Raise the Hammer

Synxer >> It also seems that we're ramping into an argument tying Sociali-sm to evil.

I think sociali-sm hurts most of the people who rely on it, so to the extent that Hamilton embraces transfers of wealth in our direction, then yes, I think it is hurting the people of this city. Take a look at any downtown where the primary source of income comes from government transfers and you will see the destruction that sociali-sm can bring.

Furthermore, inner cities like Detroit and Buffalo, are filled with young, relatively healthy people, so there is no rational explanation as to why there is such poverty. They have the ability to work, there simply isn't the investment in the community.

I personally believe good things come to those who do good, so to the extent that welfare recipients accept money stolen from others, it isn't good. Let me repeat, it's not a moral thing to accept money that has been stolen from others. No matter what our political leaders say, stealing is wrong, whether from a variety store, or from rich people, it is wrong to take the other people's property.

>> If you read anything from the Bible, you'd have acknowledged entire sections which explained, with glorification, the sharing of wealth.

Exactly, the key word there is "sharing". This implies that giving from the heart is what is important, far different than the system we have today. I completely agree that it is wrong to not feed the hungry and take care of the sick, but when certain people talk about building a 100 million dollar stadium stadium, or think the city should own golf courses, while there are actually people in the world who are currently dying from hunger, pardon me if I don't accept their sincerity about helping their fellow humans. Unless of course, their God ends at the city borders.

>> I'm personally tired of the Religious Right damaging progress for humanity, education, environmental studies, etc

If your referring to the religious people who support the nation state, then I agree with you. Get back to principles of right and wrong, helping people that actually need help and otherwise let people keep what they work for. Nobody accepts that you should be able to take a LCD T.V form an electronics store, simply because you can't afford one yourself, so why do we support taking other people's money, just so the people of Hamilton can enjoy new stadiums and convenient train service, it's completely indefensible. I'm talking to you Jason.