Is The World Getting Better Or Worse?

Would you give up all that you had to help the rest? Pensions, houses, most of your guns? This task is gonna take everything everyone has. And why should the rich get off the hook?AddByEdit: Add to that the firm position that they may give much of what they have, but not due to the threat of legislation. If you want a civil war, elect a government that *makes* everyone give all that they have and see where that gets you.Edited by Thugpreacha, : No reason given.

But you still have the voting block. I edited what I said above, which you replied to. It is one thing to give up much of what you have for the common good. It is quite another to be made to do so.In order to avoid a civil war, our leaders will need the wisdom of Solomon.

How high of a tax rate would it take to fix the problem? I listen to all sides. And conmen come from all parties and all ideologies. I am a moderate for a reason...no ideology will prevail.Edited by Thugpreacha, : No reason given.

Just like Jesus is irrelevant to the Christians, jar?
Just as GOD is unknowable and thus irrelevant to the Jews? (and the rest of us, all now chosen and charged according to your belief?)
You believe that we are *all* chosen and charged to do our best.But in this case, you are wrong. The leader is relevant. Try getting them to throw their religion away. It won't ever work.Hopefully we wont fiddle while the planet burns.The rapture (known by jar as the rupture) wont bail us out either.

The people. But it gets complicated. The people are not well informed as a group. There is a basic division in US politics...nearly right down the middle. When a conservative leader gets voted in, 48% of the people disagree with that choice. When a democratic leader gets elected, 48% of the other side disagrees with that choice. Thus we have partisan politics always in play, with two or more different goals in mind and a stubborn refusal at compromise or consensus. Politicians are by nature short-sighted. They earn a living whether anything gets done or not. What we need is a visionary...a statesman who can inspire unity and action. What we also need is an educated populace who seeks to find answers that require sacrifice. The jury is out, however. People historically want short term solutions that benefit them rather than everyone else. When the political ideologies look across the aisle at their opponents, perhaps they need to include the interests of the vanquished 48% rather than simply the interests of the victorious 52%.

You know I perk up when you talk of social security. Were it not for that, all I have left to take care of me is GOD, and She may have other plans. The planet might come first.

Well what do you know? We agree.

It is simple yet terrifying. The ones who now placidly believe that Jesus will return and rescue them will be terrified and angry...seeking others to blame. The nonbelievers will turn to science to help them, scared of death as much as everyone else. If people won't listen now, how will they listen then?

The way i see it all have sinned. Just as the real enemy is satan and not the leftists personally.

Ive listened to conservatives and liberals comment on this issue. Im convinced that evil promotes division while good advocates unity. Conservatives on the radio promote authoritarianism and division.

Every single person that i have met who is a believer in Jesus being alive today sees the bible saying nearly the same thing...with some added insights. Though i question the sincerity and motive of all people...i feel i can discern who believes and who doubts. And every doubter whom i have known...no matter how educated...always reduces scripture to another fallible book yet has the audacity to proclaim that the interpretation of morality assumes us to be the authority. Granted we choose what we believe and what we do. The fact is the world wont survive the next 100 years even if we all agreed to cooperate. Humans will indeed get the world they want. If they ignore God it will be their resonsibility and loss. May He have mercy anyway.
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Add by Edit: what difference does it make whether the last days are brought on by human greed and entitlement or Divine Destiny and Judgment? It may be an economic collapse and an uncomfortable truth. It may be because we run out of water. It may be global warming. Prayer and fasting themselves ate the beginning of a solution. Humans need to find a common purpose.Edited by Thugpreacha, : No reason given.

Im only aware of one member who publically supports Trump. I think he has had his run...we need somebody new.

The conservatives would argue that its the middle that has to pay the bill. The wealthy need tax breaks to stimulate the economy and the poor need a break. Its always the poor who threaten the middle, however. They will take our jobs at cheaper wages. I'm too old to compete.

Ahhh ok! I value our community here also. I've been studying and listening to a lot of arguments both from apologists and atheists on the rationality and probability of their respective world views. That's one of the primary issues and topics that I usually like to discuss/debate with you guys. And I will honestly say that though I do not necessarily like the counter-arguments to my own world view (they are stressful as they cause cognitive dissonance in my mind) I feel that my soul is at peace and that there is a sort of mutual tolerance here at EvC...dare I say even a modicum of respect. The fact that we never agree seems to spark continued discussions on what otherwise would be tired and washed up old topics.I will admit that I get frustrated with some of my opponents here at our forum. I don't think I would ever trade y'all in for any new bunch, however. Take jar, for example. I have gone rounds with him for years and he usually if not always wins. (has the most logical arguments)Ringo also forces me to think. Granted he always accuses me of throwing the message away, but nobody really knows what I do on a daily basis--they only judge me based on my arguments here at EvC. And I will admit, sometimes I just come here to rant. As for you, AZ Paul, I will have to take a look back at what you have said and give you a critique as an ideological opponent. But I will say upfront that it has been a pleasure to discuss religion, atheism, logic, reason, and reality with you.As to my morning assessment of the overall topic at hand: The world is getting better in some ways and remains vulnerable in other ways. The fact is that the global population is rapidly rising to a critical mass beyond which the planet cannot comfortably support. Human greed and competition are a trait which we seem to be embroiled in arguments over.

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I saw a show on Amazon Prime just recently that discussed the very real problem of running out of water. Well, to be more precise, of having it cost far more due to the law of supply and demand. And that issue alone is a possible cause of future wars.

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As for the whole belief/God/Jesus/helper issue, I believe that even if our belief is true and that God will return--as the man Christ, it won't be simply to rescue us and wipe away every tear. I feel that were I God and were I to have to return, as prophesied, the humans would be forced to learn some very life-altering lessons about themselves and their real character before I returned. It could be a giant test. And this applies even if God never existed also.Edited by Thugpreacha, : added color

I believe that the US was maintained through the morals of a largely Christian population who were not overly greedy or materialistic until after WWII, when we fell off the rails.