Hyper Real

Being well-mannered, how important is it to you, and how do you think does it tie in with raising your children? I am thinking of things like social etiquette, business etiquette, table manners, the art of conversation, courtesy to others etc.

All those I consider part of the current political system. Do you think that liberals, conservatives and moderates are not part of the current political system?

I am not going to dignify this with a reply. Furthermore this topic was not intended to argue but simply to understand each others political inclinations.

Excuse me?

What is your political leaning?

Partly yes. What I think we need is capable administrators, people who do not use cheap rhetoric to get their votes but with that we need an educated constituency. Education is key here, it should start at school, education, student school boards, community services etc.

Political contributions is an interesting topic, certainly I would not want to have a system where only the rich can afford to run a campaign. With the same argument I find it important to give those elected a decent salary.

Are any of you members Mediums? Could you tell us something, who is your control if you have one and how do you operate.

Most federal programs are implemented, of with bidding, by private non-profit organizations. Often the employees are unionized? What do you think of this model? I am all for unionization for workers in the private sector but I have reservations to unionization of government workers. What are your thoughts about implementing federal programs not by private non-profit organization but instead directly handled by the federal government with employees being hired by the federal government without the ability of unionization?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT4XO3Hjp7M

Many preach the "prosperity Gospel" and use Mark 10:30 as their "guidance". Basically the idea is: Give money because when you do God makes sure you get even more money. Here is a nice article about it: http://bible.org/art...ological-ethics Some excerpts: "I believe that it is anti-Christian and unholy for any Christian to live with the object of accumulating wealth. You will say, “Are we not to strive all we can to get all the money we can?” You may do so. I cannot doubt but what, in so doing, you may do service to the cause of God. But what I said was that to live with the object of accumulating wealth is anti-Christian" Charles Spurgeon. "As Gloria Copeland put it, “Give $10 and receive $1,000; give $1,000 and receive $100,000;... in short, Mark 10:30 is a very good deal It is evident, then, that the prosperity gospel’s doctrine of giving is built upon faulty motives. Whereas Jesus taught His disciples to “give, hoping for nothing in return,” prosperity theologians teach their disciples to give because they will get a great return. One cannot help but agree with author Edward Pousson’s observation that the stewardship of “the prosperity message is in captivity to the American dream."

Here is an educational article about Tele evangelists and their money: http://www.inplainsite.org/html/tele-evangelist_lifestyles.html

I do not, I simply voice that they should pay a lot more taxes than they currently do. A lot of people want to cut benefits for the poor, I do not assume they have that opinion out of hate for the poor, some might, but certainly not all. If you agree with that then why can you not understand that I do not necessarily have to hate the rich if I want them to pay more taxes? Do you see the logic? Furthermore I personally find it illogical for Christian churches to amass a large wealth, I can understand they need money to operate but I do not see why they need to wallow in wealth. Did not Jesus say to the rich man he should give all he has to the poor? Then why would you want it to be different for the Church? Was Jesus' ministry focused on acquiring wealth by buying buildings or investing? Did he not invest in God's word and spiritual things instead of material things?

OK I completely understand your position. However, I do not exactly share your position. Income on donations I can come a long way with you. But investments? Churches investing money? No, I think that ought to be taxed. I find that reasonable. I agree with that but I think the income should also be federally taxed. Furthermore another big problem I think is ministers using all kind of goodies and they are accounted in such a way that it is not income. I am talking about things like mansions, jets etc. For instance ministers like those who frequently appear in Trinity Broadcasting Network programs.

Actually this topic was not intended to argue if it is lawful or not but to talk about what is right and wrong, and entertaining the idea on changing the laws. But of course you may argue it is lawful so end of story, but I go beyond that. Slavery was once lawful as well, would any discussion at that time be fruitless?

Yes the LDS is a good example. I am personally bothered by seeing very expensive church buildings on vast pieces of land all tax free, land that could for instance be used for low income housing.

I would like to have a conversation about religious institutions and taxes. Do you think churches should start to pay taxes? Some churches are very wealthy. Also they have real estate and other assets that is often not exclusively used for religious purposes and sometimes even for commercial purposes. A first step has been taken in Italy where it is proposed to limit the tax free status of the Catholic church. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-italy-church-taxestre81f1j3-20120216,0,6636380.story Opinions?

Well I certainly do not see it as a race, what matters to me is not if Muslims are worse than Christians or Hindus are better than Wiccans etc but I care for the woman regardless if she is accused by Muslims, Christians or any other religion. I hope you think this topic is about informing others about the condition of the incarcerated woman not about bashing Islam.

To me the outcry would be exactly the same. Furthermore as there is in Christianity and Judaism no specific law against blasphemy against Christ there is one against God in Leviticus 24:16.

You are welcome! I think we cannot do enough to spread the word about those who are persecuted because of their religion.

So you are a scientific team and you wonder heh why not develop a virus that can kill half the population of the world. Why not, we are scientist right? And just because we can, nana nana? This is exactly what happened in a university in the Netherlands: A virus with the potential to kill up to half the world’s population has been made in a lab. Now academics and bioterrorism experts are arguing over whether to publish the recipe, and whether the research should have been done in the first place. http://pikapvs.wordpress.com/2011/11/25/super-virus-created-by-erasmus-medical-centre-in-rotterdam/ The question is should such "research" be prohibited?

An update, she is still in jail, we will hope she be released soon: http://www.mnnonline.org/article/16740 http://www.mnnonline.org/article/16759

Here is an interesting article about what makes happy. I agree with most of the article, including that any money above the basic needs does not make happy. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/02/08/what-really-makes-people-happy/?intcmp=spotlight Unfortunately there is still this idea with many that one should amass as much money as possible in this world.

While many dear ULC members can't wait to cry foul when a person at the bottom of society takes a double dip on some charities making a couple of hundred dollars to make ends meet let's see how the rich deal with it. They do not want to break the law, and even while the judges frequent their country clubs the judges still cannot be too biased in favor of their polo buddies. So what do you do? Simple: You construct things in such a way it is lawful. After all, isn't the spiel for them to rig the system within the limits of the law, who cares about morality, it is lawful end of story! Who cares about right and wrong, these things are for dreamers, we are talking about higher things like creativity and entrepreneurial spirit here! The big wrong is welfare mothers getting an extra few hundred dollars unlawfully not those who rig the system within the law and collect millions, no they are the entrepreneurial and smart, Michael Milken like, role models. Introducing DUI driving 'polo' billionaire.John Goodman. Looks like is he going to lose some pennies from his over 1 billion net worth. What a heartbreak and taxes are already so high for him! Is it greed? No, it is not greed, really he needs all that money, times are tough you know! Yes, welfare needs to be cut because we see welfare mothers with cell phones, enough said! So what do you do, well, you adopt a child! Well aint that a nice thing, looks like the man has a good heart after all! Well really? The adopted girl is not particularly a girl anymore, more like a girlfriend. Her age: only 42 and she is his girlfriend. http://www.foxnews.c...s-his-daughter/