Is it U.S. job to cure all social ills???

what should we be doing within our own country that we aren't?
what should we be doing internationally?

You know, this is a great debate at my workplace. I mean, who died and made the U.S. God? Right? The majority of my co-workers want to build a barrier around the USA and take care of our own for once. Go ahead, start the bombardment of stones, insults, and crappy analogies.... I can take it :)

Hell no it's none of governments affair to meddle in social problems. No more than it's the governments affair to be involved in selling cars giving money to private business or getting involved in the entertainment business.
Half of government spending is in places that government has no business or right to be involved in.

It's is the current leadership's desire to control the country and it's people by their social problems.

The more important question is can the US cure all social ills.

Or even more importantly, what are the unintended consequences of trying? And are they worth it?

I would say that government intervention tends to make things worse. Life is never going to be perfect but time and time again, government intervention has only either increased problems or just put a band aid on such problems.

Think of racism for one. Are we still a "racist" nation? Were we ever one?

Newman wrote:

what should we be doing within our own country that we aren't?

Drug abuse is a social issue and with the drug war the government makes a lot of money, plus they finance terrorist as well by supporting the black market by supporting the drug war.

It’s a big money making social ill for the government. Many cops would be out of a job if it wasn’t for the drug war thats been going on for over 40 years. So in reality a cop is no different then those that attacked us on 9/11 because they protect the finances of terrorist. Plus with the pot field growing around the country its running the environment, and the black market crime and gangs that we have in the country make even more social issues to deal with..

You ask,“What should we be doing within our own country that we aren't?”

I will answer your question with a question.. What do you think should be done with those that support the funding of terrorist and the destruction of our environment with pot fields like the people in law enforcement does? Kiss their ass, or shoot them dead?

thamanjimmy wrote:

The more important question is can the US cure all social ills.

Nope!!!.... the government can't cure social ills. All the government has to work with are laws.

Social ills can't be cured by passing laws against personal behavior. That only takes away freedom from the people.

with churches and parental failures many have questioned a government's role in social reform including Periyar E. V. Ramasamy (September 17, 1879 – December 24, 1973), a politician from india who felt government should have a major role in the way citizens think and act

his efforts were notable but some believed it led to modified caste system, our solution must be better than this

Tony wrote:

Hell no it's none of governments affair to meddle in social problems. No more than it's the governments affair to be involved in selling cars giving money to private business or getting involved in the entertainment business.
Half of government spending is in places that government has no business or right to be involved in.
It's is the current leadership's desire to control the country and it's people by their social problems.

Gub'mnt has gifted RepubliFat $$$.hoes from day-one. Gifts of land, law and public money. In the period 1880-1930 union-workers bled-in-da-streets to earn the PRIVILEGE of a middle_class lifestyle. It was not GIFTED to them by the wealthy & powerful or by the Gub'mnt. It was obtained by Joe_Shmo worker shoving a gun-barrel up the *zzhole of RepubliFat$ and asking when the trigger should be pulled.

Since Ron-da-bomb-Regan American workers have lost their guts. The rich & powerful & unproductive suck-da-graaavy like pig$ at a trough. Your fatkat heroes. Read some feckin-A history and stop sounding like a Libertoonian fool.

dolander wrote:

<quoted text>
Drug abuse is a social issue and with the drug war the government makes a lot of money, plus they finance terrorist as well by supporting the black market by supporting the drug war.
It’s a big money making social ill for the government. Many cops would be out of a job if it wasn’t for the drug war thats been going on for over 40 years. So in reality a cop is no different then those that attacked us on 9/11 because they protect the finances of terrorist. Plus with the pot field growing around the country its running the environment, and the black market crime and gangs that we have in the country make even more social issues to deal with..
You ask,“What should we be doing within our own country that we aren't?”
I will answer your question with a question.. What do you think should be done with those that support the funding of terrorist and the destruction of our environment with pot fields like the people in law enforcement does? Kiss their ass, or shoot them dead?

lol. It is not the cops fault for doing his job but rather the legislatures job for making drug use illegal. The same can be said with any other problem one has with criminal laws.

I do agree with you, however, that the illegal drug market is a huge money maker. Could you imagine if it was legal and sold in stores?

There are just too many benefits to legalization thus the reason politicians do not like the idea.

noshellswill wrote:

<quoted text>
Gub'mnt has gifted RepubliFat $$$.hoes from day-one. Gifts of land, law and public money. In the period 1880-1930 union-workers bled-in-da-streets to earn the PRIVILEGE of a middle_class lifestyle. It was not GIFTED to them by the wealthy & powerful or by the Gub'mnt. It was obtained by Joe_Shmo worker shoving a gun-barrel up the *zzhole of RepubliFat$ and asking when the trigger should be pulled.
Since Ron-da-bomb-Regan American workers have lost their guts. The rich & powerful & unproductive suck-da-graaavy like pig$ at a trough. Your fatkat heroes. Read some feckin-A history and stop sounding like a Libertoonian fool.

