Politics, The Chosen Land, and Why we Fight

[_barrelomonkeys]

Or is that just annoying that this bothered me? :P

What's annoying is that you have a problem w/Japan's flag hanging in a Chinese place, and yet you failed to miss that the American flag when firing its missiles is hanging upside down and has only one star, looking like a pentagram... What are you, some Commie bastard?! :P

OMG! I totally missed that! :O


I AM A COMMIE!! Call in Coggins!

[_barrelomonkeys]

Here's another link for foreign aid for anyone interested:


http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-te ... d-map.html


http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/displ ... a0.2997553


(randomly picked two from google)

[_Quantumwave]

Here's another link for foreign aid for anyone interested:


http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-te ... d-map.html


http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/displ ... a0.2997553


(randomly picked two from google)

Thanks, Book of Mormon, but I like this one much better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3DXyfL3HX0

[Guest]

Here's another link for foreign aid for anyone interested:


http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-te ... d-map.html


http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/displ ... a0.2997553


(randomly picked two from google)

Thanks, Book of Mormon, but I like this one much better!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3DXyfL3HX0

I'm going to go cry somewhere now.

*edited to add* Quantumwave, I guess you were being a smart ass? Dunno.

If I am acting screwy, if anyone reads my posts, please ignore.

[_Coggins7]

You make it sound like we're saying that the United Order was and will be easy when it comes. It will be hard. There's a reason it's the last of the covenants and the one we can't live. Subordinating our economic selves to God is harder than anything else (including bring sexual passions into line). It will be bliss but it will take a lot of work to get the thing done on an individual level. It will take huge amounts of discipline to remind yourself day by day why you should not take advantage of the system and carve out a little economic empire of your own (which is what destroyed early attempts).

We may not be angels Coggins but we're commanded to be. My understanding of an angel is a person who just happens to be dead. Might as well be angelic here.

[/quote]


I'm not saying that it will be easy, in a spiritual or psychological sense for many. What I'm saying is simply that the United Order is not Socialism in any sense, and a number of GAs over time have taken pains to make that clear. The D&C indicates that Zion will be prosperous and "terrible as an army with banners" to the wicked. A Socialist economy, of any kind, would insure that Zion was perpetually stagnant (if not destitute) economically (unless it continued to be dependent on the outside world-on Babylon-for its support) and hardly something anyone would want to emulate or envy.

As I say, Zion will not be a classless society but a society in which class is narrowed considerably and attitudes regarding wealth are focused away from the self and toward the Lord and building his Kingdom. Two things will most surely not change: the overarching importance of free agency, and the 8th and 10th commandments. It is those two commandments that Socialism, as an economic system and moral understanding of economic life violates by its very nature.

[_Mary]

Here's another link for foreign aid for anyone interested:


http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-te ... d-map.html


http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/displ ... a0.2997553


(randomly picked two from google)

That's raw dollars Barrel.....The US IS a big country with a large population....when you fit it into GNI (which is a REAL indicator) then the figures aren't so pretty.
England is a tiny, tiny country but it gives far more in foreign aid when compared to it's GNI (and so does that little inconsequential country called Australia)

Almost all countries give less than promised....and many 3rd world countries are crucified by debt...
Nothing to be completely proud of I think. (The UK itself got rich on the backs of the empire and companies continue to exploit foreign farmers and workers...that's what the 'fair trade' drive over here is all about...though it's still the company's who seem to making out of it, rather than the 3rd world workers)

This is NOT a just world....

Mary

[_Mary]

* In 1970, rich countries of the OECD agreed at the United Nations (Resolution 2626) to give 0.7% of their GNP (now GNI) as aid to the developing countries.
* Known as ODA, this aid would be for long-term development. Side Note»It does not include private donations and investment as these are not always predictable or used specifically for long-term development of entire economies, though their contributions can also be large.
* Over 35 years on, most of the 20 or so rich OECD countries have never reached that figure, or come close.

