The truth is indescribable. But if the society is.sufficiently flexible as to avoid revolt, that seems pretty good according to historical standards. On Dec 11, 2012 10:00 AM, "Edgar Owen" <[email protected]> wrote:
> > > Joe, > > You believe in an idealized and rather naive view of society. The truth is > much different, controlled mainly by special interests for their own > benefit with benefits to the rest of society only sufficient to quell > revolt... > > Always has been such to greater or lesser degree and likely always will > be... > > Edgar > > > > On Dec 11, 2012, at 11:01 AM, Joe wrote: > > > > RAF, > > I disagree with your "simply" statement. I find it simplistic. > > In a DEMOCRATIC society -- which India is -- a social contract among the > people establishes a constitution and a government. The imposition of taxes > and even taking of lands as "eminent domain" for social purposes is a > function of Legislature. Such taking did not happen in the case of the > lands that were given for occupation by the Untouchables, which you feel > impressed by. I am also impressed by the donors' generosity (or motivation > by guilt; or, worse, income- or real-estate-tax-avoidance incentive). > > But, now, I know that people directly connected with tax payments and > takings often feel ripped-off, and say they do, but they forget in that > instance about the social contract. And, I claim so do you when you write... > > > ...TAKEN by the government, which is simply THEFT > > It's a small point, which I extract from your appreciative comment about a > small piece of Subhana's teisho, but I think it betrays a mis-understanding > of the social contract on your part, or else you are letting your personal > anger about something take center-stage. Do you listen to a lot of > pot-boiler AM radio in daytime in USA? Does hatred and lack of > understanding of the social contract pollute all the *rest* of your > "politics", too? It's an important point, RAF. To consider. Not to expound > upon here, however. > > You think you are an Individual, but in fact you are also a member of > Society. > > All this leads back to Zen practice, you know, and -- we hope -- to > Awakening! > > With wishes, > > --Joe > > -> R A Fonda <rafonda@...> wrote: > > > > Joe, > > > > I was very impressed by this: > > > > > By the time Vinoba had reached the conference, two thousand acres had > > been given back to the poorest villagers. Inspired by Vinoba's work, > > Vimala also walked across India from east to west and north to south and > > eventually ten million acres of land was given back to the landless poor > > without a single hand from the bureaucracy. < > > > > Two important factors here: > > > > The land was FREELY GIVEN, which is a true act of compassion > > > > The land was not TAKEN by the government, which is simply THEFT > > > > Too many people consider themselves compassionate because they are > > willing to empower the government to steal from some to give to others > > they consider more deserving. > > > > I concede that some people deserve to have assets confiscated because > > they stole from others. For instance, Jon Corzine stole some of my > > hard-earned retirement funds, but since he is a crony and fund-raiser > > for Obama, not one penny of his ill-gotten gains have been taken for the > > benefit of those he victimized; he remains a billionaire and has never > > even been charged with a crime. If I could take his money and distribute > > it to those from whom he stole, I would do so, but that would simply be > > justice. To feel so 'compassionate' toward the poor that I help to > > empower the government to steal money from productive people to give to > > others is neither justice nor compassion. > > > > >
