For this reason we think Pericles and men of that stamp to be practically wise, because they can see what is good for themselves and for men in general, and we also think those to be such who are skilled in domestic management or civil government.
For the last 20 years or so, I've noticed that we seem to have gone from skilled domestic management or skilled civil government to people who have no skills in either branch. Because if this were true, we wouldn't have budget shortfalls, and individual states wouldn't need to depend upon the federal government for anything.
Since our so-called domestic managers have actually never worked in any other field than politics, they've never had to manage their money, or worry about a paycheck. If they had, they'd know how to balance a budget, and/or cut programs that don't and have never worked.
Maybe what we need are people who've actually worked for a living, to be our representatives, and we should make them live in the area where they are elected, and not in DC. That might do some good.
Friday, May 20, 2011
On #Aristotle's Ethicas: Democrats, Liberals, etc
The Necessity of this equality of ratios is shown by the common phrase "according to rate," for all agree that the just in distributions ought to be according to some rate: but what that rate is to be, all do not agree; the democrats are for freedom, the oligarchs for wealth, other for nobleness of birth, and the aristocratic party for virtue.
It's amazing what time has changed. Aristocrats have grown selfish, the democrats no longer hold to freedom or self determination, all the parties want to hold on to power by enslaving the people they represent.
If you stop to think about it, when the government pays someone not to work, they are enslaving that person for their vote. If that person doesn't vote for them, they don't get paid.
It's been said that when the people who live off of the government can vote, they will always vote to rob the treasury. Honestly, when was the last time that you heard a welfare recipient say, "I don't need a raise," and when was the last time you heard a democrat say, "We don't need to raise taxes," or, "Since we are in a recession, I don't need a raise in my salary."
It's only when a man stands on his own two feet and works hard for his money, that he realizes that the government take more than it needs to take, and for stupid reasons.
It's amazing what time has changed. Aristocrats have grown selfish, the democrats no longer hold to freedom or self determination, all the parties want to hold on to power by enslaving the people they represent.
If you stop to think about it, when the government pays someone not to work, they are enslaving that person for their vote. If that person doesn't vote for them, they don't get paid.
It's been said that when the people who live off of the government can vote, they will always vote to rob the treasury. Honestly, when was the last time that you heard a welfare recipient say, "I don't need a raise," and when was the last time you heard a democrat say, "We don't need to raise taxes," or, "Since we are in a recession, I don't need a raise in my salary."
It's only when a man stands on his own two feet and works hard for his money, that he realizes that the government take more than it needs to take, and for stupid reasons.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
#Aristotle's Ethicas: Liberalism
Yet, he will not give to improper people, nor at wrong times, and so on: because he would not then be acting in accordance with Liberality, and if he spent upon such objects, would have nothing to spend on those on which he ought: for, as I have said before, he is Liberal who spends in proportion to his means, and on proper objects, while he does so in excess is prodigal (This is the reason why we never call despots prodigal, because it does not seem to be easy for them by their gifts and expenditure to go beyond their immense possessions).
To sum up then. Since liberality is a mean state in respect of the giving and receiving of wealth, the liberal man will give and spend on proper objects, and in proper proportion, in great things and in small alike, and all this with pleasure to himself; also he will receive from right sources, and in right proportion: because, as the virtue is a mean state in both respect of both, he will do both as he ought, and, in fact, upon proper giving follows the correspondent receiving, while that which is not such is contrary to it.
It's a bit long winded, but my take is that Aristotle considered such men, being liberals, as those who should be wise enough, and noble enough, to take only what they need from good sources, and give to other people as they need.
Unfortunately, this has been turned 180 degrees, and the liberal has become a person who wants to steal from other people, from the fruits of their labor, in order to give to people who don't contribute.
Personally, I feel that since our governments, both state and federal, wish to spend beyond their means, Aristotle would considered these governments tyrants.
To sum up then. Since liberality is a mean state in respect of the giving and receiving of wealth, the liberal man will give and spend on proper objects, and in proper proportion, in great things and in small alike, and all this with pleasure to himself; also he will receive from right sources, and in right proportion: because, as the virtue is a mean state in both respect of both, he will do both as he ought, and, in fact, upon proper giving follows the correspondent receiving, while that which is not such is contrary to it.
It's a bit long winded, but my take is that Aristotle considered such men, being liberals, as those who should be wise enough, and noble enough, to take only what they need from good sources, and give to other people as they need.
Unfortunately, this has been turned 180 degrees, and the liberal has become a person who wants to steal from other people, from the fruits of their labor, in order to give to people who don't contribute.
Personally, I feel that since our governments, both state and federal, wish to spend beyond their means, Aristotle would considered these governments tyrants.
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