No no no noshell. Remember in many instances it was government guns that gunned down union members. The military was called in more than once on the side of the businesses. Incidents like the Ludlow massacre, Republic steel massacre, the Lattimer Massacre, and many more. To act as if the government aided the unions is to ignore history. The unions became powerful because the people banded together and cried out against the government and businesses and helped the unions. The government took action once they saw the people supported the unions and were going to throw them out of office if they didn't help. So the government did nothing but the people demanded justice and achieved it.

noshellswill wrote:

<quoted text>
Gub'mnt has gifted RepubliFat $$$.hoes from day-one. Gifts of land, law and public money. In the period 1880-1930 union-workers bled-in-da-streets to earn the PRIVILEGE of a middle_class lifestyle. It was not GIFTED to them by the wealthy & powerful or by the Gub'mnt. It was obtained by Joe_Shmo worker shoving a gun-barrel up the *zzhole of RepubliFat$ and asking when the trigger should be pulled.
Since Ron-da-bomb-Regan American workers have lost their guts. The rich & powerful & unproductive suck-da-graaavy like pig$ at a trough. Your fatkat heroes. Read some feckin-A history and stop sounding like a Libertoonian fool.

Well, you're just full of foolish BS today. Have you been out drinking with dolander?

History has nothing to do with the current leadership, get out of the past so you can see clearly as you are sold to the highest bidder.

thamanjimmy wrote:

<quoted text>
lol. It is not the cops fault for doing his job but rather the legislatures job for making drug use illegal.

Then you can’t blame drug dealers for killing cops or anyone else that gets in the way because they are just doing a job as well.

Westside conservative wrote:

<quoted text>
No no no noshell. Remember in many instances it was government guns that gunned down union members. The military was called in more than once on the side of the businesses. Incidents like the Ludlow massacre, Republic steel massacre, the Lattimer Massacre, and many more. To act as if the government aided the unions is to ignore history. The unions became powerful because the people banded together and cried out against the government and businesses and helped the unions. The government took action once they saw the people supported the unions and were going to throw them out of office if they didn't help. So the government did nothing but the people demanded justice and achieved it.

I believe I said the Gub'mnt did NOT gift mid-class wages to the working man. Truth is FDR did as little-as-possible and still prevent a FLAT OUT REVOLUTION. Then many bodies were needed in WW2 and the working man did OKey ....

As for Gub'mnt anti-union violence no doubt about tht. BUT !!! My knowledge of company-tug violence against workers is dammgood 2nd hand info.

My father was a Pa. mounted State Trooper during the S.W. Pa soft_coal strikes of the late 1920s. As kids we got the stories of how coal_company thugs beat-down on striking workers and shot many in-cold-blood. The State-Troopers watched ... that was as much as my father would admit ....he was a self-made man -- a good one.

I take his testimony as historical fact.

Companies crushed workers until they could no longer. Workers vote in a republic. I'll give those early industrialists this much -- they were SO dedicated to production and building-out industry that even after union_compromise they pushed on and left the jobs in America.

Tony wrote:

<quoted text>
Well, you're just full of foolish BS today. Have you been out drinking with dolander?
History has nothing to do with the current leadership, get out of the past so you can see clearly as you are sold to the highest bidder.

Are you really so stupid that you believe it's possible to "get out of the past"? That beats_pants off SSlim & SJ. Even they know the future is the past with an extra drop of poison. Read anyone smarter than yourself for details .... Herodotus and his early Greek pals Thucydides & Polybius are good places to start.

A generous guess is that you're a 14-yo just joining YAF & tasked with three months of TOPIX content. Still looking for his 1st dry_hump. Can't be a yokel --- farmers are smart. More likely you're a landlord with two slum-houses gifted from pops and hot to buy your 1st Beemer.

dolander wrote:

<quoted text>
Then you can’t blame drug dealers for killing cops or anyone else that gets in the way because they are just doing a job as well.

Sorry, I just don't get the connection.

Drug dealers are not hired by taxpayers...nor do they enforce laws established by our "representatives."

noshellswill wrote:

<quoted text>
Are you really so stupid that you believe it's possible to "get out of the past"? That beats_pants off SSlim & SJ. Even they know the future is the past with an extra drop of poison. Read anyone smarter than yourself for details .... Herodotus and his early Greek pals Thucydides & Polybius are good places to start.
A generous guess is that you're a 14-yo just joining YAF & tasked with three months of TOPIX content. Still looking for his 1st dry_hump. Can't be a yokel --- farmers are smart. More likely you're a landlord with two slum-houses gifted from pops and hot to buy your 1st Beemer.

That was a very inteligent comment, "teacher".

Do you still wear a long robe? you're so full of your own BS, you're incapable seeing any thing else.

You are simply a old fool looking for valadation for your worn out foolish arguements. Your greek history is not going to save your azz.

Has been old fool. Go back out and talk to the fish...they don't give a crap what you're babbleing about.

thamanjimmy wrote:

<quoted text>
Drug dealers are not hired by taxpayers...nor do they enforce laws established by our "representatives."

