Thursday, October 30, 2014

Politics And Religion Are Technologies




























Noah Feldman makes a searing case that both politics and religion — whatever their differences — are similar technologies, designed to efficiently connect and manage any group of people.




MY COMMENTS************************************************************


This particular video which connects to our Political Science discipline shows that there is a definite connection to politics and religion. Basically the systems or technologies are used in a similar fashion by both the government and religious institutions and they primarily connect people more fluently to whatever calls. Managing responses, influencing people or bringing them together, it is, religion or government, a tool for the modern age, or any age.


In a way I thought that this topic would be similar to my Interdisciplinary Project, "Money and Religion and Corruption Within" but not necessarily. This video more shapes the church as a tool whereas my idea comes from what the tool has allowed or done in its history. I stated the church has a weakness in it and I would also say the government as well. This shows that both institutions are modern day tools, or tools in any age, that more better connect to individuals under its control.



Monday, October 27, 2014

The Universal Prayer: How Money Became the World's First Shared Religion

The Universal Prayer: How Money Became the World's First Shared Religion

By Maria T. Otero
2010, Vol. 2 No. 05 | pg. 1/2 |
Money is a term difficult to define. It is a concept subject to deep individual interpretation. For some, money means power, to others, a way of living; some say it begets stability, and there are those who believe it is at the center of everything. In fact, I am one of those last people.
From my perspective, I see money as something than can become anything due to its existence as a medium of exchange. It is something universal, in the sense that the entire world accepts its existence and value, and it represents a common want, and to a degree, a common need among all people. This universal importance makes it in some ways similar to .
 . 







MY COMMENTS******************************************************************

In many ways , shapes and forms I believe that money is to a large degree something that we all want, need and maybe even pray for. Not that I believe it is a diety, but people needing it enough will talk about it, steal for it and die for it. It is a comfort zone of sorts, it can stabilize our lives. We need it for so many things. If we do not have it, we try to get it. I guess that you can say if a mass of people want and need something, a religion may not be enough. Our discipline of Economics is an easy connection to this topic. Nations are built on it and its power.

Of course, nations can be built on anything , from slavery to gold. But in its most simple form, money is a necessity all around the globe, and certain countries that are capitalistic, its all we want and more.



A New Vision For Rebuilding Detroit



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Once the powerhouse of America's industrial might, Detroit is more recently known in the popular imagination as a fabulous ruin, crumbling and bankrupt. But city planner Toni Griffin asks us to look again — and to imagine an entrepreneurial future for the city's 700,000 residents.

MY COMMENTS****************************************************************

This particular video saddened me because I have seen and heard stories of Detroit growing up. I had really been more emotional after watching a PBS documentary concerning the subject years ago.  It had focused on a man who worked for the Detroit Sheriffs office who had the task of officially informing residents of eviction notices and proceedings against them.


Unfortunately, a job is a job, but this particular gentleman  knew all the people he was basically removing, or attempting to remove, from the place they have lived in for years. When the economy of Detroit had fallen, starting in the late 1960's, he associated with, partied with and even befriended many who now suffered from the fall of the auto industries and associated companies.  When the "big three" closed up, all the jobs went with them. People were left without homes, apartments, money, etc. When they could not keep up, he came, a sort of harbinger of doom to add to their troubles. He had official notices from the city stating your home is no longer your own. He was very sad to do his job, but nonetheless he continued to do it.

When the "big three" closed up, all the jobs went with them. People were left without homes, apartments, money, etc.

Unfortunately many more cities will soon face this dilemma. On the article we were to read concerning " How Did  Economists Get It So Wrong", no real expert or financial guru could see Detroit's future of misery. None of them could even evaluate fully their own estimations. The financial world cannot really be put into a "trained dog" level, in my view. It will always be a runaway pup that you have at least 60% control. More and more people will be asked to contribute to the financial success of states, towns villages and cities. We may even have to get involved on a government level to ensure we are allowed to work in order to survive. Companies cannot drop us at the drop of a hat just to make sure their profit margin goes up. We need guarantees .


Saturday, October 25, 2014

How Did Economists Get It So Wrong




How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?

  •     



Published: September 2, 2009
I. MISTAKING BEAUTY FOR TRUTH

Skip to next paragraph




http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/magazine/06Economic-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0


*Click on link above for article.






MY COMMENTS*********************************************************






This article proves that no one basically can predict the future. Of course, not the financial future anyway. Certain predictions depend on variables that no one can plot, plan or verify. The above cartoon, showing one aspect of our economics discipline, shows the sheep as variables that are surrounding an investor. He did not plan on that many and he is being smothered.


The stock market is something that I myself have dabbled with over the years and with only a few stocks I see rises and falls. It is unpredictable as the weather and the weatherman has been wrong from time to time as well. We can only try to gather as much information as we can in order to predict a possible outcome by the available facts, none of which is guaranteed. The recent housing market collapse, Banks and automobile companies running to congress for bailouts and super aggressive markets show a force of areas where people are saying what will fail next.





Friday, October 24, 2014

The Doubt Essential To Faith





MY COMMENTS**************************************************************





I was a little curious as to this video. I agree with it very much, after watching her speak. I myself have looked at certain religions and questioned certain beliefs, even Christianity. To look at something and then doubt it upon first sight is what I believe everyone does. From scientology to Hinduism, there must be some sort of barrier to jump or pass before throwing yourself into something. Her built in defense worked, and I am happy for it. Falling under the disciplines of Sociology and Philosophy , as learned in class, Her ideals fall well within our parameters. She questions, just as Socrates did, why and what about the religions in her life. To follow blindly does not make you a leader, but questioning certain things gets you to understand it better.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Two Children playing With Guns - Is This Right????










MY COMMENTS*****************************************************************


This I assign to our Critical Thinking discipline and I think that what this picture displays speaks for itself. Two children playing with guns??? Fake or real does not make any difference to me. There is a danger here, and many questions to be asked. Where are the parents? What will they grow up to be like? Will they grow up and get the real thing if they are not already playing with the real thing? I am sure many parents groups would comment on such a picture. Nonetheless I feel that this is something that we must put a stop to. The society we live in does not need more guns, it need management of the guns that are already out there. All need to examine this issue more closely if we are to survive as a village, country or state.

Pictures Of Inquiry-Guns


... Gun Magazines To 10 Bullets To Prevent Killing Many People At Once












MY COMMENTS******************************************************************




How could such a small looking piece of metal and chrome cause such damage. It is very simple. It is what it is designed to do. Not only individually, but worldwide. It was made to inflict damage pain and death. Unfortunately, there are too many out there in the world right now to even monitor and control. The ones we do know about, we try to monitor, but the second amendment allows citizens to have them, whether they are maintained, kept safe, used too much, or used too little. It is up to the individual who has it to watch it and in many cases it is foot loose and fancy free. In other words, out of control.

America’s Gun Owner Base Shrinks to 30% – But its Voice Gets ...


I always wondered how many of my Grandfather's brothers and he came back from world war two with many of them. Collectables from France, Germany and wherever. Even from my fathers time in Vietnam there was an allowance of soldiers bringing home anything as a keepsake. Having the military training helps to be able to use a gun but when people get old and pass on, many of the family left inherit "trouble". That's when the problems begin.

Classifying guns under our disciplines is a task indeed. I would count Political Science, Sociology, Logic and Psychology at least. All would be interconnected to this topic.