The Evangelical Universalist Forum

The Purge: Election Year, Hypocrisy, and The Nature Of God

Theology Biblical Theology
#369

I’m watching the CBS news tonight on TV. And they aired a story entitled:

“Magic mushroom” psychedelic may ease depression, anxiety in cancer patients

You know what’s interesting? The Native Americans have been hosting Ayahuasca and Peyote ceremonies for centuries. And I had observed many healings with these ceremonies (same thing with homeopathy and the Bruno Groening meditation), when I hung out with the Two Features Medicine Clan. And now - from this latest story - modern medicine is looking at the Peyote plant, for treating depression and anxiety in cancer patients.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=084Vw351FUw

or

youtube.com/watch?v=084Vw351FUw

And modern medicine likes double blind studies. And statistical significant results, in these double blind studies. But when you show the same statistical significant results… in these double blind studies with homeopathic remedies - guess what? They cry foul and try to find something wrong, with the studies.

And things like TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), Tibetan Medicine, Ayurveda (Indian medicine) and homeopathy, postulate vital energy. And learn how to manipulate it. While Western medicine likes to constantly invent new stuff - patent it - and it comes bundled, with a whole list of side effects.

Have you ever watched US drug commercials on TV? Half the commercial is devoted, to listing the potential side effects.

Or we had a German healer called Bruno Groening - a few decades back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L22Oq9RyN_E

or

youtube.com/watch?v=L22Oq9RyN_E

But he got into trouble, with the German medical establishment. Just like Samuel Hanuman did, with homeopathy.

And you know what’s fascinating? I have no trouble with any of the stuff I listed, combining it with an Orthodox Christian belief.

#370

Recently, Trump tried to savage some jobs at Carrier. And prevent them from going to Mexico.

No offence intended, Hermano (or anyone else here, with ties to Mexico), in any reference to Mexico.

I recently got proposals, for a new heating and air conditioning system. And my standard procedure is to get at least 3 bids or proposals. This way, if someone has a high or low proposal - it will usually stand out. Carrier was one of the vendor proposals. And I watched as each tried to match price and finance terms (i.e. 18 months, no interest).

But I did some research. All the major US air conditioning and heating companies, have been around since the early 1900’s. Let me quote a bit, from an article at Difference Between Best HVAC Brands:

Yes, that’s true. But let’s look at Carrier - for example. And an assembly in Mexico operation:

Will the components for the machines be manufactured in the US?
Will the Mexican operation have the same quality controls in place?
Will there be robotics involved in the assembly?
Etc.

Same goes for cars. We have cars with Asian parts, assembled in Mexico, but with a US brand name. It’s called a world car :exclamation: :laughing:

Or we might have Japanese manufacturers of spark plugs - for example. They might produce original equipment, for the Lexus and Toyota brands. But after market plugs, for all the other brands.

So, Mr. Trump. Will you be introducing robotics and quality control protocols and standards, into these US manufacturing facilities - where you keep some jobs? If not, then why not?

And I ended up buying an American Standard brand equipment. They have been around since the 1900’s. Their air conditioning system now goes with the new, fuel efficient requirement. And they were brought out and have the same manufacturing facility, as Trane brand equipment. I just don’t pay for the “Trane brand name” and save on the American Standard name.

#371

Looks like you’ll have a great time for the next 4 years (at least) Randy. You should have a late-night show! :laughing:
Poor Hillary would have gotten the same treatment from you though - or would she? :mrgreen:

#372

Maybe she would have gotten worse, Dave. Especially if her husband Bill, also played a prominent role. Perhaps in some areas, D.T. is as pragmatic as I am. I hope so. :exclamation: I really, really hope so. :exclamation: :laughing:

#373

Yeah, me too…
So you’re an equal-opportunity HFPZ? :laughing:

#375

We do have the lowest workforce participation rate since the 40’s, I think - 95 million unemployed or underemployed - I have not been able to find any work since 2008 so have pretty much given up the search - and wages have not gone up for decades. That helps to explain the supposedly good numbers of the unemployment rate.
If DT et al can do something about that, I’d be encouraged.

#376

Like Dave says, the “unemployment” rate is as “low” as it is because so many people have given up on finding employment and stopped looking. If you’re not actively seeking a job, you don’t get counted as “unemployed.” This leads to artificially hopeful statistics. The stats don’t make unemployed people feel better though, and they don’t put money into empty pockets or food on barren tables.

