I'm sorry guys but I must point out here that here is a believer trying to make change and an atheist here is using a scientific excuse for not doing it here in this thread.
The problem is that you are living in cloud-cuckoo land. You have not considered history, you have not considered economics, you have not considered the democratic wish of your fellow countrymen and you have not considered the nature of humans that has not changed much since Adam was a lad.
More than that I have not heard, “Well, this is how we restructure the budget…” Your solution, if it may be called a solution, is “be nice.”
Fine.
Right. Let’s look at history: 600 years ago, life, for the vast majority was described as “nasty, short and brutish” and it was. For the next 600 years, the wars and a few blips aside, the standard of living increased annually. There is no law that says it will always increase but the West is doing well in comparison.
Just so we know how bad it is, I want to know the percentage change in the homeless you describe over, say the last 20 years and liekwise annual average income. Personally, I don’t think that the situation has reached the drastic levels you claim.
Let’s look at economics:
Money does not appear without inflation. The government requires taxes to do anything. The government is short of money. Where are you going to get your taxes for your schemes? (Hint: it is possible to spend one tax-dollar and get back 3 taxes dollars or more.)
Democracy:
Obviously, it would be wrong to have one person (e.g. you) decided everything for everyone. How do you convince your fellow countrymen of your ideas? And more to the point, how do you tell them to obey your ideas?
I read on godbotherer sites, much about “Surely the end of days is near! There are wars and rumours of wars, there is inhumanity to man and etc… false prophets abound and only Jesus can save us” I’m sure you have read it all before. The problem is that the situation that is described is the same situation that has been around as long as humans have.
Now this nonsense is what I hear you saying: “It is bad! It is mankind’s doing! Mankind has not followed God’s Law and the rivers will run with blood, the first-born will be taken and my cracked nail will never grow straight.”
The essence of power is that someone tells you that there is true awfulness and only he can save you.
It strikes me, looking at the financial pages that your government is doing just fine. Things aren’t as bad as they were 80 years ago, or even 40 years ago, or even 20 years ago.
So, instead of moaning, why not suggest something that will work and can be implemented, because asking the whole of mankind to change its nature to the way you personally would like them to be just does not cut it.
However, it may just been that you thought that the population were happier, better off, more well cared for, better housing, etc. 200/80/40/20 years ago. If so, look at some social and economic stats.
After all I've heard about belief being a bad thing for this same reason seems a bit ironic to me. Again I apologize I mean no disrespect to the other atheist here that are willing to make better decisions to improve our way of living here in this nation and around the globe.
Hear Me O Marduk! Save me from this trite, transparently patronizing nonsense! Let’s have some positive, practical suggestions, not something as meaningless as “willing to make better decisions to improve our way of living here in this nation and around the globe.”
What “better decisions”? Cost them out for me!
I’ll suggest one: First tax all churches, temples, mosques, religious radio stations, etc., at 50% on gross income – no deductions allowed, then, after 10 years, get rid of all churches, temples, mosques, etc., sell the land, and put the priests and other parasitic hangers-on to work in manufacturing, service, and agriculture.
Here’s my challenge. You say what you want doing; I point out the impracticalities; you then overcome the practicalities and I agree that you were right.
Simple, isn’t it? It’s really a wonder than no government has managed to think of a way of doing it.