Steve

Leave a Reply

Name (required)

Email (will not be shown) (required)

Website

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.