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A Call for Unity in America

PAUL MARKHAM

PAUL MARKHAM

Well-Known Member
1213 said:
I think human rights are things like, freedom of speech, freedom to own things… …people should also be free to buy healthcare services, if they want. But, it is not human right to force others to buy it for you. It is not human right to force people to work for others. Taxes are against basic human rights, they make people slaves.
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The American system for healthcare ties people to jobs ties, people, to a lifestyle and is for the benefit of the healthcare industry. The European system is far better.

Would you prefer a country of no taxes?
 
PAUL MARKHAM

PAUL MARKHAM

Well-Known Member
Shadow Wolf said:
If they want. But no one should have to pay for what they need.

Taxes are how the government gets anything done. And they don't make anyone slaves. You just have to pay them. That's not slavery.

It's not happening if everyone contributes, through taxes, to collectively pay for everyone's healthcare needs.

That's basically what wage labor is with a extremely massive emphasis on the need for money for things we need to survive. Employees have schedules set by someone else, often have to wear what someone else tells them they have to wear, must act and present themselves in a way the employer mandates, with an assortment of consequences for failure to obey and comply.
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Someone has to pay. The European system is proven to cost less and save more. Because you remove a tier of corporate profits from the equation.

A world without taxes is a scary place.
 
1

1213

Well-Known Member
PAUL MARKHAM said:
The American system for healthcare ties people to jobs ties, people, to a lifestyle and is for the benefit of the healthcare industry. The European system is far better.
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I think the only difference is that in Europe you have no choice or freedom to choose.

PAUL MARKHAM said:
Would you prefer a country of no taxes?
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I would prefer free world. Mandatory taxes are oppression and make people slaves.
 
PAUL MARKHAM

PAUL MARKHAM

Well-Known Member
1213 said:
I think the only difference is that in Europe you have no choice or freedom to choose.

I would prefer free world. Mandatory taxes are oppression and make people slaves.
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You w0uld prefer a world where taxes are optional, so go find one or at least where you pay the least. List of countries by tax rates - Wikipedia

Or would you rather live in the civilised world with governments, police, armies, schools, fire stations, ambulance, healthcare, and a whole lot more. Or pay for everything through a corporation?
 
PAUL MARKHAM

PAUL MARKHAM

Well-Known Member
Shadow Wolf said:
We can always go back to private fire companies. Surely nothing could ever go wrong with it. Again.
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Imagine private police forces checking if your company covered you before they did anything. Or private hospitals that checked to see if you had insurance before they saw you!!!!
 
Zaha Torte

Zaha Torte

Active Member
Trailblazer said:
My personal life situation leaves a lot to be desired :( but I could not be happier about the results of the election. :)

Admittedly, I was worried on election night when it appeared as if Trump was winning, and after that I was on edge until the picture started to become clearer, but the relief came on Saturday morning when I turned on the news. Biden is clearly calling for unity in America.

This is the beginning of a fulfillment of all my hopes and dreams as a Baha’i because I see it as the beginning of the fulfillment of what Baha’u’llah taught -- the unity of mankind and equality and justice for all regardless of race, religion or gender.

For Baha’is, the unity of mankind means that we are all part of the human race because we all proceed from the same Source, God, and that we are all part of that whole.

“The utterance of God is a lamp, whose light is these words: Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship. He Who is the Day Star of Truth beareth Me witness! So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth. The one true God, He Who knoweth all things, Himself testifieth to the truth of these words.” Gleanings From the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 288

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” That is what I see happening.

Unity does not mean we agree about everything. It simply means that we can work together with a common purpose to accomplish a common goal. I see that happening now in America, and I am so happy.

“Consider the world of created beings, how varied and diverse they are in species, yet with one sole origin. All the differences that appear are those of outward form and colour. This diversity of type is apparent throughout the whole of nature.

Behold a beautiful garden full of flowers, shrubs, and trees. Each flower has a different charm, a peculiar beauty, its own delicious perfume and beautiful colour. The trees too, how varied are they in size, in growth, in foliage—and what different fruits they bear! Yet all these flowers, shrubs and trees spring from the self-same earth, the same sun shines upon them and the same clouds give them rain.....