Net ODA in 2006 as percent of GNICountry Aid amount by GNP

Source: OECD Development Statistics Online last accessed Saturday, April 07, 2007

If you are viewing this table on another site, please see http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp for further details.
Sweden 1.03
Luxembourg 0.89
Norway 0.89
Netherlands 0.81
Denmark 0.8
Ireland 0.53
UK 0.52
Belgium 0.5
Austria 0.48
France 0.47
Finland 0.39
Switzerland 0.39
Germany 0.36
Spain 0.32
Australia 0.3
Canada 0.3
New Zealand 0.27
Japan 0.25
Portugal 0.21
Italy 0.2
USA 0.17
Greece 0.16

America's private giving to foreign countries is impressive by the way. However, much of it is probably taken in foreign workers coming into the states and sending money home. Same thing is happening over here in the UK. Again, nothing to be too proud of.

[_barrelomonkeys]

Here's another link for foreign aid for anyone interested:


http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-te ... d-map.html


http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/displ ... a0.2997553


(randomly picked two from google)

That's raw dollars Barrel.....The US IS a big country with a large population....when you fit it into GNI (which is a REAL indicator) then the figures aren't so pretty.
England is a tiny, tiny country but it gives far more in foreign aid when compared to it's GNI (and so does that little inconsequential country called Australia)

Almost all countries give less than promised....and many 3rd world countries are crucified by debt...
Nothing to be completely proud of I think. (The UK itself got rich on the backs of the empire and companies continue to exploit foreign farmers and workers...that's what the 'fair trade' drive over here is all about...though it's still the company's who seem to making out of it, rather than the 3rd world workers)

This is NOT a just world....

Mary

Hi Mary. From my 2nd link:

U.S. official development assistance (ODA) in 2005 was $28 billion, the largest of all official donations by an individual country. But, according to the often-quoted measure used by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which compares government aid as a percentage of a country’s gross national income (GNI), U.S. government aid is only 0.22 percent of GNI, which ranks the United States as the 20th of the 22 listed donor states.

I just wanted to add some more links. Did you read them? Assume I was just being a patriot? :/


I did read your links. :) Thought I'd google some more information on it. I picked those two and the second link looked pretty good as it had a lot of information and I thought I'd add it to the thread.

You are preaching to the choir here Mary.

[_barrelomonkeys]

America's private giving to foreign countries is impressive by the way. However, much of it is probably taken in foreign workers coming into the states and sending money home. Same thing is happening over here in the UK. Again, nothing to be too proud of.

Hi Mary. I think the competition is sort of ridiculous to be quite frank. The United States could do more in foreign aid but then again that's up to individuals the way I see it.

If the United States was the least giving country in the world I wouldn't really care. It is up to individuals to decide whether to give or not. That my neighbors may not give does little to impress upon me whether I am a giving person. I feel guilt on a regular basis that I have so much when others go without. If it was just me I'd give away every thing I had right now and be a squatter again. My husband isn't too keen on the idea. :)

[_Mary]

Hi Barrel,

Apologies for the misunderstanding!

It's not a competition or anything, none of the wealthy nations have much to be proud of in terms of irradicating world poverty, and none of them have kept their promise to provide a certain % into foreign aid. (that certainly includes the UK)

I know Jason, was putting the stuff in, tongue in cheek to Aussie Guy, but I just wanted to make the point that America isn't the all giving, all generous, (in terms of foreign aid) that some make it out to be.

At the moment I see America as a bit of a monster, particularly in terms of its foreign policy after the twin towers incident. Such acts of violence on its own soil are relatively new to America I think, (coming from a foreign power/organisation), and Bush is out for revenge.

Over here we have had to endure 2 world wars, and the IRA. (who were being partly financed by American money) I guess we are more used to feeling insecure.

Anyway, a lot of countries are also being hindered by debt through bad loans in the first place, often given by the more wealthy nations. Hopefully Gordon Brown will continue his drive to get rid of 3rd World Debt.

It's easy for us in the comfort of our western homes to cry out all is well in Zion, when infact all is not well for the majority of the worlds population. The economies of most countries have been partly built on the exploitation of poorer nations.

I don't have any easy answers, and I don't want to be a squatter either...!!!!(though if water levels continue to rise over here in the UK, maybe I will be, and then I'll be relying on the goodwill of my better off neighbours!!)

And it's all just my opinion of course.

Mary