Forum Post: What I Want
Posted 12 years ago on Feb. 1, 2012, 7:35 p.m. EST by asauti
(-113)
from Port Orchard, WA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
The list below is a beginning list of "what I want" - just four, for now.
1) I want the freedom to spend ALL of the "fruits of my labor".
2) If there is a war against America, I want the freedom to "voluntarily donate to the cause" or the freedom to go fight in it myself.
3) I want the freedom to choose any "tender" in a contract that I write-up with another individual, or another organization.
4) I want the freedom to purchase ANY FORM of "health insurance".
I have been living in near poverty for so long... that I simply want to sail my boat to the Caribbean... catch fish, paint pictures and live w/o money.... and know that the world will reach prosperity before it destroys itself...
Sailing to the Caribbean... sounds fun.
Jeez, a I want list.
I've a better one.
It only has one.
I want the promises kept, all of them, from 1776 to present.
The promises made to native peoples, the promises made to our military personnel both active and retired, the promises made to all of our citizens.
I'm not speaking of campaign promises, but rather the contracts and treaties sign in our names. I want the body politic to stop impugning my integrity.
You may "want the promises kept", but it is only the people who made them that are capable of fulfilling them.
The sad part is those promises were made not by us, but for us, owed throughout the generations.
To that I would say: Nobody else can make a promise "in my name".
That's like someone creating a contract that promises that you, PandoraK, are going to fulfill it.
So yes, I agree with you... that is quite sad. Even further, I would say "quite illegal".
Actually, we've had others making promises in our name since the beginnings of our government. Treaties signed with foreign powers, agreements for purchases, promises made to our own citizens.
As for illegal, when those making the promises, they were given that authority when we elected them.
I want people to be kinder to each other.
I ~third~ that.
I "second" that.
All I want is hookers and cocaine...It's hard to come by those being a ten year old. Even though I am a political prodigy....
It is so hard to put yourself in the position of a spoiled child, listing the demands that unless satisfied by somebody you am going to hold your breath until you turn blue. But you seem to have done it.
Later, you might spend a few hours analyzing the full ramifications of global implementation of each of your wishes.
And after, that imagine yourself living in a world, in which each of the 7 billion residents get their time slice, whatever size you make the slices, to have their four wishes, Think of it as an exercise in humility. If that doesn't work, just imagine what their wishes might be.
You don't have a three year old do you?
Brightonsage: Who is this a reply to?
To you. Your wants are superficial and naive. Extend the ramifications of them and consider what would happen if the grant of 4 wishes were universal. Of course I get what I want, but you don't because.....?
You can have all of the fruits of your labor as long as you don't live in a society. Don't expect to live here because you refuse to "pay" for access to and the use of all of the benefits provided by other people.
You say: "you refuse to "pay" for access to and the use of all of the benefits provided by other people."
Please refrain from putting words into my mouth.
Exactly when and/or where did I say that I want the freedom to "refuse to pay for access to and the use of a benefit provided by" another person?
1) I want the freedom to spend ALL of the "fruits of my labor".
So how then is your accusation that I "refuse to pay" in contradiction with my statement of "wanting the freedom to spend"?
When we obtain goods and services we "spend." When we contribute taxes in exchange for governance, we "Pay," We PAY our taxes and SPEND our discretionary funds. If you SPEND ALL of the fruits of your labor, you will have none to PAY your taxes. They were your words and they have definitions.
Carefully re-read my statement.
Nowhere in my statement of "I want the freedom to spend all of the fruits of my labor." do I stipulate that none of that spending would go towards functions of government.
I am happy to spend for the goods and services that the government provides.
I want to be free to live the life I want to live, as long as I don't interfere with the rights of others to do the same.
I want the Big Investment Banks Broken up in an orderly way.
I want the people setting monetary policy, and those implementing it held accountable with public elections.
I want Congress to take control of their responsibilities, and quit outsourcing their Power to Big Corporations, Institutions, etc....
I like all of those, but one.
For the second one: "I want the Big Investment Banks Broken up in an orderly way."
I say: Let them be "big", so long as they got there by simply doing "good, lawful business" in a free market economy. But if the individuals at those banks are engaged in illegal activities, don't just break them up, put them in jail.
Yes, of course. If they made their fortune without breaking laws, congrats.
Glass Steagall would have never permitted Investment banks (who take an ownership position) to merge with our commercial FDIC insured taxpayer backed (lending) banks. That is a conflict of interests. Glass Steagall was wise legislation.
So, I guess I should have said, I want Glass Steagall brought back.
Libertarian tripe.
I encourage you to write up a list of just four things that you want. I am curious to see your answers.
OK, here's my list:
. 1. Get the money out of politics.
. 2. Get the money out of politics.
. 3. Get the money out of politics.
And finally:
. 4. Get the money out of politics.