#379

Au contraire -

AS to wages: pewresearch.org/fact-tank/20 … r-decades/

As to a good thing - me and people I know are well and truly pissed to have had to take early retirement at reduced benefits, and not get a single interview for a job, even the most humble. It’s humiliating, and trying to convince anyone that 95 million people think it’s a good thing is ridiculous.

#380

Cindy - don’t believe that leftist crap.
I can say that, because I’m not a righty, but am always accused of being one because actually - I look at the facts.
Another endless quarrell?

#382

Two whole years? Gee. I was talking about the last 30 years.

No - those of us forced out of the market place, and unable for years to find a way back in - even though highly trained - and willing to flip burgers if need be - are NOT happy about having to take reduced benefits just to get by. Nope. You are way off track on that.

#384

Arg.

#385

Actually I don’t think it is factually incorrect if you factor in inflation and the relative costs of goods and services.

Wages are going down, in general, withiin that context.

“But after adjusting for inflation, today’s average hourly wage has just about the same purchasing power as it did in 1979, following a long slide in the 1980s and early 1990s and bumpy, inconsistent growth since then. In fact, in real terms the average wage peaked more than 40 years ago: The $4.03-an-hour rate recorded in January 1973 has the same purchasing power as $22.41 would today.”

pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/10/09/for-most-workers-real-wages-have-barely-budged-for-decades/

#386

That’s what I was going to say, but ‘Arg’ was all I could muster. :smiley:

#388

It is my understanding that purchasing power has not increased in my lifetime. (I was born in 1970.) My gut instinct based on my 46 years of living in the U. S. also tells me that people in general do not have more purchasing power now than in the past.

When purchasing power is calculated, it is typically done with stuff such as loaves of bread and bottles of milk. It does not factor in the vast increases in health care costs and college/university costs. People are certainly poorer in relation to those two things now than when I was born.

I actually think these things are out-workings of the judgment of God. If the U. S. had remained basically Christian, I think purchasing power would be far higher than it is now. Americans would have serious, permanent space stations. Launches into outer space would be daily or at least weekly occurrences. We’d have permanently-manned scientific bases on the Moon. Americans would be in the beginning stages of the colonization of Mars. Etc.

I do not think it a coincidence that the last man walked on the Moon in December 1972, and the U. S. Supreme Court forced the United States to legalize abortion in January 1973. We were poised to explore and live in the heavens, but we instead chose to slay the preborn. Instead of the expansive influence of the stars, we have become obsessed with our own bodies.

While there were plenty of pretty bad leaks before Jan. 1973, I think the federalization of abortion was the collapse of the dam.

This degradation leads to irresponsible spending at all levels of government, and it leads to ever more war.

We could be living in something vaguely akin to the world of the Jetsons. Instead we are living in something not-so-vaguely akin to a lunatic asylum. Instead of men on Mars, it’s men in the girls’ bathroom. Yuck.

#389

Good post, Geoffrey

Qaz, don’t fall to the left’s dishonest appraisal of the economy. (If that sounds condescending, please don’t be offended–it’s exactly what you said to me.) BTW, how exactly do you know the right’s appraisal of the economy is dishonest? Did CNN tell you that, or was it MSNBC?

There are real people out there hurting, even if they’re in Flyover. They’ve sat for eight years at the doorsteps of the White House and no one has given them anything. Well, that may not be entirely true. They can apply for and receive a perpetual handout at the taxpayers’ expense, but what if what they really want is a job and some self respect? There is a reason that the folks in the “Blue Wall” who voted twice for Obama turned out en masse for Donald Trump, and it’s not that the “dishonest right” deceived them. It’s because they’re hurting. Already Trump has done more for them than any democrat ever has, and the man hasn’t even taken office yet. This is a HUGE novelty–a candidate keeping a total of two promises to date (typically the total is a big fat zero). I have great hopes that he will continue to keep, or at least try to keep, many more. This is the first time since Reagan that I have actually believed a political candidate told (or at least fully intended to tell) the truth.

I used to be very dogmatic about everything. I also used to be a democrat, but that boat sailed long, long ago, along with my idyllic youth. Barack Obama was bad, but he wasn’t as bad as I imagined he would be. He managed to coax a somewhat anemic recovery despite wasting billions and billions of our money. :unamused: He is leaving a worse debt but a better economy than he received to his successor. He didn’t attempt a coup even though he behaved like a king. I think he just wasn’t strong enough to pull that off. If Hillary had been elected, ah, I would not have rioted in the streets, though I think it would have been the end of the republic. As it is, I have hope for at least the immediate future.

