The one question that can no longer be ignored:

[slightlv]

29. I agree with you llmart,

especially your last sentence. But here's one issue I've wondered about for many decades. First, I'm not completely against capitalism as long as it's regulated, and the regulations are enforced. In years past, we at least had a modicum of that being true, tho I have no doubt regulations were enforced more against smaller companies than against conglomerates. But back then, the conglomerates weren't as large as what we've allowed them to grow into these days. And the pay ratio between execs and workers was a lot less than it is nowdays.

But... when we talk about liquidity, etc., we're usually talking about the stock market. That seems to be all that our economy is based on these days, and has been since Saint Ronnie came into power. But what is the stock market? For the life of me, I can't see it as anything but gambling. And so, at the heart of it, our country, it's economy, and all our lives are based on the evil of gambling.

I'm a witch; not a Christian, but I do believe in the old piece of scripture that says love of money is the root of all evil. Love of money drives gambling. So how can we be "the shining city on the hill" when our entire existence is based on the evils of gambling? Don't we have 12-step programs for that particular addiction? And yet, our country would collapse if we outlawed gambling and enforced it. But here I've mixed law and morality, and one does not equal the other, I'm aware.

But how can something based in immorality be moral and good? I see it almost as an existential question for the country. And yet, I don't see any other monetary system that could replace it and be any more moral. Maybe it's just because I've never lost my sense of being a flowerchild, and have always seen the immaterial as so much more important. It's probably damned sure why I've always been poor, money-wise!

I go round in circles with this stock market/gambling question. And I'm probably rambling about it even now, cause it's so hard to put down in words what and how I feel towards it.

Again, I know it's mixing law and morality, but that sure seems to be a "thing" these days... at least on the right. Funny, how they've never suffered from this particular conundrum.