My goodness Bob. You are like the old phonograph record with the
needle stuck in a groove. "Label label label label."
Well then, here's a label you can use if you choose. Carl. I even
answer to labels like:
Carl Jarvis, Jarvis, Mister Jarvis, Dad, Grandpa, Great grandpa, Hon,
and, That Blind Man.
Regarding the leaning of my rhetoric, you have labeled it as extreme
Left leaning, and once labeled you have construed it as
pushing/supporting "their" agenda. So just who are those, "Their" you
reference?
Why can't you accept the fact that my brain works without having to
run to some particular propaganda in order to function. I accept what
you say as your understanding of the world as you see it. I've never
seen the need to label your "interesting" opinions as, "Right Wing
Dogma".
We're just exchanging opinions...aren't we? Although the thought has
crossed my mind that you are pulling my leg by taking extreme
indefensible positions such as declaring that all of us have equal
opportunity. Now that is a real leg puller!
Sorry, I can't differentiate between socialism/communism/Marxism,
having only browsed through some of their literature. I did take a
course in college on, The Young Karl Marx, but that was many years ago
and all I remember is that he and I spelled our names differently.
As for only addressing questions that are "convenient" for me, that is
true. I do that for two reasons. First, I an intrigued by some of
your thoughts, so those are the ones I attempt to address. Secondly,
and please believe that I am not disrespecting you personally, but so
much of what you say is pure misinformation. It would take us far too
much space, and probably get the list moderator upset, if we went into
detailed explanations.
As for your question, "Where has your utopian philosophy been
successfully implemented?"
Nowhere is the quick answer. But actually, I have no such Utopian
government in mind. If I had, I would be blabbing it all over the
internet. But to label(there's that word again)my criticism of
existing governments as "negative and Divisive", is nothing more than
an attempt to shut me down. If you whipped up a lovely chocolate
cream pie and presented me with a slice, and then asked me what I
thought of your efforts, I might tell you, "This is some lovely
looking pie. The chocolate has a rich flavor and the whipped cream
melts in my mouth. But you might have put a bit more salt in the
crust." Would my suggestion about adding salt be negative and
divisive? Would you say, "If you're so critical of my pie, show me a
better one!" I believed that you were asking my opinion. If you are
expecting me to agree with you, then you'll need to spell it out. But
don't tell me that because I would add more salt, that somehow I must
be in cahoots with Morton Salt.
I accept that you believe that capitalism is the superior form of
government. You prove your point by listing, cell phones,
televisions, computers, cars, etc. And most certainly we are
overloaded with a multitude of gadgets, devices and doohickeys that,
in some cases, do make life more manageable.
But is our capitalistic world better? For whom? Are those folks in
the Inner Cities better off? Is what is left of the Detroit area a
place where equal opportunity rules? Have you showered or drank water
in Flint? Do we send all our bright children to the Harvard's and
Standford's for their equal opportunity education? Do we all go to
work in Daddy's Electronic Factory, as vice president" Or are we met
with closed doors because we are the "wrong color", or female, or Gay,
or too old? Or do doors swing wide when we are the governor's nephew,
White, Male, Christian, and have a strong Republican leaning?
Come on Bob, equal opportunity is as much of a myth as that Utopian
government which you tell me I believe in. Yes, there is opportunity,
unequal opportunity. Just from my own personal experience between me
as a sighted man and me as a blind man, would put the lie to your
contention of equal opportunity. I had a growing photography business
in Seattle's north end, and was working as Supervisor in the
Preparation Department in a large drapery factory, supporting my
family until my own business could support us. I worked hard, my
health was good and I had a world of opportunities ahead of me. At 29
I became totally blind. My entire world of opportunities went out the
window. There is no place for a blind man in the drapery business.
There is no place for a blind photographer. However there was one
opportunity presented to me. The blind men and women of Washington
State had fought through legislation many years earlier, providing
free education to any blind person who could make the grades. My
other choices were to work at the Light House for the blind, or find a
street corner and warm up my harmonica.
I seized the opportunity of a college education and the doors it would
open to me, despite being blind. Many of my new blind friends were
also attending the University of Washington. Some 35 or so. All of
us seemingly had the same equal opportunity to gain an education and
go successfully into the job market.
Some of these students were unable to get beyond the many closed
doors, preventing them from employment. Some of them took entry level
jobs in the private sector, dead end jobs paying low wages that were
being set in place to meet Affirmative Action quotas. On average,
those of us entering government work fared better.
Of course, like yourself, there are notable exceptions. A friend who
has been blind all his life, began selling Am-Way. He'd tried opening
a Laundromat and then a Christmas Tree Farm. Both business ventures
failed. But on the third strike he struck pay dirt. Retired today,
he had become one of the three largest Am-Way distributors on the West
Coast. A multimillionaire, he owns business around the planet,
vacations at company expense in Spain, Brazil and Mars, and is a firm
believer in Capitalism. Like you, he loves to bait me. Or is it the
other way around. But he is my friend and I cut him some slack.
Once, after we lay panting from exhaustion over a long debate, he
said, "We both love what we do. You promote people and I promote
Am-Way." And both of us think the other one is nuts.
If I don't stop here, I'll need to publish this as a short novel.
Carl Jarvis(Dad, Grandpa, great grandpa, Hon, and Hey you"
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