and maybe if you took your own advice, you wouldn't have to announce to the entire forum that you're broke. don't expect any compassion (or handouts) from your conservative brethren
Lina that was said with humor that you seem to lack. I do have a good job I do not expect any handouts. I work hard unlike my medicare patients that healthy young men that milking the system as drug seekers. That is what we taxpayers pay for.

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Giants!!!!!

And no, I am not fine with any other term including the word "right".When you beg for money, you should fully acknowledge that you beg. Begnicely, and I may well give you money. However if you claim you have a"right" to some of my property or to make me work for you withoutcompensation, I will give you nothing. And if you insist too much, Iwill shoot you - sorry.
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I'm sorry, but your definition of human rights only works in theoryor maybe if you decide to live on an island, but not within the contextof a civilized society or this conversation.

as for begging, you are mistaken, most people will take rather than beg if it should come to satisfying their most basichuman needs (no, those don't include diamonds and Europena vacations),especially if they feel there are great inequities between what you andthey have (has history taught us nothing?). again, I'm not talking about diamonds. perhaps yourunderstanding of a perfect society includes carrying a gun forprotection, and stepping over dead bodies, because I'm pretty certain youwill not be able to convince a hungry man that he is in violation of your natural rights.

just remember, a good reflection of society is how it treats its poorest and weakest members.

Lina that was said with humor that you seem to lack.

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what gave it away? by the way, my post was written with sarcasm, which you apparently failed to grasp.

Олег, это зависит от того, что, собственно, мы понимаем под обществом. Именно "мы с Вами" как индивиды действительно должны помогать. Но я категорически против нынешней ситуации, в которой 51% избирателей, которые в сумме платят 4% налогов, заставляют 49% кому-то помогать.

Lina, it's not my definition of human rights - this concept was developed back in the 18th century. And it works pretty well in practice: this country was founded on it and then developed very well and flourished for most of its history. Until about 80 years ago virtually nobody was talking about economic "rights". If you don't like the principles on which this country was founded, you are free to move to Canada or Europe. They don't have basic freedoms there but they have a lot of recently invented rights.

" They don't have basic freedoms there" - what are they lacking in freedoms that we enjoy? other then varied gun laws? I am trying to understand? all of our relatives in Canada, France, Germany seem to be pretty well off and content, and they run pretty serious businesses...They pay as much as me in taxes ( I carefully compared, close to 50% total, including business, local, sales, etc....), but didn't have to pay crazy money for their kids education ( well, this is our choice))..... Please, provide us with comparisons of "freedoms" in the USA and Canada, or, say, Denmark.

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Happy New Year to all! Virtual hugs!

Андрей, говоря о социуме теорию необходимо проверять практикой. Иначе философия превратится в "философистику". Истории известны случаи философских, экономических, социальных теорий, которые были красивы на бумаге, но на поверку оказывались утопией, хуже того - порой приводили человечество к катастрофе. Вы упорно сосредотачиваетесь на абстракции. Мне бы очень хотелось услышать Ваши ответы на вопросы Юлии (включая вчерашний), а также получить более конкретный ответ на мой вчерашний вопрос "Должно ли общество, то есть мы с Вами помогать тем, кто не сумел в силу тех, или иных причин накопить достаточно денег на спокойную старость?" Вы сказали, что мы с Вами должны. Почему Вам кажется, что мы должны? Кто это "мы с Вами"? Что значит "должны"? Что случится с теми, кто не сумел заработать достаточно на старость, если к примеру я решу, что "не должен". Кто оплатит их медицинские счета? Или пусть помирают?

В стране с государственной медициной - государство оплачивает медицину. Советский Союз на пример, но он от этого развалился.
В этой стране государтвенной медицины нет. Вы наверное страной ошиблись.
Зачем было приезжать и садиться на шею трутнем обществу?
Даже новая Обамакара - всё ещё подразумевает не гос. медицину...
Бабки надо копить на старость, а не надеятся на манну небесную, или счастливое коммунистическое будущее...

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Global Cooling for the next 30 years!!! - Does not expire!!!

<<Зачем было приезжать и садиться на шею трутнем обществу?>>
Просвятите, этот вопрос к кому относится? К какой категории иммигрантов? Тех, которые приехали сюда уже в пенсионном возрасте и не проработав здесь ни дня, получают отличное и совершенно бесплатное медобслуживание? Бесплатное для них, естесственно....

Julia, even Canada (not to mention Europe) openly admits that there is no right to free speech there. Yeah, sure, they say they have it - but then in the same breath they say it should be "balanced" against other values (such as multiculturalism). Just try saying anything offensive to Muslims (or homosexuals - unless, of course, you are a Muslim yourself) there and you will know what I mean. Brigitte Bardot already has multiple convictions for blasphemy (against Islam, of course), and the leader of the third biggest Dutch party is now on trial for the same offense. For Canada, just google the names Mark Steyn and Ezra Klein. Our First Amendment is an exception rather than the rule - even among civilized nations.