In case you’re worried about Trump’s reported racism, homophobia, xenophobia, etc., remember–don’t believe everything the dishonest left-wing propaganda machine–er, I mean news media–tells you. Occasionally they may accidentally tell a truth, but if they do, their mates will force them to retract and apologize for their insensitivity. They loved Hillary (and the majority of the country believes as I do, according to polls–for what that’s worth) and hated Trump and they still do. I know. I’ve watched them–we now have satellite television and we flip back and forth between them all. When one hates another, one does NOT say nice things about that other. One says HORRID things about the other. I’ve actually listened to Trump’s whole speeches (not all of them, but enough–certainly the “controversial” ones). Most of the accusations are based on snippets taken deceptively out of context and the rest are based on deliberate (because they couldn’t be THAT stupid) “misunderstandings” of hyperbole and figurative speech. It’s going to be okay. It may even be good. In fact, it may even be VERY good for us all–red and yellow, black and white and LGBTXYZQPTMLM (they’ll probably get around to adding those extra letters soon even if they haven’t yet.)

If nothing else will comfort you, remember what I’ve been telling myself for (at least) eight years. Jesus Christ is the TRUE King, and the only one who matters in the end.

#390

I think you are sorely mistaken.

#391

Statistically, things go in cycles. So (as Ayn Rand once sarcastically remarked, regarding Libertarians)…If I can just use her chosen candidate examples…If Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis or the Marx Brothers were running the presidency…things would look good or bad…depending on the statistical cycle we are in.

There’s not such as thing as a “pure” Democrat or a “pure” republican. As my die hart, Roman Catholic, republican neighbor - correctly pointed out…There are a lot of RINOs (i.e. Republican in Name Only) in Congress.

Now Trump just called (or was called by) the President of Taiwan, along with those from the Philippines, etc. Well, I know not to do that (i.e. talk directly to the president of Taiwan). Why? Because China considers it under their territory and jurisdiction. And it would tick China off. And China owns most of our US debt. See BBC article at Trump-Taiwan call: China lodges protest. Let me quote from the article:

So, Mr. Trump. Why has

???

And I assume that an aid - or answering service - is screening your calls. They should be instructed, to take a message. Or you assign a low-level delegate, to talk with folks - like a Taiwanese leader.

http://i0.wp.com/nationallampoon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/featured-image-template-NL-trumpenstein.png?fit=432%2C330

So which Trump will surface today (or tomorrow), etc.?

The Lone Ranger Trump, who mouths off or charges in - regardless of what the posse and cavalry, have to say?
The diplomatic Trump (i.e. Eddy Haskel, from Leave it To Beaver), who puts on his best face and mannerisms?
The pragmatic Trump (my favorite), that uses what works. Which is what I normally do. Regardless of how crazy or far out, it appears.
Etc.

Oh, yes. And regarding bias US news media. I also get news from the BBC, France, German, China and South Korea - in English. This way, I can see the big picture. And I also glance through the US tabloids, while I shop at the dollar stores. :smiley:

I’m rooting for Trumpenstein and the Trumpeters :exclamation: :laughing:

Remember, Mr. Trump. I’m from Missouri. You have to show me :exclamation: :laughing:

And I’ll be working big time…with AARP lobby efforts and social media…to protect Medicare and Social Security. :exclamation: :smiley:

And Mr. Trump, of Trumpenstein and the Trumpeters. If you want your twitter account to grow exponentially, then do this. Have your marketing team provide folks with free tidbits - useful to them. A plumber might have an article link to “five ways to stop a clogged toilet.” It works. For you, Mr. Trump, perhaps

5 Secrets about Married Sex
5 Things You Should Never Post on Facebook

Again, I don’t go for hype or rhetoric, Trumpenstein and the Trumpeters. Give me what works. No matter how crazy or far out - it appears. Like getting healed via:

Native American medicine men and women - in indigenous spiritual ceremonies
Doing a simple meditation, given by Bruno Groening - a German historical healer, who healed people in groves.
Taking a homeopathic substance, when no molecule of the original substance exists.
Etc.
***Show me *** :exclamation: Not put me to sleep - with rhetoric :exclamation: :laughing:

#395

Your assertions about wage growth versus inflation. Wage growth that is not tied to “buying power” is an illusion. In 1973, at 19, I bought my first new car(a beautiful Plymouth Duster), for 2, 500.00. I was making, at that time. 8.25 an hour(plus some overtime at time and a half). Today, if I was making 22.41 an hour(a close aproximation of the average wage for manufacturing positions, of which of course there are now few) I would be making around three times the wage. My “buying power” would be over 30% less than it was in 1973. A comparable car today would run 15,000.00.

