Applying God's Word to Politics
- Thread starter GWH
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
I was thinking about discussing gene modification and stuff that's modern, not stuff from the industrial revolution.
Okay, go for it! :^)
All right.
In 2018, a Chinese doctor created two genetically modified twins and made them immune to HIV.
We still don't know the side effects, if any but it happened.
https://www.science.org/content/art...earcher-claims-have-created-gene-edited-twins
The article talks about the ethics of this whole thing.
What are the pros and cons to gene editing?
Pros: with gene modification we can eliminate diseases such as cancer. Permanently! It would be a huge win for humanity to try to minimize suffering here on this plane of existence.
Cons: Besides taking many insurance companies out of business by curing diseases, we also have the ability to use this for harm, such as in military applications.
For example, it wouldn't take the military as long as it took with you to program you to love guns, but it could create a child in the mother's womb to be a soldier with certain genes enhanced and other genes eliminated, such as empathy.
What do you think about this?
I think you were doing fine until you did not resist the temptation to project and lie without providing quotes, but yes, there needs to be safeguards or checks on how gene editing is used. I believe it is wrong to attempt trans-gendering, for instance.
However, even if we were able to control gene editing in the U.S., there would need to be treaties and inspection regimes put in place with enemy nations similar to those restricting the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Don't worry about temptations, you wouldn't understand them but i agree with your answer about treaties.
Next up, "Artificial Intelligence".
Pros: gives you data faster with a human-like response.
Cons: takes away the human spirit in arts, music and other creative areas.
Some others argue that it takes away our jobs and this is true but our jobs started to be eliminated since Henry Ford didn't want to use humans anymore to assemble cars and thus the conveyor belt and automation was invented.
What do you think about this?
It is similar to my opinion regarding gene editing. AI also needs to be safeguarded or checked on how it is used. And again, even if we were able to control AI in the U.S., there would need to be treaties and inspection regimes put in place with enemy nations similar to those restricting the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
While I think it would be okay for AI to generate ads, for example, there would need to be protocols comparable to attributing copied material in footnotes, especially in the creative arts.
The issue of job loss is more nebulous, especially because those jobs might include many slave-labor type of jobs in China and elsewhere, which would be a good thing, because the populace might rebel against their corrupt dictatorial governors.
Agreed again.
Next topic. Universal Healthcare.
Pros: The citizens get 'free' healthcare so they don't have to worry about this 'right' in a modern and civilized nation. A healthier nation is also a more productive nation as opposed to bogging down hospitals since the mentality is reactive not proactive.
Cons: None?
What do you think?
Agreed again.
Next topic. Universal Healthcare.
Pros: The citizens get 'free' healthcare so they don't have to worry about this 'right' in a modern and civilized nation. A healthier nation is also a more productive nation as opposed to bogging down hospitals since the mentality is reactive not proactive.
Cons: None?
What do you think?
I think the discussion of healthcare should begin by noting that it is a subcategory of welfare, which is problematic when it does not require workfare for all who are not truly disabled.
We also should consider the matter of culpability. For example, I am sympathetic with those who suffer illness through no fault of their own, but not so much in cases caused by smoking, drug-abuse and over-eating. Thus, I agree with those who advocate preventive medicine when possible and practical.
Then we have the issue of competition and collusion by big pharma to put profits above care.
Also, there is the matter of multi-million-dollar awards in civil lawsuits, which drive up costs.
What am I missing? Oh yes, I once worked for a profit-sharing company that provided healthcare as a benefit, so employees wanted to get minimal care in order to get bigger bonuses for higher profits at the end of each year. Thus, I think that business model should be encouraged by tax laws or somehow.
Lord's army with the apostle Paul, who advocated workfare in 2THS 3:10, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
Other statements by Paul regarding welfare include:
Ephesians 4:28, “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”
1TM 5:8, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Jesus once stated that “the poor you will always have with you” (MT 26:11). He also taught us to “give to the poor” (MT 19:21).
These verses suggest/imply that we all should do our best to alleviate, if not completely eliminate, the problems related to poverty.
"All" includes individuals, churches and governments. The problem is how government can help instead of becoming corrupt and part of the problem.
I interpret those verses as indicating that health care should not be universal but rather restricted to those who are indigent through no fault of their own and who have no relatives to help.
Ah okay, this is different even though you ignore other verses such as MT 25:44-45 which is why, again, you shouldn’t mix politics with Christianity but your point is somewhat valid because it promotes laziness, like Calvinism, and in no way does the Bible promote laziness, as far as i know.
But the point is to adjust your degree of laziness with helping your fellow citizen, especially if you live in a country which has billions to spend in wars that are considered chump change.
I will follow the instructions of Jesus in the Example Prayer rather than your admonition.
Regarding a country a rich country: It ain’t US!
Well army i laugh because you say a lot of funny things which is why i enjoy talking to you because you have a very unique personality.
Which is why i'm going to throw some facts at you so i can see what other funny things you're going to say.
