Ben No.3

Big beards cover our ugly faces

No. The government should protect the people by securing the border, enforcing the laws and regulating and administrating in such a way that allows for a fair opportunity for economic success. It is incumbent on the people to take care of themselves.This. It's no job of the government to take care of me. It is my life to do with as I please, and I am no more or less important than any other US Citizen. I have no right to demand them of their prosperity via the government and no one has the right to demand a piece of mine. Half our problem as a society is that people don't take responsibility for themselves anymore.Let me give an example of why we need goverment intervention in the market that I hope you might agree on (so I won't give any ideological arguments, but rather an economic one): All systems fail at one point or another. Capitalism is build in a way that the selfishness of the people helps society, which is an absolutely ingenious thought. However, the markets do fail, most prominently if the private interest in a certain good is higher than society's. Take for example fossile fuels: It is in society's interest that these are used as little as possible. Fossile fuels lead to air pollution, which lower the efficiency of for example agricultural industries as well as lowering the people's health standard, making them less efficient members of society, because they're output is reduced. But, private interest in fossile fuels by firms, private consumers and even some states maintains a string market for these, although they are going against society's interest. This is a (one of many) classic scenario of market failure. So governmental intervention is needed here, because the market actually works against itself.

Nah, Bruce is a bit more centre than I am I'd say

Also, what do you mean by allowing for a century of wars to occur? America has little to do with the causes of the First World War and while the financial crisis did play a big part in allowing figures as Hitler to rise to power, the crises was not caused by to many faces but rather by a huge stock market bubble. The Cold War wars were mainly due to fear of communism spreading. So... How did taxes affect any those?

Wouldn't you say the government SHOULD in fact take care of its people?

Oh, I don't wish to live in his utopia... It's a very autocratic system where the older wield power over the younger. Not a great fan in some pretty defining aspects.

Utopia by Thomas More

Only a liberal would be able to toss aside a person's entire life's work and hijack them as one of their own.But... I'm not taking it as my own, I'm spending it in ways that benefit society. And I think your expression is a bit... Well extreme. Take away all your life's earnings... No definitely not. More like a high income tax, at least for those with high income. And isn't free health care and education including university worth it?

Do I want the US to fall? No... Of all the empires in history, it's probably the best one we've seen so far from a moral standpoint. But all empires fall sooner or later. Now, often they do so because of or the final act is a large scale war, so let's hope it will not get to that. Let's also hope that it does not happen any time soon, as I truly don't wish for any other power to take its dominant place as it stands now.

No Bennie patriotism doesnt mean blind loyalty or some kind of nationalistic\nazi outcome In the case of Germany and the EU it just means you support the concept of the EU and Germany's contribution. Now some people want the EU to dissolve, if this happens this will weaken the West and the entire world. You have a right to have a voice and I would use it? Yes there are great countries, these are governments that try very hard to ensure good governance, economic growth and keep there citizens happy " In life if we dont stand for something we fall for anything " I'm fully aware that being a patriot and being a Nazi are not the same thing don't worry... Not that simple minded But still, while there are undoubtedly highly intelligent patriots, patriotism is often linked to right populism which feeds on dogmatic thinking (which in my opinion is not a particularly smart way of thinking). Patriotism has the same flaw as a lot of schools of thought: it can be easily abused. And I do not think that supporting the EU and Germany's contribution is patriotic? As I said, I'm very happy about the systems in place, but I'm not proud of them.... Do you get me? And I stand for something I regard as higher than a country: Equality! That's... It'd be a wonderful thing to see more of that in the world. Heh, I guess that's were my sort-of-sympathies with Marx come from

But do people agree with me when I say that there are no great countries, only good or bad systems? In my view patriotism has always this element of ignorance towards your country's problems. And there are few things I can't stand like ignorance.

Every Cuban I've ever met has a serious issue with Castro. I take their word over anything else. I'm hoping that you know even the basics of Cuban history. If you do you should be well aware that the opinions of Cubans living in the US are, at best, a one sided view of those affairs. But do feel free to ignore fifty years of established international politics and world history for someone's bitter anecdotal evidence. By the way, shouldn't you, as a teacher, be dealing primarily with facts? Funny Teachers teach what they are being told to teach. In many cases like the sciences, that is obviously teaching facts. But there is no uktimalye truths when it comes to politics. Or rather, there is, but people (especially in America) want their children to support their country. So everything is taught in a way that supports the US. Now, obviously there are exceptions, but this is the general consensus. And obviously this is true for basically every school system ever-if children are taught politics, they are usually also taught underlaying principles. And in the case of the US those are democracy, capitalism and (to a greater or lesser extend) patriotism. In some parts also religion. But history and especially politics is always taught an talked about at an angle. Always!

