This is part of the problem, or at least part of the cause of the problem. The line between religious leaders and political leaders is blurred. At least for those that let it be so. Those that argue that America was founded as and should continue to be some sort of Christian state miss the point that we were founded and should continue to be a state where religious tolerance is one of our most basic and precious tenets.

Larry you might know of this guy. I was just listening to him, on our thinking persons radio station, at work on Thurs.



http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/stories/s2020226.htm?brisbane

Again, one of those things (the establishment of America as a "religion free government") if you pursue with logic reason and data with the Christian Coalition is subterfuged away. It is funny that the old USA was the first country to throw off the yoke of "State Religion" has been recognized for more than a century as the most religious of "States" within so called Western Civilization. Is it due to the democratization of religion in America and the resulting competition for congregation (I think that is funny, the free market is responsible for reintroducing religion into politics, oh well there i go again..don't think...don't think...don't think)

But I was thinking back to the wizards original posts about American taxpayers having to be responsible for many of the world's indigent (ok I paraphrased). America is known as one of the greatest donating countries in the world (as are laws are actually structured to give the best tax breaks for donating). Yet, I don't really see any progress. It seems there are no infrastructures being built to help those indigent populations not be indigent. The only area of development is China. It's all Corporate development (I really don't know where the fear went there). I know all kind of people considering trying to cash in on that boom. I could have ouwned my life by now had I invested in that boom two years ago (man i would love to own my life). Of course the flip side is the fact that nobody invests in America anymore (there were 4 shootings in downtown York PA in the last two days that are said to be related to the urban poverty lifestyle, what the hell is that? in York PA)

louise, i enjoyed reading that article...i have a few thoughts but they will just have to rattle around upstairs for now.

psb, i think a lot about some stuff too, i just wish i knew how to express these kinds of thoughts as well (clearly?) as you can. (and that is not lip sevice so don't give me a hard time about it!)

(i actually had this post ready to go before psb's most recent post...but that is okay! here it is still)

gotta run

And louise, just so you know, some friends of mine and myself have started a letter writing campaign to American tire factories urging them not to export inner tubes to Australia.I mean we don't need a bunch of Aussies floating onto our shores. I hope you understand.

Yes louise, I have heard of that guy. have not read too much, but I recall he did stir the pot around here a bit.

adg, I was thinking....you write some pretty interesting stuff after coffee, next time, just for comparison purposes, could you try writing some stuff on the same subject matter after some Guinness(s)?

Boddingtons, Larry...!!

Boddingtons in the summer, Guinness in the winter. Besides, Boddingtons is dangerous! When me and a friend drove up for the birthday show, we ordered some Boddingtons to start the second set, and it kinda exploded all over the table when we opened it. I saw Arlo after the show with a Boddingtons and asked him if it blew up on him, and his did too. We had the same problem made worse by the fact that we had no glass to pour it into after the explosion. I'll know better next time! Them cans is dangerous!(but worth the risk)

Ohhh...you mean we aren't supposed to shake 'em up good before we serve them?

I KNEW IT WAS YOU!!!!

All jesting aside, I'm wondering if the temperature difference between the cold fridge and the hot room has anything to do with it...conditions present both upstairs and down in July.

Serve them with a large glass.

He wrote a great one two or three years ago. I think it would do the world good to hear it. It just hasn't been released yet.

my 32 cents

that term "bleeding heart liberal" kind of interests me.... as though there was something wrong with having a heart that feels and sometimes knows in that non-thinking way we humans seem to have... and when there's a
dis-connect between heart and action ... in whoever ... government, religious leader,(beer-shaker;).... whoever... well, that's when the tragedies multiply....

....that's some of what Jesus taught as well as Buddha and Mohammed, too... so I believe...

... maybe the names and words don't matter so much as anyone who can feel that space of the heart and move from it is gonna do the best thing...just naturally...

....course getting there is quite the trick, as we all have to move through so much
garbage to find it... but if you're looking for it at least, i'm not worried...even if you're my preacher or president....

what worries me is all those folks who don't seem to want to find it....or care about it...or believe in it....who think the solution is in their brain or logic or reasoning and never try to check out those answers with the wisest part of them....


so, adg, can we look for a book?....of short essays even??...i'll pitch in for the coffee....