Stitchboard Admin message #92
Re: Welcome!
November 23, 2015 at 1:50:13 AM  (in response to neave message #1)
 
Neave,

I completely agree with you.  Someone wrote an article a few years ago about how it works in Denmark, for instance.  In Denmark, you get a stipend if you're not considered to be making enough money.  They mentioned one woman's story (not an anecdotal example, but rather, they interviewed her about how she survived on very little money); she was a housekeeper, earning a pitiful amount of money; however, the point was that instead of telling her she'd just have to work a second job or move back in with her parents or go homeless or whatever, as many would do in "wealthier" nations today, they gave her a stipend.  The stipend wasn't for spending foolishly.  It was given to her so she could work at her job and still be able to pay her reasonable expenses...food, clothing, shelter, transportation, utilities, etc.  So she could stay at her job without worrying about how she was going to meet her basic needs.

Unfortunately, a lot of people see it as "laziness" or unwillingness to work, but they always forget that people in many situations, particularly today, work for terrible minimum wage jobs, which guarantee them nothing and force them to work second and even third jobs just to survive. 

Many people who never struggle never know what it's like to struggle, and thus, they have no empathy.    And that's why the world is as messed up as it is. 

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Stitchboard Admin message #94
Re: Welcome!
November 23, 2015 at 11:54:02 PM  (in response to neave message #3)
 
Neave,

It really should be, but it's not.    There are too many people who entirely lack empathy for others. 

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Stitchboard Admin message #96
Re: Welcome!
November 25, 2015 at 7:12:10 AM  (in response to neave message #5)
 
Neave,

I agree, it could very well happen.    Humans are warmongerers.  Despite the fact that not everyone is that way, the number of people who are seem to overwhelm the number of pacifists. 

Not to get depressing, but if we don't blow ourselves up, we'll find another way...there are already terrible climate change issues, and people who have the power to do something about those consistently stick their heads in the sand.

I've read things where people make the comment that we can fit so many more people into an area the size of Texas; sadly, those are the same people who would be appalled at how small of a space that would be.  In third world countries, they have millions of people living in tiny spots like that, which are unfit for human habitation...but they have no choice at all.  Guaranteed, the closer people in denial get to making that happen, the faster that will happen in more democratic countries.

I don't think it's hopeless, but in order for change to occur, people who stick their heads in the sand have to start thinking realistically.  I don't know what it will take for that to happen, though.

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Stitchboard Admin message #98
Re: Welcome!
November 27, 2015 at 8:56:11 AM  (in response to neave message #7)
 
Let's hope it doesn't come to that! 

Unfortunately, I don't think even that would make the tiniest bit of difference.  And sadly, that would just make the ostriches very happy indeed if someone did something terrible.  They live on chaos...at least here they do.    If things are peaceful and good...they believe they're not complaining enough and not putting out enough propaganda to make people think things are very different than they really are. 

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Stitchboard Admin message #100
Re: Welcome!
November 28, 2015 at 1:00:13 AM  (in response to neave message #9)
 
Neave,

I can't either.    Just too much violence.    We humans can be pretty crappy to each other (and to our ecosystem). 

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Stitchboard Admin message #102
Re: Welcome!
November 29, 2015 at 2:09:50 AM  (in response to neave message #11)
 
Neave,

Yes, you said it...and not just a few times...much of the time! 

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Stitchboard Admin message #104
Re: Welcome!
November 30, 2015 at 2:34:41 AM  (in response to neave message #13)
 
Neave,

LOL, I keep thinking that's the answer!    I always tell my husband he's an alien from outer space.  If I ever catch him wearing a tinfoil hat, that will be incontrovertible proof! 

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