Thoughts, Theories and Ponderables

CygnusX1 · Post by **CygnusX1** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:27 am

Food for thought from the 19th Century:

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich."

"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong."

"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift."

"You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down."

"You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred."

"You cannot build character and courage by taking away mens' initiative
and independence."

"You cannot help 20 men permanently by doing for them what they
could--and should--do for themselves."

Sound familiar?

They are all quotes from Abraham Lincoln.

zepboy · Post by **zepboy** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:44 am

Aw, c'mon Siggy . . . these are postmodern times. Do we really have the time or patience for the drivel of some lanky ex-President of a bygone era?

Big Blue Owl · Post by **Big Blue Owl** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:50 am

You will weaken the rich man if you weaken the poor man.

Imagine our society as a big dung heap. Out of that heap grows beautiful flowers. You weaken the dirt, mess it up, don't feed and water it properly, don't take care of it, and those beautiful flowers stagger, sway, then fall down and wither away.

BBO

CygnusX1 · Post by **CygnusX1** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:52 am

zepboy wrote:Aw, c'mon Siggy . . . these are postmodern times. Do we really have the time or patience for the drivel of some lanky ex-President of a bygone era?

I just thought of the irony of it all...

I should have known better.

I'll go back to work now.

zepboy · Post by **zepboy** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:52 am

Yes, but without a well amended dung heap, no flower EVER stands a chance!!

LONG LIVE THE RICH!!!

Big Blue Owl · Post by **Big Blue Owl** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:56 am

With top-shelf health care opportunities, they should do just fine.

And wait...isn't what you said exactly what I said? The flowers are the rich, the dirt, the poor.

zepboy · Post by **zepboy** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:00 am

Actually, I view the rich as the dung heap upon which all others are able to grow.

Big Blue Owl · Post by **Big Blue Owl** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:11 am

Ass-backwards, buddy.

At least in relation to my analogy.

zepboy · Post by **zepboy** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:20 am

yeah, I'm usually the backwards one. But, economically speaking, I have always viewed the rich as the backbone upon which the economy grows. The rest of us are the remainder of the skeleton. When working together, we put meat on them bones to develop a full, thriving economy.

CygnusX1 · Post by **CygnusX1** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 8:51 am

In the late 1950's, most Cubans thought Cuba needed "change," and they
were right.

So when a young, dynamic leader came along, every Cuban was at least
receptive.

When the young leader spoke eloquently and passionately and denounced
the old system, the press fell in love with him.

They never questioned who his friends were, or what he really believed in.

He said he would help the farmers and the poor, bring free medical care
and education to all, and everyone followed like obedient sheep.

He said he would bring justice and equality to all, and everyone
said "Praise the Lord!"

The young leader said, "I will be for change and I'll bring you change,"
and everyone yelled, "Viva Fidel!"

But by the time the executioner's guns went silent, the people's guns had
been taken away.

By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry and
oppressed.

By the time everyone received their free education, it was worth nothing.

By the time the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now
working for him.

By the time the "change" was finally implemented, Cuba had been
knocked down a couple of notches to Third-World status.

By the time the "change" was over, more than a million people had taken
to boats, rafts, and inner tubes.

Luckily, we in America would never fall for a young leader who promised
change without asking, "what change?"

Would we?

Sir Myghin · Post by **Sir Myghin** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:18 am

zepboy wrote:yeah, I'm usually the backwards one. But, economically speaking, I have always viewed the rich as the backbone upon which the economy grows. The rest of us are the remainder of the skeleton. When working together, we put meat on them bones to develop a full, thriving economy.

To toss my input in on this thriving discussion, I would agree with zep about the rich being the foundation of society. As they were not always rich, but it was their extremely driven levels and need for production that made them rich. This in course provides jobs for the poor in turn allowing them to carry others with them. Without the mover, they is no movement.

Walkinghairball · Post by **Walkinghairball** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:56 am

But there are also ones born into a pile of money, never knowing or truly respecting what them before them had to do to achieve the wealth they dung heap upon.

'Sayin.....

CygnusX1 · Post by **CygnusX1** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:23 am

While walking down the street one day, a US senator is tragically hit by a
truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there
is a problem:

We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not
sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up.

What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then
you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the senator.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.

The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course.

In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends
and other politicians who had worked with him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him,
shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while
getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and
champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good
time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that
before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises...

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where
St. Peter is waiting for him..

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls
moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing.

They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone
by and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose
your eternity.'

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers:

'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been
delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to
hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren
land covered with waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it
in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

'I don't understand,' stammers the senator.

'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we
ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great
time.

Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look
miserable. What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says,

'Yesterday we were campaigning...'

'Today....you voted.'

Big Blue Owl · Post by **Big Blue Owl** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:26 am

^^^^^
Awesome!

zepboy · Post by **zepboy** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:38 am

Walkinghairball wrote:But there are also ones born into a pile of money, never knowing or truly respecting what them before them had to do to achieve the wealth they dung heap upon.

'Sayin.....

True that, but those born with the silver spoon are a small fraction of the cumulative wealth.