There are a few more. They have to do with creating a genuinely viable welfare state, creating a real single payer, universal health care system, establishing a real mixed economy, passing living wage laws, throwing TONS of money at public education, increasing regulations on businesses like banks and oil companies and fully funding their vigorous enforcement, sharply curtailing filibusters, substantially strengthening pro-union laws and jailing scabs, re-establishing a steeply progressive tax code, reversing the 30 year long bottom-up redistribution of money to make it top-down, outlawing most carbon emissions, subsidizing small family farms, investing a minimum of $100 billion a year on green energy R&D and jobs, guaranteeing full employment, taking care of veterans and expanding the GI Bill, eliminating tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs and establishing tax breaks for those who bring overseas jobs back home, repealing the Patriot Act and certain NDAA provisions, outlawing the word "Dude" (just a pet peeve) and so on.
What do YOU want?
What do you want that is, specifically, just for yourself?
Hopefully you feel that the items I listed do qualify as that. Because it was my intention to identify only "individual wants" and not my "group wants".
Many, if not all, of the things listed in your reply are things you want for a "larger system".
I want a better system. That's what I want. (And this is the OWS website, not the "me" website. My saying I want a Porsche or a house or whatever has no bearing here.)
I would benefit from a more just and equitable civil society. I would benefit from more democracy, untainted by corruption. I would be rewarded by being surrounded by people unafraid of not making it in a rat race. That would make for less crime, making me safer. That would increase my chances for social mobility. And, not least, it would make me proud again to call myself an American.
We live in a culture of me, me, me. And while I cherish individualism, we don't think nearly enough about us, us, us. I would be happier in a society that does; one in which we can share the same blessings and obligations, gifts and sacrifices, equally.
What a great post, epa1nter. Glad I came across it. Me too. Those are the things I want too. You said it so well.
Me too. I heard dreamingforward was also after this.
You say: "I want a better system".
Don't we all?
......................................................
There is a reason that I chose to first identify my individual wants. I'll come back later to follow-up on the "why".
I believe I know why.
If I'm correct about my assumptions, you are I (and the vast majority of he people here) couldn't disagree more about with you about it. Considering your list, It likely has something to do with Libertarianism, which is noting more than an acceleration of the worst of what we have now.
Pray tell, share wish us your "follow-up." I"m breathless with anticipation. Don't keep us guessing. Don't be coy.
If you have assumed that I want the "FREEDOM to CHOOSE", then yes, you are correct.
Which brings me back to my first response: Libertardian tripe.
It is fine with me if you don't appreciate freedom. As long as you let me have my mine, then you and I are "cool".
I DO appreciate freedom. That's why I oppose Libertardism. It is tyranny. As to letting you have yours, yours is made possible by all those around you. Whatever you have gained was made possible by the civil society in which you live, and that Libertardism fails to recognize. It is the perfect example of the me, me, me culture I detest.
epa1nter wrote: "I DO appreciate freedom. That's why I oppose Libertardism. It is tyranny. As to letting you have yours, yours is made possible by all those around you. Whatever you have gained was made possible by the civil society in which you live, and that Libertardism fails to recognize. It is the perfect example of the me, me, me culture I detest."
...................................................................................................................
Reading your post above, is sure sounds like you are making the statement of: "Liberty equals Tyranny".
. . .
Libertardism does not equate with Liberty. It equates with tyranny. It is a destroyer of freedom and equality and democracy. The rise of Libertardism is precisely why we are in the economic and political crisis we are in today, and a furthering of it would mean the death knell of America. You fail to understand that because you have not taken the time to work out in your brian the implications of Libertardian policy in the real world. You simply want what you want, and think Libartardianism will give it to you. Neither a basic, objective understanding of economics or basic civics informs your thought. Only ideology and circular reasoning does, and it is a poor substitute.
I cannot take you seriously when you make up your own words (Libertardism).
I'm most interested in objective, open-minded, thoughtful, honest and truthful discussions. Let "us" further our intelligence and understanding, shall we?
(But does the "us" include you?)
. . .
6) I want "freedom from ignorance".
("Thank you" to J.A.)
What you want is something you do not give the original people of this land (the indians or native americans).
I'm not understanding your reply. If you would like me to understand it, please clarify.
In order to understand what I'm talking about you have to be aware that there were millions of aboriginal people here in the Americas before the Europeans came. If you are not read "Bury my heart at Wounded Knee". by Dee Brown.
I am not aware of the exact number, but yes, I do know that there were many people who lived on the North American continent before it was declared the United States of America. My mother is 1/16 of the Arapahoe "blood-line", and I am therefore 1/32.
[Removed]
Regarding....
1 - a flat tax rate across the board with a 1 page tax code combined with more efficient government will probably be the best way to spend the most (or save the most) that you will achieve.
2 - all in favor.
3 - need a little clarification on that - you can't necessary barter a chicken for an oil change; are you talking about going back to the gold standad?
$4 - the more I have been thinking, the more I am in favor of mandatory health insurance for every individual. I do not approve of national healthcare. But a person who choses not to get health insurance should, simplistically speaking, be required to pay for their own healthcare.
tedscrat: On item #3, do you know what "Legal Tender" laws means in this country?
5) I want Julian Assange to first be formally charged with a crime before ANY incarceration takes place.