lesley cook
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lesley cook commented on What is the state of American theater? on January 19, 2008, 11:18 AM
Prof. Easterly confirms what we all know and that is all the overpaid and too numerous administrators syphon away all the funds and there is not enough to do any good by th time it gets to the end of the line.Smaller organizations that are more accountable rather than the existing large organizations would be much more effective. Giving only money to the poor is not the answer. Providing education, taking health clinics to where the poor live and work, providing jobs and encouraging small business are the answer for long term reversal of poverty. I certainly don't agree that the West became successful because of individualism. Geography, lack of resources, lack of education, internal strife, and leaders who stop thinking collectively and act to prosper as individuals like the the west, all contribute to the state of the poorer nations today.The "historical" impact of western nations on the countries who currently make up the poor countries is such that the money shouldn,t be called aide but compensation payments.
lesley cook commented on What is the state of American theater? on January 19, 2008, 6:18 AM
Prof. Easterly confirms what we all know and that is all the overpaid and too numerous administrators syphon away all the funds and there is not enough to do any good by th time it gets to the end of the line. Smaller organizations that are more accountable rather than the existing large organizations would be much more effective. Giving only money to the poor is not the answer. Providing education, taking health clinics to where the poor live and work, providing jobs and encouraging small business are the answer for long term reversal of poverty. I certainly don't agree that the West became successful because of individualism. Geography, lack of resources, lack of education, internal strife, and leaders who stop thinking collectively and act to prosper as individuals like the the west, all contribute to the state of the poorer nations today. The "historical" impact of western nations on the countries who currently make up the poor countries is such that the money shouldn,t be called aide but compensation payments.
lesley cook commented on Re: the weak argument of atheism on January 19, 2008, 12:10 PM
There is logic in what you explain Meridian. I have a favourite saying and that is "people should be good, for goodness's sake" which ultimately means that a person's morality should be an integral part of themself, not a doctrine. I see peope live their lives, make decisions, based on a religous doctrine. I can't help but think that people who can't function morally without the code of religious doctrines to guide them are morally weaker in my eyes. As you can surmise, I am an atheist. Meridian is correct in what he/she says as my thoughts expressed are private to me and now to you. I am an atheist not because I dislike religion, but because to be a part of religion you need to believe in the miracles. I listened to a radio show recently that anyone who is an empiricist at heart shouldn't be religous, as all religion is based on miracles, such as angels talking to peolple, and immaculate conception.I believe Jesus was just a normal man who started to preach- like Mr Baker- who wrote a book and like chinese whispers, with each telling his deeds became more and more miraculous. This is not to say he wasn,t a good man. Who knows if Richard Branson was alive then, the son of God would have been called Richard, and instead of being a carpenter he ferried people from place to place on camels. I see benefits in some religion, even though I choose to not believe in it. The benefits that I see are those where people find solace and purpose. It can create family unity, and give comfort to people who are grieving. You hear often from those people who have gone through traumatic experiences who "turn to God", and find that they can go on living. It is like a crutch or an aide to those who need it.