Phat writes:
And the fact remains that they are breaking a consensual rule, whether they can justify breaking it or not.
I haven't said anything about justifying theft. I'm suggesting that you try to understand it. You'll never solve the problem by dehumanizing the thieves.
Or maybe you really don't want to solve the problem. Maybe you'd rather try to preserve the myth of "the Fall".
Phat writes:
Don't think for a minute that they steal with Gods blessing.
You should think about it, for a lot longer than a minute.
Phat writes:
And that should be on the individual conscience...never only mandated by the government.
As I have said, it was mandated by Jesus. You are mandated to be willing.
Phat writes:
If government is to mandate societal giving, they need to also mandate punishment for theft of any kind.
Non sequitur. If the churches were doing what they're supposed to do for the poor, the government wouldn't have to help them at all. And if
somebody was doing enough for the poor, there would be a lot less crime.
Maturity, one discovers, has everything to do with the acceptance of ‘not knowing.
-- Mark Z. Danielewski, House of Leaves