Does the quote definition contain metaphors?

I don't think it describes my philosophy at all. It was written with a slant against Libertarianism. I do believe in helping others and do. I am opposed to the Government holding a gun on me and taking my money from me by force just because some politician works some pork for his or her district.

Besides, private charity is inherently more efficent. Approximately twelve years ago, I read the statistic that if you take all the money our federal government spends on the poor including cash payments welfare (AFDC), Title 7, food stamps, Medicaid and housing subsistence, it equates to an average of $60,000 per recepient household. Today, that number would be materially higher.

When I was growing up, we were extremely poor. If it had not been for the Salvation Army, I never would have had toys for Christmas. It was all done with voluntary contributions. That type of charity was delivered at the local level which is the most efficient and better accomplishes the goals. For Washington to be so arrogant that it can determine what and whree to spend money is ludicrous.

Forgive me I cannot type tonight.

(or think very well, but don't tell anyone)

Then you must be a socialist.

It was Wikipedia's version.

I looked up the Democrats as I feel that is where I would vote if I was an American. This is the definition and is in line with my thinking.

"The Party advocates civil liberties, social freedoms, equal rights, equal opportunity, and a free enterprise system tempered by government intervention. The Party believes that government should play a role in alleviating poverty and social injustice, even if that means a larger role for government and progressive taxation to pay for social services."

The source (Wikipedia again) also said there are Libertarian Democrats.

You are typing fine.

I'm one of those lefties who grew up with complete and utter privilege.

Me too Jen.

If I can try to be coherent for a moment, I believe the only rightful province of government is to ensure that my life, liberty and property are not violated by another. Hence, we need law enforcement and az judicial system.

BTW, many of the US's founding fathers were Libertarians. Thomas Jefferson pershonalified it. They must be spinnign in their graves at what is going on these days.

I've been called a socialist. When I was much younger I would have called myself a socialist. That was when I thought that the equal distribution of everything would solve the world's problems.

Now I don't think that is the answer at all. For one, it can never be done because there will always be those who will reach the top no matter what and those that will stay on the bottom no matter what.

That also a poor definition for Democrats.

Interestingly, both Dems and Republicans desire a big governemt. They just have different goals.

As far as equality, that is not what the dems want. They want equal outcome. That is social engineering and every attempt to accomplsih it has failed.

You see, in my world, one could do anything to their own body. They drink themselves into obivion with Grey Goose or shoot themselves up with smack. It is their body. Now, when they tie me down and shoot smack into my vein, we have some cotton to pick.

Our prisons are full of people, especially drug users who are predominantley poor and minority, because government is conufsed about is role. We have lost our way.

What dems truly want is redistrubtion of income. BTW, you and I agree about helping the poor and ensuring equal rights, etc.

Here's the bomb and I can say this as a person who grew up dirt poor. Most of the poor are poor because they want to be poor. They are unwilling to do anything to improve their lot because they love wallowing in self pity.

I pulled myself out of a very bad and tough neighborhood and was enourmously successful in life economically speaking. We had a great family etc. Well, until...

Anyhoo, this isn't solving the problem of metaphor in The Old Man and the Sea.

Do I REALLY have to read it? Maybe I'll just read the review on Amazon or something.

Correction: "If I WERE American".

Socialism: From those according to their ability; to those according to their need.

The problem is that those who have the ability loose their economic incentive over time and the "needy" outweigh the achievers.

Ask the Soviet Union. They completed an interesting experiencent of this several years ago.

If you are twenty five, and not a liberal, you don't have a heart.

If you are forty five and not a conservative, you don't have a ..............

just a joke.

If I were a rich man...

Todd - Your theory is way off. Most people in the world are poor because they have no power and no means of getting money.

Well, I watched my parents wallow in poverty for many years. They could have done something about it. There are poor throughout the world who start a business or otherwise work hard and build a life. The point is that as long as the governmetn "takes cre of them" there is no icentibve to change.

I'm really out of my depth when it comes to American politics and don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to an opinion of social problems in the US. I'm sure they're very similar to the problems here. Ethnic minorities and all.

I don't believe people are poor because they want to be poor. I believe they are in a cycle of poverty. I don't know what the answer is. If I did, I'd solve the world's problems in a jiffy. Some people, like you, make it against the odds no matter what. That's what I meant by some people will always reach the top no matter what. That's why socialism would never work. You have to factor in the "human spirit".

Todd -

Many of the people in the world are so poor that they can only spend their time trying to get enough food to stay alive.

I agree with you about our country, but it is an aberration in the world.

There are exceptions to my statement. Primarily children, the elderty and the disabled.

Worry not, this country, or the world for that matter, has as much chance of electing a Libertain president and congress as a hummingbird can fly to the moon with the Washington monument strapped to its tail.

And the dems will rergain the WH in 2008. We will have our first woman president.

LOL Pio. If I WERE an American.

b, I can think of seve3ral examples of people I knw from third world countries who moved to the US or elsewhere, worked hard and gretly improved their lives. A nurse at one of my doctors is from Bangladesh. Another nurse at another doctor is from India. I know of many Latins who improved their lives, my FIL among them. I know Fillipinos who grew up in abject poverty but found a way to overcome it. It takes desire and adetermination to do it.

But I do agree, the US is an abberation.

We also have a woman Prime Minister. Not a very popular one I might add. Being left and all. She is an old alumni of my Department at the university so I guess I'm a bit biased in liking her. My sister hates her with a passion. My sis is also a Libertarian. Thinks the sun shines out of Ayn Rand's posterior. We don't discuss politics round the dinner table. LOL

Pio,

You are quiet. Are you drunk again tonight?

You are not going to pull any more t/j tonight are you?

Have yoiu considered that TKO ahs become a little like Idiotville?