A Big Mac at that time was 1.60. Now it is 5.10(average). I could buy 5 Big Macs for and hours work then. Now I could buy 4.5.

Ground Round was less than a dollar a pound in 73. Now it is around 4.00.

Wages have grown 300%. Prices have grown 4-500%. Buying power(which is the real wage) has fallen 25 to 35% and there are far less- as a percentage- living wage jobs, because so many manufacturing jobs have gone out of the country due to GATT and NAFTA. Service and retail jobs (the only areas of job growth for working class Americans, who make up the majority of the population) do not pay the average of 22.41, an average that is driven up by metropolitan populations where wages run higher. A very large segment of the populace is losing ground in wages, so young people are moving to the cities to find wages, but living expenses are higher, so unconventional lifestlyes profligate to compensate for that. Hence, marriage is falling off. Child-birth is falling off. Young people in the general work population see less and less opportunity to live the old dreams, and the oligarchs are fine with that. They are soaking up that gap in profit, and are indifferent to the effect it has on the average family.

Sales taxes have risen nearly 100% since 1970, chopping another 4% off buying power. Wages are at best static for the last 40 years, even in the most optimistic.

Americans keep working harder and producing more economic growth. But they’re not getting rewarded with any extra pay for it, according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).
After the end of World War II, the country experienced decades of steady economic growth that also translated into steady increases in pay for the workers who were fueling it. As the report’s authors write, “For decades following the end of World War II, inflation-adjusted hourly compensation (including employer-provided benefits as well as wages) for the vast majority of American workers rose in line with increases in economy-wide productivity.”
But that link was severed starting in 1973. Between then and now, productivity, or the amount of economic output generated by an average hour of work, grew 72.2 percent. On the other hand, pay for the typical worker rose just 9.2 percent.

thinkprogress.org/wages-have-been-stagnant-for-40-years-but-its-not-the-fault-of-american-workers-ede9b2133989#.5hobvqofz

#396

Your assertions about wage growth versus inflation. Wage growth that is not tied to “buying power” is an illusion. In 1973, at 19, I bought my first new car(a beautiful Plymouth Duster), for 2, 500.00. I was making, at that time. 8.25 an hour(plus some overtime at time and a half). Today, if I was making 22.41 an hour(a close aproximation of the average wage for manufacturing positions, of which of course there are now few) I would be making around three times the wage. My “buying power” would be over 30% less than it was in 1973. A comparable car today would run 15,000.00.

A Big Mac at that time was 1.60. Now it is 5.10(average). I could buy 5 Big Macs for an hours work then. Now I could buy 4.5.

Ground Round was less than a dollar a pound in 73. Now it is around 4.00.

Wages have grown 300%. Prices have grown 4-500%. Buying power(which is the real wage) has fallen 25 to 35% and there are far less- as a percentage- living wage jobs, because so many manufacturing jobs have gone out of the country due to GATT and NAFTA. Service and retail jobs (the only areas of job growth for working class Americans, who make up the majority of the population) do not pay the average of 22.41, an average that is driven up by metropolitan populations where wages run higher. A very large segment of the populace is losing ground in wages, so young people are moving to the cities to find wages, but living expenses are higher, so unconventional lifestlyes profligate to compensate for that. Hence, marriage is falling off. Child-birth is falling off. Young people in the general work population see less and less opportunity to live the old dreams, and the oligarchs are fine with that. They are soaking up that gap in profit, and are indifferent to the effect it has on the average family.

Also, sales taxes have risen nearly 100% since 1970, chopping another 4% off buying power. Wages are at best static for the last 40 years, even in the most optimistic estimate.

#397

Which of the many variables do we control, in order to adjust one or two (i.e. inflation or jobless rate, for example)? Such a question is really in the realm of economists and related disciplines. And those with notable theories, usually win the Nobel Prize. But some future Nobel Prize winner, might prove their theories wrong - down the road.

In the meantime, back at the ranch. Trumpenstein continues his “politically incorrect” tweets. He’s not listening to his Trumpeters’ advice. See BBC article:

Trump attacks China in Twitter outburst

P.S. So nobody will accuse me of liberal medial bias. I will try to reference stories from impartial sources - like the BBC. Or the tabloids. :smiley:

Questions:

Will Trumpenstein be trolling China and other allies on Twitter - in the future?
And what happens to Edward Snowden, if Trumpenstein and Putinstein become best buddies?
Etc.