Look at this:
That's almost a trillion dollars every year, more than 6 more powerful nations combined !
This fact that USA spends more on military than the world, is known by almost every source in existence.
This also does not factor-in when congress or the president approve 'rebuilt' packages for a nation.
Meaning that USA has so much money, that after bombing a country they throw money at it to rebuilt it again!
Talk about VIP status and throwing money away like there's no tomorrow eh?
And this is just military which shows how much money a country has. I'm not even talking about research and innovation where the money is concentrated in USA with many major industries and technologies.
And what i'm proposing is that we take maybe 25% of that, and use it for Universal Healthcare while factoring-in the laziness point you mentioned early and the lawsuits.
We know those will always happen due to the legalism culture in the USA where a lot of people (you included) talk like they're in a court room. It's how the culture is because everyone wants to sue each-other.
- Oh my coffee is too hot and i burned my hand and my mouth so i'm going to sue you for 10 million dollars since you didn't have a label on the cup.
And the crazy thing is that people win this! Whereas somewhere else the judge might laugh at you.
- What are you stupid? You don't know that hot things (including coffee) can burn you?
So, despite all this nonsense, USA still has so much money that we can also afford the waste basically. Out of 100%, maybe 30% might be wasted, but with 70% you'll will be doing good.
I'm pulling these percentages from talking to executives in office settings where they acknowledge that 30% of their staff doesn't pull their own weight.
And if the executive says this, imagine what an outside observer like Elon Musk might have to say!
As always, it's a pleasure talking to you army.
Which is why i'm going to throw some facts at you so i can see what other funny things you're going to say.
Look at this:
That's almost a trillion dollars every year, more than 6 more powerful nations combined !
This fact that USA spends more on military than the world, is known by almost every source in existence.
This also does not factor-in when congress or the president approve 'rebuilt' packages for a nation.
Meaning that USA has so much money, that after bombing a country they throw money at it to rebuilt it again!
Talk about VIP status and throwing money away like there's no tomorrow eh?
And this is just military which shows how much money a country has. I'm not even talking about research and innovation where the money is concentrated in USA with many major industries and technologies.
And what i'm proposing is that we take maybe 25% of that, and use it for Universal Healthcare while factoring-in the laziness point you mentioned early and the lawsuits.
We know those will always happen due to the legalism culture in the USA where a lot of people (you included) talk like they're in a court room. It's how the culture is because everyone wants to sue each-other.
- Oh my coffee is too hot and i burned my hand and my mouth so i'm going to sue you for 10 million dollars since you didn't have a label on the cup.
And the crazy thing is that people win this! Whereas somewhere else the judge might laugh at you.
- What are you stupid? You don't know that hot things (including coffee) can burn you?
So, despite all this nonsense, USA still has so much money that we can also afford the waste basically. Out of 100%, maybe 30% might be wasted, but with 70% you'll will be doing good.
I'm pulling these percentages from talking to executives in office settings where they acknowledge that 30% of their staff doesn't pull their own weight.
And if the executive says this, imagine what an outside observer like Elon Musk might have to say!
As always, it's a pleasure talking to you army.
Just make sure you don't put more on the card than you can pay off each month or you will wind up broke like the U.S.
I guess I do not have anything new to say regarding applying GW to politics. Most of the current political news I have watched concerns the situation in Syria and the process of confirming Trump's nominees for various government positions.
What is your opinion regarding the case of the guy who was prosecuted for accidentally killing the potential murderer on the NYC subway while restraining him with a choke hold?
What do you think is the appropriate punishment for the guy who murdered the United Healthcare CEO?
Don’t worry about it.
The whole “US Debt” thing is a conservative talking point. Since we’re all in FIAT currency it means nothing. It's just digits on a computer. And sometimes conservatives say that China owns our debt.
The debt that they own is like 3% but even if it was 100% and US decides to NOT pay China anymore, then what are they going to do? Attack U.S.? Lol
These are the benefits of being an empire my friend so you can relax and enjoy yourself being free from the fear of “government debt”.
Personal debt is a whole ‘nother story on the other hand.
Hey since you mentioned Syria, did you see how the government collapsed without a second amendment in their constitution?
Just how the cold war ended, without a shot being fired. The system had run its course.
Looks like it’s the end of this dictator in Syria too and another chapter closed for their country, which is now going to be in chaos for a few decades due to the vacuum of power and all the big players are going to use it as a playground.
Both of these cases fit into the category of vigilante justice which is sort of a tricky area. As you know, I am a big advocate for zero killing, but when it comes to sympathy most of Americans are not going to find any sympathy for the CEO who denies healthcare for the sick. This is what the sentiment is now according to what i'm seeing in the news.
But he (the killer) will go to jail eventually. I don’t advocate for the death penalty unless the family wants it.
The other case in the subway is something that I haven’t followed to be honest so I can’t say much about it. I know that it involves vigilante justice based on what I’ve briefly seen while flipping the TV channels.