It doesn’t matter because a job is a job.. The difference between a cop and a drug dealer is that a cop makes a living with a system of socialism, where a drug dealer make a living with a system of capitalism.

Don’t expect the constitution, your representatives, or the military to protect your freedom. Only you can protect your freedom.

noshellswill wrote:

<quoted text>
I believe I said the Gub'mnt did NOT gift mid-class wages to the working man. Truth is FDR did as little-as-possible and still prevent a FLAT OUT REVOLUTION. Then many bodies were needed in WW2 and the working man did OKey ....
As for Gub'mnt anti-union violence no doubt about tht. BUT !!! My knowledge of company-tug violence against workers is dammgood 2nd hand info.
My father was a Pa. mounted State Trooper during the S.W. Pa soft_coal strikes of the late 1920s. As kids we got the stories of how coal_company thugs beat-down on striking workers and shot many in-cold-blood. The State-Troopers watched ... that was as much as my father would admit ....he was a self-made man -- a good one.
I take his testimony as historical fact.
Companies crushed workers until they could no longer. Workers vote in a republic. I'll give those early industrialists this much -- they were SO dedicated to production and building-out industry that even after union_compromise they pushed on and left the jobs in America.

I believe its simpler still than that noshell. We have always talked about the corruption of our society or the failure to protect our own interests. Now if the individual members of our society are greedy, corrupt, and unwilling to do the right thing why would we expect anything less of our businesses. Let me phrase it again this way. Are not our politicians and corporations comprised of members from our society? If so then do they not reflect the values of our society? If they fail to follow the values and norms of our society then would we not throw them out. In the form of politicians we would throw them out of office and for businesses we would refuse to buy their products. Yet instead we elect the same politicians and continue to buy all our products from China. We feed the very system we claim to hate. So who is the real cause of the problem noshell?

Westside conservative wrote:

<quoted text>
I believe its simpler still than that noshell. We have always talked about the corruption of our society or the failure to protect our own interests. Now if the individual members of our society are greedy, corrupt, and unwilling to do the right thing why would we expect anything less of our businesses. Let me phrase it again this way. Are not our politicians and corporations comprised of members from our society? If so then do they not reflect the values of our society? If they fail to follow the values and norms of our society then would we not throw them out. In the form of politicians we would throw them out of office and for businesses we would refuse to buy their products. Yet instead we elect the same politicians and continue to buy all our products from China. We feed the very system we claim to hate. So who is the real cause of the problem noshell?

No doubt American yeoman have allowed the corruption of the American Republic -- socially, politically & economically. They acted against their own best interests and values. You made this point months ago and there is no refuting it.

Where we differ is ... I would not pander to this failure.of.will any more than I could agree with my "nazi" pal who wanted to shoot-dead all the insane. Or open a "crack-pipe" business just because Aunti-Jane-da-krak-hoe is rolling in dough.

Worse -- it's a shockingly RAWLSIAN idea that creators & builders in business/Gub'mnt/science should.would act no better than societies worst unproductive & self-destructive fools. When the Republic is well-and-truly ruined where do you think to escape? A Chi.com drywall factory??

noshellswill wrote:

<quoted text>
No doubt American yeoman have allowed the corruption of the American Republic -- socially, politically & economically. They acted against their own best interests and values. You made this point months ago and there is no refuting it.
Where we differ is ... I would not pander to this failure.of.will any more than I could agree with my "nazi" pal who wanted to shoot-dead all the insane. Or open a "crack-pipe" business just because Aunti-Jane-da-krak-hoe is rolling in dough.
Worse -- it's a shockingly RAWLSIAN idea that creators & builders in business/Gub'mnt/science should.would act no better than societies worst unproductive & self-destructive fools. When the Republic is well-and-truly ruined where do you think to escape? A Chi.com drywall factory??

I don't think business/government/science should act no better than society, I just believe they reflect the society in which they exist.

I have even a simpler example of societal nonsense since you brought up the crack pipe store. Throughout town there are numerous convenience stores and nobody is limited to just one or two choices. I have two simple rules for doing business with a convenient store. First, they must not allow people to loiter around the store and second they can not sell the glass tubes with roses used for crack pipes. I simply will not give my money to a business that helps sow the seeds of destruction in the neighborhood. To me selling crack pipes should be a no business for most people and yet I see one store that does always have business in the parking lot. Its a simple thing that if the business dried up because the store sells crack pipes and the owner knew it, he or she would hopefully remove them to get business to return. Yet instead they still have a thriving business.

Its the same hesitation I have towards drug legalization. While legalization proponents have some very sound arguments the problem is the same. Somebody is going to have to make a business around a product that is killing you and destroying the person who you are. Only a morally corrupt society would allow that. What I find even more amazing is the liberals who go nuts if food isn't properly inspected, hate cigarettes, and demand governmental review of any product that enters the body openly embrace legalization of drugs which are vastly more destructive than anything out there.

Buy American was a fad we went through. Its a shame that we can't see the forest for the trees here. Maybe though we will get inspired again and rise up to the challenge. I just don't know what it will take.