Thus should it be among the children of men! The diversity in the human family should be the cause of love and harmony, as it is in music where many different notes blend together in the making of a perfect chord.....

Likewise, when you meet those whose opinions differ from your own, do not turn away your face from them. All are seeking truth, and there are many roads leading thereto. Truth has many aspects, but it remains always and forever one.

Do not allow difference of opinion, or diversity of thought to separate you from your fellow-men, or to be the cause of dispute, hatred and strife in your hearts.

Rather, search diligently for the truth and make all men your friends.”Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, pp. 51-53

Excerpts from: BEAUTY AND HARMONY IN DIVERSITY

I also see the very beginning of promises in the Bible starting to be fulfilled.

Isaiah 11:6-9 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

I believe that those verses mean that in the future everyone will believe in God and people of diverse religions and races will become friends and companions. Eventually the contentions of races, the differences of religions, and the barriers between nations will be completely removed.

I believe that the following verse has the same essential meaning as Isaiah 11:6-9
I believe that Jesus is promising that He will bring everyone together into one fold, and there will be only one race of men, the human race.

John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

I believe that God’s Purpose is to unite humanity. Obviously, this is going to take a very long time, but I see the beginnings of it starting to unfold in America and around the world.

The following was written in 1941.

“God’s purpose is none other than to usher in, in ways He alone can bring about, and the full significance of which He alone can fathom, the Great, the Golden Age of a long-divided, a long-afflicted humanity. Its present state, indeed even its immediate future, is dark, distressingly dark. Its distant future, however, is radiant, gloriously radiant—so radiant that no eye can visualize it............” The Promised Day is Come, p. 116

God’s Purpose
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Biden has been pushing for racial segregation for decades.

He is not a man to unite anyone.
 
Starlight

Starlight

Spiritual but not religious, new age and omnist
Trailblazer said:
No, I am not a registered Democrat. I voted for Biden because he has a good character, and that is how Baha'is choose a candidate.

As Baha'u'llah wrote "The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof."

“The third Taráz concerneth good character. A good character is, verily, the best mantle for men from God. With it He adorneth the temples of His loved ones. By My life! The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof. Whoso attaineth unto it is accounted as a jewel among men. The glory and the upliftment of the world must needs depend upon it. A goodly character is a means whereby men are guided to the Straight Path and are led to the Great Announcement. Well is it with him who is adorned with the saintly attributes and character of the Concourse on High.” Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 36
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hmm.. I don't think Baha'u'llah think Biden is a good candidate..
But yes you do mix baha'i with politics in this tread
 
Zaha Torte

Zaha Torte

Active Member
Trailblazer said:
No, I am not a registered Democrat. I voted for Biden because he has a good character, and that is how Baha'is choose a candidate.

As Baha'u'llah wrote "The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof."

“The third Taráz concerneth good character. A good character is, verily, the best mantle for men from God. With it He adorneth the temples of His loved ones. By My life! The light of a good character surpasseth the light of the sun and the radiance thereof. Whoso attaineth unto it is accounted as a jewel among men. The glory and the upliftment of the world must needs depend upon it. A goodly character is a means whereby men are guided to the Straight Path and are led to the Great Announcement. Well is it with him who is adorned with the saintly attributes and character of the Concourse on High.” Tablets of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 36
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Biden has fought for racial segregation for decades. He plagiarized other men's speeches. He lied about discussing foreign business with his family. He lied about how well he did in school. He threatened to withhold financial aid from Ukraine unless they fired a prosecutor who was investigating his son's corrupt dealings. He has been accused of sexual harassment for decades. He leveraged his position as a Senator and VP to make his family rich with foreign money.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. "good character" my rear end.
 
Starlight

Starlight

Spiritual but not religious, new age and omnist
Zaha Torte said:
Biden has fought for racial segregation for decades. He plagiarized other men's speeches. He lied about discussing foreign business with his family. He lied about how well he did in school. He threatened to withhold financial aid from Ukraine unless they fired a prosecutor who was investigating his son's corrupt dealings. He has been accused of sexual harassment for decades. He leveraged his position as a Senator and VP to make his family rich with foreign money.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. "good character" my rear end.
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So true!!
 
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