Well social services would be helping out in a hospital, kindergarden, stuff like that. Hm, about that patriotism... No, I'm happy that the German people are reasonable enough to elect some good politicians and that our country has some good systems in place. And I respect that we have come this far. But I am not proud... That's ridiculous. I didn't do anything to set up the system, so how could I be proud of it? It's just seems... Illogical and unreasonable to me to be proud of your birthplace, something you have absolutely no control over. I'm thankful. But not proud. I also feel like patriotism and nationalism are dangerously close, and I am very supportive of international mindedness. EU state and all of that. And I'm not loyal to Germany. I support a system I believe in. Of the system changes in a way I oppose, I will do everything in my power to oppose that system (in a legal way...). But again... Why would I be loyal to Germany for the sake of being loyal to Germany? It's not very logical, is it? Let me give you an example: Goethe is a fantastic poet and I highly respect his work. But am I proud that I share his nationality? No, why would I? I did not choose to be German, so how can I be proud of something I had no control over? The only thing to be proud of is personal archivements.

Do get well soon

Nope, international heroes status point out towards the sea; to their land of birth. National heroes point towards inland. "The West won"...says the SJW, marxist, socialist person that believes himself a humanist. Would you prefer I lied and said " Communism prevailed as it was stronger ideology " And I have never claimed to be a SJW because that word gets abused...I am definitely not a Marxist I do believe in a form of socialism like our friends in Scandinavia and I am a humanist ...ask volo, he will confirm this Liberals have exchanged humanism with socialism and would have you believe that to be moral is to engage in economical socialism (e.g. Welfare programs and such) if you're against those the please do say so. The fact is that most of modern liberals can trace their ideology to the counter culture movement of the 60's and 70's which were infiltrated by KGB in order to create dissent in the US and do the same thing they did to Afghanistan. Yet that ideology remains ignorant of its communist ties, and even more ignorant of how they aid the establishment. Some of what you say about is correct, for example I looked up the word humanism and Im glad I did because I misunderstood its meaning...yes I believe in that I also believe not everyone will be part of the economic transformation so welfare programs are necessary for some I believe economic growth needs to be driven by the private sector but government has the right to intervene in certain cases of gross mismanagement like in 2008 All male citizens need to do 1 year compulsory military service, this doesnt mean marines or hardcore infantry units.You could join logistics...but this would be seen as a form of patriosm 1. Humanism is great, I agree. It goes well with my personal existentialist and general politically left views, but it really should be the foundation of any society. About Marxism... Well I think if Marx was alive today he'd be pretty satisfied with Germany's state, communism is a extrem idea born out of extrem circumstances and shouldn't be directly applied. but I do think his criticism of capitalism is quite perspective and should be much more talked about. But if you ask me, I'm a social democrat. 2. Agreed, but I'd go even further. I support the idea of basic unconditional income for all, regardless of age, job and so on.... I quite like and support the idea. 3. I think the goverment shouldn't need to react, the regulations should already be there. A very important regulation in my opinion would be to force banks and firms that are considered "to big to fail" to split up. 4. I don't like patriotism. Never did. If my country has my respect them because it earned it. And with 2017 elections, it might loose it again, who knows. Anyway, I do not support the idea of making that year compulsory. Rather, to strengthen the military sector I support alliances between states in a sense that a single army is created (such as the idea of a EU army). This not only strengthens the military, but it also makes war between the members much more unlikely and, since the governments need to agree with each other to do something, makes war on other countries less likely as well. But I don't think young people should be force d to do a year in the army. Give them a choice between army and social services.

@bruce Hmm... Ill do a more specific analysis of that, but... What is there to get wrong about humanism? Isn't it just putting the human and human rights into the centre of thought?

And communist governments remain ignorant of communism. Castro might have been the closets we've seen to an actual communist society, and even he did not get there.

If we compare Castro to our first world western democracies then yes obviously he is not holding up. If we compare him to comparable countries, take for example some of the African dictators (from what I hear they are far worse, but I call upon Bruce for information), he's probably one of the more goodish leaders.

Fidel Castro... Pros: -communist -he overthrew a puppet of te US and the mafia -he drastically lowered the rates of death births -he drastically increased the populations education, by now everyone can read and write in Cuba (don't forget that Cuba is definitely not a first world country) -introduced goverment health care Cons: -communist -got to power hungry (Cuba needs democracy) -failed to manage economy -heavy censorship -sort of poor on some human rights aspects, such as killings without trial, unfair trials, as mentioned lack of free speech and democracy

All firearms also have a inherited DR bypass... There is even a Blunderbuss with extra 3 DR bypass. Add the inherent 4 DR bypass and 5 from penetrating shot and 3 from Vembraces you Havea total of 15 DR bypass on a blunderbuss.

You know what would be awesome as a reward for the wael quest? An item (or maybe even talent?) that has a 15% chance (it something along that) to make normal loot hidden loot, but also a 20% chance to make hidden loot visible.

But in this case I don't see ultimate death as a punishment... He just died anyway, so he will not witness it, and if he lives he would have to continue living with his demons forever, I'm honestly thinking absolute death is the "actually kind" option. Kinda disappointed it wasn't included

Just saw that "Wael" is a old Arabic name. It is believed that it means "protector", "rescuer" or "he who seeks refugee".... This is interesting

No... It's simply encounter based I believe. But that would be an interesting feature... Although a distinction should be made as where you gain faster knowledge from life and where from survival? Maybe go by a "witcher-rule"? Steel is survival, silver is lore?

Well.... Maybe a little bit